News Release
Maryland Chamber of Commerce Announces Board of Directors for 2025-2026
May 12, 2025
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Chamber of Commerce has announced its newly elected Executive Committee for the 2025-2026 term, with Amir Ahmadzadeh, Vice President at Atwell, stepping into the role of Chair. The leadership team will guide the Chamber's continued efforts to strengthen Maryland's business climate and advocate for policies that foster economic growth and competitiveness across the state.
The Chamber extends its profound gratitude to outgoing Chair Misty Allen, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at Comcast, for her visionary leadership during the 2023-2025 term. Under her guidance, the Chamber successfully advanced pro-business initiatives, expanded its membership base, and strengthened partnerships across Maryland's diverse business landscape.
The 2025-2026 Maryland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors includes:
Executive Committee Officers & Members
- Chair: Amir Ahmadzadeh, Vice President, Atwell
- Vice Chair: Damita Robinson, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Andrews Federal Credit Union
- Treasurer: Greg Smith, Executive Vice President, Business Banking Market Manager
Greater Baltimore & Chesapeake Market, M&T Bank - Immediate Past Chair: Misty Allen, Vice President, Government & Community Affairs, Comcast
- Counsel: Fiona Ong, Esq., Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins
- Legislative Chair: Michael Huber, Director, State Government Affairs, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Membership Chair: Christopher Barber, Chief Nerd, Cheaper Than A Geek
- Member: Robert Grohowski, Vice President, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, T. Rowe Price
- Member: Gracelyn McDermott, Vice President, Marketing, Sales & Business Development, Mid-Atlantic, Kaiser Permanente
- Member: Joseph Ochipinti, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic Region
- Ex-Officio Member: Mary Kane, President and CEO, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Ex-Officio Member: William Chambers, President and CEO, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors (*Indicates a newly elected board member)
- Sandy Angello, Vice President & Dealer Operator, Pohanka Auto Group
- Amir Arab, Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Sector Lead, EXP US Services, Inc
- Joseph Askew, Vice President of Government Relations, Verizon Communications
- Christine Aspell, Office Managing Partner, KPMG
- Beth Caro, President, Auto Tag Connect LLC
- Chuck Conner, Vice President, Government Affairs, MedStar Health
- Thomas Cormier, Government Affairs Manager, Giant Food
- Natalie Cotton, Government Affairs & Community Relations Director, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
- Travis Cutler, Vice President, State Government Affairs, Marriott International
- Felicia Daniel, President & CEO, Beck & Call Professional Services
- Steven Edwards, Founder, Edwards Performance Solutions
- Ryan Eller, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland
- Chris Frech, Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Emergent BioSolutions
- Drew Getty, Deputy General Counsel, Senior Vice President, Perdue Farms
- Christopher Griffith, CEO/President, KCI Technologies
- *Brian Hammock, Resident Vice President, CSX Transportation
- James Hayes, Senior Vice President, Tenable
- Robert Head, Acting Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Lockheed Martin
- Mark Huntley, Principal, Anchor Mechanical
- Frank Kelly III, CEO, Kelly Benefits
- Stephen Kensinger, Senior Vice President Community Banking, WesBanco
- Michael Kiely, President Global Government Affairs, United Parcel Service
- Marc Kmec, Vice President & General Manager, Capital District, Martin Marietta
- Sunil Kolhekar, President & CEO, CITI: Creative Information Technology, Inc.
- Susan Lacz, President & CEO, Ridgewells Catering
- Mindy Lehman, Chief Government Relations and Policy Officer, TEDCO
- Mike Malandro, President & CEO, Choptank Electric Cooperative
- Anya Malkov, Head of Maryland Public Policy & Senior Manager, State & Local Public Policy, Amazon
- Elena Marcuss, Partner, McGuireWoods
- Michele Masucci, Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic Development, University System of Maryland
- Valencia McClure, Vice President, Governmental & External Affairs/President Pepco Region, Pepco Holdings
- *Perry Menzies, Vice President of Operations, The Terminal Corporation
- *Stefan Popescu, Owner, Guildford Hall Brewery
- Kimberly Robinson, Vice President, State Government Affairs, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
- Kimberly Royster, CFO, Kimberly Services
- Jeff Schwartz, Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, McCormick & Company
- John Sheff, Head of Government Relations, Under Armour
- Blaine Shipler, Vice President, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, PNC
- Mara Sierocinski, Vice President/Relationship Manager, Sandy Spring Bank
- Walter Simmons, President & CEO, Employ Prince George's
- Andrew Singer, Vice President, C&I Power Regional Sales, Constellation
- Jay Steinmetz, Founder, Barcoding Inc
- Jim Steffes, Senior Vice President, Regulatory, Washington Gas
- Jack Terry, Vice President, Division Manager, SIGINT Solutions, Leidos
- Dr. Roger Ward, Provost & Executive Vice President, University of Maryland Baltimore
- Charles Washington, Vice President, Governmental & External Affairs, BGE
The new board took office at the Maryland Chamber's annual meeting on May 8 in Baltimore. For more information on the board of directors, visit mdchamber.org/about.
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About the Maryland Chamber of Commerce
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is the only statewide business advocacy organization and the leading voice for business in the state. Together with their 7,000+ members, they form a statewide coalition that is committed to ensuring that Maryland is attracting and retaining quality jobs, developing vibrant, sustainable communities and staying at the forefront of global competitiveness and economic prosperity.
