News Release
Maryland Chamber of Commerce Announces Board of Directors for 2024-2025
May 10, 2024
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Chamber of Commerce today announced its newly elected Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term, under the continued leadership of Chair Misty Allen, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at Comcast. The 62-person board comprises top business leaders from across the state who are committed to advancing the Chamber's mission of fostering inclusive partnerships where all businesses and communities can thrive.
“Maryland's businesses are vital economic engines and community pillars that drive job creation, innovation and growth in our state," said Board Chair Misty Allen, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at Comcast. "Our board recognizes the pivotal role employers play in shaping Maryland's future as a great place to live and work. Together, we will continue to advocate for pro-growth policies that enhance competitiveness, attract investment and enable businesses of all sizes to grow, invest and succeed in Maryland.”
Reflecting Maryland's diverse business landscape, the board represents industries throughout Maryland's regions, ranging from entrepreneurs and small businesses to global corporations like Under Armour, Amazon, Marriott and UnitedHealthcare. Among the 17 new directors are leaders from the Pohanka Auto Group, Standard Industries, Anchor Mechanical and The Arc Central Chesapeake Region.
Amir Ahmadzadeh, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the 2024-2025 Nominating Committee, highlighted, "We are proud to welcome exceptional leaders who reflect the diversity of Maryland's business community. With their expertise, the Maryland Chamber is poised to drive positive change as a voice for employers across the state."
With leadership from this expert board, the Maryland Chamber serves as the unified voice of over 7,000 businesses, corporations, associations and local chambers. Representing job creators of all sizes and industries statewide, the Chamber is committed to positively impacting policies that directly affect Maryland employers.
"When businesses thrive, it creates a ripple effect benefiting all Marylanders - more jobs, higher wages, and an improved quality of life," said President & CEO Mary D. Kane. "Our board's commitment to economic competitiveness and leadership will help advance pro-business policies that make Maryland better for business and strengthen our state's economy as a whole."
The 2024-2025 Maryland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors includes:
Executive Committee Officers & Members
- Chair: Misty Allen, Vice President, Government and Community Affairs, Comcast
- Vice Chair: Amir Ahmadzadeh, Vice President, Mid-Atlantic operations, EXP
- Treasurer: Damita Robinson, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Andrews Federal Credit Union
- Immediate Past Chair: Gracelyn McDermott, Vice President, Marketing, Sales & Business Development, Mid-Atlantic, Kaiser Permanente
- Counsel: Fiona Ong, Partner, Shawe Rosenthal LLP
- 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
- Robert Grohowski, Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, T. Rowe Price
- 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 and Dealer Operator, Pohanka Auto Group
- *Joseph Askew, Vice President, Government Affairs, Verizon Communications
- *Christine Aspell, Office Managing Partner, KPMG
- *Beth Caro, President, Auto Tag Connect LLC
- *Aisha Childs, CEO, Maryland Institute for Entrepreneurs & Business Consultants
- Thomas Cormier, Government Affairs Manager, Ahold Delhaize USA
- *Joseph Cortina, Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Standard Industries
- Natalie Cotton, Government Affairs and Community Relations Director, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
- Travis Cutler, Director of State and Local Government Affairs, Marriott International, Inc.
- *Felicia Daniel, President and CEO, Beck and Call Professional Services
- Marquita Davis, Chief Academic Officer, KinderCare Learning Companies
- Steven Edwards, Founder, Edwards Performance Solutions
- Ryan Eller, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland
- Chris Frech, Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Emergent BioSolutions
- Drew Getty, Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability and Government Relations, Perdue Farms Inc.
- Christopher Griffith, President and COO, KCI Technologies
- James Hayes, Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Tenable
- Robert Head, Vice President, State Government and Political Affairs, Lockheed Martin
- *Mark Huntley, Principal, Anchor Mechanical
- Francis X. Kelly III, CEO, Kelly Benefits
- Stephen Kensinger, Senior Vice President Community Banking, WesBanco
- *Diana Khan, Attorney, Owner and Founder, DK Law Group
- Michael Kiely, President Global Government Affairs, United Parcel Service
- Marc Kmec, Vice President and General Manager, Capital District, Martin Marietta
- *Sunil Kolhekar, President and CEO, CITI: Creative Information Technology, Inc.
- *Susan Lacz, President and CEO, Ridgewells Catering
- Mindy Lehman, Chief Government Relations and Policy Officer, TEDCO
- Anne Lindner, Vice President, Governmental and External Affairs, Pepco Holdings
- Ramon Looby, President, Maryland Bankers Association
- *Mike Malandro, President and CEO, Choptank Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Anya Malkov, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon
- Elena Marcuss, Office Managing Partner, McGuireWoods
- *Michele Masucci, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, University System of Maryland
- Mary Penczek, Vice President, Commercial Markets and Diversified Solutions, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Efrain Perez Agosto, Vice President and CFO, MGM National Harbor
- *Jonathon Rondeau, President and 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 and Relationship Manager, Sandy Spring Bank
- Walter Simmons, President and CEO, Employ Prince George's
- Andrew Singer, Vice President, C&I Power Regional Sales, Constellation
- Romaine Smallwood-Faison, General Manager, Mondawmin Mall, Brookfield Properties
- Greg Smith, Executive Vice President, Business Banking Market Manager, Greater Baltimore and Chesapeake Market, M&T Bank
- Jay Steinmetz, Founder and CEO, Barcoding Inc
- Jack Terry, Vice President, Deputy Operations Manager, Cyber and SIGINT Solutions, Leidos
- James Wagner, Assistant Vice President, Rates and Regulatory Affairs, Washington Gas
- Dr. Roger Ward, Provost, Executive Vice President, University of Maryland Baltimore
- Charles Washington, Vice President, Governmental and External Affairs, BGE
- Regina Woods, Vice President, Government Affairs for the District of Columbia, MedStar Health
The new board took office at the Maryland Chamber's annual meeting on May 9 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.
