Mary D. Kane marks three years as Maryland Chamber President & CEO

As I reflect on my third anniversary as President & CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, I am proud of the progress and growth we have achieved, thanks to our dedicated Board, members, partners and staff.

This year's milestones showcase our ongoing commitment to Maryland's business community:

• Our new website and membership portal have vastly improved member and user experience, significantly enhancing our ability to serve you and advance our critical policy work for a better business environment in Maryland.

• The launch of our HYPE: Helping Young Professionals Excel event series has been a resounding success, providing valuable networking, professional development and advocacy opportunities to young professionals across the state.

• We’ve introduced new and refreshed events to Maryland's business and policy communities, including our upcoming Policy Forum: Transportation event taking place on Nov. 20.

• We continue to focus on advocacy efforts on behalf of Maryland's business community. I'm proud to share that throughout the 2024 Legislative Session, our approach resulted in a 78 percent kill rate on bills that would have negatively impacted our business climate.

We also responded to unexpected challenges, like the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, which continues to affect Maryland businesses. The incredible community response and our partnership with local organizations through the Building Bridges to Recovery Coalition highlight our commitment to supporting recovery efforts.

As we look ahead to the remainder of 2024 and the 2025 legislative session, I'm excited to share our plans for continued growth and impact:

• Strengthening Our Advocacy: We're doubling down on our efforts to be the voice of Maryland businesses, especially as we anticipate challenging conversations about business taxes in light of potential state budget deficits.

• Building Inclusive Partnerships: We're committed to expanding our network and ensuring that businesses of all sizes and sectors have a seat at the table.

• Continuing to expand the impact of the Maryland Chamber PAC: I'm thrilled to announce our first PAC fundraiser and celebration, reinforcing our ability to support business-friendly policies and candidates.

• Economic Competitiveness: We're intensifying our efforts to raise awareness about where Maryland stands in terms of economic competitiveness. By working collaboratively with businesses, policymakers, and community leaders, we aim to identify and implement strategies that will enhance our state's competitive edge and drive economic growth.

I am incredibly proud of our accomplishments over the past year and am grateful for all the hard work and dedication. By working together and standing united, we can fulfill our mission to advance inclusive partnerships for a Maryland where all businesses and their communities thrive.

Warm regards,