Council of Past Presidents

Robert L. Hannon
President/Chief Executive Officer
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold appointed Robert L. Hannon to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) effective January 4, 2007.

At AAEDC, Robert leads a professional staff of 14 providing economic development services to the diverse businesses and residents of Anne Arundel County. The AAEDC mission is to serve Anne Arundel County's business needs and increase the County's economic base through business investment and job growth. Robert is also responsible for Anne Arundel County's homeland security focused business incubator, the Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC). The CIC has a staff of three, 8 member companies, and partnerships with key government agencies, institutions and leading corporations in the industry.

Prior to his AAEDC appointment, Robert served as the Assistant Secretary for the Baltimore Region at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. In this position, he supervised a staff of 16 and was responsible for supporting the economic health and growth of the business communities within Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties. His accomplishments in business development include the location of Toyota Financial Services, East Coast and T. Rowe Price Regional Operations Center to the region, the expansion of Dreyer's Ice Cream Plant, and the redevelopment of Towson Town Center and the GM-Broening Highway Plant.

Other work experience includes: Executive Director, Baltimore County Department of Economic Development, 1995-2003; Executive Vice President, Baltimore Development Corporation, 1994-1995; Senior Vice President, MacKenzie and Associates, 1987-1994; Director, Baltimore County Office of Economic Development, 1983-1987; Director, Baltimore County Occupational Training Administration, 1984-1987; Coordinator, Baltimore County Revitalization Programs, 1980-1983; Senior Analyst, Larry Smith and Company, 1978-1980.

Robert has been appointed by Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold to serve on the Fort George G. Meade Regional Growth Management Committee, the Anne Arundel County BRAC Task Force, the Anne Arundel County Workforce Investment Board, and the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Research Park of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau, the Maryland Manufacturing Consortium, and the University of Maryland Technology Extension Service. He is an active member and former president of the Maryland Economic Development Association.

Robert earned both his Bachelor of Science Degree in Regional Geography and his Masters in Economic/Environmental Geography from Towson State University. He resides in Annapolis, Maryland.