2023 MEDA Winter Conference

Steuart Pittman, Jr. was elected Anne Arundel County Executive after his first campaign for public office in 2018.

Born and raised on his family farm in Davidsonville, Steuart graduated from the University of Chicago and then went on to work as a community organizer in Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa. In that role, he built neighborhood organizations, confronted environmental hazards, and attracted private investment to blighted communities.

Once back home, Steuart coordinated national programs for National Low Income Housing Coalition and Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) before starting his own business as a farmer and horse trainer. He is best known in the horse industry for creating Retired Racehorse Project, an award-winning national nonprofit that is responsible for transitioning thousands of racehorses into second careers.

Steuart’s philosophy of government is both conservative and progressive. As a farmer, he worked hard against onerous regulations that had no public benefit and promoted policies to make the industry commercially viable. As a Director of the Anne Arundel County Soil Conservation District, he pushed for compliance with erosion and sediment control standards to protect local waterways.

As County Executive, Steuart has pledged to make Anne Arundel County “The Best Place,” by “Putting Communities First.” His strategy is to engage communities from every sector and to practice transparency and data-driven policymaking.

Stephen Rice serves as the Economic Development Manager for the City of Annapolis, Maryland. In this role, Stephen leads the economic development division within the Department of Planning and Zoning. He manages economic development projects, facilitates revitalization efforts and helps to recruit and retain businesses in the city. Stephen also advocates for policies that ensure that Annapolis continues to be a great place to start, grow or expand a business.

Previously, Stephen worked for American Communities Trust in Baltimore as Director of Community Development. In this role he worked with New Markets Tax Credits to revitalize challenged communities across the country. Stephen also served as Vice President of Business Development for the Howard County Economic Development Authority after a long tenure at the Greater Baltimore Urban League where he led the economic development team.

Stephen is very active in his community and has served on several local boards and commissions. Currently he serves as a Commissioner for the Enterprise Road Corridor Development Review District Commission in Prince George’s County. He is also very active with the Urban Land Institute’s Washington, D.C. Chapter and the Lambda Alpha International (Land Economics Society) Baltimore Chapter.

Stephen was raised in Columbia, Maryland and is a proud graduate of Wilde Lake High School. He then completed his undergraduate education at Morehouse College where he studied Economics. Stephen later completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at Vanderbilt University and his Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree at Harvard University.

Stephen enjoys reading, traveling and playing golf in his spare time. When not enjoying the wonders of Annapolis, Stephen can be found taking in the splendid views at National Harbour in Maryland.

Born on February 8, 1963 in Boksburg, South Africa, Gavin was raised in Perth, Australia by his single mother, Pauline. He attended Belmont City College located in Australia’s southwest coastal area near the Indian Ocean. Gavin worked his way across the world after departing Perth in 1984 after he dropped anchor in Spa Creek in 1992 with only $200 in his pocket, fell in love with Annapolis for its unique blend of history, maritime culture, and small-town friendliness, and fell in love again when he met future wife, Annapolis local Julie Williams. They married in 1997 and together they are now raising two children, Dash & Miles.

From his first job as a server at Middleton Tavern, Gavin showed the vision and entrepreneurial spirit for which he is so well known. He quickly learned the basics of business, raised capital, and navigated bureaucracy to open Annapolis’ first coffee shop, The Moon, in 1993.

In time, Gavin began to see potential in West Street – then considered the “wrong part of town,” where drug deals and prostitution were common. He opened pan-Asian restaurant, Tsunami, in 2000. A diverse group of residents, passionate about their community, responded to his vision and Tsunami soon became “the place” to be. Tsunami’s success encouraged Gavin to establish new restaurants, including Lemongrass and Metropolitan in 2005 and Sailor Oyster Bar in 2016. All of his business ventures are located on West Street in Annapolis.

But becoming a successful businessman was just the beginning for Gavin. His dedication to West Street and its communities inspired Gavin to help create the Sunday Arts Festivals, followed by the Annapolis Fringe Festival, the Chocolate Binge Festival, the Annapolis Color Run, West Street Holiday Light Canopy, and the wildly popular Dining Under the Stars.

Gavin is committed to preserving the historic character of Annapolis with leadership and vision to ensure it remains a dynamic, living city. This is why he challenged and defeated the City’s plan to demolish 100-year-old homes on West Street to make way for an 800-car garage. This area is now the West Village Precinct – a flourishing hub for local businesses, residents, and visitors.

Gavin knows that community connections are at the heart of West Street’s transformation. He has served on the boards of Friends of St. Johns College, Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County’s Citizens Advisory Board, and the West Street Business Association. Gavin also is a member of the Anne Arundel County Chapter of the NAACP and a founder of the Annapolis Arts District. He is longtime champion of public art and supporter of local musicians.

Elected Mayor of Annapolis in November 2017, Gavin is committed to bringing together business owners, community leaders, and residents to develop innovative ideas and economic opportunities for Main Street, Maryland Ave, West Annapolis and all parts of the city. These include 21st century transit solutions, a more transparent development process, strong community policing, and greater focus on the needs of the local community.

Gavin imagines an inclusive city, full of opportunities for all citizens as part of his One Annapolis vision. He is committed to our shared community and our shared future. His vision is for a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive Annapolis with infrastructure, services, and events that make it a wonderful place to work and live for all.

Danny graduated from Crisfield High School, received an Associate Degree in Accounting from Wor-Wic Community College and Business Administration at Salisbury University.

Danny is the current Executive Director for the Somerset County Economic Development Commission for the past 12 years. His position entitles him to focus on the retention and expansion of existing employers and the recruitment of new businesses to assist in the economic growth of Somerset County. He was previously employed with the State of Maryland in the Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation Agency for 12 years and formerly worked at the Carvel Hall Plant in Crisfield as Human Resources Manager, Time & Motion Study Observer for 10 years until its closing. He also owned & operated the Circle Inn Restaurant in Crisfield for 10 years.

He was the Past-Chairman of the Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Somerset County Economic Development Commission. Danny serves as a board member for the Maryland Economic Development Association, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, and was formerly a councilperson for 8 years at the City of Crisfield. He is also active as a High School Sports official in soccer & basketball.

Danny was raised in Fruitland, Maryland until 1975 then later moved to Crisfield, Maryland. He moved to the Princess Anne area in 2008. He is married to his wife, Cheryl who is a private music teacher, has a son Keith who graduated from University of Maryland College Park majoring in Electrical Engineering, and has two grandchildren Daniel Ryon, and Kaiden Nickolas. He enjoys all types of sports, cooking, playing trumpet in church, & spending time with his family.

Tiffany Harvey, Vice President, Government & Regulatory Affairs for Maryland and Delaware. In her role, Tiffany leads Comcast’s government advocacy programs in both states and represents the company’s interests in front of the state legislatures along with respective executive branch agencies and Attorney General offices.

A Maryland resident since 1990 with extensive legislative and legal affairs experience, Tiffany previously was Director of State and Government Affairs for Verizon, handling legislative matters before the Maryland General Assembly. Prior to that, she served as Chief Counsel for Legislative Affairs in the Office of the County Executive for Prince George’s County in Largo, Maryland, and the Office of the Attorney General in Baltimore.

Before working in legislative and government affairs, Tiffany spent several years as a trial attorney in Maryland.

Mark Anthony Thomas is the new President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore
Committee, the first since the organization’s spring merger with the Economic Alliance
of Greater Baltimore (EAGB). Mark brings more than two decades of experience leading
competitive economic development strategies and public-private partnerships for the
nation’s largest and most complex metropolitan areas and a lifelong passion for
communications, public policy, and cities.
Mark previously served as the President for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance and
worked with public officials, development and talent partners to position the region for
more than $2 billion in capital investment, with more than 100 business expansion and
development projects. He chaired the Board of Directors for the Power of 32 Site
Development Fund, which deploys low-cost capital for regional development projects,

and co-chaired a public partnership to reposition Pittsburgh’s downtown for the post-
pandemic impact of remote and hybrid work.

Before PRA, Mark served as the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s
first senior vice president of partnerships, establishing teams to foster and manage
industry and international relationships and business attraction. He served a pivotal role
in launching NYC’s $1.3 billion cluster investment strategy to catalyze more than
100,000 jobs through emerging growth sectors and neighborhood developments. Mark
has also served in Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s administration, leading efforts to
craft and securing support to reform LA’s public works, real estate, and risk reduction
operations and centralizing the city’s procurement function.
Before entering the public sector, Mark worked in the media sector, shaping content and
investigative journalism on social impact, economic development, and effective
governance. He received his MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and BA from
the University of Georgia, and has served on several boards supporting college access,
creative arts, and civic innovation.

In October 2021, Mary D. Kane became the President and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. Kane leads the 6500-member organization in Annapolis that advocates for Maryland businesses.

Kane recently served as the Director of the National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD) located in the U.S. Department of State. NMAD is the first museum in the nation dedicated to telling the story of American diplomacy through interactive exhibits and thought-provoking education programs. Kane brings a wealth of public and private leadership experience to NMAD, having served as the as the Secretary of State for Maryland where she led the Governor’s Subcabinet on International Affairs.

Kane also served as the President and CEO of Sister Cities International, a citizen diplomacy network founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote global peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation.

Prior to leading Sister Cities International, Kane was an Executive Director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and an Assistant States’ Attorney in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Kane received her J.D. from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and earned her B.S. in Business and Finance from Mt. St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, MD, where she served as the first woman Chair of the Board of Trustees. Kane has three grown children and lives with her husband in Annapolis, MD.

Jack McDougle is the president and chief executive officer of the Greater
Washington Board of Trade, a business organization that has served the
District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland for 130
years. Under Jack’s leadership, this historic organization and its diverse
membership are leading a movement to bring smart infrastructure and
amenities to the Greater Washington region.

Jack has worked with business, government, and nonprofits for more than 20 years to
enhance competitive advantage. He helps teams thrive in complex environments, think with
a global perspective, adopt innovative and collaborative cultures, and adapt to change while
generating creative, viable approaches to challenging situations.
Before joining the Board of Trade, Jack founded Blutre Strategies in 2009 as a personal
initiative to drive innovation and improve quality of life through economic capacity building,
both in the U.S. and globally. One of his projects included serving as Senior Vice President
at the Council on Competitiveness where he engaged more than 150 CEOs, university
presidents, and labor leaders to formulate and lead a National Manufacturing Initiative. This
initiative convened key thought leaders across the U.S. to construct strategies and programs
enhancing U.S. manufacturing, increasing exports, and creating jobs. This bipartisan public
policy agenda was shared with officials and business leaders throughout the country.
Prior to Blutre, Jack served as Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S.
Department of Commerce where he successfully helped lead turn-around efforts for the $2
billion 2010 Census Automation Program. As Deputy Assistant Secretary for Industry
Analysis, he worked collaboratively with government agencies and the private sector to
minimize the negative impacts of proposed regulations to the aerospace, energy,
manufacturing, and construction industries. Jack also led global strategy and communications
planning to advance U.S. export programs; directed analyses leading to Congressional
approval of various trade agreements and supported trade missions ranging from Azerbaijan
and Kuwait to China and India. While at the U.S. Department of State, Jack helped build and
lead components of the U.S. hosted G8 Summit at Sea Island, GA.
In the private sector, at People’s United Bank, Jack was chosen by the CEO to implement a
strategic business process, integrated with human resources and financial planning, which
resulted in increased sales, customer retention, and profitability. He formulated new
organizational change and talent performance concepts to enrich corporate culture and
broaden decision-making parameters.
Jack regularly discusses economic, business, manufacturing, and trade issues with senior
government and industry officials as well as presenting at various meetings and events. He’s
been featured on PBS NewsHour and in numerous print publications. Jack earned his M.B.A.
in strategy and finance at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Michael Sanderson leads the Maryland Association of Counties, who serves and represent the elected officials from all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. MACo’s education and cost-saving tools boost county services that reach every Marylander, and MACo represents and advocates for county governments and services before state policymakers. MACo’s essential information sources, the Conduit Street blog and Conduit Street Podcast both highlight policy and politics at the state and local levels. Michael draws on more than 30 years of experience in Annapolis, and 14 years as the Director at MACo.

Founding Editor Josh Kurtz is a veteran chronicler of Maryland politics and government. He began covering the State House in 1995 for The Gazette newspapers, and has been writing about state and local politics ever since. He was an editor at Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, for eight years, and for eight years was the editor of E&E Daily, which covers energy and environmental policy on Capitol Hill. For 6 1/2 years Kurtz wrote a weekly column on state politics for Center Maryland and has written for several other Maryland publications as well. Kurtz regularly gives speeches and appears on TV and radio shows to discuss Maryland politics.

Member of Senate since January 9, 2019. Member, Finance Committee, 2019- (energy & public utilities subcommittee, 2019-). Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2019-. Member, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2019-; Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, 2019-; Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2019-; Joint Electric Universal Service Program Work Group, 2020-; Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders, 2019, 2020-; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2021-. Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2019-; Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, 2019-. Co-Chair, Maryland Legislative Transit Caucus, 2019-.
Member, Work Group on Alcohol Outlet Density Zones in Prince George’s County, 2019-20; Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Council, 2019-; Task Force to Study Transportation Access, 2019-; Work Group on Low-Income Utility Assistance, 2021-.

Board of Directors, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 2015-19. Member, Washington Suburban Transit Commission, 2015-19.

Chair, Cable Television Commission, Prince George’s County, 2012-15.

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, March 10, 1969. Attended Pittsford Mendon High School, Pittsford, New York; Harvard University, A.B. (government), 1991. Business executive. Principal, Gyde Communications, LLC, 2002-. Director of Business Development, Intra Mail Network, 2006-. Operations support analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 1991-93. Co-founder and managing director, Alliance Telecom, Inc., 1993-95. Executive Vice-President, Eltrex Industries, Inc., 1998-2003 (general manager, office products & office equipment divisions, 1996-98; general manager and corporate vice-president, 1996-98). Owner, MDiagnostix, LLC, 2005-13. Member, Executive Committee, Progressive Cheverly, 2014- (co-chair, 2012-). Member, Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee, 2015-18. Founder, Think Health Now. Life member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, 1989-. Member, Advisory Board, St. Ambrose Catholic School of Cheverly, 2012-. Member, St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Cheverly, Maryland (parish pastoral council, 2009-14). Married; two children.

Member of House of Delegates since January 14, 2015. Chair, Ways and Means Committee, 2021-. Member, Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2017-; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2019-. Chair, Work Group to Address Police Reform and Accountability in Maryland, 2020-. Member, Spending Affordability Committee, 2022-. Member, Public Safety and Policing Work Group, 2015-16. Deputy Majority Whip, 2017-18. Member, Marijuana Legalization Work Group, 2019. Vice-Chair, Judiciary Committee, 2019-21 (member, 2015-21; juvenile law subcommittee, 2015-18; chair, family law subcommittee, 2017-18, member, 2015-20; chair, public safety subcommittee, 2019-21; member, family & juvenile law subcommittee, 2021). House Chair, Howard County Delegation, 2016-17, 2019-20. Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2015-; Women Legislators of Maryland, 2015-.
Member, Governor’s Workforce Investment Board, 2015-16; Neshante and Chloe Davis Domestic Violence Prevention Task Force, 2016-17; Governor’s Workforce Development Board, 2016-; Work Group to Study Child Custody Court Proceedings Involving Child Abuse or Domestic Violence Allegations, 2019-20; Task Force to Study the Maryland Orphans’ Courts, 2021.

Assistant Attorney General, District of Columbia, 2007-09. Past president, Commission for Women, Montgomery County. Past chair, Community Development Advisory Committee, Montgomery County.

Born in Columbia, Maryland, June 24, 1975. Attended Atholton High School, Columbia, Maryland; College of William and Mary, B.A. (government), 1997; Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 2000. Law clerk to Judge David W. Young, Baltimore City Circuit Court, 2001-02. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 2001; District of Columbia Bar, 2002; U.S. District Court for District of Maryland, 2003, for District of Columbia, 2006. Attorney. Associate, Bulman, Dunie, Burke & Feld, CHTD, 2002-07. General Counsel, KRA Corporation, 2009-. Member, Maryland State Bar Association; District of Columbia Bar Association. Vice-President, Silver Spring Chapter, The Links, Inc. Past member, Board of Directors, Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women. Leadership Montgomery, 2010. Leadership Maryland, 2012. Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Legislative Champion Award, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2018. 25 Women to Watch in 2018, Baltimore Sun, 2018. Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2020. Three children.

Member of Senate since October 1, 2013. Member, Finance Committee, 2015- (health subcommittee, 2015-18; energy & public utilities subcommittee, 2019-). Member, Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology, 2014-; Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 2015-; Joint Committee on Unemployment Insurance Oversight, 2015-; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2019-; Joint Covid-19 Response Legislative Work Group, 2020-. Member, Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2013-15; Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services, 2014; Joint Information Technology and Biotechnology Committee, 2014; Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission, 2015-16. Minority Whip, 2015-20. Member, Executive Nominations Committee, 2015-20; Legislative Policy Committee, 2015-20; Rules Committee, 2016-20; Marijuana Legalization Work Group, 2019. Chair, Kent County Delegation, 2013-; Queen Anne’s County Delegation, 2013-; Caroline County Delegation, 2015-.
Member, Maryland Offshore Wind Business Development Advisory Committee, 2013-; Governor-elect’s Transition Team, 2014-15. Board of Directors, Upper Shore Regional Council, 2014- (council member, 2011-). Member, Task Force on the Maryland Clean Energy Center, 2016-17; Work Group on Rural Health Care Delivery, 2016-17; Strategic Energy Investment Advisory Board, 2016-; Oyster Advisory Commission, 2016-. Alternate member, Southern States Energy Board, 2019-.

Member of House of Delegates, representing District 36, Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties, January 12, 2011 to October 1, 2013. Deputy Minority Whip, 2013. Member, Economic Matters Committee, 2011-13 (banking, economic development, science & technology subcommittee, 2011-13; unemployment insurance subcommittee, 2011-13); Business Climate Work Group, 2013. House Chair, Queen Anne’s County Delegation, 2011-13. Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2012-13.

Member, Bainbridge Development Advisory Board, 2011-; Mid-Shore Regional Council, 2011-; Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, 2011-.

Member, Economic Development Commission, Queen Anne’s County, 2002-06.

Assistant Secretary of Planning, 2003-04. Assistant Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, 2004-06.

Born in Washington, DC, May 2, 1964. Attended Bowie High School, Bowie, Maryland; James Madison University; Catholic University of America, B.C.E. (civil engineering), 1987; George Washington University, M.B.A., 2002. Vice-President, Jones Lang LaSalle, a commercial real estate services company, 2006-. Vice-President, Trammell Crow Company, 1999-2003. President, Queen Anne’s County Republican Club, 2002-04. Chair, Queen Anne’s County Tricentennial Celebration Committee, 2004. Youth football coach, 2006-09. Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 2012. Past member, Board of Directors, Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc.. Member, Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, Centreville, Maryland. Married.

Member of House of Delegates since January 14, 2014. Minority Leader, 2021-. Member, Ways and Means Committee, 2015- (election law subcommittee, 2015-17; finance resources subcommittee, 2015-19; revenues subcommittee, 2017-; racing & gaming subcommittee, 2020-); Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2019-; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2021-; Legislative Policy Committee, 2021-; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2021-; Spending Affordability Committee, 2021-; Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission, 2021-; Consent Calendars Committee, 2021-; House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Work Group, 2021-. Chief Deputy Minority Whip, 2017-18. Member, Tax Credit Evaluation Committee, 2017-21; Work Group to Address Police Reform and Accountability in Maryland, 2020. House Chair, Allegany County Delegation, 2016-. Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, 2014-.
Member, Maryland Redistricting Reform Commission, 2015-18; Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, 2015-; Local [Video Lottery] Development Council, Allegany County, 2015-; Task Force to Study Tax Sales in Maryland, 2017-18. Chair, Task Force on the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority, 2018-19, 2020-. Co-Chair, Task Force on the Economic Future of Western Maryland, 2020-22. Member, Task Force to Study the Maryland Orphans’ Courts, 2021.

Born in Allegany County, Maryland, November 3, 1971. Attended Bishop Walsh High School, Cumberland, Maryland; George Mason University, B.A. (political science), with honors; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., with honors. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1996. Attorney. Managing Partner, Buckel, Levasseur & Pillai, LLC. Member, Maryland State Bar Association. Member, Allegany County Republican Central Committee, 2006-14. Member, LaVale Lions Club. Associate member, Lodge no. 40, Frostburg, Fraternal Order of Police. Member, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cumberland, Maryland.

Aruna Miller has devoted her life to public service and removing systemic barriers to opportunity.

Her family immigrated to the United States from India when she was 7. She graduated from the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a degree in civil engineering and chose a life of public service in Maryland, spending 25 years working at the local Department of Transportation in Montgomery County to improve the safety of the public and alleviate traffic, and creating equitable transportation access to connect people to opportunities.

From 2010 to 2018, she represented District 15 in the Maryland House of Delegates, where she worked with her constituents to create legislation to invest in STEM education, streamline the regulatory process for small businesses and was a champion for working families, survivors of domestic abuse, and the environment.

She ran for Congress in 2018 in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, finishing second in a crowded field of eight candidates.

She lives in Montgomery County with her husband Dave, where they raised three daughters.