Maryland Commerce Announces Reorganization and New Senior Leadership
BALTIMORE, MD (January 7, 2025) — Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson today announced a reorganization within the Department of Commerce to strengthen the Department’s capacity to enhance Maryland’s economic competitiveness. Under the reorganization, the department established three new entities: a Division of Innovation and Growth; a Division of Business Attraction and Special Projects; and a new Governor’s Office of Business Advancement.
The reorganization follows Governor Wes Moore’s executive order to help strengthen Maryland’s business climate and economic competitiveness.
“We are very excited to bring on five extremely talented individuals who all have extensive experience in economic development to support our focus on making Maryland more competitive and growing our economy to its full potential,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “Executing the Governor’s executive order is our top priority and we look forward to the dynamism these new team members will bring to those efforts.”
The Division of Innovation and Growth will be led by Deputy Secretary Ricardo Benn and Assistant Secretary John Gilstrap. The division will oversee a number of key units, including the Office of International Investment and Trade, the Office of Military and Federal Affairs, and the Office of Strategic Industries, working to develop and implement strategies to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the state.
As a seasoned executive working with leading organizations in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia, Benn brings a wealth of experience spanning economic development, management consulting, and emerging technology deployment. He also brings extensive experience driving organizational transformation, strategy execution, and technology adoption across public and private sectors. As a business leader at top global consulting firms including Capgemini and Booz Allen Hamilton, he managed multi-million dollar practices, secured strategic contracts and helped clients deliver upon exceptional growth targets. Benn also worked in Abu Dhabi as Director of Museum and Cultural Projects where he led the delivery strategy and ensured the successful implementation of a multi-million dollar portfolio of museum and tourism sector development efforts. He earned his bachelor in electrical engineering and MBA degrees from the University of Maryland.
Gilstrap has more than 20 years of experience in operations, strategic planning and leadership, with extensive experience in policy, research and analysis, economic development, and AI innovation. Spending most of his career in New York City, he was most recently the principal consultant at NorthStar AI Rising Corp. He also co-founded and was the managing director of Hudson Cannabis LLC and previously served as the executive vice president at Empire State Development Corp., where he led efforts to grow private sector investment and job creation across the state of New York. Gilstrap earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, and a master’s degree from Columbia Business School.
The Division of Business Attraction and Special Projects will play a pivotal role in developing and executing initiatives to attract businesses to Maryland, promoting the retention and expansion of existing companies, and managing special projects that drive economic growth. Deputy Secretary Stephen Rice will lead the division. Rice was previously with the City of Annapolis, where he served as the Economic Development Manager since 2019. He also worked as director of community development with the American Communities Trust and spent a number of years with Howard County government as well as the Greater Baltimore Urban League. Earning his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, Rice has master’s degrees from both Vanderbilt University and Harvard University.
Gov. Moore’s executive order created a new Governor’s Office of Business Advancement, which will play an important role in attracting and supporting the relocation of large-scale, high-value businesses to Maryland. The office will also provide concierge-level support to new businesses, guiding them through permitting, licensing, and other complex processes associated with relocation.
Luis O. Cardona will serve as Director of this new office. Cardona has a diverse background across Baltimore City government, financial services, and non-profit advocacy. As Senior Director of Neighborhood Development with the Baltimore Development Corporation, he most recently led economic development initiatives for the eastern half of Baltimore City, directed Hispanic business development for Baltimore’s fastest-growing demographic, and partnered with city and state agencies to support New American business owners. He previously served as Director of Economic Development for the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, and spent the prior decade serving in various roles at Brown Brothers Harriman. Cardona holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville.
The Department also welcomes Cori Duggins, who will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff. Duggins previously worked for Congressman C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger for 21 years, most recently as his staff director after previously serving as the Congressman’s deputy chief of staff. She will manage a number of Departmental priorities, including the interagency coordination of the successful implementation of the Governor’s Executive Order. She has a bachelor’s degree from Prescott College.
About Maryland Commerce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.
