Governor Martin O'Malley Announces Appointments to Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission
Joines Senate President Miller, Speaker of the House Busch in announcing appointments to the Public Employees' and Retirees' Benefit Sustainability Commission
ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 2, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced appointments to the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission, and joined Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and Speaker of the House Michael Busch in announcing appointments to the Public Employees’ and Retirees’ Benefit Sustainability Commission. The Governor appoints the Commission chair. Created and enacted earlier this year by the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission is charged with assessing and advising on the progress of State, regional and local planning in Maryland in achieving the goals of the State economic growth, resource protection, and planning policy.
“I am proud to announce the appointments to the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission,” said Governor O’Malley. “I am confident that the appointees announced to the Sustainable Growth Commission will help leverage Maryland’s position as a national leader in environmental initiatives, while helping Maryland create a sustainable approach to development throughout our State, and building a more sustainable environment for future generations of Marylanders.”
Below is background information on the appointees:
Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission
Jon Laria, Esquire is being appointed as a representative from the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and is designated Chair. He is an attorney and a Partner in the Baltimore office of Ballard Spahr, LLP, a national law firm. In 2007, he was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley as chair of the State's Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development, which is being replaced by the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission. He also served on Governor O'Malley's Transition Steering Committee and co-chaired its Housing and Community Development Transition Team. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland School of Law and is a resident of Baltimore City.
Victoria Jackson-Stanley is being appointed as a representative of a Rural Community and is designated Vice-Chair. She is the Mayor of the City of Cambridge. She holds a Masters of Social Work from the Howard University School of Social Work. She is a resident of Dorchester County.
Dru Schmidt-Perkins is being appointed as a representative of the Smart Growth Community. She is the Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Maryland. She has over 28 years of experience on a broad range of energy, growth and environmental issues gained while working on the state and federal level. She is a resident of Baltimore City.
Alan P. Girard is being appointed as a representative of the Environmental Community. He is the Senior Land Use Policy Manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Mr. Girard has a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Indiana University, School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He is a resident of Anne Arundel County.
Frank F. Hertsch, P.E. is being appointed as a representative of the Residential Building and Development Community. He is the President of Morris and Ritchie Associates, Inc. and serves and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Home Building Association of Maryland. Mr. Hertsch was awarded with the National Smart Growth Achievement Award in 2008. He has a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering and a Law degree from the University of Maryland, School of Law. Mr. Hertsch is a resident of Harford County.
Robb L. Merritt is being appointed as a representative of the Commercial Building and Development Community. He is the President of Merritt Properties, LLC. Mr. Merritt has an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola College in Baltimore. He is a resident of Baltimore County.
Patricia A. Langenfelder is being appointed as a representative of the Agricultural Community. She is a farmer and owns and operates the family farm- Grand View Farm. She is the President of the Maryland Farm Bureau, Inc. and is a resident of Kent County.
Kelly Cartales is being appointed as a representative of a Citizen Organization that Addresses Housing. She is the Vice President and Impact Market Leader of Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. in Baltimore and serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland ABCD Network. She graduated cum laude from the Cleveland State University with a degree in Business Administration. She is a resident of Howard County.
Cheryl A. Cort is being appointed as a representative of a Citizen Organization that Addresses Transportation. She is the Policy Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, leading policy analysis and strategies for land use, housing and transportation. She holds a M.S., Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Duane Yoder is being appointed as a representative from Western Maryland. He is the CEO of the Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc. He has a B.A. in History from Eastern Mennonite University and is a resident of Garrett County.
Gregory Bowen is being appointed as a representative from Southern Maryland. He is the Director of Planning and Zoning, Calvert County. He holds a Master of Science, Urban Policy and Management from Johns Hopkins University. He is a resident of Calvert County.
Rollin B. Stanley is being appointed as a representative from the Washington Metropolitan Area (representing local government). He is the Director of the Montgomery County Planning Department. He has a degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson University and is a resident of Montgomery County.
Samuel J. Parker is being appointed as a representative from the Washington Metropolitan Area. He is the Chairman of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. He holds a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University. He is a resident of Prince Georges County.
Derick P. Berlage, Esquire is being appointed as a representative from the Washington Metropolitan Area. He is former Chairman of the Montgomery County Planning Board and also a former Montgomery County Councilman. He currently serves as the Director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management, St. Mary’s County. He holds a J.D., cum laude, from the New York University School of Law.
Calvin B. Ball, Ed.D. is being appointed as a representative from the Baltimore Metropolitan Area (representing local government). He is a member of the Howard County Council and is a faculty member at Morgan State University. He holds a Doctor of Education from Morgan State University and is a resident of Howard County.
Thomas Allan Liebel is being appointed as one of the three representatives from the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and as an architect. He is a Principal at Marks, Thomas Architects and holds a Masters of Liberal Arts from the Johns Hopkins University. He is a resident of Baltimore City.
Russell B. Brinsfield, Ph.D. is being appointed as a representative from the Eastern Shore. He is the Mayor of Vienna and the Center Director, Wye Research and Education Center. He has a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a resident of Dorchester County.
Ex Officio Members:
Maryland Association of Counties: Council Member Mary Ann Lisanti, Harford County; Sandy Coyman, Director of Planning, Talbot County.
Maryland Municipal League: Mayor David Carey, Bel Air; Karl Brendle, Director of Planning, Laurel, Maryland
Secretary of Planning; Secretary of the Environment; Secretary of Transportation; Secretary of Housing and Community Development; Secretary of Natural Resources; Secretary of Business and Economic Development; Secretary of Agriculture; Superintendent of the Maryland State Department of Education; Chair of the Base Realignment and Closure Subcabinet; Executive Director of the Rural Maryland Council; Director of the University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth;
Representing the General Assembly: Senator Richard Colburn, Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties; Senator Joan Carter Conway, Baltimore City; Delegate Rudolph Cane, Dorchester and Wicomico Counties; Delegate Virginia Clagett, Anne Arundel County.
Public Employees’ and Retirees’ Benefit Sustainability Commission
The Public Employees’ and Retirees’ Benefit Sustainability Commission is comprised of 7 members, four of whom are appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, and three of whom are appointed by the Governor. The Governor appoints the Chair.
“I am proud to announce the appointments to the Public Employees’ and Retirees’ Benefit Sustainability Commission,” said Governor O’Malley. “Each appointee brings a wealth of experience and expertise, and I am confident that each member will carry out their duties with the best interest of the public employees in mind.”
“Addressing our long term liabilities for public employee benefits is the largest fiscal issue facing our State,” said Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller. ”I am grateful that such prominent Marylander’s have agreed to serve on this Commission which will provide us with recommendations on how to move forward. Maryland has a strong reputation for fiscal responsibility and we know we must take action in the near future to ensure that the benefits we have promised to public employees are both sustainable and affordable.”
“One of the biggest cost drivers in the growth of the State’s budget each year is the cost of retiree pensions,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch. “The experience of the Commission members will bring an important and informative perspective to the future of the State’s benefit system, balancing Maryland’s financial health with security for employees and retirees.”
Below is background information on the appointees:
The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr. – Mr. Taylor is being appointed as Chair of the Commission. He served as a Member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Allegany County from 1975 to 2003 and served as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994 to 2003. Most recently he served as a member on the Maryland Humanities Council. Mr. Taylor received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and he served in the U.S. Air Force ROTC. He is a resident of Allegany County.
The Honorable Barbara A. Hoffman – Ms. Hoffman currently serves as a Partner with The Artemis Group. She previously served as a member of the Maryland State Senate from 1983 to 2003 where she served as Chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee for 8 years. Ms. Hoffman received her B.S. in Education from Towson State College and her M.L.A. from The Johns Hopkins University. She is a resident of Baltimore City.
Frederick J. Homan –Mr. Homan is the County Administrative Officer for Baltimore County. He previously served as the Director of Budget and Finance for Baltimore County. He received his B.A. in Political Science from East Stroudsberg University and his J.D. from the University of Baltimore. Mr. Homan is a resident of Baltimore County.
Orlan M. Johnson – Mr. Johnson is an attorney with Saul Ewing, LLP and serves as a partner in the firm’s Business and Finance Department and as Co-Chair of the Securities Transactions and Regulations Practice Group. He was recently appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the Chairman of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Howard University School of Law and serves on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and the University of Maryland Medical System Corporation Board of Directors. Mr. Johnson received his B.A. in Economics from Andrews University and his J.D. from the Howard University School of Law. He is a resident of Prince George’s County.
Aris Mardirossian – Mr. Mardirossian is the Founder of Technology Patents, LLC, Engineering and Technology Services, Inc. and IO Limited Partnership, LLLP. He is also a member of the Maryland Economic Development Commission and previously served on the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission for Montgomery County. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Engineering and completed course work for his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland. Mr. Mardirossian is a resident of Montgomery County.
George A. Roche - Mr. Roche formerly served as Chairman and President of T. Rowe Price. He received his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and his M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Roche is currently a member of the Board of Directors for McCormick & Co., Inc. and he is a resident of Baltimore County.
Karen Johnson Shaheed – Ms. Shaheed serves as Vice President and General Counsel for Bowie State University. She previously served as Vice President and General Counsel for Government Relations for the National Labor College and as Secretary of Higher Education under Governor Parris Glendening. Ms. Shaheed received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. She is a resident of Howard County.
