Caret named to Maryland Business Council

Among the 21 founding members are 20 prominent political and economic-development leaders—and a university president who's as comfortable discussing the state's business climate as he is the academic calendar.

A founding member of the Maryland Business Council, Robert L. Caret is exactly where he thinks the CEO of Maryland's Metropolitan University should be. “This provides a wonderful conduit through which to partner with our business community,” he says. “Towson University has a major stake in the economic health of our region and our state. We have a great deal to offer, and it's essential that we play a leadership role.”

Edwin F. Hale Sr., the council's chairman and chief executive officer of 1st Mariner Bank, says the council is “a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization created to represent, protect and advocate for the often-neglected interests of businesses in this state, especially small-to-medium sized businesses.

“In Maryland, these businesses generate half of our state's economic activity and contribute more than three-quarters of our state's annual new job creation.”

Executive Director Aaron Greenfield, who previously worked in the office of Mayor Martin O'Malley, says the Maryland Business Council will address such matters as taxation, zoning and land use, licensing and permits, workforce training, health care and workers compensation and regulatory affairs.

The council also plans to operate a Political Action Committee to encourage election of

candidates who support the interests of businesses.

“Our role is not to duplicate what already exists,” he explains, “but to fill a very significant gap. We hope to complement what other business organizations do and through the power of partnership, to create with them a common policy agenda.”

Being tapped for membership in the Maryland Business Council presents an enormous opportunity for Bob Caret and Towson University. “This is an important chance to demonstrate our longstanding commitment to Baltimore and Maryland,” he says.

“Together I think we'll make great things happen.”

Story by Jan Lucas/Photo by Kanji Takeno

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