This document provides information about the Maryland Department of Commerce and its activities. It introduces Benjamin Wu as the Deputy Secretary and outlines the department's focus on outreach, expanding its business development team, and improving customer service. It also notes Maryland's strong economic rankings. The remainder describes the department's leadership structure and roles, regional representatives, and programs that provide financing, tax credits, training, marketing assistance, and support for small/minority businesses and tourism.

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2. Maryland Department of Commerce
Deputy Secretary
Benjamin H. Wu
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3. What is a Commerce Pirate?
“It’s more fun to be a pirate than to join the Navy.” – Steve Jobs
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4. DBEDCommerce
• Increased outreach to businesses – both in-
state and across the country.
• Expanded Business Development team.
• Commerce Cabinet - seven state agencies that
connect to the business community.
• New focus on customer service.
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5. Maryland’s Rankings
“No matter how you look at it, it’s difficult to characterize the Maryland labor market any other way than
STRONG.” – Andrew Bauer, Senior Regional Economist, Federal Reserve Branch of Richmond
• 7th overall in America’s Top States for
Business 2017 (CNBC)
• Most Innovative State in America (WalletHub)
• 1st in the nation for average income growth
(Bureau of Economic Analysis)
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6. What is Commerce?
Secretary of Commerce
Mike Gill
Deputy Secretary of
Commerce Ben Wu
Tourism,
Film & the
Arts
Business &
Industry
Sector
Development
Admin &
Tech
International
Military &
Federal
Affairs
Marketing
&
Comm.
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7. Commerce Leadership Team
Marketing &
Comm.
Allison Mayer
Deputy
Secretary Ben
Wu
Admin & Tech
Greg Derwart
Business &
Industry
Steve
Pennington
International
Signe Pringle
Military &
Federal Affairs
Lisa Swoboda
Tourism, Film
& the Arts
Liz
Fitzsimmons
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Secretary Mike
Gill

8. Business & Industry Sector
Development
Business & Industry Sector Development
Business Development
Strategic Industries & Entrepreneurship
BioHealth & Life Sciences
Cybersecurity & Aerospace
Finance Programs
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9. Commerce Regional Reps
County Commerce Regional Specialist
Harford & Cecil Counties Director William Sorenson – 410.767.6804
Baltimore City Kate Dailey – 410.767.0511
Baltimore County Tim Murphy – 410.767.0512
Calvert, Charles & St. Mary’s Counties Steve Wall – 301.274.9138
Frederick & Carroll Counties Tamar Osterman – 443.902.4487
Garrett, Allegany & Washington Counties Andrew Sargent – 443.447.4999
Anne Arundel Lori Ratzburg – 410.767.6374
Howard County Gina Stewart – 410.867.4546
Montgomery County Carla Merritt – 410.458.2326
Prince George’s County Faye Nwoko – 410.767.6791
Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline & Kent
Counties
Debbie Bowden – 443.718.0094
Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester &
Somerset
Mindie Burgoyne – 410.718.0094
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10. What can Commerce do for you?
• Financing
• Tax Credits
• Training Assistance
• Global Marketing
• Small and Minority-owned Businesses
• More Jobs for Marylanders
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11. Financing
• MEDAAF – Maryland Economic
Development Assistance Authority Fund
• Sunny Day – Economic Development
Opportunities Fund
• MIDFA – Maryland Industrial Development
Financing Authority
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12. Tax Credits
• Biotechnology Investment Incentive
• Cybersecurity Investment Incentive
• Enterprise Zones
• Job Creation Tax Credit
• One Maryland
• RISE Zone Program
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13. Training Assistance
• PWQ – Partnership for Workforce Quality
Helps train works at small and mid-sized
manufacturing and tech companies so they can
learn new skills and become more competitive.
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14. Global Marketing
• ExportMD Program – Helps Maryland’s
small and mid-sized companies connect with
international clients.
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15. Small & Minority-owned Businesses
• VLT Fund
• Maryland Small Business Development Fund
Authority (MSBDFA)
• Maryland Economic Adjustment Fund
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16. More Jobs for Marylanders
• Provides tax incentives to manufacturers who
create jobs.
• Encourages additional investment in new
equipment via accelerated and bonus
depreciation.
• Provides additional incentives in counties with
higher unemployment.
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17. Tourism & the Arts Grants
• Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) Grants
for Programming
• County Cooperative Grant Program
• Maryland’s State Folklife Program
• Arts & Entertainment Districts
• Arts in Education Programs
• Community Arts Development
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18. Maryland Marketing Partnership
• Branding strategy for the state.
• Market the state’s assets and attract new
business.
• Partners include:
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19. Milestones
125 Years
45 Years
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