THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COMING UP ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK OIL ON CANVAS.

PORTRAITS OF A FORMER FIRST COUPLE ARE UNVEILED AND WOUNDED WARRIORS GET TO TAKE A BREAK WITH THE DAY ON THE BAY.

WE BEGIN ON THE BOOK BEAT THIS WEEK.

A NEW BOOK LOOKS AT THE LIFE OF LATE SENATOR DANIEL BREWSTER.

IT'S TITLED SELF DESTRUCTION: THE RISE, FALL AND REDEMPTION OF U.S.

SENATOR DANIEL BREWSTER".

WE SPOKE WITH AUTHOR JOHN FRECE AND GERRY BREWSTER SON OF THE LATE SENATOR.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WE SHOULD START BY REINTRODUCING SENATOR BREWSTER TO OUR VIEWERS.

JOHN, GIVE US THE QUICK BIOGRAPHY WHEN DID HE SERVE IN THE U.S. SENATE?

>> HE SERVED IN THE U.S. SENATE HE WAS ELECTED IN 1962 AND SERVED THROUGH 1968.

>> Jeff: AND IF I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR THE SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR DAD, WHAT COMES TO MIND?

>> WELL, HE GREW UP WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE AND WAS A DIRECT DESCENDENT OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND PROBLEMS DEVELOPED INCLUDING HIS FATHER DYING WHEN HE WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

HE HAD A FAST ROUTE TO THE TOP BEING THE YOUNGEST MARINE CORPS OFFICER IN WORLD WAR II, A SENATOR BY THE TIME HE WAS IN HIS 30s AND THE ONLY MARYLANDER TO WIN A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND THEN THE WHEELS CAME OFF THE CART AND ALCOHOLISM WAS THE CAUSE AND IT WAS A LONG STRUGGLE BACK.

>> Jeff: LET'S DIG INTO HIS BAR YEARS MORE.

DID I READ HE WAS WOUNDED SEVEN TIMES?

>> YES.

HE WAS WOUNDED SEVEN TIMES DURING THE THREE-MONTH BATTLE FOR OKINAWA.

INCLUDING HE WAS ASLEEP IN HIS FOX HOLE AND A JAPANESE SOLDIER JUMPED ON TOP OF HIM WITH A KNIFE AND STARTED STABBING HIM AND HAD THREE SCARS ON HIS FOREARM AND THE RUNNER TOOK THE PISTOL AND SHOT THE JAPANESE SOLDIER DEAD AND FELL ON TOP OF HIM.

HE WAS TALKING TO SERGEANT PATTY DOYLE AND BLEW HIS ARM OFF AND SENT MY FATHER FLYING BACKWARD AND HAD TWO HOLES IN HIS LEG FROM THAT.

AND HE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND THE FAMILY STILL HAS THE HELMET THAT HAS THE BULLET HOLE COMING IN ONE SIDE AND GOING OUT THE OTHER.

>> Jeff: GETTING INTO POLITICS WAS RELATIVE SAFETY?

>> IT WAS.

SOME PEOPLE SAID THAT HIM GETTING SHOT IN THE HEAD WAS WHY HE WENT INTO POLITICS.

[LAUGHTER] >> Jeff: WELL, TELL US ABOUT THE MAYBE THE POLITICAL HIGHLIGHT HE WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT FROM SOUTH OF THE MASON DIXON LINE TO SPONSOR BOTH THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

JOHN, TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, DANNY ALWAYS WAS SUPPORTIVE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS AND I THINK IT REALLY STARTED WITH HIS INTERACTION WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS DURING WORLD WAR II.

HE SAW THAT THEY WERE DOING THE SAME JOB HE WAS DOING OR TRYING TO DO.

AND WHEN HE CAME HOME AFTER THE WAR, THEY WERE TREATED SO BADLY HE COULDN'T STAND IT.

SO HE FORMED A VETERANS GROUPS AND REALLY TRIED TO INTEGRATE THOSE GROUPS.

AND WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE IN THE SENATE TO SUPPORT CIVIL RIGHTS HE DID SO.

>> Jeff: I WAS GOING TO JUMP IN AND ASK GERRY ABOUT THE YOU MENTIONED THAT HE WAS THE ONLY MARYLANDER TO WIN A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY WHICH I HADN'T HEARD BEFORE.

AND THAT WAS A RACE AGAINST THE INFAMOUS SEGREGATIONIST GEORGE WALLACE AND ALSO PLAYS INTO CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ALL MARYLANDERS TO BE PROUD OF THE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ROLE THAT MARYLAND PLAYED IN THAT RACE N NOVEMBER OF 63 PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAD BEEN ASSASSINATED AND LYNDON JOHNSON BECOMES PRESIDENT AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL IS PENDING IN THE SENATE BUT THE SOUTHERNERS WERE FILIBUSTERING IT MEANING IT WOULD NOT LET IT COME TO A VOTE.

GEORGE WALLACE SEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTER THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND HIS THEORY IS IF HE CAN WIN MARYLAND IT WILL HOLD-UP THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL BEING VOTED ON.

AND A FILIBUSTER HAD NEVER BEEN BROKEN.

WHEN BRUISER -- BREWSTER BEAT WALLACE, WALTER CRONKITE BROUGHT CBS NEWS TO BALTIMORE MARYLAND AND.

WITHIN 24 HOURS, OF MARYLANDERS VOTING FOR DANIEL BREWSTER OVER GEORGE WALLACE, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE U.S. SENATE DIRKSON WENT TO THE DEMOCRATIC FLOOR LEADER HUBERT HUMPHREY AND DIRKSON SAID THE SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO JOIN THE NORTHERN DEMOCRATS WE HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO BREAK THE FILIBUSTER AND WITHIN 24 HOURS THE DEAL WAS STRUCK AND WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS PRESIDENT JOHNSON SIGNED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 INTO LAW.

>> Jeff: THE PUBLISHER'S NOTE FOR YOUR BOOK, JOHN, SAYS DANNY BREWSTER HAD IT ALL AND IT NEARLY KILLED HIM.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

>> WELL, THE RACE AGAINST WALLACE REALLY BOTHERED DANNY.

HE HAD ALREADY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A DRINKING PROBLEM.

BUT AFTER THAT RACE, WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS SO MANY SEGREGATIONISTS WITHIN MARYLAND AND WITHIN HIS OWN CONSTITUENCY, I THINK IT REALLY SHOOK IT.

AND DURING THAT RACE HE WAS SPAT UPON HE WAS OCCURSED -- CURSED IT WAS A NASTY, BITTER RACE.

AND HE NEVER QUITE RECOVERED RECOVERED FROM IT AND HIS DRINKING GOTTERS WERE AND WORSE.

AND BY THE END OF HIS TERM, HE IT WAS OBVIOUS TO THE PUBLIC THAT HE WAS DRINKING TOO MUCH AND THAT BEGAN HIS DOWNFALL.

>> Jeff: AND LOST REELECT SON TO MACK MATTHIAS AND TRIED FOR BRIBERY CONVICTED OF A LESSER CHARGE.

GERRY, YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME CORRECTING THE RECORD ON THIS?

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE OF MY FATHER'S TROUBLES, THEY GOT FAR MORE PUBLICITY THAN HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS SUCH AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND SAVING ASSATEAGUE WHICH WAS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AND IS NOW A NATIONAL SEASHORE.

THROUGH THE SIX YEARS OF LITIGATION THROUGH THE CASE GOING TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TWICE, IT GOT VERY CONFUSING FOR EVERYONE BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT YES, MY FATHER WAS INDICTED FOR BRIBERY.

BUT A JURY OF 12 UNANIMOUSLY FOUND HIM NOT GUILTY.

OF BRIBERY.

AND THEN TO END THE LITIGATION BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO PROSECUTE HIM AGAIN AFTER AN APPEAL HE ENDED IT ALL BY PAYING A $10,000 FINE FOR ACCEPTING AN UNLAWFUL GRATUITY WITHOUT CORRUPT INTENT.

HE IS ONE OF THE FEW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WAS THAT CERTIFIED NOT TO BE CORRUPT AND SO THAT'S HOW IT ALL ENDED.

NO CORRUPTION HE KEPT HIS LICENSE TO PRACTICE LAW AND REDEEMED HIMSELF AND REBUILT A LIFE OF MEANING AND PURPOSE.

>> Jeff: AND TALK ABOUT HOW HE REBUILT THAT, THE REDEMPTION PART OF THIS STORY?

>> WELL -- GO AHEAD, JOHN.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT HE FINALLY REALIZED THAT HE HIS DRINKING PROBLEM HAD TO BE ADDRESSED AND AGREEDING IF INTO REHAB.

WHILE HE WAS IN REHAB HE MET A WOMAN THERE WHO WAS ALSO IN REHAB AND THEY FELL IN LOVE.

JUDY.

AND JUDY AND DANNY MARRIED.

JUDY WAS A GOOD BIT YOUNGER THAN DANNY.

BUT THEY MARRIED AND HAD THREE CHILDREN AND DANNY BECAME SOMETHING WITH THOSE CHILDREN THAT HE HADN'T BEEN PREVIOUSLY WHICH WAS A DOTING FATHER.

AND HE HAD A NICE FARM AND HE JUST PAID HIS ATTENTION TO HIS FARM, HIS WIFE, HIS CHILDREN, RAISING HORSES.

AND BEGAN TO HELP OTHERS WITH ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.

HE SERVED ON HOSPITAL BOARDS.

AND HE REALLY RESTORED HIS INTEGRITY.

HE LIVED A VERY QUIET, PEACEFUL LAST THIRD OF HIS LIFE.

>> Jeff: BETWEEN THE FIRST THIRD, THE SECOND THIRD AND THE FINAL CHAPTER, THERE'S A HECK OF A STORY HERE.

JOHN, WHAT MADE SENATOR BREWSTER SUCH A COMPELLING TOPIC FOR A BOOK?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AT FIRST I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BOOK AND THEN I REALIZED THIS IS NOT JUST A POLITICAL HISTORY, A HISTORY OF ONE MAN'S PERSONAL PROBLEMS -- PERSONAL SUCCESSES AND THEN PERSONAL FAILURES AND THEN HIS STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO RECOVER FROM THEM.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE.

HERE IS A GUY THAT HAD EVERY BAD THING TO HAPPEN THROWN AT HIM AND YET HE MANAGED THROUGH PERSEVERANCE TO RECOVER FROM IT.

>> Jeff: AND GERRY BEFORE WE GO, WHAT DO YOU WANT MARYLANDERS TO MOST REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR DAD?

>> WELL, I THINK HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS SHOULD MAKE ALL MARYLANDERS PROUD AND MARYLAND'S ROLE IN IT AS WELL.

HERE IS A GUY THE YOUNGEST COMBAT MARINE IN WORLD WAR II, WOUNDED SEVEN TIMES.

HE IS IN THE SENATE IN HIS 30s.

GIVES NANCY PELOSI THEIR FIRST JOBS ON CAPITOL HILL.

AND THEY HAVE GONE ON TO IMPACT THE NATION.

BUT THEY LEARNED AND SENATOR BREWSTER'S OFFICE PELOSI AND HOYER AND THE ROLE OF PASSING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 64 AND HIS SUPPORT OF CIVIL RIGHTS THROUGHOUT AND THAT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR LIFE FALL APART.

YOU CAN HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

AND HE DID.

BUT IT'S HIS ABILITY TO SURVIVE THAT AND TO COME BACK THAT SHOULD BE THE INSPIRATION OF THIS BOOK.

WE'RE ALL FLAWED.

BUT IT'S THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME THOSE FLAWS THAT IS THE TRUE TEST OF OUR HUMANITY.

>> Jeff: THE BOOK IS TITLED, "SELF DESTRUCTION: THE RISE, FALL AND REDEMPTION OF U.S.

SENATOR DANIEL BREWSTER".

JOHN FRECE THE AUTHOR AND GERRY BREWSTER, GENTLEMEN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NOW FOR A SALUTE TO VETERANS HERE IS NANCY AMATTA.

>> STRESS FREE, DAY ON THE BAY.

>> THAT IS THE GOAL OF THE WOUNDED WARRIORS DAY AND 0 THE BAY.

DAVID, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS WORKING ON LAST-MINUTE DETAILS TO MAKE SURE THEIR AUGUST EVENT IN PASADENA WILL LIVE UP TO ITS REPRESENT TU PARTICIPATION AS A FUN RELAXING DAY TO UPLIFT AND PAMPER UP TO 75 FORMER AND ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS WHO SUFFERED INJURIES DURING THEIR SERVICE.

>> REALLY TO GIVE THE WOUNDED WARRIORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS A DAY STRESS FREE DAY AWAY FROM THE GRIND, THE REHABILITATION, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY ARE TACKLING.

>> NOT ALL INJURIES ARE OBVIOUS.

>> WE GET A LOT OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES.

PTSD, AMPUTEES, DOUBLE, SINGLE THIS YEAR WE HAVE THREE WHEELCHAIR VETERANS.

>> THE DAY CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE, GIFTS AND FOOD.

AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ANSWER THE CALL TO BE OF SERVICE.

>> THIS YEAR WE HAVE 60 VOLUNTEER BOATS FROM THE YACHT CLUB COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT MARYLAND AND WE'LL SPLIT THE FAMILIES UP AND THEY WILL GO ON THE BOATS AND THEY LEAVE OUT OF HERE AND GO DOWN TO THE INNER HARBOR AND FORT McHENRY.

WE LOVE TO TAKE THEM BY THE SPAR SPANGLED BANNER BUOY WHERE HE WROTE THE ANTHEM.

AND COME BACK FROM A MARYLAND STYLE CRABS AND CORN AND SHRIMP.

A CRAB FEAST.

>> WE CAN CRAB MEAT AND SITTING AT TABLES AND YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS KIND OF SHARING IN THE JOY TOGETHER.

>> MAKE HE EN AND RYAN STATIONED IN ANNAPOLIS BEFORE THEIR DEPLOYMENT TO HAWAII SAY THEY WILL NEVER FORGET ATTENDING THE DAY ON THE BAY EVENT WITH THEIR KIDS.

>> WE WERE JUST LIKE LIFTED UP.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> RYAN WHO IS SERVING IN THE MARINE CORPS SUFFERED A SEVERE SHOULDE INJURY AND WHILE FEELING UNWORTHY OF BEING CONSIDERED A WOUNDED WARRIOR HE IS GRATEFUL HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE INVITED TO BE PART OF THE SPECTACULAR DAY.

>> IT HIGHLIGHTS THERE'S HELP AVAILABLE.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF NOT HIGHLIGHTING THE SPECIFIC INJURIES.

THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF LIKE, DISIS FOR YOU AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY YOU ARE HERE.

>> THE BEST PART WAS BONDING WITH THE FAMILY WHO HOSTED THEM ON THEIR BOAT.

>> IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EVENT, VERY WELL RUN AND ORGANIZED AND THE OBVIOUSLY THE FAMILY WE MET BECOMING LIFELONG FRIENDS.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE LIGHTNING IN THE BOTTLE MOMENTS.

>> IT'S CLEAR THE DAY LEAVES A LASTING IMPRINT ON VOLUNTEERS.

>> ONCE YOU DO IT ONCE YOU WILL BE BACK EVERY YEAR AND THE TREAT IS THEY START FORMING BONDS WITH THEIR FAMILIES THEY TAKE OUT.

AND THEY GET TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.

AND A LOT OF OUR BOAT CAPTAINS THAT VOLUNTEER ARE VETERANS AS WELL.

>> I'M NANCY AMATTA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: THIS WEEK A BELATED UNVEILING AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION WITH RESIDENTS BACK UNDER DEMOCRATIC CONTROL THE PORTRAIT OF MARTIN O'MALLEY WAS UNVEILED.

HE TOOK OFFICE IN 2007 AND SERVED FOR TWO TERMS.

HIS PORTRAIT WILL BE DISPLAYED IN THE GOVERNOR' RECEPTION ROOM.

THE PORTRAIT OF CATHERINE CURRAN O'MALLEY WILL RESIDE IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION SHE SERVED AS A JUDGE IN BALTIMORE CITY FOR 20 YEARS.

THE MARRYING OF SPORTS AND HBSU'S CAME TOGETHER IN BALTIMORE AND HOW COLLEGE INVESTS IN THEIR STUDENT ATHLETES.

>> CHRISTIE KEEPS A WATCHFUL EYE ON HER SON AS HE GOES THROUGH THE DRILLS AT THE HBCU SPORTS SUMMIT.

SHE HAS FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPACT LINCOLN UNIVERSITY AND HBCU HAD ON HER LIFE.

>> I WENT TO LINCOLN AND HIS GODFATHER WENT TO MOOREHOUSE AND HIS UNCLE WENT TO HAMPTON I'M TRYING TO PUT IT INTO HIM IT'S IN OUR BLOOD.

I'M FOR WHATEVER UNIVERSITY WHEN IT COMES TO HBCU THERE IS NO BOND OR NATURAL LOVE YOU HAVE MORE TOWARD AN HBCU.

>> IT IS A CHANCE OF A LIFETIME FOR THESE STUDENTS TO PRACTICE ON A FIELD USED BY PROFESSIONALS.

BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, ONLY 1% MAKE IT TO THE NFL.

THAT'S WHY THE HBCU SPORTS SUMMIT GIVES THEM ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

>> GOING TO AN HBCU I FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR US TO GROW AND BE NURTURED AND I FEEL LIKE THEY DO GET RECRUITED FROM THERE.

BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR HBCU PLAYERS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT GOING TO AN HBCU AND WE CAN BE LOOKED UPON.

>> ROCHESTER REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE IN THE MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.

>> THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR MEMBER INSTITUTIONS TO REACH A REALLY BROAD GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND LET THEM KNOW WHO WE ARE.

THE ELITE 8HBCU INSTITUTIONS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE OF THE HBCU SPORTS SUMMIT.

>> WHILE A LOT OF WORK WAS DONE ON THE FIELD, PARENTS AND STUDENTS GOT TO HEAR FROM LEADERS ABOUT THE HBCU EXPERIENCE.

IT INCLUDED HOW TO APPLY, FINANCIAL AID, AND NEW DEGREES IN TECH FIELDS.

>> WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THEM ON WHO WE ARE, OUR CULTURE AND WHAT YOU WOULD GET FROM COMING FROM AN HBCU.

BEING WITH PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU, WHO HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS YOU CAN REALLY BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF.

>> ON HAND WAS THE PRESIDENT OF MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WHO'S EXPERIENCED A RECORD NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS LIKE MANY OF THE HBCU COUNTERPARTS.

THE THEME RUNNIN THROUGH ALL OF THESE INSTITUTIONS IS: WE ARE FAMILY.

@THESE SCHOOLS PROVIDE A UNIQUE SKILL SET TO NURTURE AND CONNECT WELL BEYOND THEIR ACADEMIC LIFE.

IN BALTIMORE, I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> Jeff: A CIVIC AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATION HAS A NEW LEADER AND IS WORKING ON A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE REGION.

WE SPOKE WITH MARK ANTHONY THOMAS, C.E.O.

OF THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

>> WHAT WAS EXCITE BEING TAKING THE POSITION WAS THE GBC MERGING WITH THE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE.

AND MOST OF MY CAREER HAS BEEN SPENT DEVELOPING ECONOMIC STRATEGIES, THINKING BIG FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UP TO FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN INDUSTRIAL ELEMENT AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT.

SO WITH THE GBC STRUCTURALLY DESIGNED TO LEAD THAT TYPE OF WORK, WILL YOU SEE A SHIFT IN HOW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE GBC SHOW UP BECAUSE IT WILL START TO REFLECT A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

AND SO OUR AGENDA IN EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED TOWARD OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS TO POSITION US TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY.

>> Jeff: AND IN TERMS OF YOUR BACKGROUND, I HEARD YOU SAY ONCE THAT THE QUOTE WAS THAT I COMMITTED MY LIFE TO URBANISM AS A CHILD.

WHICH IS VERY IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE AS A CHILD I WAS COMMITTING MY LIFE TO BEING AN ASTRONAUT, I THINK.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS?

LIKE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOOKED LIKE AS A KID BUT I KNEW I WANTED TO BUILD CITIES AND MAKE CITIES BETTER I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT AS A JOURNALIST.

SO AS I LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE FIELD IT BECAME A NATURAL SHIFT THAT I REALLY STARTED TO BUILD THE BEST TEMPLATE OF UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE COMPONENTS.

AND SO MY MIND, THE WORK I'VE DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY LED ME TO BALTIMORE.

>> Jeff: SO WHEN YOU BRING YOUR EXPERIENCES PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN NEW YORK AND IN PITTSBURGH, WHEN YOU SHOW UP IN BALTIMORE, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> A TON OF OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK THE REASONS THAT THRIVE IN THE PLACES THAT WE ADMIRE COLLABORATION AND STRATEGY DRIVE THAT.

AND THERE'S A TON OF ASSETS.

LIKE IF YOU WERE TO GIVE ME AMERICA, THAT I COULD REALLY ADVANCE IN THE REGION THAT COMES WITH IT, IT WOULD BE BALTIMORE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER AND THE PEOPLE ARE GENUINE AND WANT TO SEE PROGRESS.

SO I'M EXCITED TO WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Jeff: YOU PROBABLY HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY HE LIKES TO SAY WE ARE, I THINK ASSET RICH AND STRATEGY POOR.

AGREE WITH THAT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE CAN FIX THE STRATEGY PART.

IT IS A LOT HARDER TO BUILD ASSETS.

BUT PEOPLE EVEN DO THAT.

YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSFORMATION OF NEW YORK INTO BEING A TECH HUB A LOT OF THAT WAS THE CREATION OF ASSETS THAT ACCRUED THE TALENT PIPELINE.

THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO AND IN BALTIMORE IN OUR REGION NATIONALLY HAVE AMAZING ASSETS THAT WE HAVE TO BE MORE STRATEGIC HOW WE MARKET, SELL, AND DO BUSINESS INVESTMENT.

AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL FEEL PART OF A WINNING TEAM.

>> Jeff: AND YOU APPROACH THIS LOOKING AT GREATER BALTIMORE, NOT JUST THE CITY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MARKETS ARE ACTUALLY ASSESSED AT A REGIONAL LEVEL.

FEW PEOPLE LOOK AT A CITY WHEN THINKING ABOUT AN EXPANSION OF PRONG OR WHERE THEY CAN ACQUIRE THE WORKFORCE THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE BROADER REGION.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGY THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THAT.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU COME INTO A NEW POSITION YOU LOOK AT STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS.

LET'S GO THROUGH THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES FOR A SECOND.

GEOGRAPHY I THINK IS A STRENGTH.

HUGE ASSETS IN TERMS OF THE PORT OF BALTIMORE, JOHNS HOPKINS, WEAKNESSES WOULDN'T BE HARD TO COME UP WITH A FEW ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY PROPER WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CRIME AND SCHOOLS.

>> I THINK THREATS ARE EXTREMELY PROMISING.

WE HAVE A PRETTY MUCH CONSISTENT PIPELINE OF TALENT THAT YOU CAN SEE FOR THE NEXT DECADE.

WE STILL HAVE LAND IN PLACES THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED AND REDEVELOPED AND INVESTED IN WHERE WE STILL HAVE A PRICE POINT THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO INVESTORS AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN AFFORDABLE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALL THE BEAUTY THAT WE NATIONALLY INHERITED.

AND SO TO ME THE WEAKNESSES ARE WE HAVEN'T BEEN AS BOLD IN OUR STRATEGY.

AND AS GLOBAL IN OUR PERSPECTIVE.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY KEY TO DRIVING THE INDUSTRY GROWTH AND DRIVING OUR ECONOMY TO THE SCALE THAT WE NEED TO.

AND INSURE WE DO THAT IN AN INCLUSIVE WAY OVER TIME SO PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE'S MOMENTUM AT LEAST FROM THE WHERE THE GBC FUNCTIONS.

>> Jeff: IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE CAN THE GROWTH COME FROM?

>> THE BEST PART OF THE PLAN THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING, IS I DIDN'T WANT TO COME IN AND MAKE ANY OPERATING ASSUMPTIONS.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT PITTSBURGH'S OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

WHAT THE NEW YORK'S OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE I HELPED CREATE THE STRATEGIES THAT DROVE BOTH OF THOSE GEOGRAPHIES FORWARD.

BUT IN BALTIMORE, WE LOOK AT COVID, YOU LOOK AT THE CHANGING DYNAMICS OF WORK.

WE HAVE TO TAKE A FRESH TAKE WHAT GROWTH WILL BE FOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND FOR ME IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT IN A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE AND BRING IN A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT ALL ASSUMPTIONS AND GIVE US A ROADMAP FOR THINGS THAT THE BUSINESS LEADERS CAN ADVOCATE FOR, THINGS THAT THE BUSINESS LEADERS CAN FUND TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND THINGS THAT WE CAN MARKET AND BRAND THE REGION AS A PLACE THAT WE WANT TO SEE GROWTH.

IT WILL DRIVE A LOT OF THE STRATEGY THAT WOULD DETERMINE THE WORK OF THE NEXT DECADE FOR US.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE REACTION TO THIS?

WHAT IS THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH POLITICAL LEADERS?

BECAUSE THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE YOU DON'T REPRESENT CITIZENS YOU REPRESENT A LARGE GROUP OF BUSINESS LEADERS WHO MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT AGENDA THAN THE AVERAGE CITIZEN OF THE BALTIMORE REGION?

>> SO THERE'S THE YES AND TO THAT.

I THINK THE BUSINESSES HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS.

THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU CREATE A MINI AREA WHERE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GREATER GOOD.

PERSPECTIVE WHERE THEY ENVISION INVESTMENT COMING FROM, THE TYPES OF JOBS THEY SEE WITHIN THEIR OWN COMPANIES AND THEIR OWNRY INTERESTS.

THEY UNDERSTAND HOW MULTIPLE COMPARES TO OTHER MARKETS AND HOW START-UPS ARE BEING BORN AND WHAT AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY EXIST.

AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY SEE LIVE WITHIN THE @IN ANY PART OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE NOT DONE I THINK TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY IS HARNESS THAT EXPERTISE AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE POLITICS AT THE FOREFRONT TO DRIVE FOREIGN OPPORTUNITY AND CREATE JOBS AND GROW OUR ECONOMY.

AND THEN THAT IS REALLY WHAT PEOPLE WILL LEARN THE NEW GBC WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED THE SUCCESS THAT NEW YORK HAD WITH TECHNOLOGY.

IT WASN'T ORIGINALLY THOUGHT OF AS A TECH HUB.

THERE WAS SILICON ALLEY THEIR VERSION OF THE SILICON VALLEY.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DID THEY PUT IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, THAT ISLAND IN THE EAST RIVER THEY PUT A GRADUATE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY THERE AND PAID DIVIDENDS.

>> THE INITIAL STRATEGIES TO CREATE AN INNOVATION ECONOMY IN NEW YORK DATES BACK TO 2009 AND 10 WHEN THE FINANCIAL CRISIS REALLY CREATED AN ALTERNATIVE THINKING WHAT THE FUTURE OF NEW YORK HAD TO BE AND IT WASN'T SUCH A DEPENDENCY ON WALL STREET.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE ASSETS THAT EXISTED WITHIN THE UNIVERSITIES AND WITH THE TALENT POOL THEY HAVE A MILLION PLUS STUDENTS, THEY REALLY FOCUSED HARD ON INVESTING IN TECH TALENT AND CREATING A SLEW OF ACCELERATORS AND INCUBATION PROGRAMS TO GROW A TECH TALENT PIPELINE.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU MARK ANTHONY THOMAS.

THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE MONDAY AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".