"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

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

>> Bill: COMING UP THIS WEEK A NEW ECONOMIC PLAY?

FOR BALTIMORE AND A NEW REPORT ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

FIRST THIS WEEK GOVERNOR WES MOORE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROTECT GENDER RELATED HEALTHCARE IN MARYLAND.

IT WAS SIGNED THE A PRIDE MONTH EVENT AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IT SEEKS TO PROTECT PROVIDERS AND RECIPIENTS OF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE HERE FROM ANY LEGAL CONSEQUENCES IN OTHER STATES.

MORE ON EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS COMING UP.

BUT FIRST, NANCY AMATTA HAS A LOOK AT THE VICTORIES AND REMAINING CHALLENGES FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> PRIDE IS AN ALL YEAR THING.

I CAN BE PROUD FOR BEING GAY AND PROUD FOR BEING BLACK AND BEING FROM MARYLAND.

TAKING PRIDE IN YOUR IDENTITY IS WHAT IT IS HE AABOUT.

>> AS PRESIDENT OF P-FLAG HOWARD COUNTY AND MID-ATLANTIC, JAMAL HOWARD IS ABOUT FOSTERING DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING.

>> A LOT OF OUR WORK ISN'T JUST STAGING PRIDE FESTIVALS BUT FIGHTING BACK AGAINST SOME OF THE HATRED AND POLICIES THAT ARE REALLY MEANT TO NOT JUST HARM OUR COMMUNITY BUT ELIMINATE IT.

>> BUT ADVOCATES FOR THE LGBTQ IA COMMUNITY SAY COMPARED TO OTHER STATES.

>> MARYLAND IS REALLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE ON WHAT IT MEANS TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO LIVE FREELY, AND THEN BE SAFE.

>> THIS WEEK GOVERNOR WES MOORE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROTECT ANYONE SEEKING GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE IN MARYLAND FROM ANY ATTEMPT AT LEGAL PUNISHMENT BY OTHER STATES.

LAR RUN PRUITT IS THE LEGAL DIRECTOR FOR A NONPROFIT AT THAT TIME PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME LGBTQ+ MARYLANDERS.

>> WE WANT TO BE THAT SAFE HAVEN AND PEOPLE TO KNOW THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM SOME OF THESE STATES THAT ARE ATTACKING YOUR RIGHTS, YOUR RIGHT TO LIVE, YOUR RIGHT TO BE AND YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE HEALTHCARE.

>> PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, HOWARD SAYS FAR MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH.

>> MARYLAND BEING AN AT WILL EMPLOYMENT STATE DOES MEAN HOWEVER YOU CAN COME OUT AS GAY OR TRANS OR BI OR SOMETHING AT WORK AND YOU EMPLOYER CAN FIRE AND AND SAY TAD JUST CAUSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED A REASON SINCE THIS IS AN AT WILL EMPLOYMENT STATE.

>> PRUITT SAYS HER ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO SOLIDIFYING RIGHTS FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

>> LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS TYPICALLY ARE OVER POLICED WHICH LEADS TO INCREASED INCARCERATION.

WE TALK TO TRANS CLIENTS WHO ARE INCARCERATED AND THEY WILL TELL ME THEY KEEP STOPPING MY ESTROGEN.

SO ANY FOLKS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH MENOPAUSE FOES WHAT THAT MEANS.

AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, EFFORTS TO BAN OR CHALLENGE LGBTQ CENTERED BOOKS AND CURRICULUM HAS LED TO HEATED DEBATE AND DIVISIVE LIBRARY AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

>> THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN OPT-OUT IF YOU DIDN'T WANT YOUR CHILD TO LEARN ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS THROUGH THE SCHOOL.

NOT A PROBLEM.

BUT THE IDEA THAT MY COMMUNITY IS SOMEHOW ATTACHED TO SEXUALITY IS JUST STRANGE FOR ME.

YOU CAN TEACH THAT I EXIST WITHOUT TEACHING SEXUALITY.

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

>> Bill: THANKS, NANCY.

JOINING US DR. SEBASTIAN RUHS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT CHASE BREXTON HEALTH CARE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GENDER AFFIRMING CARE HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THIS WEEK, EVERYBODY HAS HEARD THE PHRASE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT IT IS.

WE APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO HEAR NURSING HOME EXPERTISE ON THE SUBJECT.

WHAT TYPE OF CARE IS AVAILABLE AT CHASE BREKS TON?

>> THANK YOU, JEFF THANKS FOR HAVING ME AND BRINGING UP THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC TRYING TO BRING IN MORE CLARITY WHAT THIS TERM MEANS.

IT'S IN THE NEWS A LOT.

GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY EVIDENCE-BASED MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD AN ASSIGNED GENDER AT BIRTH THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTIFY.

LET ME PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND CLARIFY THIS IS TRUE, THIS IS REAL, THERE'S RESEARCH ABOUT IT, IT'S EVIDENCE-BASED.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS JUST DONE BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVE IN CERTAIN THINGS.

IT IS EVIDENCE-BASED.

SO GENDER IS NOTHING THAT IS PURELY BINARY ESPECIALLY GENDER IDENTITY IS NOT BINDNARY.

IT'S NOT JUST MAN AND WOMAN IT IS A SPECTRUM WHO WE ARE AS HUMANS AND ANYONE CAN BE ANYWHERE ON THE SPECTRUM.

FOR MOST PEOPLE, THEY ARE BORN WITH A CERTAIN GENDER AND ONCE THEY VICE-PRESIDENT THEIR GENDER IDENTITIES IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE GENDER THEY WERE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH BUT IT DOESN'T APPLY TO EVERYONE.

FOR SOME PEOPLE IT IS NOT CONSISTENT AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE CALLED TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS OR GENDER DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS.

FOR THOSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY CONTINUE THEIR LIFE WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY WITH THE GENDER THEY PERCEIVE FOR THEM BEING THE RIGHT GENDER THAT THEY WERE BORN IN.

WHAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE DOES IS, IT JUST SUPPORTS THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE TREATMENT THAT WE OFFER AT CHASE BREXTON HEALTH AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH AFFIRMING CARE IS MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH AND IT'S EVIDENCE-BASED THERE'S NOTHING THAT ANYONE MAKES UP.

IT STARTS OFF WITH SUPPORTIVE CARE.

YOU NEED TO TALK TO PEOPLE.

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM.

HOW DO THEY PERCEIVE THEMSELVES.

WHAT IS THEIR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT IS THEIR JOB, WHAT IS THE INCOME.

WHO DO THEY LIVE WITH.

ARE THEY SUPPORTED AT HOME AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT AS A FIRST STEP OF SELF ACCEPTANCE WHERE SOMEONE LIVES IN A SAFE SPACE AND THEY CAN DEVELOP AS WHO THEY ARE.

>> Bill: THIS IS NOT A SEVEN-MINUTE APPOINTMENT AT THE MINUTE CLINIC.

A LOT OF TIME A LOT OF THOUGHT GOES INTO IT.

WHEN SOMEBODY COMES INTO THE CLINIC WITH THESE ISSUES WHAT DO THEY SAY?

WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM THEM IN MEDICAL LINGO HOW DO THEY PRESENT?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

AND AGAIN THIS IS A HUGE SPECTRUM.

PATIENTS CAN COME IN WITH ANY A PORTFOLIO WHAT THEY WANT TO GET OFF THEIR CHEST.

USUALLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT.

PUBLICLY OR IN THE ENVIRONMENT AT HOME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

FOR MANY IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CREATE AN OPEN SPACE AND ALLOW THE PATIENT TO OPEN UP.

SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN FEELING THIS?

WHEN HAVE YOU STARTED TRANSITIONING IN ANYWAY?

DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR SITUATIONS?

DO YOU HAVE FAMILY AT HOME THAT IS SUPPORTIVE?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF?

AND THAT IS THE KEY QUESTION WHAT WE KNOW FROM DATA IS THAT TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND IT'S ONLY THE MAIN FACTOR FOR THAT IS BECAUSE HOW THEY ARE BEING PERCEIVED IN SOCIETY.

ARE THEY STIGMATIZED, MARGINALIZED DO THEY EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE THAT PUSHES THEM INTO A SPECTRUM OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS WE NEED TO ADDRESS WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR LIFE.

ARE YOU SAFE, ACCEPTING OF YOURSELF IS YOUR ENVIRONMENT ACCEPTING YOU.

AND HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TO GET THERE.

>> Bill: HOW QUICKLY DOES SOMEBODY MOVE TO -- AND MAYBE TALK ABOUT THE MEDICAL OPTIONS.

HOW QUICKLY DOES SOMEBODY MOVE TO HORMONE THERAPY OR SURGICAL THERAPY.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

PROBABLY WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY HEAR GENDER AFFIRMING CARE OR TRANSITIONING.

THIS IS A SMALL PIECE AND IT DOESN'T DESIRED BY EVERYONE.

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO GO ON HORMONES AND GO THROUGH SURGERY.

THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER WHEN THIS IS BEING STARTED.

IT DEPENDS ON EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

WHERE ARE THEY WITH THEIR LIFE WHAT WORK DO WE NEED TO DO WHAT ARE THE GOALS.

IF SOMEONE SUFFERS FROM GENDER DYSMORPHIA BECAUSE THEY ARE SO UNHAPPY IN THE BODY THEY LIVE IN IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO TRANSITION WITH HELP OF MEDICATION.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE EASILY AND SAFELY IT'S EVIDENCE-BASED THERE ARE STUDIES OUT THERE THAT GUIDE PROVIDERS WHO OFFER THAT TREATMENT HOW THIS IS BEING DONE CORRECTLY.

AND IT'S STANDARDIZED AND RESEARCH LED TO AN ORGANIZATION WALLED W PATH THAT IS RECOGNIZED AS HAVING DEVELOPED A BOOK THAT IS A ESSENTIALLY THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT TELLS EVERY PROVIDER HOW TO CORRECTLY APPROACH THESE INDIVIDUALS AND YOU HO TO TREAT THEM, WHEN TO START THERAPY IN THE FORM OF MEDICATION.

HOW TO MEASURE THOSE AND HOW TO DO IT SAFELY.

>> Bill: DOCTORS ARE TRAINED, OF COURSE, TO DO NO HARM.

HOW DO YOUR COLLEAGUES APPROACH SOMETHING THAT IS THIS SENSITIVE?

>> AGAIN EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE IN THE CENTER OFFERING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS DONE BASED ON EVIDENCE.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT ANYONE WOULD DO TO PUT ANYONE AT RISK.

IT'S DONE BASED ON RESEARCH.

WE HAVE THE DATA THAT SHOWS IT IS SAFE TO DO.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO STAY IN A SAFE RANGE.

AND THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE DOES HERE AT CHASE BREXTON HEALTH AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

THERE'S NOTHING EXPERIMENTAL ABOUT IT.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT PUTS ANYONE THAT IS NOTHING PUTS ANYONE AT RISK.

I COMPARE TO BLOOD PRESSURE OR DIABETES TREATMENT.

THEY ARE STANDARDIZED AND RESEARCH THAT TELLS US EXACTLY WHAT MEDICATIONS TO USE IN WHAT AMOUNTS AND HOW DO WE MEASURE WE ARE ACHIEVING THE GOAL AND DOING IT SAFELY.

IT'S THE SAME HERE THERE'S NOTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE THE TRENDS YOU ARE SEEING IN TERMS OF MAYBE THE VOLUME OF PATIENTS AND SECOND PART OF THAT, HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE SOMEBODY CHANGE THEIR MIND?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY HERE TO TOUCH ON THAT.

THE WE'RE NOT SEEING TRENDS.

WE'RE SEEING AGAIN, PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDING HELP.

PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING HELP AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE OFFERING THEM.

WE'RE OFFERING THEM TO BE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED THAT IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY AND EVIDENCE-BASED.

>> Bill: BUT COMPARED TO 5 YEARS AGO ARE THE PATIENT VOLUMES DIFFERENT?

>> SO THERE ARE MORE SEEM TO BE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE STEP OF COMING OUT.

OF ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT THE -- WHO THEY ARE.

OF WANTING TO SEEK CAREAND WHO ARE WILLING BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN PEERS AND SEEN OTHER PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH THIS FEELING ENCOURAGED OF DOING THIS.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS OR WE HAVE MORE TRANSGENDER OR GENDER DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH US.

WE HAVE MORE WHO ARE TAKING THE STEP OF COMING OUT AND WANTING TO MAKE THAT STEP AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.

THERE IS NO WAVE HAPPENING.

THERE IS THAT A HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NEWLY COMING OUT AND NEWLY SEEKING THAT CARE FOR NO REASON.

THAT ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

>> Bill: IN TERMS OF REVERSALS OF TREATMENT OR IF JUST AT THE HORMONE STAGE I SUPPOSE YOU COULD STOP.

HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> ALMOST NEVER.

AND THERE'S CLEAR RESEARCH ABOUT IT.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IF SOMEONE DESIRES HORMONE TREATMENT WHEN DO YOU START WITH IT AND THE DATA IS CLEAR THE WATCH AND WAIT APPROACH IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO WATCHING AND SEE IF SOMEONE CHANGES THEIR MIND AND DEVELOPS A DIFFERENT OPINION ABOUT THEM ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS AND THE GUIDELINES ARE CLEAR.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] SOMEONE DESIRES TO SEEK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT IF THEY ARE DESIRING TO SEEK SUPPORT AND DESIRING TO GO THROUGH A SOCIAL TRANSITION BY CHANGING THEIR PRONOUNS 0 OR NAME OR CLOTHING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OFFERED IMMEDIATELY AND FOR THE REASON BRING TO GO BACK TO ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

THE LONGER WE'RE FORCING OR ENCOURAGING SOMEONE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL BE FOR THAT PERSON TO DEVELOP DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY OR SUICIDAL IDEATION.

>> Bill: OUR THANKS TO DR. SEBASTIAN RUHS ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

>> VOTED TO EXTEND THE TOURNAMENT FOR ONE MORE YEAR THROUGH 2026.

AND I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED AND GREAT OF THE TO HAVE ANOTHER YEAR TO MAKE IMPACT.

>> THE NUMBERS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE AS VISIT BALTIMORE ANNOUNCED THE IMPACT OF THE 2023CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT HELD IN BALTIMORE IN LATE FEBRUARY.

>> ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE 2023'S TOURNAMENT WAS ALMOST $30 MILLION.

IT WAS 29.6 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

AND THAT WAS UP OVER 51% OVER 2022'S TOURNAMENT.

>> SO A LOT OF THE TURN AROUND IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS AN EASING OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS BUT THEY ALSO POINT TO RENOVATIONS AT THE CFG ARENA.

NUMBERS WERE UP ALL THE WAY AROUND FROM INCREASES IN JOBS...

MINORITY VENDORS... AND VISITORS.

>> LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

30 MILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO BALTIMORE AND THE REGION.

AND THAT IS OUTPACING THE SECOND YEAR IN CHARLOTTE BACK IN 2007 WHICH WAS 27.8 MILLION.

WE HAVE ACHIEVED ALMOST 30 MILLION DOLLARS HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND IN BOLT R BALTIMORE.

>> IS THERE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?

ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSIONER, THEY ARE HOPING TO SELLOUT THE ARENA IN THE COMING YEARS.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FULL ARENA THAT WON'T BE THE CASE IN 2024.

IN BALTIMORE I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Bill: OUR NEWSMAKER IS MARK ANTHONY THOMAS, THE C.E.O.

AT THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT YOU ARE BEGINNING THERE.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, BALTIMORE CITY WILL HAVE A NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DEPARTURE OF CHIEF HARRISON.

>> HE HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH.

WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH HIM AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS ANNOUNCED IN OUR AGENDA.

WE ARE DISAPPOINTED TO NOT PARTNER WITH HIM TO DELIVER THOSE GOALS.

BUT MY SENSE IS THAT THE NEW LEADERSHIP AND THE MAYOR AND OTHERS COMMITTED THAT THERE WILL BE A CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION.

SO IT IS A LOSS BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THINGS.

>> Bill: YOU INDICATED YOU ARE A FEW MONTHS INTO THIS POSITION AT THE GBC WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONGTIME.

BUT HAS EVOLVED A BIT.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE ORGANIZATION AS IT STANDS NOW.

>> WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT TAKING THE POSITION THE GBC IS 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 FIGHT THROUGH ELEMENT AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT.

WITH THE GBC'S STRUCTURALLY DESIGNED TO LEAD THAT TYPE OF WORK.

YOU WILL SEE A SHIFT HOW PEOPLE WILL HAVE SEEN THE GBC SHOW UP BECAUSE IT WILL START TO REFLECT A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

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

>> Bill: 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 NEW I WANTED TO BUILD CITIES AND I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT AS A WRITER AND A JOURNALIST.

AND 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 THAT I'VE DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY LED ME TO BALTIMORE.

>> Bill: WHEN YOU BRING YOUR EXPERIENCES AND 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 REGIONS SHOULD THRIVE IN THE PLACES WE ADMIRE COLLABORATION AND STRATEGY REALLY DRIVE THAT.

AND THERE IS A TON OF ASSETS.

IF YOU WERE TO GIVE ME ANY CITY IN AMERICA, THAT I COULD REALLY ADVANCE IN THE REGION THAT COMES WITH IT, IT WOULDBEBALTIMORE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER AND THE PEOPLE ARE JUST SO GENUINE AND WANT TO SEE PROGRESS.

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

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

AGREE WITH THAT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE CAN FIX THE STRATEGY PART.

IT'S A LOT HARDER TO BUILD ASSETS.

BUT PEOPLE EVEN DO THAT.

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

THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.

AND IN BALTIMORE IN OUR REGION WE 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.

>> 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.

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

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

>> Bill: 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 IT WOULD NOT BE HARD TO COME UP WITH A FEW ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY PROPER WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CRIME AND SCHOOLS.

>> I THINK THE 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.

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 WOULD NATIONALLY INHERITED.

SO THE TO ME THE WEAKNESSES ARE WE HAVE NOT BEEN AS BOLD IN OUR STRATEGY.

AND AS GLOBAL IN OUR PERSPECTIVE.

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

AND INSURING WE DO THAT IN AN INCLUSIVE WAY OVER TIME.

PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE'S MOMENTUM AT LEAST FROM WHERE THE GBC FUNCTIONS.

>> Bill: 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 OPERATING ASSUMPTIONS.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT PITTSBURGH'S OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

AND NEW YORK'S OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE I CREATED THE STRATEGIES THAT DROVE BOTH OF THOSE GEOGRAPHIES FORWARD.

IN BALTIMORE WE LOOK AT COVID, THE CHANGING DYNAMICS OF WORK, WE HAVE TO TAKE A FRESH TAKE ON WHAT GROWTH WILL BE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

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

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

>> Bill: 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 IS A YES AND TO THAT.

THE BUSINESSES HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU CREATE A GBC WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GREATER GOOD.

HONESTLY BUSINESS HAS A PERSPECTIVE WHERE THEY ENVISION INVESTMENT COMING FROM, THE TYPES OF JOBS THAT THEY SEE WITHIN THEIR OWN COMPANIES IN THEIR OWN INDUSTRIES.

THEY UNDERSTAND HOW BALTIMORE COMPARES TO OTHER MARKETS.

HOW START-UPS ARE BEING BORN AND WHAT AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY EXIST.

AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU REALLY SEE WITHIN THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.

IN ANY PART OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE NOT DONE 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 THAT IS REALLY WHAT PEOPLE WILL LEARN THAT THE NEW GBC WILL REPRESENT.

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

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

I GUESS THERE WAS SILICON ALLEY WHICH IS THEIR VERSION OF 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 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 TERVEG TALENT PIPELINE.

FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ON INTERNATIONALIZING THAT TECH OPPORTUNITY.

SO AS TECH START-UPS STARTED TO GROW IN EUROPE AND CANADA AND ISRAEL WE STARTED CREATING MORE PROGRAMS TO MAXIMIZE NEW YORK'S ROLE AND TO ME THAT IS THE SCALE OF THINKING THAT WE HAVE TO BRING TO THE GREATER BALTIMORE REGION.

IN THE SIMILAR WORK I DID IN PITTSBURGH.

>> Bill: NEXT STEPS FOR THE GBC?

>> IT'S REALLY SO NOW WE'VE RELEASED OUR MULTIYEAR AGENDA I HAVE TO START TO ORGANIZE THE ORGANIZATION AND OUR MEMBERS AROUND EXECUTION OF THOSE THINGS.

SO OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT I NEED TO DO JUST TO HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND THE THINKING THAT WENT INTO THE CONCEPTS WE PUBLISHED AND ALSO THE PATH FORWARD.

SO EVEN JUST WITHIN THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THERE IS NUANCES IN WHAT WE RELEASE THAT I WANT TO PROVIDE A BETTER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF.

IT WON'T BE A STRATEGIC MONTHS TO ORIENT THE WORK CORRECTLY.

>> Bill: MARK ANTHONY THOMAS THE C.E.O.

OF THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> AWESOME, GREAT, THANK YOU.

>> Bill: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOINS US EVERY WEEK AT THIS TIME FOR THE LATEST ON MARYLAND'S POLITICAL STAGE.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE VIDEOS OF OUR PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT MPT NEWS.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

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