"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.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> Jeff: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A CONDITION AFFECTING HALF OF AMERICAN ADULTS THE ONE-THIRD OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE IT.

JOINING US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, IS Dr. WALLACE JOHNSON, AN INTENTER MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND HYPERTENSION SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER AND ASSISTTANT PROFESSOR OF METHOD KIN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> Jeff: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR OLDER ADULTS TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE AND HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING I LIKE TO DO IS TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THE NUMBERS ARE SO LARGE.

WE MADE THAT QUOTE, ONE-HALF OF AMERICAN ADULTS ARE GOING TO HAVE HYPERTENSION AND AFFECTED BY IT IN SOME WAY.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS NOT TOO LONG AGO, 2017 WHEN WE HELD OUR HEALTH REVIEW GUIDELINES, THEY LOWERED THE NUMBER.

WE USED TO 3140 OVER 90 AND NOW 130 OVER 80 AND IT MADE THE NUMBER OF QUOTE HYPERTENSION PATIENTS GROW.

>> Jeff: MOVING THE GOALPOSTS?

PEOPLE WERE HAPPY AT 140.

BUT THERE WAS A REASON FOR THE CHANGE.

>> EXACTLY.

THERE WAS A STUDY THAT CAME OUT WHERE THEY FOUND THAT PEOPLE WHO COULD GET THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE TO LOWER NUMBERS MORE LIKE 130 OVER 80, DID BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE 140 OVER 90.

AS A RESULT THEY SAID WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO REDUCE, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT REDUCING CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AND REDUCING CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

THAT IS WHY ADULTS ESPECIALLY AS WE GET TO BE OLDER NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HITTING YOUR NUMBER KNOWING YOUR GOAL AND KNOWING WHAT YOUR GOAL IS AND HITTING YOUR GOAL.

>> Jeff: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE TREATMENT OPTIONS YOU HAVE.

FOR A PERSON THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, WHAT DO YOU DO TO ENSURE THAT AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU DON'T DEVELOP HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

>> OKAY.

WELL, THE THINGS THAT YOU PROBABLY HAD HEARD ALREADY BETWEEN DIET AND EXERCISE.

WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISE, WE TELL PEOPLE NATURALLY THAT HE DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND BECOME A WEEKEND WARRIOR YOU WANT TO ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN AND SAY I'M THINKING ABOUT DOING A HYPERTENSION PREVENTION INITIATIVE, FOR YOURSELF.

AND YOU CAN SAY TO YOURSELF AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK IS DO I NEED A STRESS TEST?

I'M ABOUT TO DO A VIGOROUS EXERCISE PROGRAM DO I NEED A STRESS TEST.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO DO TO PREVENT MY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE FROM RISING.

I WANT TO EXERCISE AND TRY TO GET MY 150 MINUTES A WEEK OR MORE.

AND THE SECOND THING YOU WANT TO ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR DIET WHAT CHANGES MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A MORE REALISTIC WAY.

BECAUSE THE PHYSICIAN IS GOING TO HOPEFULLY KNOW PERSONAL THINGS ABOUT YOU.

MORE REALTYLISTIC ABOUT MAINTAINING.

EVERYBODY HAS A FAD DIET THEY CAN DO FOR THREE TO SIX MONTHS.

THE QUESTION I HAVE AFTER THAT SIX TO 12 MONTHS WHAT HAPPENS?

AND THAT IS ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE.

>> Jeff: YOU DON'T HAVE A MAGIC BULLET?

>> IF I DID I WOULD USE IT ON MYSELF A COUPLE TIMES AS WELL.

BUT, ENGINE IT'S ABOUT A LIFESTYLE CHANGE NOT A FAD.

>> Jeff: WHAT ABOUT MEDICAL TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION?

YOU HAVE THE LIFESTYLE SIDE OF IT, BUT YOU HAVE PILLS AND SOME PEOPLE ARE HAPPY TO POP A PILL AS OPPOSED TO DOING 150 MINUTES OF EXERCISE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Jeff: HAS THERE BEEN ANY CHANGE IN MEDICAL THERAPY?

>> YES.

OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH GOING ON ON DIFFERENT PATHWAYS.

REMEMBER WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, IT HAS TO GET HIGHWAYSED ON A CERTAIN MECHANISM.

SOMETIMES THE MECHANISM MAYBE THE BODY DOESN'T HANDLE SALT APPROPRIATELY.

SOMETIME THE MECHANISM MAYBE THE BLOOD VESSELS ARE SQUEEZED DOWN.

SO THEREFORE THE BLOOD PRESSURE IS NOT SURPRISING IT GOES UP.

OR SOMETIMES HEAR THE WORD HYPERTENSION AND THINK ABOUT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM BEING HYPER OR BEING SUPER SENSITIVE.

THINGS CAN MAKE THE BLOOD PRESSURE GO UP.

AND OF COURSE, WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WHITE COAT HYPERTENSION WHERE PEOPLE HAVE A SENSITIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

>> Jeff: I BOUGHT ONE OF THESE MACHINES, AND IT'S GREAT.

AT HOME MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS PERFECT.

DELIGHTED TO SHARE READINGS WITH ANYBODY.

BUT I WALK INTO YOUR OFFICE OR THE OFFICE OF SOMEBODY WEARING A WHITE COAT AND IT GOES UP 10 POINTS?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE CAN RESONATE WITH THE WORD HYPERTENSION.

BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HYPERTENSION MAYBE MORE HYPER.

THE TRUTH IS YOU CAN BE CALM AND HAVE HYPERTENSION.

BUT THE REALITY THE SITUATION IS SOME PEOPLE DO HAVE OVERACTIVE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEMS AND MORE PREDISPOSED TO HAVE INCREASES IN THE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE WHITE COAT SYNDROME.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR MEN'S HEALTH MONTH CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR SEND AN E-MAIL TO LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

THIS IS MEN'S HEALTH MONTH.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT MEN TO BE THINKING ABOUT?

>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANT MEN TO BE THINKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IS ALSO THINK ABOUT THE TWO BIG ONES.

AND I USE A PHRASE IN MY PRACTICE, I CALL IT CIC.

PEOPLE SAY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

YOU THINK ABOUT THE THREE BIG THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE PREVENTIBLE CAUSES OF DEATH.

CANCER, INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES.

WHEN YOU GET THE BIG THREE INVOLVED THAT REPRESENTS AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SO WHAT MEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IN ADDITION TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE THEY NEED TO THINK ABOUT CANCER AS WELL.

I TELL PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THE HEAD TO TOE EVALUATION AND THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT SKIN CANCER ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL YOU HAVE TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN.

AND WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR PARTS THAT GETS MOST EXPOSED?

FACE, NECK IF YOU DON'T WEAR A HAT YOU WILL GET OVERSUN EXPOSURE.

SKIN CANCER.

AND YOU HIT THE LUNGS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LUNG CANCER FOR HYPERTENSION REASONS AND CARDIOVASCULAR REASONS IF YOU ARE A SMOKER, YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO STOP SMOKING.

AND ALSO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE LUNGS YOU THINK ABOUT WERE YOU IN YOUR YOUNGER YEARS OR NOW DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR HOME OR YOUR WORKPLACE CONSIDERED A TOXIN.

A LOT OF ASBESTOS WE KNOW IN MARYLAND, AND IF IT IS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE OUR EXPOSURE.

CIGARETTE SMOKE FIRSTHAND OR SECOND HAND CIGARETTE SMOKE.

AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT NOW, WHICH IS CALLED THIRDHAND CIGARETTE SMOKE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HADN'T HEARD OF IT AND THAT IS A SITUATION WHERE IF SOMEBODY IS SMOKING IN THE HOME AND CIGARETTE SMOKE IS GETTING ON A CHILD'S TOYS THEN MAYBE BY THEM TOUCHING THE TOYS AND PUTTING THEIR HANDS IN THE MOUTH THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO TOXINS THAT WAY.

SOMETHING WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT BEFORE AND WE TALK ABOUT THIRDHAND SMOKE.

SO WHEN I TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO GET MOTIVATED AND NOT SMOKING ONE *FT THINGS I SAY TO THE MEMBERS IF YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN THAT PLAY IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOU SMOKE A LOT INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, MAYBE YOU ARE EXPOSING THEM TO THIRDHAND SMOKE EVEN IF THEY COME IN AFTER YOU FINISHED SMOKING.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THE CONTEXT OF OVERALL HEALTH.

AND IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT DOCTORS AND PATIENTS TYPICALLY HAVE TOGETHER THESE DAYS, HOW DO YOU BRING THAT UP?

>> FIRST OF ALL I BRING IT UP IN THE WAY OF JUST SAYING NOW, OF COURSE, OUR JOB IS EASIER THAN IT WAS WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS MANY YEARS AGO.

WE NOW HAVE MORE AND MORE MOVING AWAY FROM THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE SEE BLACK MICHAEL PHELPS NOW DOING COMMERCIALS ON MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 25 YEARS AGO.

WHEN I BRING IT UP IN MY CONVERSATION, I SAY IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL SO STRESSED THAT YOU FEEL LIKE IT AFFECTS YOUR FUNCTIONING AND HOW YOU RELATE TO OTHERS?

AND THAT IS THE WAY OF IN A NONTHREATENING SORT OF WAY BRINGING SOMETHING UP.

BECAUSE FOR MEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, AND WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO BE STOIC, BECAUSE STOIC IS STRONG.

GETTING EMOTIONAL THAT LOOKS LIKE NON-MALE BUT STOIC STRONG.

AND THINK ABOUT THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH IT, TOO.

AND TERRY BRADSHAW WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE HE SAID, HEY I WAS TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND EVERYBODY WENT CRAZY.

WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH BUT MEN CAME ON TV HIS FELLOW FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND TALKED ABOUT ADULTERY, AND THINGS AND PEOPLE SAID OKAY.

YOU START TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND TERRY BRADSHAW SAYS I GOT A DIFFERENT REACTION THAN OTHER COLLEAGUES WHICH THEY DID THINGS I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT DOING.

GOT A DIFFERENT REACTION WHEN I STARTED TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION THE WAY I BRING IT UP IN MY PRACTICE IS TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE A THOUGHT PROCESS THAT INTERFERE WITH YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS OR MIGHT HINDER THE WAY YOU INTERACT AT YOUR WORKPLACE OR HOME PLACE.

>> Jeff: A COUPLE OF VIEWERS QUESTIONS.

IS THERE A SUCH THING AS A HEALTHY LOW BLOOD PRESSURE?

WHAT WOULD THAT NUMBER BE?

THERE IS A POINT THAT IT CAN BE TOO LOW.

IF YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT MAYBE HOW LOW IS TOO LOW?

WHAT WOULD BE OKAY.

>> WHAT WE GENERALLY TELL PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER NOW YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN BLOOD PRESSURE TO PER FUSE THE ORGANS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DOES IS CAN BRING DESTRUCTION TO THE BLOOD VESSELS OVER TIME AND IT MINIMIZES THE FLOW OF BLOOD TO THE ORGANS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE KIDNEY, THE KIDNEY WE TALK ABOUT WELL LET'S TRY TO MAINTAIN A BLOOD PRESSURE OF 110 FOR THE TOP NUMBER.

BECAUSE REMEMBER NOW IN A LOT OF OLDER ADULTS THE TOP NUMBER WILL TEND TO INCREASE OUT OF PROPORTION TO HOW MUCH THEIR BOTTOM 9, IS.

I TELL PEOPLE 110 IS A NICE CUSHION TO SHOOT FOR.

WE TELL PEOPLE 130 OVER 80 AND DOES THAT MEAN 98 IS OKAY.

I DON'T SHOOT FOR 98 OR SHOOT FOR 102.

I TRY TO SAY 110 OR HIGHER IN THE SWEET SPOT.

110, 120, 122 IS A BETTER WAY TO THINK OF IT.

>> Jeff: CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE REASON WHY YOUR THYROID WOULD PREVENTED YOU FROM LOSING WEIGHT?

>> WELL, THE THYROID, REMEMBER IS INVOLVED WITH ASPECTS OF METABOLISM.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TWO PEOPLE EAT THE SAME FOOD ONE GUY GOES TO THE BALL GAME AND EATS FOUR HOT DOGS AND YOU SEE HIM NEXT WEEK AND HE HASN'T GAINED A POUND.

ANOTHER GUY LOOKS THE HALF OF A HOT DOG AND HE CAN'T FIT OUT OF THE DOOR OF THE BALL PARK.

WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU HAVE A UNDER ACTIVE THYROID YOU TEND TO NOT METABOLIZE AS QUICKLY OR SLOWER, YOUR MET TABLISM WILL BE SLOWER AND YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO GAIN WEIGHT AND A TENDENCY WHEN YOU HAVE HYPER OR OVERACTIVE THYROID THE METABOLISM GOES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SOMEBODY MAY LOSE WEIGHT.

>> Lindsey: LET'S TALK >> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES.

AND WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THERE ARE ALSO ACCESS TO CARE ISSUES.

A DOUBLE WHAMMY.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEFINITION FIRST.

WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PREVENTIBLE DIFFERENCES WHICH HAVE AN IMPACT ON DIFFERENT SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS.

IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN IS ONE EXAMPLE AND ALSO NOW WE KNOW THERE IS A THING CALLED DOCTOR DESERTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES NOW WHERE PHYSICIANS MOVED OUT OR GOTTEN OLDER OR RETIRED THEY HAVE PLACES WHERE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 50 PLUS MILES TO SEE ANY KIND OF PHYSICIAN.

IN PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO AS A RESULT THAT CAN BRING ABOUT WHAT A HEALTH DISPARITY THAT IS ACCESS DISPARITY.

BUT WITHIN CITIES LIKE BALTIMORE, CHICAGO, NEW YORK, WHATEVER IT MAYBE THERE ARE ACCESS ISSUES.

IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE THERE IS A SMALL NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS PRACTICING IN THEIR COMMUNITY THEN THEY USE THE EMERGENCY ROOM AS THEIR ACCESS POINT FOR CARE AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHEN IT'S BUSY.

AND PEOPLE WE HEARD ALL THE HORROR STORIES PEOPLE PASSING AWAY WHILE WAITING IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> Jeff: ARE YOU TAKING NEW PATIENTS?

>> YES, I AM.

>> Dr. WALLACE JOHNSON, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER.

>> Jeff: A 10-YEAR ECONOMIC PLAN FOR CENTRAL MARYLAND WE SPOKE WITH MARK ANTHONY THOMAS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

>> LAST YEAR WE ANNOUNCED WE'RE GOING TO PRODUCE A 10-YEAR PLAN FOR THE GBC.

AND IN SOME WAY, WHAT THE PLAN DOES IS IT GIVES PEOPLE A FRAMEWORK OF WHAT THE DBC WILL PRIORITIZE AND THE TABLES WILL SET FOR THE WORK THAT WE WANT TO DO AND ALSO THE IMPACT WE ENVISION FOR THE REGION.

SO WE HIRED A FIRM OUT OF TEXAS THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, THEY WORKED WITH OVER 200 OF OUR PARTNERS AND A STEERING COMMITTEE AND OUR ECONOMIC PARTNERS ON THE PUBLIC SECTOR SIDE TO CRAFT THE ROLE THAT THE GBC WILL PLAY ACROSS INDUSTRY GROWTH, DIFFERENT REAL ESTATE INITIATIVES, AND DIFFERENT AREAS OF QUALITY OF LIFE THAT SUPPORT THE BROADER REGION.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS DOCUMENT FOR YOU?

>> WELL, [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] TEAM AND THE GBC AND PARTNERS WILL FOCUS ON.

AND IF I WANT TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE INITIATIVES, I NEED TO EITHER BE ACTIVE WITH THE GBC OR A PARTNER.

THEN THE ACTUAL MARKET ITSELF.

AND THAT IS OUR BROADER REGION.

AND ONE OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT WE ENVISION ARE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES WHAT ARE AREAS THAT WERE STRONG THAT WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN.

WHAT DOES THE BROADER ADVISORY COMMITTEE DO AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE BALTIMORE REGION AND HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN OUR POSITIONING WITH THEM.

AND THEN ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN ISSUES THAT WE CAN MAKE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IF WE COLLABORATE TO SUPPORT.

AND THE PLAN MAPS THAT OUT PRETTY EXTENSIVELY BUT AT A LEVEL THAT WE CAN CREATE THE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING A NEWCOMER TO BALTIMORE.

YOU'VE DONE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A NUMBER OF OTHER MARKETS.

SO YOU HAVE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE.

AND WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN BALTIMORE AND STARTED LOOKING AT THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC SITUATION, WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS?

WHERE WERE THE STRENGTHS AND THE WEAKNESSES AND SO FORTH?

>> WELL, SOME WAY BALTIMORE IS A -- ALREADY A DYNAMIC MARKET IF ANYTHING WE'RE STAGNANT.

THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THE COMPETITIVE MARKETS HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS INVESTMENTS TO CATALYZE INNOVATION, AND DEAL WITH HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER THINGS THAT WILL HELP THEM THRIVE LONG TERM.

MY GOAL WAS TO REALLY POSITION THE GBC TO BE THAT DRIVING FORCE FOR THAT TYPE OF SCALE OF IMPACT.

AND SO THE 10-YEAR PLAN WAS REALLY CRITICAL FOR US TO NOW START ROLLING OUT INITIATIVES ONE BY ONE THAT WILL COLLECTIVELY POSITION US TO THRIVE.

WE'RE NOT TALK TAKING THE PLACE OF THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR OR NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT COMPANIES CAN DO ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.

THE THINGS REQUIRE A BROAD TABLE AND A LOT OF COLLABORATION TO BE IMPACTFUL.

>> Jeff: I SAW AN OP-ED THAT YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

YOU SAID WE'RE BEHIND AND WE'RE BEHIND IN SIMPLY HAVING A LONG-TERM PLAN.

I'M SURE OTHER LONG-TERM PLANS HAVE COME ALONG.

HAVE THEY BEEN DEFICIENT IN SOME WAY?

>> I THINK THE WAY YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT NO ONE HANDED ME A PLAN AND SAID THESE ARE THE AREAS OF GROWTH, THESE ARE THE TRENDS THAT WE NEED TO BE AHEAD OF.

AND THESE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT WE'RE PASSING THE TORCH FOR YOU TO CONTINUE.

SO TO ME IT WAS SETTING A BRAND NEW PATHWAY AT LEAST BASED ON THE CAPACITY OF THE GBC TO HAVE THE IMPACT THAT I BELIEVE IS CRITICAL.

OTHER MARKETS, EVEN WHEN I THINK ABOUT LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PITTSBURGH AND HAVING WORKED IN NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES, THEY ALL ARE OPERATING UNDER LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PLANS.

AND I'M CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THAT WORK BUT THE FOUNDATION WAS LAID YEARS AGO.

WITH OUR PEER GROUPS WHO PROVIDE BASICALLY THAT SUSTAINED LEADERSHIP THROUGH NEW MAYORS NEW GOVERNORS AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PLAY.

>> Jeff: ONE OF THE CONCRETE THINGS THAT I SAW IN THE REPORT IS THE FINDING THAT WE'RE JUST NOT DOING ENOUGH TO CAPITALIZE ON THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT'S BEING DONE AROUND HERE.

EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY COULD THE GBC, COULD THE CITY, COULD THE STATE BE DOING THAT THEY ARE NOT?

>> THERE IS A ROLE FOR ALL OF US TO PLAY IN CHANGING THAT.

IF ANYTHING WE HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING FEDERAL DOLLARS BEING SUCH A GLOBAL RESEARCH HUB THAT WE HAVE NOT EMPHASIZED AS MUCH THE COMMERCIALIZATION THE TECH TRANSFER PIECE OF THIS.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WORK THAT HOPKINS AND UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, AND A LOT OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOLS HAVE DONE TO START TO CREATE MORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS AND TOOLS THAT TAKE RESOURCE TO SCALE WE CAN DO THAT AT A MUCH MORE ROBUST LEVEL BUT IT DOES REQUIRE PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO INVEST.

IT REQUIRES THE ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS TO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT STUDENTS FILL IF THEY WERE TO STAY OR RESEARCHERS WHO ARE ATTRACTED HERE NO COMMERCIALIZE NEW TECHNOLOGIES BUT IT HAS TO BE ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH TO REALLY COMPARE WITH MARKERS THAT WE HAVE ASSETS THAT ARE COMPARABLE TO BUT ARE NOT PRODUCING NEW COMPANIES AT THE SAME LEVEL.

>> Jeff: ONE TAKEAWAY FOR ME WAS THAT IT POINTED TO A MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN WORKERS SKILLS AND EMPLOYER NEEDS.

IT'S ON THE EMPLOYERS TO TRAIN PEOPLE, BUT I GUESS IT'S BROADLY ON THE REGION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE AND GROW THOSE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AHEAD OF TIME.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

TO SOME EXTENT WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE COINCIDENCE.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN INTENTIONAL FIVE YEARS FROM NOW THESE ARE THE INDUSTRIES THAT NEW COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE BORN IN.

OR NEW START-UPS THAT ARE GOING TO HIRE TALENT IN.

AND WE CAN START THAT WORK TODAY.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE WORKFORCE PARTNERS LIKE THEY ARE WELL CONNECTED THEY WILL LOVE TO HAVE A GREATER SENSE OF WHERE THEY ENVISION THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE ARE HEADING.

AND OBVIOUSLY COMPANIES KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY SEE WHERE THEY ARE INVESTING AND SCALING.

PART OF OUR EFFORT WITH CREATING THE REGIONAL SCORECARD WAS TO SHOW THIS IS WHERE VENTURE CAPITAL IS FUNDING ALL THE NEW COMPANIES IN THE BALTIMORE REGION.

AND IT WILL GIVE US A SENSE OF THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES THAT WE ENVISION AND THEN CREATE THOSE JOBS.

BUT THIS WILL BE A MAJOR PART OF HOW WE BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO HOW WE STAY INFORMED WHERE THE ECONOMY IS HEADING.

>> Jeff: YOU'RE ALSO WORKING WITH A PLACE MAKING OR PLACE BRANDING CONSULTANT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT IDEA BEFORE, THE IDEA THAT YOU NEED AS A REGION OR HELPFUL AS A REGION TO HAVE AN OVERALL WELL-KNOWN IDENTITY.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?

>> YEAH.

SOME WAY, BALTIMORE IS SUCH A KNOWN PLACE BUT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND OUR ECONOMY.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL IT HAS.

I THINK AND A RANDOM TWIST OF FATE WITH THE KEY BRIDGE IS DID CREATE THIS BROADER APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THE BALTIMORE PORT AND OUR INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY REPRESENTS.

BUT WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR ECONOMY THAT WE NEED TO AMPLIFY THAT MESSAGE.

AND IT WILL START TO ATTRACT MORE INVESTMENT.

IT WILL ATTRACT TALENT.

AND ALL OF THAT WORK WILL BE BORN AND ELEVATED THROUGH THE BRANDING INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE LAUNCHING.

>> Jeff: TOO SOON TO TELL US WHAT YOU'RE THINKING OF?

>> IT WILL ALIGN WITH THE 10-YEAR PLAN.

THE AREAS WE SEE THE THREE BIG OPPORTUNITY AREAS ON THE INDUSTRY SIDE WILL GENERALLY BE THE STORY THAT WE WANT TO TELL.

OUR STRATEGY AND TO ME THAT IS WHAT I'VE SEEN THE GLOBAL MEDIA ECOSYSTEM WANTS TO LEARN ABOUT.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE BUILDING?

WHAT ARE YOU CREATING?

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT THAT IS EXCITING AND NEW FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT.

AND BALTIMORE HASN'T TOLD THAT STORY THE WAY WE CAN.

AND NOW WE CAN CHANGE THAT.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED THE KEY BRIDGE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS A MASSIVE HUMAN TRAGEDY, A BIG BLOW TO THE REGION'S ECONOMY AND BASICALLY JUST STOPPING TRAFFIC AT THE PORT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT GOING FORWARD?

THE SHIPPING CHANNELS BEING REOPENED.

DOES EVERYTHING GET BACK TO NORMAL QUICKLY?

OR IS THERE SOME WORK TO DO?

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY WORK TO DO.

AND OBVIOUSLY LOSING THE BRIDGE ITSELF IS A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE LOSS TO THE BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THAT MAJOR PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THEIR WORK.

AND SO WE OBVIOUSLY HELPED STAND UP THE MARYLAND TOUGH BALTIMORE STRONG ALLIANCE THAT INCLUDED OVER 130 PARTNERS WHO GAVE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED.

BUT WE'RE IN THIS FOR THE LONG-TERM.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE TIMING OF US REALLY CELEBRATING WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT TRADEPOINT ATLANTIC AND NOW NEEDING TO BE A KEY PARTNER WITH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR HOW WE REENERGIZE AND GROW THAT PART OF THE ECONOMY, THIS WILL ALL BE PART OF THE WORK THAT THE GBC WILL DO BUT IT WILL BE A LONGER TERM EFFORT FOR US TO SEED THE RESTORATION OF THAT SECTOR AND SEE IT GROW.

>> Jeff: LAST QUESTION, IF I MAY, THERE IS A FEDERAL TECH HUB COMPETITION.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN IT?

>> WE HAVE LED THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THERE WERE CLOSE TO 400 MARKETS THAT APPLIED TO BE DESIGNATED AS ONE OF 31 TECH HUB WHICH WOULD BE PRIORITIZE REGIONS FOR FEDERAL TECH INVESTMENT THAT WILL LAUNCH THE CHIPPINGS ACT AND GROWING THEIR TECH INNOVATION ECO-SYSTEMS.

SINCE WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN BEING DESIGNATED WE ARE IN THE FINAL ROUND OF THE FIRST PHASE OF FUNDING AND WE APPLIED FOR $70 MILLION WITH 48 PARTNERS THAT IF SUCCESSFUL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN HISTORY.

WE SHOULD FIND OUT THIS SUMMER IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL.

NO MATTER HOW THINGS PAN WE'RE READY TO GO AS FAR AS REALLY INVESTING IN THAT PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

AND ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT OTHER FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO GROW OUR ECONOMY.

>> Jeff: MARK ANTHONY THOMAS, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE ARE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRY A EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[*]