Mary D. Kane, president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce since October 2021, has deep professional roots in the region.
In Washington, Kane has been executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, president and CEO of Sister Cities International and director of the National Museum of American Diplomacy. In Maryland, she was the fourth female secretary of state in state history and was also board chair at Mount St. Mary’s University.
What is the most valuable habit you have developed?
Being a proactive listener. We learn the needs of our member businesses, then I rely on the expertise of my staff and other state chambers to more effectively support our members and understand the consequences that legislation would have on our members.
What is the biggest challenge facing government leaders in Maryland?
We need to attract and support new businesses to strengthen our economy, so to do that, we must create policies good for business to be more competitive. For employers, the safety and liability issues that arise from legal cannabis are of concern. We also need to improve transportation and address crime while trying to fund the Blueprint for Education. We need to proceed with caution so tax increases aren’t required once the state budget surplus has been spent.
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This profile is part of The Daily Record's Power Government & Lobbyist list for 2023. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at thedailyrecord.com>. |