Comptroller of Maryland

The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland has made significant strides in empowering women under the leadership of Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman, who took office in 2023. As the state’s first female comptroller, Lierman has prioritized elevating women’s voices at all levels of the organization.

The agency has implemented several initiatives to support women, including the reestablishment of the civil rights and fair practices office, appointment of women to senior leadership positions and development of employee feedback mechanisms. Of the 16 new leadership positions created under Lierman’s administration, 63% have been filled by women.

“The Comptroller is poignantly clear – she wants the female voice to be heard because she believes in the power and potential of women,” said Gracelyn McDermott, vice president of marketing sales and business development for Kaiser Permanente.

The office has also focused on professional development opportunities for women. It partnered with McKinsey to enroll staff in the Connected Leaders Academy, a training program aimed at improving inclusion and equity within organizations.

Laura Bacon, founder of The 3rd, praised the office’s efforts: “TOCM is an example of how an organization can build in foundational practices at any point in its existence.”

The agency has expanded its public engagement efforts, with six dedicated Regional Public Engagement Officers working to increase access for underserved communities. It has also proposed legislation to protect filers from unregistered tax preparers and provide funding for tax clinics and outreach about individual tax credits.

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.