Maryland Black Legislative Caucus Celebrates Historic Gains for Black Businesses 

Forecasts the Work That Lies Ahead 

Over 1,000 minority business owners made the pilgrimage to attend the 2024 MBE Night in Annapolis held February 22, 2024. This annual event has become a highlight of Maryland’s legislative session bringing together small and minority-owned businesses with Maryland state agencies, department heads, and elected officials. Founded by former Delegate Herman Taylor, the event is co-sponsored by the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. 

The evening was filled with panel discussions and an overview of the 2024 Session in Annapolis was offered by Legislative Black Caucus Chair Delegate Janelle Wilkins (District 20) along with Event Co-Chair, Senator Nick Charles of Maryland’s 25th District. Remarks were offered by Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones; Attorney General Anthony Brown; Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman; Treasurer Dereck Davis; and Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kevin Anderson.

In addition to Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, others representing the Moore-Miller Administration included Secretary Atif T. Chaudhry, General Services Administration; Transportation Secretary, Paul J. Wiedefeld; Ricky Smith, Executive Director of the Maryland Aviation Administration which includes the BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport; Craig Thompson, Chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority; Secretary of the Environment, Serena Mcllwain; and Yolanda Maria Martinez, Special Secretary of Small, Minority, and Women’s Business Affairs. Also in attendance was Audrey Johnson, Executive Director of the Maryland Office of Social Equity who oversees the state’s developing cannabis industry. Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of Maryland TEDCO was also on hand to discuss opportunities for funding tech-oriented ventures.

A discussion on “Black CEOs Growth and Success” featured B. Doyle Mitchell, CEO of Industrial Bank and Warren Thompson, CEO of Thompson Hospitality. The discussion was moderated by Delegate Jazz Lewis of Maryland’s 24th District. They discussed the challenges and triumphs of managing and scaling up successful Black businesses.

Another panel composed of the presidents of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) was moderated by Delegate Scott Phillips of the 10th District engaging Morgan University President, Dr. David K. Wilson; Dr. Aminta A. Breaux, President of Bowie State University; Dr. Heidi Anderson, President of University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and Dr. Anthony Jenkins, Coppin State University President. The group shared the numerous and potentially profitable opportunities for more minority businesses supporting their institutions’ operations and future growth. 

A highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Maryland governor, Wes Moore, who reiterated his commitment to increase opportunities for minority businesses by meeting or exceeding the state’s goals for MBE participation. He inspired the crowd as he began his remarks acknowledging Austin Taylor, the son of MBE Night Founder Herman Taylor by remarking, “This young man is the reason that we are all here tonight.” He further stated: “It is our responsibility to lay a firm foundation for him and his peers to become the next generation of successful minority entrepreneurs” After placing his lapel pin on the boy’s jacket, he commenced to offer statistics reporting the success in the past year of the efforts of Maryland agencies to reach their goals for doing business with minority companies. Governor Moore further pledged to continue his efforts to ensure equity and opportunity for minority businesses in the years ahead.