Members’ Corner: Will Holmes
Name, Title, Organization:
Will Holmes, Founder & CEO of Will Holmes Consulting (WHC) and Founder of the Baltimore Economic Leadership League
Explain your background in economic development:
WHC was founded in 2006. But since 2019, WHC has served as the prime contractor to 7 government economic development agencies. This model is fundamentally a risk mitigation strategy for the public sector. Instead of dedicating significant time and taxpayer funds to develop a new, unproven program internally, a county agency can contract for a proven “product” with a documented history of success in neighboring jurisdictions. This arrangement transfers a significant portion of the performance risk to WHC, whose ability to secure future contracts is contingent upon delivering measurable results. It allows the public agency to achieve its economic development objectives with greater speed, higher efficiency, and a greater probability of success than if it were to act alone.
What are your key priorities within your current position?
My key priorities are developing technical solutions, networking opportunities, and new curriculum for startups, business owners, and business leaders to help them increase sales, create SOPs, scale their businesses, access capital, and create jobs in their communities.
Does one particular project spark your excitement? If so, describe it below.
Our entrepreneurship curriculum is currently taught in Baltimore City and 6 counties: Anne Arundel, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Talbot and Prince George’s. We have over 700 graduates and they have created over 1000 jobs in Maryland. The economic impact is measurable and the gratitude we receive from our grads is amazing. It feels good to help people walk in their purpose and positively impact their communities.
What professional pressures keep you up at night?
Finding new counties and agencies to partner with is exciting. Sometimes it’s hard to go to sleep with all that energy. There are so many more people to empower and jobs to create!
What attributes are unique to your community?
We serve communities across the country. However, the collective impact of our 8-week model on Maryland’s local economies is significant, supported by both quantitative data and strong qualitative validation from key public and private stakeholders. By aggregating the results from various county-level programs, a clear picture emerges of a highly effective public-private partnership that generates a substantial return on investment through job creation, revenue growth, and enhanced community vitality.
What are your locality’s top three “selling points” for future growth?
Our entrepreneurship training model has already proven its ability to scale within Maryland, adapting from the urban-suburban environment of the Baltimore-Washington corridor to the rural economies of the Eastern Shore. Furthermore, WHC’s work on a national level with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the National Disability Institute demonstrate the curriculum’s broader applicability. This model is exceptionally well-suited for replication in Tier 2 cities and rural counties across the United States. Such jurisdictions often face the dual challenge of needing to support a small-business-driven economy while lacking the extensive internal resources of major metropolitan hubs. The WHC turnkey approach provides a clear blueprint for how these communities can implement a high-caliber business accelerator program by partnering with an expert external provider, thereby achieving their economic goals without the cost and risk of building a program from the ground up. The success in Maryland serves as a powerful set of case studies for a national audience.
If you could wave a magic wand, what would you want to work with MEDA on to move Maryland forward?
I believe it is important to support entrepreneurs who want to create jobs in Maryland. More jobs mean greater opportunities for Maryland residents. More jobs mean more homeowners, greater utilization of commercial space, and a larger tax base to fund schools, hospitals and strengthen communities. I would support any MEDA initiatives that create jobs.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with MEDA and your fellow members?
If you need something, ask me. I joined MEDA to help others create jobs in their communities.
Please include any personal background information that you’d like to share:
Just three things. 1. I am a Father to one Son. He is my greatest achievement. 2. I am born and raised in Baltimore. Go Ravens! 3. I am here to help. That is my purpose.
