Guest Blog: At the Table with Maryland’s Economic Architects: Insights from the 2025 MEDA Secretaries Roundtable Discussion

By Rhett Butler, Marketing & Communications Manager, Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation | Jun 4, 2025

This blog was written by Rhett Butler, Marketing & Communications Manager, Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation

This year’s MEDA Annual Conference, themed “Maryland’s North Star: Regions Coming Together,” offered a timely and resonant reminder of the collaborative spirit that fuels economic progress across our state. As Marketing & Communications Manager for the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (PGCEDC), I had the privilege of attending the Secretaries Roundtable Discussion held on April 29, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Maryland.

Hosted in the Choptank Ballroom and sponsored by the City of Frederick and Tides at River Marsh, the session delivered what I can only describe as an energizing dialogue between Maryland’s Cabinet leadership and local economic development professionals. Each participating Secretary opened with concise, compelling insights into their department’s top priorities — from workforce pipelines and sustainable infrastructure to small business equity and agricultural innovation.

What truly set this session apart was its interactive roundtable format. Moving beyond a typical panel, this structure enabled attendees like me to engage in direct, small-group exchanges with Maryland’s top economic stewards. These leaders included:

  • Secretary Kevin Atticks, Maryland Department of Agriculture
  • Deputy Secretary Ricardo Benn, Maryland Department of Commerce
  • Secretary Jake Day, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Deputy Secretary Kristin Fleckenstein, Maryland Department of Planning
  • Special Secretary Maria Martinez, Maryland Office of Small, Minority, & Women Business Affairs
  • Secretary Serena McIlwain, Maryland Department of the Environment
  • Assistant Secretary Erin Roth, Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, Maryland Department of Labor
  • Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland Department of Transportation

For those of us representing local jurisdictions, this was more than a networking opportunity—it was a chance to align our on-the-ground initiatives with the strategic vision of the state. I left the room with not only new contacts but new context: understanding how PGCEDC’s programs—such as our Procurement 360 series and AI for Small Business initiative—can harmonize with broader statewide objectives in transportation, labor, environment, and equity.

The roundtable reinforced a critical takeaway: Maryland’s economic success depends on regional cooperation, shared intelligence, and open channels between state leaders and local practitioners. It’s an approach that MEDA has long championed—and one I look forward to advancing through our work in Prince George’s County.

Many thanks to MEDA for hosting this impactful session and to the Cabinet Secretaries for their time, transparency, and vision. The future of Maryland’s economy is brighter when we build it together.

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