Serving Those Who Served Starts with One Question

At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, attendees will hear how Maryland is helping connect more veterans and military families with benefits and services through a simple screening process.

Many veterans never identify themselves when interacting with government agencies. As a result, they may never learn about programs or support available to them.

Serving Those Who Served: Smarter Screening for Stronger Veteran Support

County governments interact with residents every day, making them an important partner in identifying veterans and connecting them with available resources. Maryland has begun incorporating veteran screening into routine customer interactions, creating new opportunities to improve service delivery without creating significant new administrative burdens.

Panelists will discuss why veteran screening matters, how the initiative has been implemented across State agencies, lessons learned along the way, and how counties can strengthen partnerships that connect veterans and military families with services, benefits, and support.

Speakers:

  • The Honorable Ed Rothstein, Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families
  • Christine Nizer, Administrator, Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration
  • Jeff Nash, Executive Director, Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans

Moderator: The Honorable Delegate Mike Griffith, Maryland House of Delegates

Date/Time: Friday, August 14, 2026; 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

MACo’s Summer Conference, “Build What’s Next,” takes place August 12-15, 2026, at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. For more information, visit the conference website.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: