Author: Leslie Velasco

Policy Associate Position Available at MACo

Leslie Velasco County News

The full-time, professional position of Policy Associate is available at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo). Principle responsibilities include covering and advocating for legislative and administrative policy issues affecting county government, policy research, and coordination with county professional organizations.

Requirements for the position include: excellent written and oral communication skills, familiarity with Maryland state and local government, ability to engage membership and stakeholders on social media, and computer proficiency. Law or Masters Degree in relevant policy area preferred.

Interested parties should refer to the application packet for information on the application process, complete position and benefits detail, and background on MACo. Completed applications are due by September 21, 2018.

From the Mountains to the Shore – MACo’s Taste of Maryland Reception Has It All!

Leslie Velasco County News, Summer Conference

Attend MACo’s Taste of Maryland Reception to sample everything Maryland has to offer!

MACo is again offering the Taste of Maryland Reception at the upcoming Summer Conference.  We are striving to showcase everything Maryland has to offer—food and beverages from the shore to the mountains and everything in between—all produced in Maryland. Hundreds of conference participants will attend this session to sample locally produced food and beverages and learn more about Maryland’s tourism and agritourism industries!

This event has been such a hit that we’ve reorganized the layout to accommodate the crowds! The new layout is much more spacious and will allow for better browsing of all the offerings. Check it out!

Allegany County – Booth #806 – Wines from Toasted Goat Winery & Tasting

Anne Arundel County Economic Development – Booth #821 – Rogue Pierogies and beer from Crooked Crab Brewing

Baltimore City – Booth #807 – Berger Cookies

Baltimore County – Booth #815 – Pretzel bites from Bakery Express and Heavy Seas Beer

Calvert County – Booth #800 – Cakes by Amanda, Wine from Fridays Creek Winery, Running Hare Vineyard, Solomons Island Winery & Perigeaux Vineyards Winery

Caroline County – Booth #828 – Apple wine from Blades Orchard

Carroll County – Booth #822 – Wine from Old Westminster Winery and coconut Macarons from JeannieBird Baking Company

Cecil County – Booth #805 – Mild & Spicy beef sticks from Galvinell Meat Company and chocolate covered sea salt caramel popcorn from North East Chocolates

Charles County – Booth #801 – Cookies from Charles Street Bakery

Dorchester County – Booth #816 – Wines from Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery and oysters from Hoopers Island Oyster Aquaculture Company

Frederick County – Booth #814 –  Beer from Flying Dog & Milkhouse Brewery, Wine from Catoctin Breeze Vineyard and chocolate from Zoe’s Chocolate Company

Garrett County – Booth #825 – Cookies from Trader’s Coffee House

Harford County – Booth #813 – Cold Cappuccinos and Scones from Coffee Coffee

Kent County – Booth #827 – Gluten free brownies & lemon tarts from Figgs Ordinary

Montgomery County – Booth #803 and 804 – Gourmet caramels from Velatis

Queen Anne’s County – Booth #808 – Craft beer from Bull & Goat Brewery

Prince George’s County & M-NCPPC – Booth #817 and 818 – Wine from Romano Vineyard & Winery and brownies from Geppetto Catering Company

Somerset County – Booth #812 – Smith Island Cakes

Talbot County – Booth #823 – – Fisherman’s Daughter Brand Oysters from Phillips Wharf Environmental Center

Visit St. Mary’s MD – Booth #802 – Wine from Port of Leonardtown Winery

Washington County – Booth #819 and 820 – Cheeses, crackers, filo cups, bacon wrapped pretzel rods, Washington County beer and wine. Palmyra Farm Cheese, Pennland Pure Cheese, Caprikorn Farms Goate Cheese, Hoffman’s Meats, Long Lost Friends Farm, Milk and Honey Farm, Cool Ridge Vineyard, Big Cork Vineyards, Knob Hall Winery, Red Heifer Winery, Antietam Creek Vineyards

Wicomico County – Booth #809 – Individual samples of an assortment of pies from a local bakery – Ugly Pie

Worcester County – Booth #824 – Craft beer from Fin City Brewing Company Fishers Caramel Corn, and Dolle’s Saltwater Taffy

And more!!!!

Don’t miss the Taste of Maryland Reception on Thursday, August 16, from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm at the MACo Summer Conference in Ocean City. This is a ticketed event for conference registrants only, so if you don’t have a ticket, please stop by the MACo registration desk to purchase one!

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

Preview a Few #MACoCon Exhibitors – the Virtual Exhibitor Showcase is HERE!

Leslie Velasco County News, Summer Conference

MACo Summer Conference Exhibit Hall ABBACK AGAIN THIS YEAR!

230+ exhibiting companies participate in MACo’s Summer Conference tradeshow to discuss solutions and services they can offer county, state, and commercial attendees.

To help give you a preview of the companies who will be there, MACo is offering a Virtual Exhibitor Showcase on our website. Many of the vendors for the 2018 MACo Summer Conference have put together short video clips to let our conference attendees know a little bit about who they are and where their booth is located.

Take a moment to look at the clips to see what vendors will be at the conference and what products or services they have that may be of interest to you. You may review the videos on our website here.

See the full list of exhibitors here.

**If you are a current exhibitor and you haven’t yet sent your video in, feel free to email a YouTube video to Leslie Velasco at lvelasco@mdcounties.org.**

See you at the conference in a couple of weeks!

The MACo Summer Conference will be held August 15-18 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

Former MACo Executive Director Raquel Sanudo Passes

Leslie Velasco County News
Raquel Sanudo (right), as LGIT Chair, presents a risk management award in 2007 (photo courtesy of LGIT)

Raquel Sanudo, MACo Executive Director from June of 1985 through June of 1991, passed away on June 28, 2018, from pancreatic cancer. Prior to being MACo Executive Director, Sanudo had been the Executive Assistant to the Howard County Executive.

During her tenure, the MACo office grew to include six members, the Board grew to 15 members, and the Correctional Officers were added to the list of affiliate groups for a total of seven affiliates. Sanudo and then MML Executive Director Jon Burrell are credited with the establishment of the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). After leaving MACo, Sanudo became the Chief Administrative Officer for Howard County and later chaired the LGIT Board of Trustees for several years.

LGIT offered a glowing tribute to Sanudo upon her 2007 retirement from county service and Trust leadership, calling her “Ms. LGIT,” recognizing her 18 years of service on the Board of Trustees.

The Baltimore Sun wrote a very good article about Sanudo, detailing much of her life as well as many of her great accomplishments

Sanudo is survived by her husband Vincent, two children and several grandchildren.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation c/o Schoenfeld 20312 Watkins Meadow Dr. Germantown, MD 20876.

DHCD to Host MD Opportunity Zone Conference

Leslie Velasco County News

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Maryland Department of Commerce would like to invite you to take part in a Maryland Opportunity Zone Conference on July 31st from 9 am until noon in College Park, MD. Join Secretary Kenneth C. Holt (DHCD), Secretary Mike Gill (Commerce) and others to discuss new tax incentives for investing in your communities. For more information and to register, see DHCD’s website.

From the Maryland Opportunity Zones website:

The Opportunity Zone program is a nationwide initiative administered by the U.S. Treasury created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The program provides federal tax incentives for investment in distressed communities over the next 10 years. Areas designated as Oppo​rtunity Zone​s will be able to reap the benefits of capital gains to help redevelop underserved communities.

The U.S. Treasury has designated the state’s 149 Opportunity Zones. The designations will be effective for 10 years. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development will administer the program with support from the Maryland Department of Commerce.

DHCD is the proud sponsor of registration for MACo’s Summer Conference, “Water, Water Everywhere.” Visit DHCD at the conference, August 15-18, to learn more about the issues listed above and all of the great opportunities available through the Department.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

Don’t Miss Out! Fewer Than 10 #MACoCon Exhibit Booths Left!

Leslie Velasco County News, Summer Conference

The 2018 MACo Summer Conference is August 15-18 and features a 250-booth exhibit tradeshow. Exhibit Booths are selling out quickly – reserve yours today!

EXHIBITOR BROCHURE  | ONLINE EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION

The MACo Summer Conference offers the potential to bring exhibitors big results. County governments are searching for vendors offering virtually every business function and service found in Maryland. From logistics to printing, finance to office administration, training to trash removal – county governments are looking for YOU! Or your competitors.

Needless to say, if you want to do business with Maryland’s counties, you should exhibit at the MACo Summer Conference. For more details and to fill out the application form, download our MACo 2018 Summer Conference Exhibitor Brochure or register online here.

See Who’s Already Signed Up

Check out the list of vendors already signed up! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get your products and services in front of many of Maryland’s major decision makers! VIEW THE FLOORPLAN

Interested in a FREE premium booth in the entrance aisle? Contact Nicolette at 410.269.0043 or nquerry@mdcounties.org to find out how to get one! (HURRY – only a few left!)

The theme of this year’s Summer Conference – “Water, Water Everywhere” – will focus  on all the ways counties work with water. From the health of the Bay and Maryland’s waterways to the infrastructure, treatment, and regulations that ensure safe and healthy water flows through our pipes, county governments are keeping our residents afloat. Conference sessions will discuss the Bay, water infrastructure, watermen and oyster/fishery/habitat issues, floods and other natural disasters, and ways to put the wind back in the sails of a tight budget.

Benefits of being a MACo Summer Conference Exhibitor:

  • Exhibitor description and contact information displayed on MACo’s conference mobile app and website!
  • Create a 30-second video clip to be displayed as part of our online Virtual Exhibitor Showcase. The Showcase is available for viewing to everyone—conference participants and others—and goes online one month prior to conference to help participants get acquainted with your company’s services
  • Each booth will receive a list of conference attendees and their contact information
  • Exhibitors may participate in all MACo conference sessions at no additional charge
  • Table draping for your booth is included!
  • Each booth receives 2 tickets for Thursday and Friday lunches, Thursday afternoon Ice Cream and Fruit Break, and for the Thursday evening Taste of Maryland Reception
  • Additional tickets for the social events are available to exhibitors at the County Member rate (our lowest rate!)
  • Exhibitors may sign up for the Golf Tournament (additional fee and registration required)

More than 2,500 people are estimated to attend this conference, including: County Executives, Council Members, and Commissioners; county staff from all county departments; business representatives; Senators and Delegates; Congressmen; State and Federal officials and staff; basically, anyone who has anything to do with local government in Maryland!

Don’t miss this opportunity to show what your company can do for Maryland’s counties!

Read more about our Summer Conference exhibit halls in the brochure.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

Only 20 Booths Left – Sign up NOW to Exhibit at MACo’s 2018 Summer Conference

Leslie Velasco County News, MACo Events, Summer Conference

Exhibit booth spaces are going fast! Now is the time to sign up to exhibit at MACo’s Summer Conference August 15 – 18 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD.

Looking for a Big Exhibitor Opportunity? 

MACo Exhibit Hall
200+ exhibiting companies gather each to build
new relationships at MACo’s Summer Conference

The MACo 2018 Summer Conference offers the potential to bring exhibitors big results. County governments are searching for vendors offering virtually every business function and service found in Maryland. From logistics to printing, finance to office administration, training to trash removal – county governments are looking for YOU! Or your competitors…

Needless to say, if you want to do business with Maryland’s counties, you should exhibit at the MACo Summer Conference. For more details and to fill out the application form, download our MACo 2018 Summer Conference Exhibitor Brochure or register online. See the full list of registered vendors here.

Benefits of being a MACo Summer Conference Exhibitor:

  • Exhibitor description and contact information displayed in MACo’s printed program, the conference mobile app, and our website!
  • Each booth may receive a list of conference attendees and their contact information
  • Exhibitors may participate in all MACo conference sessions at no additional charge
  • Table draping for your booth is included!
  • Each booth receives 2 tickets for Thursday and Friday lunches, the Thursday Ice Cream and Fruit Break and for the Thursday evening Taste of Maryland Reception
  • Additional tickets for the social events are available to exhibitors at the County Member rate (our lowest rate!)
  • Exhibitors may sign up for the Golf Tournament (additional fee and registration required)

Nearly 2,500 people are estimated to attend this conference, including:MACo Exhibit Hall Overview

  • County Executives, Council Members, and Commissioners
  • County staff from all county departments
  • Business representatives
  • Senators and Delegates
  • Congressmen
  • State and Federal officials and staff

…basically, anyone who has anything to do with local government in Maryland!

The Conference theme this year is “Water, Water Everywhere” and will focus on all the ways counties work with water. From the health of the Bay and Maryland’s waterways to the infrastructure, treatment, and regulations that ensure safe and healthy water flows through our pipes, county governments are keeping our residents afloat. Conference sessions will discuss the Bay, water infrastructure, watermen and oyster/fishery/habitat issues, floods and other natural disasters, and ways to put the wind back in the sails of a tight budget.

Learn more about exhibiting at MACo’s 2018 Summer Conference in the Exhibitor Brochure!

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

Looking for a Big Exhibitor Opportunity? Exhibit at #MACoCon!

Leslie Velasco County News, Summer Conference

MACo’s Summer Conference Exhibitor Registration is Now Open!

EXHIBITOR BROCHURE  | ONLINE EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION

The 2018 MACo Summer Conference offers the potential to bring exhibitors big results. County governments are searching for vendors offering virtually every business function and service found in Maryland. From logistics to printing, finance to office administration, training to trash removal – county governments are looking for YOU! Or your competitors.

Needless to say, if you want to do business with Maryland’s counties, you should exhibit at the MACo Summer Conference. For more details and to fill out the application form, download our MACo 2018 Summer Conference Exhibitor Brochure or register online here.

Interested in a FREE premium booth in the entrance aisle? Contact Nicolette at 410.269.0043 or nquerry@mdcounties.org to find out how to get one! (HURRY – only a few left!)

The theme of this year’s Summer Conference – “Water, Water Everywhere” – will focus  on all the ways counties work with water. From the health of the Bay and Maryland’s waterways to the infrastructure, treatment, and regulations that ensure safe and healthy water flows through our pipes, county governments are keeping our residents afloat. Conference sessions will discuss the Bay, water infrastructure, watermen and oyster/fishery/habitat issues, floods and other natural disasters, and ways to put the wind back in the sails of a tight budget.

Benefits of being a MACo Summer Conference Exhibitor:

  • Exhibitor description and contact information displayed on MACo’s conference mobile app and website!
  • Create a 30-second video clip to be displayed as part of our online Virtual Exhibitor Showcase. The Showcase is available for viewing to everyone—conference participants and others—and goes online one month prior to conference to help participants get acquainted with your company’s services
  • Each booth will receive a list of conference attendees and their contact information
  • Exhibitors may participate in all MACo conference sessions at no additional charge
  • Table draping for your booth is included!
  • Each booth receives 2 tickets for Thursday and Friday lunches, Thursday afternoon Ice Cream and Fruit Break, and for the Thursday evening Taste of Maryland Reception
  • Additional tickets for the social events are available to exhibitors at the County Member rate (our lowest rate!)
  • Exhibitors may sign up for the Golf Tournament (additional fee and registration required)

More than 2,000 people are estimated to attend this conference, including: County Executives, Council Members, and Commissioners; county staff from all county departments; business representatives; Senators and Delegates; Congressmen; State and Federal officials and staff; basically, anyone who has anything to do with local government in Maryland!

Don’t miss this opportunity to show what your company can do for Maryland’s counties!

Read more about our Summer Conference exhibit halls in the brochure.

 

MACo’s Weekly County News & Notes… from Twitter

Leslie Velasco County News

The social media site Twitter has become a fast-moving setting for news, information, and advocacy on public affairs. We welcome followers of MACo’s own Twitter feed for updates from the Conduit Street blog and other MACo hot topics and often use Twitter to reach our own audience and to hear from others following the same issues as county leaders.

Here are some tweets that caught our eye this week:

Follow MACo
Follow Executive Director Michael Sanderson
Follow NACo
See Tweets on #mdpolitics

Connect With County Leaders! Be a Summer #MACoCon Sponsor

Leslie Velasco County News

Sponsor Brochure Alt 22 RGB

Sign up for a MACo sponsorship to bring your
message to the county decision-makers!
The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) has released its official Summer Conference Sponsorship Brochure. The brochure is up-to-date with available sponsorships, which are on a first-come-first-serve basis.
MACo’s 2018 upcoming Summer Conference theme is “Water, Water Everywhere.” Sponsorships provide organizations with paramount opportunities to connect with county decision-makers. Your sponsorship will show you support county governments, understand their needs, and can help them solve their challenges!
New This Year:

Email Nicolette Querry for questions and to secure your sponsorship!