CEO Note: It's been two years.

Dear Partner and Friend,

Resetting is never easy, yet two years now into my tenure as CEO and our transition at GBC, we’re proud of our collective work to date.

On a personal level, my time in Baltimore has been reinvigorating. For the many people who've contributed to my transition and acclimation, embraced GBC’s new staffers (many who have relocated as well), just two words: Thank You!

If you’ve not been actively part of our work since our merger, we’ve been busy.

We aren't a typical charity. We are the nonprofit established to build consensus on economic strategy across the region, provide vision for economic growth, and champion the Baltimore Region across the globe. The risks we take, our successes (and missteps), leave lasting marks on our history.

Our ask:

Whether you are hearing about GBC for the first time, or you are a current or past GBC partner, help us be the best regional economic organization in America in service of the Baltimore Region.

We are a region with no shortage of great companies, academic institutions, and non-profits and there’s plenty of work for us to collectively do. Our success will be fueled by our ambition and we’re only as strong as the coalition of partners and supporters who’ve signed on to ensure the Baltimore Region reaches its full potential.

As we prepare to celebrate our 70th anniversary in the upcoming year, our voice has been and will be critical in the years ahead and we’ll lean in where we’re best positioned to lead. We’ve planned two important conversations to provide an overview of what's to come in the next year and to learn about our vision. These conversations reflect where and how GBC will lead in the next year.

If you are a GBC Partner, we invite you and your company's employees to participate in these upcoming engagements, which will both be hybrid.

• Monday, December 16: Attend our upcoming Partnership Briefing where I’ll host the President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Nathan Ohle, and discuss our collaborative work with the nation’s leading regional economic organizations. You’ll also hear from Nathan on trends impacting economic opportunity and how IEDC is building a coalition of national economic leaders and communities to position our economies to compete globally.
• Tuesday, December 17: Register for our Regional Brand Initiative Update, which will feature the research findings unearthed from the extensive stakeholder engagement phase conducted by Resonance and Ipsos.

If you are not a GBC Partner and are interested in attending, you can reach out here.

This Wednesday is also the 50th and final Mayor’s Awards program. You can still register for this event. If you are not a GBC Partner and are interested in attending any of these special events, please reach out to us.

Sign-on to be a partner for 2025:

As a member of a partner organization, you have the ability to directly shape and support our regional economic growth by:

• Leveraging your expertise and networks to drive the work of our Steering Committees (Business Investment and Attraction, Tech Hub, Local Hiring and Procurement, Vacant Housing, and Infrastructure among others) that guide our strategies.
• Engaging in our partner-only conversations and convenings on the topics related to our multi-year agenda and All In | 2035 Economic Opportunity plan.
• Attending our 2025 milestone events with complimentary tickets provided to partners. (Pulse Check, SelectUSA Investment Summit, our 70th Anniversary Annual Meeting, the Transportation and Economic Opportunity Summit and our first-ever Vacant Housing Summit)
• Investing and building collective impact toward a coordinated regional growth strategy that will position the area for greater investment and high-growth opportunities.

Sincerely,

Mark Anthony Thomas

President and CEO