Executive Alliance Promotes New Gender Diversity Law

Symposium highlights gender diversity on corporate boards

Baltimore, MD –The Maryland General Assembly recently passed progressive legislation to achieve gender diversity in corporate board rooms (HB 1116/SB911). Executive Alliance, an organization whose mission is to support the advancement of women to leadership roles, was the advocacy organization behind the legislation. Executive Alliance recently hosted a symposium on the new law and shared strategies for positioning more women for opportunities to serve on Boards.

“This is an exciting time for Maryland,” said Carolyn Cason, Managing Director of the Baltimore/Washington offices of Stanton Chase, a global retained executive search firm. “It is our goal to champion the importance of having more women in our board rooms throughout the state.

“Why? Because it just makes good business sense to bring in new perspectives to help companies reach new levels of profitability and performance.”

Cason moderated a panel which was composed of the following guest speakers:

• Christian E. Cavey, Secretary of Appointments, Governor’s Appointment Office, State of Maryland, and former House Delegate
• House Delegate Brooke Lierman, District 46 (Baltimore City), co-sponsor HB 1116
• Candace B. Osunade, SVP/Chief Administrative Officer, National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland
• Kent K. Matsumoto, former vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, P. H. Glatfelter, York, PA.

“This group brought fascinating perspectives from both the private and public sectors on board recruiting and membership,” said Cason. “Through this event produced by Joyce Kuhns and the Executive Alliance Women on Boards committee we were able to get a better understanding of the new law and why it is so important to the future of Maryland.”

The Executive Alliance connects accomplished women on professional and personal levels to expand their impact and influence in the board room, the community, and in the leadership of businesses, civic organizations, and government. The organization will be instrumental in overseeing progress made through the legislation with the following highlights:

• Law requires MD companies and large nonprofits to annually report the number of women on their boards
• Executive Alliance will work with the State to access the data that will be reported on the Form-1 Personal Property Tax form due on April 15
• The data will be used to compel companies/nonprofits to increase the number of women on boards
• Coordinate with other women’s groups to build a stronger coalition
• Seek alliances with key business organizations to spread awareness about the law, and benefit of having women on boards to gain their support & action

Stanton Chase is a global search firm with more than 70 offices in 45 countries.

Sponsors of the event included SunTrust, Whiting-Turner, BGE, McCormick and Company, Inc., Miles & Stockbridge, M&T Bank, T. Rowe Price, and Stanton Chase.