JHU's Daniels to co-chair steering committee for Maryland economic development initiative

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels will co-chair the steering committee for a new statewide economic development strategy initiative focused on accelerating growth in the life sciences and cybersecurity industries in Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan announced today.

The initiative, Excel Maryland, will culminate in a report by the end of August that will serve as a roadmap for securing Maryland's position as an epicenter for the cybersecurity sector and boosting the state's position as a leader in biotechnology and life sciences.

"As one of the nation's leading states for university research and development, we have an enormous opportunity to help transform our state's great assets in advanced industries into a compelling, visionary strategy that will ultimately accelerate economic development," Daniels said. "Through the Excel Maryland initiative, we want to create a true public-private partnership of ideas and resources that will provide a compelling vision for the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland."

Hogan announced the plans in Baltimore today at the state's inaugural Governor's Business Summit before a crowd of more than 700 business, education, and community leaders.

The steering committee will be led by Susan Windham Bannister, founding president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center who helped Massachusetts become a leading state for life sciences employment.

Daniels will co-chair the committee along with Bob Caret, chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

Members of the steering committee are Bahija Jallal, executive vice president, MedImmune and AstraZeneca; Stephanie Hill, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin; Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, CEO of Emergent BioSolutions and chair of the Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board; Tom Geddes, CEO of Plank Industries; Ron Gula, president of Gula Tech Adventures and co-founder of Tenable Network Security; Peter Barris, managing general partner of New Enterprise Associates; Bill Niland, CEO of Harpoon Medical; Larry Letow, president and CEO of Convergence Technology Consulting; Robert Lord, CEO of Protenus; Wendy Perrow, CEO of AsclepiX Therapeutics; and Paul Silber, founding principal of Blu Venture Investors.

Said Hogan: "Excel Maryland will help pool the talents of our state agencies, our universities, and our private sector industry experts to help us create an environment in Maryland where more companies can start up here, and never stop growing here."