Tom Ballentine, Vice President for Policy and Government Relations, NAIOP Maryland; Jim Lighthizer, Chesapeake Real Estate Group; Brendan Gill, The MacKenzie Companies and President, NAIOP Maryland; Benjamin Grumbles, Maryland Secretary of the Environment; John Hermann, Corporate Office Properties Trust.

Speaking before members of the NAIOP Maryland Developers Council attending a luncheon at The Capital Grille, Maryland Secretary of the Environment Benjamin Grumbles indicated that Governor Hogan’s agenda emphasizes a balanced approach to improving the state’s air quality and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

The department recently released draft rules that would allow the trading of water quality credits intended to make compliance with federally-mandated Chesapeake Bay cleanup more cost effective.

He explained that Maryland has significantly improved air quality and that much of the remaining work to be done is regional in nature, by pointing out that “70% of Maryland’s remaining ozone problems are transported from sources in downwind states.”

Secretary Grumbles added that “making environmental progress while maintaining excellent customer service are priorities for the department.”

James Knott, Jr., Knott Realty Group and Karen Watsic, St. John Properties

Todd Summerfield, Liberty Property Trust; Morgan Gilligan, Stewart Title Guaranty Company; Tim O'Ferrall, NAIOP Maryland and Chris Nevin, First National Bank

Cathy Ward, Corporate Office Properties Trust; Brendan Gill, The MacKenzie Companies and President, NAIOP Maryland; Dean Lopez, Corporate Office Properties Trust and Terry Anne Hearn, Commercial Settlement Services