Gov. Hogan and business leaders come together to acknowledge and celebrate the mission, international reach and community involvement of Maryland’s top global companies
Governor Larry Hogan will join the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI), the Maryland Department of Commerce and hundreds of business leaders from around the state this evening to acknowledge and celebrate the mission, international reach and community involvement of Maryland’s top global companies at the 23rd Maryland International Business Leadership Awards.
This year's Maryland International Business Leadership Awards will be presented to the following during tonight’s reception:
- Kevin Beverly, president & CEO of Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.
- Sue Chambers, president of Strouse
- Lee Connor, president of John S. Connor Global Logistics
- Paul Fipps, Chief Digital Officer of Under Armour
- Terry Horan, president & CEO of RPM International Inc., parent company of DAP
- David LaMotte, president of LaMotte
Gov. Hogan will present the 2019 Governor’s Award to Arne Sorenson, president & CEO of Marriott International, Inc., one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. Sorenson joined Marriott in 1996 and held several positions before serving as president and Chief Operating Officer. He was elected to Marriott’s Board of Directors in 2011. He became Chief Executive Officer in 2012, making history as the first person to hold the post without the Marriott family name.
“Our administration is grateful for the great work being done by the WTCI, which is helping more than 2,500 Maryland companies thrive in the global business community,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We could not be more proud that Marriott, an iconic worldwide brand and the largest hotel company in the world, is headquartered right here in Maryland, and I am pleased to congratulate this year’s very deserving recipient and an incredible business leader, Arne Sorenson.”
As CEO, Sorenson led the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2016, resulting in a dramatic expansion of Marriott’s ability to provide unparalleled guest experiences around the world. The company now has more than 6,900 properties across 130 countries and territories and 30 brands. The merger also created the travel industry’s largest customer-loyalty program, with nearly 125 million members.
An outspoken corporate leader, Sorenson has advocated for environmental sustainability, a more open, safe and inclusive workplace, a welcoming culture around the world and a future in which international travel is revolutionized with a global digital identification system.
“World Trade Center Institute is proud to join Governor Hogan in honoring Maryland's top companies as we continue to empower globally minded leaders with new ideas and valuable connections,” said Deborah Kielty, CEO of WTCI.
Each year, the Maryland International Business Leadership Awards celebrate the state’s global success through the recognition of a handful of recipients who exemplify international business growth, growth in the State of Maryland through workforce development and/or revenue growth, and support efforts to give back to the local community.
This evening’s celebration, taking place at the American Visionary Art Museum, will begin with a chance to meet, network, and learn from inspirational Maryland business leaders, followed by opening remarks from the World Trade Center Institute CEO and a seated dinner during which guests will hear how the award winners have led their firms to success, as well as show support for Maryland’s increasing global footprint. This year’s featured speaker is Samuel Hoi, president of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).
Sponsors of this year's event included T. Rowe Price, CallisonRTKL, Jhpiego, and Maryland Institute College of Art.
About WTCI
The World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) empowers globally minded leaders with new ideas and valuable connections. The largest international business networking organization in the Mid-Atlantic with more than 2,500 companies in the public and private sector, WTCI offers members development programs, professional exchanges and marquee events where ideas are expanded, and collaboration is created. Partnerships with state and local governments, 300+ World Trade Centers, the U.S. Department of State, Work Bank and more provide members unparalleled access to push and empower each other to succeed and connect in ways they never would have or could have imagined. For more information on the WTCI, visit https://www.wtci.org.
