Leadership

Joe Farren is currently a Senior Managing Director at data science marketing leader Applecart, where he helps clients build highly impactful, customized advertising campaigns. He has 25 years’ experience helping Fortune 500 brands, global trade associations and public institutions enhance their reputations and move their business plans forward.

Most recently, Joe served in the administration of former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan where he helped to craft first-in-the-nation workforce policies that expand economic opportunity for thousands of Maryland workers.
Previously, Joe had served in executive positions at several leading, global communications firms where he counseled brands on complex communications challenges that shape public and political dialogue and impact consumer decision making.

Prior to that Joe was Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs at CTIA – The Wireless Association® in Washington, DC, where he served as the global spokesperson for the wireless industry and was responsible for shaping and communicating the industry’s positions and public messages on consumer issues and policy proposals pending before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and state legislatures across the country.

He earned a BA in political science from Monmouth University and a MPA from Rutgers University. He also spent a semester abroad in London, England, studying government and communications.

Alexander G. Núñez is senior vice president of governmental, regulatory, and external affairs for BGE. Núñez oversees the company’s strategic direction and initiatives, regulatory work, state, local, and municipal government engagement, energy acquisition, marketing and communications, economic development, strategic customer-facing programs, and efforts to drive a meaningful, positive impact in its communities.

Professional History

Núñez served previously in the following executive roles at BGE: senior vice president of strategy and regulatory affairs, senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs, and vice president of governmental and external affairs. In his earlier roles at the company, he served as director of state affairs and as senior public affairs representative and Annapolis counsel. Before joining the company in 2001, he worked for the Maryland General Assembly for several years, where he served as Committee Counsel to the Senate Finance Committee of Maryland.

Civic Involvement

Núñez contributes actively to several community and business organizations. He serves as vice president of the Walters Art Museum Board of Trustees and as chair of its Engagement Committee. He is vice chair of the Board of Trustees for the Chesapeake Bay Trust and serves as the chair of its Programs and Partnerships Committee. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Tech Council. He is chair of the Corporate Advisory Board for the Baltimore chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America. Núñez currently serves as an appointee on the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs and previously served on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board.

Núñez is a graduate of The LEADERship Class of 2018. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2005 and served on its Board of Directors for several years. Núñez represented the company in the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, including on its Legislative Committee, Environment Committee, and Civil Liability Committee. He was a founding member of the Greater Baltimore Committee’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee and is past president of the Legislative Committee of the MD-DC Utilities Association.

Education

Núñez received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctorate with honors from Valparaiso University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts of Maryland and in the US Supreme Court.

Coretta Bennett joined Johns Hopkins University, Facilities & Real Estate as the inaugural Director of Operations, Design & Construction. She has over 24 years of experience in operations, construction, sustainability, and renewable energy. In addition to providing leadership and management for design and construction activities, she champions excellence around collaboration, systems, processes, procedures, and customer service.

Previously, she served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bithenergy, an award-winning renewable energy development and engineering firm overseeing day-to-day operations, strengthening B2B relationships, implementing corporate initiatives in energy production and management, and providing oversight of investors and financial institutions.

A Baltimore native, Bennett is a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. She earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering from Morgan State University, an MBA in Strategic Business Policy and Finance from Rutgers University, and is a LEED Accredited Professional BD+C.

Bennett serves as the Vice Chair of Morgan State University’s Construction Management Board and teaches Sustainable Construction Practices, preparing students to obtain their LEED Green Associates accreditation. Additionally, she is a member of United Way of Central Maryland’s Tocqueville Society.  As a dedicated resident of Maryland, Ms. Bennett participates in a variety of educational, volunteer, civic, philanthropic, and engagement initiatives with organizations that have shared vision and community impact.

Brian is a Senior Director at Gartner, the world’s largest research and advisory company. He is the Business Operations and Strategy lead for Gartner’s IT Leaders research portfolio. Prior to his current role, Brian was an advisor supporting strategy and human capital management challenges. Before joining Gartner, Brian served in the Navy as a MH-60S helicopter pilot. He holds bachelors degrees from the Naval Academy in Economics and Political Science, a master’s in Leadership Development from the University of Maryland, and an MBA from the Wharton School.

Chris is a County Commissioner for Queen Anne’s County and attorney licensed to practice in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC.  Chris served as President of the Board of Queen Anne’s County Commissioners in 2021 and 2022.  He was appointed by Governor Hogan to the Board of Trustees for the Chesapeake Bay Trust in 2021, he is a member of the Upper Shore Regional Council Executive Board, where he served two years as Chairman.  Since 2023 Chris has served on the Board of Trustees for the Local Government Insurance Trust.  Chris earned a B.A. from the University of Maryland at College Park and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore, School of Law.  Chris was named Maryland Super Lawyer® in 2020 and 2021.  He was Editor of the Maryland chapter of the Tort Law Desk Reference: A Fifty State Compendium (2008-2022).  Chris lives on Kent Island with his wife and three daughters, where his family is actively involved with many Queen Anne’s County community organizations and activities.

Henry

Henry Hopkins worked at T. Rowe Price Associates from 1972 until his retirement in 2008, where he served as the Head of its Legal Department and as vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, T. Rowe Price Investment Services, and T. Rowe Price Trust Company. He is a member of the Maryland, Baltimore City, and American Bar Associations and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Henry earned his L.L.B. degree from the University of Maryland (’68) and his B.A. from Trinity College (’65).

Henry currently serves as the lead independent director of the boards of the Brown Advisory Funds. His other current activities include serving as a board member of the Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Board of Visitors, the MD Center for History and Culture and as the president of the Board of Directors for the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy and Friends of Clifton Mansion. He is also a board member of the Calvert School.

Henry is a trustee emeritus of Boys’ Latin School, Garrison Forest School and the Gibson Island Historical Society. He is a past board member of Jemicy School, Gilman School, US Lacrosse Foundation, Parks and People, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Baltimore Efficiency & Economy Foundation, Gibson Island Corporation, and the Warrenton Condominiums.

As a vice-president of the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association, Joseph “Joe” Koch oversees the association’s operations. Mr. Koch is a producer for The Washington Auto Show® and MobilityTalks International®, has duties related to public policy and regulatory concerns affecting the retail automobile business, oversees WANADA’s Auto Dealer Education Institute (ADEI) and day-to-day office, publications and membership management, as well as consulting in WANADA’s full service employee benefits brokerage.

Joe Koch joined WANADA in 2007 as an office administrator and insurance salesperson. In the capacity of Insurance Advisor, Mr. Koch was responsible for overseeing insurance sales and renewals for the state of Maryland. In 2013 Mr. Koch was promoted to Manager of Insurance Administration before assuming his current role in 2014.

Prior to working for WANADA, Joe worked in education and politics in his home state of Mississippi. He worked as an assistant campaign director for Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck’s successful re-election bid in 2003 and later that year on Governor Haley Barbour’s gubernatorial campaign staff. Mr. Koch then worked as an educator and administrator for Mississippi College and Sylvan Learning Centers prior to moving to Washington, DC.

Mr. Koch holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS, and a Masters of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He is a licensed producer for health, life and annuities in the states of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is the grandson of car dealer who formerly chaired the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association. He resides in Rockville, MD with his wife Janae.

Jeff is a senior vice president at TEKsystems, a global business and technology services company with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. TEKsystems, an Allegis Group company, was founded and is headquartered in Maryland.

He leads TEKsystems strategy and transformation efforts and oversees marketing, sales enablement, strategic communications, and organizational change management. Joining TEKsystems in 1996, he’s held multiple leadership positions over the years including leading a globally distributed project management office, acquisition integration, business transformation and managing global delivery operations.

Jeff lives in Montgomery County, MD with his wife and two children. They get away to the Eastern Shore whenever possible and enjoy spending time on the water and in nature.

Dave Nemazie is currently the Chief of Staff and Executive Director for Government Affairs for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). He has over 35 years of experience in aquatic research, science and policy interface, university administration, partnership development, and public and government relations. He has developed new science and policy partnerships with the public, private, and non-profit sector, locally as well as internationally. He is passionate about environmental science: both communicating its relevance to the public and its impact on the decision-making process.

Dave received his MS in marine sciences while studying the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay through the University of Maryland, College Park. Dave and wife Cheryl live in Salisbury, Md. They enjoy international travel and he is a competitive fencer.

Mr. Offutt is Founder and President of Offutt Outdoor and Co-Founder of E3 Ranch & Co. Offutt Outdoors is the multi-faceted consulting business of industry veteran and outdoor athlete Bryan Offutt. Bryan’s business spans all facets of the outdoors industry – from hunting to adventure sports to tactical and athletic sponsorships.

Former Vice President of Global Brand Marketing for Under Armour’s Outdoor and Run categories where he was responsible for all category marketing activities, overseeing global go-to-market strategies, category positioning and activation plans. Bryan ensured Under Armour products were powerfully and strategically placed within the market, maximizing consumer connectivity and sales.

Bryan first joined the Under Armour team in October of 2001 as the company’s 33rd employee helping build the brand and profitability from the ground up. Initially starting in the warehouse, Bryan rose to be the brand face to the largest Sporting Goods retailers for the West Coast, the Rockies, and in the Northeast territories. In the years following, Bryan put his passion to work and built and lead the Military/Tactical Category through forging impactful relationships with US Special Forces, and founding the company’s philanthropic military initiative, UA Freedom. In 2010, Offutt transitioned into the Hunt /Fish & Action Sports Categories, where he played a critical role in the launch of the brand’s first-ever hunting boot, scent control campaign, and Under Armour’s 1st ever TV show, which he also starred in, Ridge Reaper. Offutt won numerous awards to include Outdoor Sportsman Channel Best Commercial, “These are my Boots” but most notably, Under Armour was named the #1 “most admired brand” amongst hunters, anglers and shooting sportsmen under his leadership. Most recently, Offutt joined Under Armour’s Global Run Category and played an integral role in the launch of the company’s global campaign, “It Comes From Below”.

A graduate of Towson University, Offutt lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with his wife and four children. Offutt sits on the advisory board for The Lone Survivor Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

About E3: At E3 Ranch, owned by former MLB Star Adam LaRoche, we responsibly raise angus cattle and straight to the fork via the E3 Chophouses located in Steamboat, CO & soon arriving in Nashville with Country Music singers Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.

Senator Pam Beidle represents District 32 in northern Anne Arundel County, she currently serves on the Senate Finance Committee, is Vice-Chair of the Executive Nominations Committee and Chair of the Anne Arundel County Senate Delegation.  She joined the Senate on January 9, 2019 after spending twelve years in the Maryland House of Delegates serving on the Environment and Transportation Committee.  Pam was the sub-committee chair for Motor Vehicle and Transportation Policy Subcommittee.  She chaired the Anne Arundel County House Delegation in 2015 and 2017.  Pam has received high scores from the League of Conservation Voters for her work over that past twelve years.  Pam owned the Beidle Insurance Agency until her retirement in May of 2017.  She currently serves as a Director with Baltimore Washington Medical Center, a Director with Arundel Federal Savings Bank, and a member of the Anne Arundel County Local Development Council.

David Fraser-Hidalgo has served as a Maryland State Delegate for six years where he sits on the Environment and Transportation Committee and is the Chair of the Transportation Sub-Committee.  He is also honored to be the Chair of the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus.  Prior to being elected to the Legislature, Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo was a partner in a web site development firm, worked for a nonprofit organization and served as a Police Officer in Montgomery County.  He has resided in Maryland since he was five years old and attended Montgomery County public schools, Montgomery College, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he received a B.A. in History.

Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo has been the primary sponsor on several key pieces of legislation which were enacted to protect the environment and combat climate change.  Most notable legislation:  the 2017 ban on hydraulic fracturing in Maryland and legislation which has resulted in over $10 million in funding for incentives for electric vehicle and electric school bus purchases.

Jason is currently the Watershed Implementation Program Manager for the Maryland Department of Agriculture. He has over 18 years experience in agricultural conservation program delivery and currently oversees the implementation of the agricultural sector’s responsibilities under the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. In addition, he managesthe planning, coordination, budgeting and implementation of research activities associated with the evaluation of new innovative technologies related to environmental improvements on agricultural land. He also provides oversight and direction to both the Maryland Agricultural Certainty and Ecosystem Markets Programs. He is currently Maryland’s representative on the Chesapeake Bay Program Agricultural Workgroup. Prior to his current position, Mr. Keppler was responsible for the development of Maryland’s Conservation Tracker System and worked closely with Maryland’s BayStat Program and USEPA to ensure accurate and timely reporting of conservation information. He also reviewed conservation grants administered through the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program and was a Non-Point Source Environmental Technician for the West Virginia Conservation Agency. Mr. Keppler is a certified Nutrient Management Consultant and Professional Fertilizer Applicator in Maryland. He is also a Past President of the Old Line Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Secretary Josh Kurtz is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and conservationist, passionate about the beauty of our state and all of the natural resources it offers. Governor Wes Moore nominated him to serve as the 12th Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on Jan. 18, 2023.

As a cabinet partner in the Moore/Miller administration, Secretary Kurtz leads teams across the state to improve water quality and Chesapeake Bay resilience, restore and conserve forested land, expand access to state parks, monitor and slow the spread of invasive species, and ensure the state maintains sustainable fisheries.

Kurtz previously served as the Maryland executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, where he provided key strategic vision and leadership for the policy/advocacy, litigation, science and terrestrial restoration programs. Kurtz was the primary relationship strategist for key state and federal stakeholders and partners, including the Governor’s Administration, Maryland General Assembly, Chesapeake Bay Commission, University System of Maryland, private restoration firms, conservation finance entities and various coalitions.

In his role as policy and government relations director for The Nature Conservancy in Maryland, Kurtz created and led advocacy campaigns leveraging strong relationships with partners and industry leaders to build support for policies regarding conservation and climate change in both the Maryland General Assembly and the DC City Council. Appointed by the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Environment, Kurtz served on the Maryland Climate Change Commission Mitigation Working Group from 2020 – 2022.

Kurtz holds a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in wildlife conservation from the University of Delaware. He lives in Crownsville, Maryland with his wife, Samantha, and infant son, River.

Matthew Rowe is the Assistant Director of Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Water and Science Administration which oversees approximately 300 staff implementing state and federal water programs regulating public drinking water systems, wastewater, stormwater, wetlands, and compliance, as well as water quality monitoring, standards development, TMDL and non-point source management programs, with a focus on Chesapeake Bay restoration and building climate resiliency into Maryland’s water programs. Matt received a Bachelor of the Arts degree from Eckerd College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science/Stream Ecology from Oregon State University, and an Executive Education Program certificate in National Smart Growth Leadership from the University of Maryland. Matt serves the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership in support of the Principals’ Staff Committee and as co-chair of the Conowingo WIP Steering Committee, has served on the Maryland Water Monitoring Council Board of Directors and chaired Leadership Development Program implementation throughout MDE, and is a certified Climate Change Professional with the Association of Climate Change Officers.  Prior to MDE, Matt worked in streams research at the University of Maryland, as a field biologist with the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, as a research fellow with EPA’s National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, and as an engineering technician in the private sector.  Matt and his wife Rebecca have three adult children (Elizabeth, Isaac and Aidan) and live in Columbia, Md.