Center Maryland Presents: The Lobby Podcast

Candace Dodson-Reed joins Center Maryland’s The Lobby podcast to discuss her work with heralded UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby, life in Downtown Columbia, Maryland, and serving as the chair of Merriweather Arts and Culture Center (MACC owns Merriweather Post Pavilion).

Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. joins Damian O'Doherty for Episode 60 of The Lobby. Keiffer is a former local & state official from Baltimore before serving as the Chief Legislative Officer to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, He is now a key leader for BGR's State and Local Advocacy. Just as Bill Murray was David Letterman’s first show guest, Mitchell was featured on Episode 1 of The Lobby.

Maryland State Senator Cheryl Kagan joins The Lobby to discuss her efforts to update Maryland's 911 system. She also talks about being the first elected official outside of Baltimore to endorse Gov. Wes Moore when he was at 1% in the polls. Senator Kagan represents District 17 in the Maryland General Assembly, serves as Vice Chair of the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, is active...

Maryland business development expert Melanie Miller returns to The Lobby to discuss MACO2023, Maryland economic development, Maryland Politics & more. Melanie is the daughter of former Senate President Mike Miller, and Founder of Miller Partnership Consultants, LLC.

In this week's episode, Damian is joined by former KO Public Affairs Intern Jack Sherman. Jack was a summer intern at KO Public Affairs' Mount Vernon Headquarters overlooking Baltimore's Washington Monument. Jack discusses the many hands that shape every public affairs engagement and the best places to eat in Baltimore.

Dr. Mohan Suntha joins The Lobby for a 90 Day Report that improves healthcare for rural Marylanders. Suntha discusses workforce solutions, careers in Maryland hospitals, and the Maryland Hospital Association’s #JoinMdHealth campaign. From President and CEO of UMMS to chairing the Greater Baltimore Committee, Dr. Mohan Suntha is serving Baltimore, elevating Maryland, and delivering the most innovat...

Reverend Dr. Al Hathaway, Sr., CEO of the Beloved Community Services Corporation, discusses a Medicare Advantage fix to address health equity for seniors. Then Hathaway delves into his historic work to renovate Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s Baltimore Elementary School P.S. 103.“Justice Thurgood Marshall should be to Baltimore what the Rev. Martin Luther King is to Atlanta,” explains Ha...

Recently, housing activist/expert, government affairs professional, and respected land use lawyer Tom Coale was announced as a partner at Maryland powerhouse firm Perry, White, Ross & Jacobson. Now, Coale joins an episode of The Lobby Pod. Tom says Maryland needs a more aggressive approach to creating housing that provides for all Marylanders. Tom elegantly dismantles the legacy Nimby-culture with...

Hospitals Launch @JoinMDHealth To Address Workforce Crisis As we near the three-year mark of COVID-19 in our state, Maryland hospitals and health systems are experiencing the worst workforce crisis in recent memory. The Maryland Hospital Association’s Executive Vice President Nicole Stallings joins Ascension Saint Agnes President and CEO Ed Lovern to discuss the workforce challenges hospitals are...

Damian welcomes Preservation Maryland’s Nicholas Redding to discuss the promise of Smart Growth Maryland, sustainable redevelopment, and transit-oriented developments from Strathmore Square to Owings Mills Metro Centre. “Preservation Maryland works to protect the state’s irreplaceable heritage while creating a more equitable & sustainable future. Through strategic programming we use the best of ou...

In Episode 49, Damian is joined by Brandon Wright, Vice-President of Communications and Media Relations for the National Waste & Recycling Association. Join us for a look at how waste organizations support local communities, the nuances of the recycling industry, and what's ahead for Maryland politics following Wes Moore's historic election. We hope to see you soon, in The Lobby.

In Episode 48, Damian is joined by Brian O'Malley, President and CEO of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance for a discussion on Transit Oriented Development, the power of public transit, and Maryland's transportation future. Next week, we'll have Barak Hermann, CEO of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore. As always, we hope to see you soon, in The Lobby.

Welcome to the 2023 legislative session. Legislators have 90 days to move on a number of issues pressing Maryland voters this year including regulating adult-use cannabis. In Episode 47, Damian is joined by Christina Johnson, Founder and CEO of Standard Wellness Maryland and Vice-President of CANMD for a discussion on the future of cannabis, the strength of the state's medical industry, and how th...

Session is back, and Annapolis is buzzing! With the start of the 2023 legislative session, fresh off the heels of a sea-change election, we’re welcoming the freshest personalities in Maryland politics with a conversation with one of the most storied, Joe Bryce of Mannis Canning. In Episode 46, Damian sits down with Joe for an extended look at his career from state house politics to inside involvem...

We’re back! We hope you had a wonderful holiday. It is all business in Annapolis as we quickly approach the start of the 2023 session. We’re diving into the upcoming session with the people who know it best. In episode 45, we’re joined by Pam Metz-Kasemeyer, Managing Partner at Schwartz, Metz, Wise, & Kaufman PA for a dive into strategizing after a sea change election. Stick around for a look at w...

It is Owings Mills' Moment. For episode 44, we’re joined by none other than Barak Hermann, CEO of the JCC of Greater Baltimore and Chairman of The Owings Mills Corporate Roundtable. Join us for a conversation about connecting communities, the growth of the JCC, and Metro Centre.  After all, Owings Mills already is what all of Baltimore County and Maryland will soon be: A dynamic, diverse community...

In episode 43 of The Lobby, Damian is joined by none other than Maryland’s U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. Join us for a look at the Senator's leadership to help pass legislation that would allow seniors’ to access innovative new tools to detect cancer called Multi-Cancer Early Detection tests. Along those same lines, they look at the prospects for providing access to dental coverage for more people. The...

In episode 42 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 9 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 9, Damian is joined by Talkie Communications for a primer on rural connectivity, and the benefits of fibe...

In episode 41 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 7 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 8, Damian is joined by Mark Edelson, the Democratic nominee for Delegate in District 46. Damian and Mark...

In episode 40 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 7 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 7, Damian is joined by Rick Meehan, Mayor of Ocean City, for a discussion about Maryland’s getaway to the...

In episode 39 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 6 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 6, Damian is joined by Dan Reed, Regional Policy Director for Greater Greater Washington for a discussion...

In episode 38 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 5 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 5, Damian joins the legendary Senator Frank Kelly on a very special day to discuss his philosophy of surr...

In episode 37 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 3 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 4, Damian is joined by Carver Chiu of Crown Castle, the nation's largest provider of communications infra...

In episode 36 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 3 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 3, Damian is joined by the unsinkable Marc Elrich, fresh off his now-certified win in Montgomery County....

In episode 35 of The Lobby, Damian comes to you live from the biggest lobby in Maryland, the MACo Summer Conference in beautiful Ocean City. This is part 2 of a multi-part series with leaders from around Maryland at the biggest gathering of elected officials and insiders in the state. For part 2, Damian is talking workforce with Ed Lovern, CEO of Ascension Saint Agnes in Baltimore. Ed gives Damian...