Maryland’s Associations Join Forces to Combat Recession, Spark Recovery

TOWSON, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Professional and not-for-profit membership associations have all worked to soften the effects of the recession and build momentum toward recovery, for their members. Now they’re pooling ideas and resources to attack these issues cooperatively, to benefit the state of Maryland.

“But most important, this is just the first step in a far-reaching effort. Expo discussions will serve as the foundation for continuing cooperation between government and member associations, to develop approaches to spur economic growth in Maryland.”

This ambitious collective effort will debut at the Maryland Business & Accounting Expo, June 16-17 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Federal, state and local government groups, along with the non-profit community, are expected to turn out in force: The Association for Corporate Growth; Department of Economic and Business Development; Financial Executives International; Greater Baltimore Tech Council; Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants; Maryland Bankers Association; Maryland State Bar Association (Business Section); Maryland World Class Consortia; National Federation of Independent Business; The Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

They will gather for two days of presentations by national thought leaders, high level workshops to heighten business knowledge and skills, breakout sessions and networking opportunities, and displays of the latest in business products and services by dozens of vendors.

“This is clearly a large-scale event and we are hoping everyone will come away with strategies to manage effectively during the current downturn and a grasp of the opportunities as we emerge from the recession,” said J. Thomas Hood, III, CPA, CEO & Executive Director of the Maryland Association of CPAs, which is hosting the event. “But most important, this is just the first step in a far-reaching effort. Expo discussions will serve as the foundation for continuing cooperation between government and member associations, to develop approaches to spur economic growth in Maryland.”

Mr. Hood added that the leadership of the various organizations will schedule a summer meeting to assess the outcomes of the Expo and chart a specific course of programs for the coming year.

The Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, a non-profit, is the largest professional organization serving the needs of Maryland CPAs, with a current membership of nearly 10,000. The mission of MACPA is to protect and further the interests of their members; enhance the image of certified public accountants; enable their members to conform to high standards of professional service; and provide the necessary resources for members to thrive in a dynamic, rapidly changing environment. MACPA is headquartered in Towson, Md. For more information on MACPA, call (800) 782-2036 or visit them on the web at www.macpa.org.