Staff

Executive Director

David Bliden dbliden@mdcounties.org
General management of Association and daily operation, board and officer, legislative advocacy. Member of the Local Government Insurance Trust Board of Directors.

Legislative Director

Michael Sanderson msanderson@mdcounties.org
Legislative Affairs Issues: taxes and revenues, finance, business affairs, intergovernmental relations, parks and recreation, transportation and public works, health, human services, elections and employee benefits. Conference liaison to affiliates including Health, Human Services, and Parks & Recreation affiliate organizations.

Communications & Meetings Director

Ellen Clarke
eclarke@mdcounties.org
Website manager, editor of Courthouse News, Conference Director for Winter and Summer Conferences, and Attorneys/ Administrators Fall Conference. Coordinator for staff bill hearings. MACo liaision to Academy for Excellence in Local Governance. Conference liaison to affiliates including Aging, Administrators, Attorneys, and Environmental Health for Academy sessions.

Associate Director

Leslie Knapp, Jr.
lknapp@mdcounties.org
Legislative Affairs Areas: planning & zoning, community & economic development, environment, education, public safety & corrections, government liability & courts, public ethics & information, and employee relations. Conference staff liaison to affilliates including Corrections, Planners, and Engineers.

Office/Financial Manager

Leslie Velasco
lvelasco@mdcounties.org
Financial reporting, personnel issues, liaison to National Association of Counties' Financial Services Center, general office administration, computer network administrator, Summer Conference exhibits, and conference registration logistics.

Administrative Specialist

Karen Lowe
klowe@mdcounties.org
Assistant to Executive Director, manages Board of Directors communications, provides support for conference registration logistics, coordinates publication of directory, database manager.

Administrative Specialist

Becky Black
beckyb@mdcounties.org
Manages conference registration, sponsorships, appointments, and affiliate meetings. Provides support for legislative affairs during Session and Interim, publications, and conferences, including managing the in-house meetings schedule.

Research Specialist

Michele Dinkel
mdinkel@mdcounties.org
- Conducts legislative research and surveys, and other projects for local government throughout the year as well as providing administrative support for conferences and events.