CEO group makes PG betterment its business
By Arlo Wagner Published
July 8, 2003 Washington Times
About a dozen business executives
in Prince George's County are organizing to help improve education, communities
and public safety, and to attract businesses.
"We ... know that our county
has great potential and that working together, many dreams can be fulfilled,"
said Chairman Gary S. Murray Sr. "Our guiding principle will always be
to do the right thing."
Former County Council member
M.H. "Jim" Estepp is president and chief executive officer of the Greater
Prince George's Business Roundtable. It is fashioned after scores of round
tables across the nation and the national Business Roundtable, which was
formed in 1972. Businesses in Montgomery County have formed a Roundtable
for Education.
The Prince George's County
group will hold its first public forum Sept. 19 at Prince George's Community
College to present its objectives to the community, said communications
director Anne K. Harter, former official with the Metropolitan Washington
Council of Governments.
Only chief executive officers
of businesses may become members of the round table. Organization began
more than a month ago, said Mr. Estepp, and eventually will comprise about
20 CEOs.
"On several issues, they
felt the public was not adequately informed," Mr. Estepp said. "There hasn't
been enough dialogue among agencies and civic organizations.
"We are interested in making
this county a better place to live in, to go to school in, to work in,"
he said.
Improving education is already
high on the group's list. It is considering building new schools and leasing
them to the county, as similar groups in other states are doing.
"That way, the county wouldn't
have to pay for their construction and upkeep," Mr. Estepp said.
County Executive Jack B.
Johnson and the County Council approve of the group's goals, Mr. Estepp
said.
Mr. Murray, a University
of Maryland graduate, founded HumanVision Technology Ventures, co-founded
Sylvest Management Systems in 1987, and, until June 30, was chairman of
the Prince George's County Economic Development Corp. He is now chairman
of the Maryland Economic Development Commission.
Other round-table officers
include: Reginald Daniel, founder in 1996 of Scientific and Engineering
Solutions; Mike Little, CEO of B&W Technologies, which received the
business-philanthropy award in 2001 from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce;
and Hubert "Petey" Green, founder of Prince George's County Community and
Business Relations Corp., director of Prince George's Financial Services
Corp., and president of the Black Chamber of Commerce.
"These are not people who
are constantly clutching the spotlight," said Ms. Harter. "These are people
who move mountains quietly."
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