Walter L. Simmons Tapped to Lead Maryland’s New Department of Social and Economic Mobility

Annapolis, MD – Governor Wes Moore has announced the appointment of Walter L. Simmons as the acting secretary of the newly established Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility. This new cabinet-level agency, the first of its kind in the nation, is designed to centralize and enhance efforts to promote social equity and economic opportunity for individuals and businesses across the state. Simmons is set to assume his role on October 20.

The Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility was created through House Bill 1253, a legislative measure signed into law by Governor Moore earlier this year. The department consolidates three previously existing offices: the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Affairs, the Office of Social Equity, and the Office of Minority Business Enterprises within the Maryland Department of Transportation. By bringing these functions under one umbrella, the state aims to create a more integrated and effective approach to dismantling structural barriers that hinder upward economic mobility. The agency’s core mission is to ensure that all Marylanders have access to employment, fair wages, and opportunities to build wealth, regardless of their background.

Walter L. Simmons brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit management, government operations, and workforce development. He is recognized nationally for his leadership in public sector workforce initiatives. Previously, Simmons founded Employ Prince George’s, Inc. in 2018, serving as its chief executive. During his tenure, Employ Prince George’s significantly expanded its reach and impact, securing over $200 million in funding, fostering more than 400 partnerships, assisting over 100,000 job seekers, and supporting more than 15,000 businesses. These efforts contributed to the creation of tens of thousands of jobs in the Washington D.C. metropolitan region.

Beyond his role at Employ Prince George’s, Simmons holds several key leadership positions. He currently chairs both the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations and IMPACTdmv. Additionally, he serves as the vice chair of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and sits on the boards of directors for the Bi-County Business Roundtable, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Workforce Boards. Simmons earned his undergraduate degree from Newberry College.

Maria Martinez, who has been serving as Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Owned Business Affairs, has been instrumental in overseeing the transition for the new department. She will continue in her capacity as the agency transitions to its new leadership. Following this transition, Martinez is slated to take on a new role as special secretary for regulatory and permitting reform. In this position, she will spearhead the state’s initiatives to modernize and streamline permitting and regulatory processes, aligning with Governor Moore’s executive order aimed at strengthening Maryland’s business climate and enhancing economic competitiveness.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Office of Governor Wes Moore

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