Governor Wes Moore has announced the appointment of Walter L. Simmons as acting secretary of the newly established Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility. Simmons will officially assume the post on October 20, leading the state’s efforts to strengthen social equity programs and expand opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. “In order to build a growing economy, we need to create an inclusive economy,” said Gov. Moore. “The new Department of Social and Economic Mobility will help ensure that all Marylanders have access to work, wages, and wealth—no matter their starting point or destination.”
The new department, created by House Bill 1253 and signed into law earlier this year, is the first cabinet-level agency in the nation dedicated to advancing upward mobility, according to the Governor’s press release. It consolidates three key 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, allowing Maryland to streamline its efforts to remove structural barriers and strengthen pathways to economic opportunity.
Simmons brings a wealth of leadership experience to the role. As the founder of Employ Prince George’s, he has raised more than $200 million, forged partnerships with over 400 organizations, served more than 100,000 job seekers, and supported over 15,000 businesses, resulting in tens of thousands of jobs across the D.C. metropolitan region. “I am honored to be appointed to lead this historic agency under the Moore-Miller Administration,” said Simmons. “Maryland’s resources are vast, and our moment is now —to align around a unified strategy that opens doors to the middle class, strengthens our economy, and ensures our business community flourishes.”
Beyond his work in workforce development, Simmons holds leadership positions with the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, IMPACTdmv, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, among others. As the transition moves forward, Maria Martinez, who has chaired the department’s launch, will continue in her leadership role before taking on a new position as special secretary for regulatory and permitting reform, where she will oversee modernization of state permitting processes.
