The MacKenzie Companies, a regional leader in commercial real estate, and RCM&D, a leading independent insurance advisory and risk management firm, partnered to present their annual State of the Market Conference on Wednesday, October 7, 2015. Approximately 350 executives and notable business leaders attended the conference, which was held at Baltimore’s Horseshoe Casino.
Conference guests enjoyed the invitation-only networking session and regional economic updates from Mike Gill, secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, and Anirban Basu, prominent economist and chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group.
The conference, entitled “The Winning Hand,” focused on delivering an in-depth look at current market conditions along with identifying emerging business trends to assist the attendees in preparing for the coming year. Secretary Gill’s presentation focused on the strong foundation of Maryland’s economy and the proactive approach that the Department of Commerce is taking to build a responsive and business-friendly culture in the state.
“Our economy has shown signs of significant improvements in recent months and the newly formed Department of Commerce is focused on ensuring the positive trends in job growth and companies’ decisions to relocate to Maryland continue,” said Gill. “As we work to improve the business climate, we will rely on partners in the private sector like MacKenzie and RCM&D to help guide the process and make Maryland a better state.”
Basu continued the conversation, focusing on the local, regional, and national economies. “Even as some regions have softened economically due to the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar and falling commodity prices, Maryland’s economy has strengthened,” commented Basu. “Led by healthcare, tech startups and professional services, Maryland’s economy is on the move again, and may end up exceeding national growth rates in 2016.”
The State of the Market Conference is designed to combine the platforms and extensive industry expertise of the two long-standing partners.
“Our partnership with the MacKenzie Companies has established the ideal program to provide our colleagues and clients with viable information to help them manage their businesses,” stated Bob Cawley, president of RCM&D. “Both firms operate on a foundation of independence, which is a critical facet in understanding and helping our clients meet their ultimate business objectives and organizational achievements.”
The conference is attended by many local organizations each year, providing a unique opportunity for all participants to grow and build new relationships.
“We are excited to partner again with RCM&D. Our firms share a strong commitment to our clients and are dedicated to seeing them grow their businesses,” stated Scott Wimbrow, president of MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC. “This conference provides the opportunity to interact with our clients on a more personal level while providing them with timely information and resources for success.”