Governor Martin O'Malley Swears In Christian Johansson as Secretary to Department of Business and Economic Development; Members of State Board of Education and University System Board of Regents
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 9, 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley today swore in Christian S. Johansson today as Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) at a ceremony in the Governor’s Reception Room. Governor O’Malley today also swore in Donna Hill Staton to the State Board of Education and Gary L. Attman to the University System Board of Regents.
" I am proud to swear in Mr. Johansson for this vital position to the future economic health of our One Maryland,” said Governor O’Malley. “The knowledge and expertise that Mr. Johansson brings to DBED illustrates our commitment to keeping cutting-edge industry here in Maryland and attracting good jobs for the working families of our State. DBED’s core functions are critical to our State now more than ever as we navigate these uncertain economic times by bringing jobs and business home to Maryland.”
“It’s an honor to serve Governor O’Malley and the citizens of the great state of Maryland at a time when the work that we do at DBED to attract companies and create jobs is more important than ever,” said Secretary Johansson. “I look forward to building on our unparalleled assets – our world-class workforce, our top-rated education system and our superior business climate – to ensure that Maryland remains competitive in the global economy.”
Christian Johansson joined DBED from Continental Equity, a private equity firm in Baltimore, where as Managing Director he focused on investing in diverse-owned companies and teams. Prior to that, Johansson served as President and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, a public-private partnership that markets Central Maryland for new investment. He has also served as Senior Consultant for Sag Harbor Group in New York, and is Co-founder of inka.net, a customer relationship management enterprise software company, and Dola Health Systems, an international health care firm.
Johansson received a BA from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Hippodrome Foundation, Inc. as well as the BB&T Metro Area Advisory Board, the Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership Program, and the President's Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Johansson was a member of President Obama's Executive Committee for Urban and Metropolitan Policy during the Presidential campaign and served as an advisor to President Obama's transition team. He also served as co-chair of the O'Malley-Brown Transition Committee for DBED in 2006.
“I am also proud to swear in Ms. Staton to the State Board of Education and Mr. Attman to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents,” Governor O’Malley said. “I am confident Ms. Staton and Mr. Attman will work to protect the investments we have made in our education institutions to ensure that all of Maryland students gets a world class education.”
Ms. Staton was sworn in as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education. She served as Deputy Attorney General to Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. She also served as an Associate Judge on the Circuit Court of Howard County, becoming the first African-American trial judge in Howard County and the second African-American woman to serve on any Circuit Court in the State. She has taught as an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Maryland, School of Law. Ms. Staton has also been recognized as one of Daily Record’s “Maryland’s Top 100 Women.” She is a trustee for the Client Protection Fund of the Bar of Maryland (Court of Appeals Appointment) and the Bar Foundation of Howard County. She received her Bachelor’s degree at Princeton University and her Juris Doctor at the George Washington University Law School. She is a Howard County resident.
Mr. Attman was sworn in as a member of the Board of Regents. He is President of FutureCare Health and Management Corporation, which he co-founded in 1985. He is a member of the Maryland Bar, a CPA, and a licensed real estate broker. Mr. Attman received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland (magna cum laude) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is a Baltimore County resident.
