Jeffrey L. Stone Elected Greater Washington Area Business Development Officials (ABDOC) Chair

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- January 20, 1998 -- Jeffrey L. Stone, Director, Calvert County Department of Economic Development, was elected chairperson of the Greater Washington Area Business Development Officials Committee (ABDOC). The ABDOC committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Greater Washington Initiative (GWI).

The Greater Washington Board of Trade originally created GWI in 1994 to create synergy in the region's economic development efforts and to spur economic development growth in the Greater Washington marketplace. GWI is a public/private partnership comprised of over 100 organizations and operates on the premise that the Greater Washington Region must be promoted as a whole in order to successfully compete internationally for economic growth. Finally, GWI combines private business with county and city governments to pool together both the talents and the resources for companies interested in evaluating, planning and implementing an expansion or move.

The ABDOC committee is comprised of 26 regional economic development leaders who act in an advisory capacity to the Greater Washington Board of Trade and work cooperatively with other GWI economic development partners to promote and market the region. Additionally, the ABDOC group works together to share professional expertise and provide recommendations in the economic development field.

Mr. Stone entered the Economic/Business Development field in Paterson, New Jersey in 1976, has held high level positions in economic development within state and county governments, as well as the private sector. He has also served in both Anne Arundel County and Maryland state government. For more than 20 years, he has been instrumental in developing and implementing partnerships between government and the private sector, and has worked with both large and small businesses. Additionally, he has developed and managed a municipally owned industrial park and has been responsible for tourism and land use functions.

"GWI is unique in its efforts to create a well-orchestrated campaign to attract corporations from around the world to relocate in our region, while still focusing on expanding companies already located in the Greater Washington area," said Jeff Stone. "Over the past few years, GWI has been instrumental in helping raise the image of the Greater Washington Region. They are effectively promoting the entire region, as a whole, while still supporting their partner jurisdictions. I look forward to serving in this position with and feel honored to have been elected by my peers."

"We at GWI are greatly supportive of Jeff Stone's appointment as ABDOC Chair." His leadership and insights are invaluable and we all look forward to our continued work with him," said Bill Freeman, President, Bell Atlantic, Washington, Inc., Chair Greater Washington Board of Trade.

For more information please contact the Calvert County Department of Economic Development, 410-535-4583 or 301-855-1880, e-mail cced@co.cal.md.us.

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com