FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BGE EXECUTIVE TO CHAIR BOARD OF MARYLAND BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE FOR EDUCATION (MBRT), LEADERS OF VENABLE LLC BALTIMORE AND
CAPITOL TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED AS NEW DIRECTORS
BALTIMORE – June 11, 2026 – The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) has announced new Board officers and two new members elected to its Board of Directors, further strengthening the organization’s governance and leadership supporting education reform and student achievement statewide.
Michael Cloyd, senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of BGE, is the incoming chair of the MBRT Board of Directors, following two years as treasurer of the 34 year-old organization. Cloyd succeeds Christine Aspell in leading the MBRT Board. In his role with BGE, Cloyd oversees the treasury, financial planning and analysis, operational finance and accounting functions for the company. His chairmanship of the MBRT Board comes at a time when BGE is doubling down on its commitment to education and workforce development.
“I am honored to serve as Board Chair of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education,” states Cloyd. “I am excited to be given the opportunity to continue working alongside MBRT staff and its Board of Directors to improve student achievement and workforce preparedness, grow their STEM programs, and raise awareness about the important work they do.”
Aspell, recently retired office managing partner of KPMG Baltimore, becomes MBRT Board chairperson emeritus following three years as chair.
Also announced is newly elected MBRT Board treasurer, Morgan O’Donnell, senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Pepco Holdings. O’Donnell has helped drive Pepco forward in several key areas, including regulatory strategy, revenue policy, financial planning and analysis, and treasury. Her expertise is a perfect compliment to MBRT’s Board.
“I am honored to serve as Treasurer of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, an organization that has long demonstrated the power of partnership between the business community, educators, and state leaders,” states O’Donnell. “[The] MBRT’s commitment to advancing education and strengthening Maryland’s talent pipeline is more important than ever. I look forward to supporting the organization’s mission to drive meaningful impact for students across our state and help ensure Maryland remains competitive for generations to come.”
Cloyd and O’Donnell are joined by continuing vice chair of the MBRT Board, Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, Managing Director, BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record.
Two new MBRT Directors confirmed by vote of the MBRT Board at its June 11, 2026 meeting are Charles J. Morton, Jr., Managing Partner, Venable LLP and Bradford L. Sims, Ph.D., President, Capitol Technology University. Adding legal and independent higher education perspective, respectively, MBRT is excited to announce their appointments.
Charles J. (“Chuck”) Morton is a Partner at Venable LLP and Managing Partner of the firm’s Baltimore office. Nationally recognized for his work guiding mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions involving middle-market companies, Morton advises investors, entrepreneurs and private equity groups on complex business matters. Morton earned his JD from University of Maryland School of Law and is active in the region and nationally in law, technology development and civic causes. Passionate about increased visibility and access for students to diverse career, training and college pathway opportunities in Maryland, Morton sees MBRT as uniquely positioned to improve student outcomes in alignment with Maryland’s employer needs.
“I am excited to work with MBRT at this time of continued progress. Helping to ensure all Marylander’s have access to prosperous, secure careers has never been more important,” states Morton.
Dr. Bradford L. (“Brad”) Sims is the second new Director confirmed at MBRT Board’s June meeting. Bradford became Capitol Technology University’s eighth president in 2017 and has expanded career-focused STEM degrees, including being first in state to offer Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees in AI. Based in Laurel on a 52 acre campus, Capitol is one of Maryland’s 15 Independent higher education institutions. Sims earned a Ph.D. from Purdue in curriculum and instruction, and he holds masters and undergraduate degrees in building construction management. An educator, administrator and construction project manager, Sims has extensive experience in both academia and industry.
“The success of Maryland’s students and the success of Maryland’s employers are inseparable,” Sims shared. “I am honored to join the MBRT Board and support its mission of connecting education and industry to create stronger career pathways, develop future talent, and ensure our students are prepared to lead in a technology-driven economy.”
Both Morton and Sims begin their MBRT Board terms effective immediately alongside the newly confirmed slate of MBRT Board officers.
“I congratulate our incoming Board chair Mike and treasurer Morgan, and warmly welcome Chuck and Brad to the Board of Directors and their prestigious organizations to MBRT Membership,” said MBRT executive director, Sharon Markley Schreiber. “We are incredibly fortunate to have leaders of their caliber on our Board as MBRT accelerates its “My Future. My Maryland.” strategic plan, emphasizing youth talent development, collaborative public-private ecosystems, and equitable opportunity for all students.”
About Maryland Business Roundtable for Education
Founded in 1992, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is a coalition of leading employers that have made a long-term commitment to support education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland. MBRT drives meaningful partnerships between business, government and education that empower student achievement to meet Maryland’s talent needs. For more information, visit http://www.mbrt.org/.
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