Revenews

Public Relations Manager Maureen O'Prey finds out more about SECU's Kindness Campaign from Executive Vice President Becky Smith. They talk about the origin of the program, how it's grown beyond just the credit union and how anyone can participate.

This Saturday, October 8th is the 25th year of the Rock Hall Fall Fest, where oysters, music and artisans take over Main Street. We chat with Bob Ford, who handles publicity for the annual event, about what brings thousands to this small Eastern Shore town every autumn (including the Catonsville High School Steel Drum Band) and the slower pace of life that draws residents and visitors to this quaint corner of Kent County.

After being diagnosed with stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2007, Baltimore native Craig Willinger got to see his beloved Bayern Munich play in Germany thanks to the generosity of local soccer fans. He was determined to bring that same joy to others facing serious medical conditions. Although Craig passed away in 2012, his quest lives on through the Baltimore-based nonprofit named for him.  We chatted with board member Simon Torres to learn more about the organization and its signature fundraiser this weekend, the Craig Willinger Footgolf Classic.

The books are officially closed on Fiscal Year 2022 and Maryland has $2 billion more than expected. How did we get here, where does that money go and what happens next? Tune in for an in-depth discussion with Christopher Kratzen and Luther Dolcar from the General Accounting Division to learn everything you ever wanted to know -- and probably more -- about state accounting practices.

On the surface, there's not many similarities between Washington, D.C., where Paul Tue III grew up, and Kent County, where he's lived for 15 years. But Tue saw the largely rural community provided few opportunities for young men to develop character and leadership -- so he's made it a mission to do just that, which is why he received the 2021 William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award for Kent County.

Talbot Humane is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. We chatted with executive director Patty Crankshaw-Quimby and Board President Bridget Horner about the challenges of working with animals in need (and their owners) during a global pandemic, trends in pet adoptions and exciting expansion plans in the future.

We're back from the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City for a wrap-up conversation with Kevin Kinnally, MACO's legislative director and co-host of the Conduit Street Podcast. He walks us through highlights of the conference and some of the major themes that county leaders will be facing in the months to come.

It's double trouble from the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City as Baltimore County Delegates Eric Ebersole and Pat Young take part in a freewheeling discussion about policy, politics, personalities and those infamous fireside chats.

Next in the hot seat from the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City is Santo “Sandy” Grande, president and CEO of Delmarva Community Services, one of the most comprehensive social service organizations in the state offering a slew of programs to residents needing assistance. Hear how the nonprofit started in 1974 with just three staff serving 15 clients and now has roughly 300 employees serving thousands of residents.

Our interviews from the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City continues with Pamela Wood of the Baltimore Banner. We chat current events and ask her to dissect the state of the media locally and beyond, as well as what it's like being part of the state's emerging news outlet.

The first in a series of conversations from the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City features Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. We discuss leading the state's most populous jurisdiction through the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic outlook for local governments in a post-COVID era and other big topics facing jurisdictions in the coming months.

Baltimore is one of 17 U.S. cities in the running to host games in the 2026 World Cup. With sites likely to be selected in May, resident agency soccer fans Alan Brody and Alex Butler talk with Terry Hasseltine, President of the Baltimore Maryland 2026 Bid, about the chances of being chosen, what it would mean for Maryland and talk of a joint Baltimore-Washington, D.C-bid that could improve the prospects of being picked.

In this episode we are joined by Sean Smeeton and Detric Mccoy, respectively the founder and owner of Taharka Brothers Ice Cream. They discuss the origins of this Baltimore-based business, the innovations they've made before and during COVID-19, and the social change efforts their business supports in and around the Baltimore area.

The 2022 tax season is underway and two top agency gurus, Debora Gorman and Pat Guiles, give us a crash course on some of the big news for this year, including extended deadlines for state individual income taxes, changes to look out for and how to get help preparing and filing taxes from the Comptroller's Office.

We're joined once again by State Senator Craig Zucker for an overview of the upcoming 90-day Maryland General Assembly session, which begins January 12th. We talk about another legislative session impacted by COVID-19, the big issues likely to dominate discussion and balancing family life and legislative responsibilities as an elected official. Stick around at the end as Craig shares a few lighter moments from his Senate tenure.

In this year-end episode, we chat with now-retired Treasurer Nancy Kopp about her incredible 50-year public service career, the changes she's seen, her relationship with Comptroller Franchot and advice for her successor, Dereck Davis. Listen closely as we “dig up” something you may not know about this legendary Marylander and her plans for post-political life.

It's the most wonderful time of year! Holiday shopping season is upon us and that means the Comptroller's annual push to support small, local businesses. Once again, several Maryland-based credit unions are offering special rewards and incentives to its members who buy local and we're joined by Becky Smith of SECU to tell us more about the initiative, how credit unions differ from banks and how the pandemic has changed their approach.

Thanks largely to the success of federal relief, Maryland has an extra $5 billion in the bank. Bureau of Revenue Estimates Director Andy Schaufele joins us to break down the recent Fiscal Year 2021 Closeout Report and updated revenue projections for FY 2022 and 2023 (07:11). Then we chat with Janice Shih, director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service about their work and how a new law allows them to help more taxpayers (47:05).

Community Affairs and Outreach Manager Kia Baskerville, then a CBS News producer covering the White House, shares her recollections of travelling in Florida on September 11, 2001 with President George W. Bush when news broke of the terrorist attacks in New York and the Pentagon. Kia takes us behind the scenes of what it was like on Air Force One and back in the Oval Office on such a tumultuous day and the bond she developed with the First Family.

Summer is nearly over and many schools are back in session. We discuss youth activism, political involvement and college in the age of COVID with two of our summer interns, Megan Moulsdale and Tim Jones (05:29). Afterwards, a riveting conversation with Dr. Steven Thomas, founder of the HAIR Campaign, which has achieved national attention for its work enlisting black barbershops and beauty salons in the fight to achieve health equity (40:29).

Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week runs August 8-14 and we're joined by Sarah Price of the Maryland Retailers Association to talk about how businesses have managed to survive during the pandemic and the scholarship contest that has become an annual highlight of the tax-free week. Afterwards, Fells Point Surf Co. owner Ali Schuch gives us a firsthand perspective of running a business in challenging times.

In this special episode, Alan and Callie remember the June 28, 2018, Annapolis Capital shooting with Communications Director Susan O'Brien, who worked for Mayor Gavin Buckley at the time and shares what that tragic day and the days that followed were like (05:08). Then, we talk about the broader state of the media, both locally and nationally with Lucy Dalglish, dean of the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland (33:54).

June 13-19 is PROTECT Week, highlighting elder financial abuse. The Comptroller's Office is a lead partner in the campaign and guest host Maureen O'Prey joins Alan to talk about it with Sydney Palinkas from ElderSAFE (09:58). Then, Chris Haley, who heads the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland at the State Archives talks about Juneteenth and the quest for racial justice in America (31:42).

New co-host Callie Pfeiffer joins Alan to talk with Chuck Ulm, deputy director of the agency’s Field Enforcement Bureau, to find out why the Comptroller is in charge of motor fuel regulation and what role the office had to keep gas flowing in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline hack (06:12). Then, we look forward to summer with Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, who’s preparing for the unofficial start of tourist season this Memorial Day Weekend (38:00).

It’s a bittersweet episode as we celebrate the first anniversary of Revenews while saying goodbye to Sam, who is taking her talents to Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center. Alan and Sam reflect on highlights from the past year (05:21), then chat with Julie Verratti, Associate Administrator for the SBA’s Office of Field Operations, about the federal programs available to small business owners (23:02). Finally, a few colleagues say farewell to Sam (51:36).

This week, Alan and Sam break down college savings plans with Maryland 529 Executive Director Erin Layton to help you prepare for the future (07:50). Then they catch up with Amie McCaslin, a resilient business owner who faced both floods in Ellicott City and is opening a new storefront in Ocean City called Salt & Co (36:20).

The 2021 General Assembly wrapped up an unprecedented 90-day session with pandemic relief and police reform taking top billing. We’re joined by Legislative Director Justin Hayes and Deputy Director Sean Ford to break it down. Then, Ian Kennedy, head of the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission, which owns Merriweather Post Pavilion, talks about how the music died at entertainment venues during the last year and when concerts may return.

In this special episode, Deputy Comptroller Sharonne Bonardi chats with her predecessor and mentor Linda Tanton about being the first female Deputy Comptroller, the challenges she faced in breaking that barrier and the changed roles of women in leadership over the years.

It’s Women’s History Month and St. Patrick’s Day! Accordingly, Alan and Sam chat with Maureen O’Prey about her role in the office and her other passions: history, beer, and the history of beer (10:53). Next up is Karlys Kline, founder of the Women’s Giving Circle and beloved in Frederick and far beyond (40:54). It’s an episode you won’t want to miss!

In four days, the Comptroller’s Office processed roughly 415,000 electronic payments and paper checks to Marylanders who qualified for state stimulus relief, representing 98% of all recipients. How did it happen and what are some of the most frequently asked questions. We go behind the scenes with Ombudsman Dana Buker, who deals directly with taxpayers trying to navigate the sometimes-thorny bureaucratic channels in search of help.

Tax season and Shop Maryland Energy Weekend are almost here! First, we chat with Robin McKinney of the CASH Campaign about free tax preparation and the Earned Income Tax Credit (07:43). Next up, business owners Joe Ochs & Curt Spicher tell how huge the tax-free weekend is for retailers (33:00). Then, Amey Bayes of BGE and Larissa Johnson from the Montgomery County Dept. of Environmental Protection encourage you to save money AND the planet with energy efficient appliances (54:47).

With the 2021 General Assembly starting this week, Sam and Alan get a preview from Sen. Craig Zucker, a longtime Comptroller employee, and Justin Hayes, the Comptroller's legislative director (06:46). We also get a lay of the land in the COVID-19 era from Sen. Clarence Lam, the chamber's only practicing physician and Nicole Stallings from the MD Hospital Association (40:33).

It’s the holiday season, and Alan and Sam are wrapping up the year by interviewing Deputy Comptroller Sharonne Bonardi (09:04) about her influential role in managing the day-to-day of the agency and adapting to such a tough year. We then chat with Ali von Paris (33:33), CEO and founder of Route One Apparel, about starting the company out of her dorm room at UMD ten years ago and the importance of shopping local.

In a special Thanksgiving edition, we learn about the Maryland Charity Campaign from agency chairperson Patti Tracey, (01:28) and talk to a pair of nonprofit leaders – Carmen del Guercio of the Maryland Food Bank (18:46) and Jeff Griffin of the Franciscan Center (36:48) – to hear how their operations have changed as a result of the pandemic and what their biggest needs are heading into the holiday season. And we close with a montage of Comptroller employees saying what they’re thankful for this year.

Special co-host Maureen O’Prey pinch hits today as we talk with the Maryland DC Credit Union Association about their members’ partnership on the Comptroller’s Shop Maryland for the Holidays initiative (07:00). Then, we check in with Scott Sanders, founding partner of Tobacco Barn Distillery in St. Mary’s County, to hear about their latest unique venture involving bourbon and a military fighter jet (20:04).

In honor of the just-concluded Hispanic Heritage Month, Alan and Sam chat with the Comptroller’s Hispanic Affairs Outreach Manager Adriana Lee about how our office is engaging with Hispanic communities across the state to foster better awareness of tax issues (9:23). Next up, Jimmy Vargas, a Silver Spring accountant, provides some helpful tips and advice on how to get your taxes done right (29:30).

We start with an overview of the state’s latest revenue estimates and what they mean (01:16). Then, we talk with Sandy Zinck, director of the General Accounting Division, which drafts the annual reports that drive Maryland’s financial standing and is responsible for keeping track of all the money spent by state agencies (05:13). She also explains how her team has been a saving grace for child care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then as Maryland oyster season begins, Paul Schurick from the Oyster Recovery Partnership discusses restoring the state’s oyster population, their importance to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the Shell Recycling Alliance (30:38).

The Census is more than a once-every-10-years population count. We talk with State Planning Secretary Robert McCord to learn how it determines the amount of federal funding Maryland gets and how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted collection efforts (6:50). Then, we hear from Laura Gaver House, whose family farm in Mt. Airy is a popular fall destination for apples, pumpkins and fun for all ages (29:20).

Most Maryland students will start school this year virtually. We discuss the digital divide in urban and rural communities with Rick Gordon, director of the Governor's Office of Rural Broadband, and Andrew Coy, a co-organizer of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition (6:40). Then we talk to Charelle James, executive director of Urban Teachers, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that trains career educators through an immersive 4-year program (39:45).

Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week starts on Sunday, August 9 and runs through Saturday, August 15. We talk with Maryland Retailers Association President Cailey Locklair (4:03) about how important the week is for businesses coping with the impacts of Covid-19, and how Maryland college students can win scholarships during tax-free week. Then, we hear from Josh Levinson (18:52), co-owner of Charm City Run, about the origin and growth of the business, the challenges of owning a business during the pandemic and more.

Opening Day is here. We step away from our usual tax talk to focus on America’s pastime. Batting leadoff is Len Foxwell, Comptroller Franchot’s chief of staff and a Washington Nationals megafan (03:25).  On deck is Jennifer Grondahl, a top Baltimore Orioles executive (28:43). In the 3-hole is Ben McDonald, the No. 1 selection in the 1989 MLB Draft and a current O’s broadcaster (43:09). And hitting cleanup is Jon Meoli, the Orioles beat writer for the Baltimore Sun (59:38).

With the extended tax deadline of July 15 fast approaching, we talk with Gary White, Director of the Taxpayer Services Division, and Wayne Green, Director of the Revenue Administration Division to answer all your tax questions. What returns are due? Can you still file for an extension? How can you reach our office with any questions? We’re then joined by co-owner of Dan’s Taphouse in Boonsboro, Maryland, Charlotte Aufdem-Brinke, to share her story of how the restaurant is surviving COVID-19 and her decision to vocally support the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.

The Comptroller’s Office is about to launch a new, state-of-the-art tax management system called Compass. What is it and how will it help make filing and managing your taxes easier? We talk with Robin Aro, Compass Program Manager, and Porter Ledford, program manager for the contractor implementing the Compass system, to get an overview. Later, we’re joined by Sam Hanson, manager of the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar, to talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes to the beloved Sunday market and how both vendors and shoppers have responded. And, we close with our recurring segment with Sam and Alan sharing “The Best Thing We Saw This Week.”

Is the state holding money that might be owed to you? We talk with Jason Sobel, director of the Unclaimed Property Section, to get the lowdown on how to search and make a claim, and some other fun tidbits about this program that returns millions of dollars to Marylanders every year. Later, we talk with Erin Cermak, founder and CEO of Revolution Event Design and Production, based in Baltimore, which is unveiling a line of social distancing products for the COVID-19 environment, including their “bumper tables,” which has received global media coverage. Lastly, we share Comptroller Franchot’s remarks on the awful killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the ensuing protests demanding justice and systemic changes that have swept the country.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Maryland, we go deep on the economic impact with Bureau of Revenue Estimates Director Andy Schaufele. We also talked with an Ellicott City DJ who turned an effort to entertain his young kids into a repeat dance party that has raised more than $1 million in donations to charities and first responders. To close the show, Alan and Sam kick off our new recurring feature, “The Best Thing I Saw This Week.”

Revenews is produced by the Office of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to bring you the latest tax and financial news, as well as a closer look at the people, places and organizations that make Maryland special. In the opening episode we discuss how COVID-19 has had an affect on tax season and local businesses. We talk with our first guest, none other than the Comptroller of Maryland Peter Franchot, and we talk with Biermi co-founders Brian O’Connor and Brendan O'Leary.