Kelly Schulz is an accomplished small business owner and dedicated public servant committed to advancing economic growth and opportunity in Maryland. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Tech Council. Before joining the Council, Kelly spent seven years in Governor Larry Hogan’s administration, serving as Secretary of Labor and later as Secretary of Commerce. In these roles, she led Maryland’s primary economic development agency, driving initiatives to attract new businesses, create jobs, and strengthen the state’s workforce development system. Her professional experience also includes serving as a program manager for a defense contractor and co-founding a cybersecurity firm, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities facing Maryland’s business community. Kelly was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates representing Frederick County before being appointed Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) in 2015. Under her leadership, Maryland’s apprenticeship program grew to more than 10,000 apprentices statewide and earned national recognition as one of the country’s best. In 2018, she became Secretary of Commerce, where her philosophy of “Prosperity with a Purpose” guided efforts to expand opportunity and promote sustainable economic growth across the state.