Eileen M. Rehrmann
2008-09 President

network 2000, inc

founded in 1993 with the mission to promote the advancement of women in professional and executive positions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Courtney Dunevant
410-654-0000
Courtney@bonnieheneson.com

WOMEN ON CORPORATE BOARDS: MARYLAND NUMBERS DOWN FROM LAST YEAR, CONTINUE TO LAG BEHIND NATIONAL AVERAGE

Results Reported in Second Annual Network 2000 Census

Baltimore— The percentage of women on publicly traded boards of directors in Maryland declined less than one percent in the last year to 8.9 percent, while Maryland continues to lag behind the 14.7 percent national average for women directors, according to Network 2000’s second annual census examining female representation on publicly traded corporate boards in Maryland.

Network 2000, a Maryland not-for-profit organization promoting the advancement of women in professional and executive positions, released the results of the 2007 Census of Women Board Directors in Maryland on September 11 at The Center Club in Baltimore at a workshop “Roadmap to the Boardroom: Are you Board Ready?,” cosponsored by Network 2000 and the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC).

In addition to a presentation of key census findings, seminar keynote speaker Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and panelists: James T. Brady, Mid-Atlantic managing director, Ballantrae International, Ltd.;Susan J. Ganz, CEO, Lion Brothers, Inc.; H. Edward (Ted) Muendel, international chairman emeritus, Stanton Chase International; and Karen D. Weatherholtz, resident, Leadership Unlimited, LLC, and retired senior vice president of Human Relations, McCormick & Company, Inc. discussed the composition of a corporate board, the responsibilities and time commitment required of a corporate member member, ways to join a corporate board, the importance of diversity on boards, and the criteria that CEOs and board chairs look for in a board member.

Other census key findings include:

  • • More than 51 percent of companies surveyed had at least one woman director; the number of companies with more than one woman director increased from 2006 to 2007. Forty-five of the 93 companies surveyed had no women on their boards.
  • • Maryland’s statistics appear to be strongly affected by the large number of companies in the professional, scientific & technical services (PS&T) industry—more than 23 percent versus 4 percent nationally.
  • • The concentration of bioscience/ biotechnology companies in Maryland and the fact that there are fewer women with Ph.D.s in the PS&T sector have had a definite impact on Maryland’s statistics and may be large contributors to Maryland’s below average ranking.
  • • Based on the most recent financial statements, the ten companies with the largest revenues in Maryland all have at least one woman director.
  • • Geographically, according to Catalyst, Maryland lags behind the southern states’ percentage of women on boards as well.

The 2007 Census of Women Board Directors in Maryland is available on-line.

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Network 2000, Inc. is a statewide organization of business and professional women and men, that initiates, supports and engages in educational programs and activities to prepare and promote women to achieve their full professional potential. Members serve as role models to women of all age groups. The organization also seeks to place women on corporate and non-profit boards and educate the public on the benefits of having women in decision-making positions.

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The Greater Baltimore Committee is a regional, membership organization of more than 450 businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Members are located in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties. Its current top strategic priorities include strengthening bioscience industry growth, development of a fast and reliable transit system in the Baltimore region, and nurturing the development of minority-owned and women-owned businesses.