Maryland`s Associations Join Forces to Combat Recession, Spark Recovery

TOWSON, Md.--(Business Wire)--
Professional and not-for-profit membership associations have all worked to
soften the effects of the recession and build momentum toward recovery, for
their members. Now they`re pooling ideas and resources to attack these issues
cooperatively, to benefit the state of Maryland.

This ambitious collective effort will debut at the Maryland Business &
Accounting Expo, June 16-17 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Federal, state
and local government groups, along with the non-profit community, are expected
to turn out in force: The Association for Corporate Growth; Department of
Economic and Business Development; Financial Executives International; Greater
Baltimore Tech Council; Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants;
Maryland Bankers Association; Maryland State Bar Association (Business Section);
Maryland World Class Consortia; National Federation of Independent Business; The
Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

They will gather for two days of presentations by national thought leaders, high
level workshops to heighten business knowledge and skills, breakout sessions and
networking opportunities, and displays of the latest in business products and
services by dozens of vendors.

"This is clearly a large-scale event and we are hoping everyone will come away
with strategies to manage effectively during the current downturn and a grasp of
the opportunities as we emerge from the recession," said J. Thomas Hood, III,
CPA, CEO & Executive Director of the Maryland Association of CPAs, which is
hosting the event. "But most important, this is just the first step in a
far-reaching effort. Expo discussions will serve as the foundation for
continuing cooperation between government and member associations, to develop
approaches to spur economic growth in Maryland."

Mr. Hood added that the leadership of the various organizations will schedule a
summer meeting to assess the outcomes of the Expo and chart a specific course of
programs for the coming year.

The Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, a non-profit, is the
largest professional organization serving the needs of Maryland CPAs, with a
current membership of nearly 10,000. The mission of MACPA is to protect and
further the interests of their members; enhance the image of certified public
accountants; enable their members to conform to high standards of professional
service; and provide the necessary resources for members to thrive in a dynamic,
rapidly changing environment. MACPA is headquartered in Towson, Md. For more
information on MACPA, call (800) 782-2036 or visit them on the web at
www.macpa.org.

Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants
Richard Rabicoff, Career Initiatives & Public Relations Manager
443-632-2318
Richard@macpa.org

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