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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES ALEX SANCHEZ AS SECRETARY OF LABOR, LICENSING, & REGULATION


ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 22, 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley announced the appointment of Alex Sanchez as the new Secretary of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation today at a press conference in the Governor’s Reception Room at the State House. Sanchez’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Maryland Senate, and he will begin leadership of the approximately 2,000 employee agency in October.

“I am proud to nominate Alex Sanchez to lead the Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation. At a time of economic uncertainty, it is critical we have effective leadership at the agency that often serves as the only protection against fraud and abuse for many consumers and businesses,” said Governor O’Malley. “Alex’s years in the non-profit community, as well as his legal expertise, bring a unique set of skills and talents to this new role, and I’m confident that his leadership at DLLR will help continue our progress fighting for the working men and women of our State.”

Sanchez joins the O’Malley-Brown Administration from United Way of America where he currently serves as Senior Vice President for Community Impact Leadership. In that role, Sanchez established the organization as the largest national partner of the Internal Revenue Service and created the Financial Stability Partnership, an economic self-sufficiency initiative for working families that last year increased the generation of Earned Income Tax Credit refunds to more than $420,000,000 and earned additional multi-million dollar corporate and foundation investments.

“It is a privilege and an honor to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Maryland as the Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation,” said Sanchez. “Under the leadership of Governor O’Malley and Secretary Perez the Department has earned a position of national prominence in its work to protect and empower the citizens of Maryland. I look forward to the challenge of continuing to build upon the Department’s achievements. I want to thank Governor O’Malley for his continued commitment to the success of the Department and for his faith and confidence in selecting me to lead this important work.”

Sanchez replaces Tom Perez who has served in the position since the start of the O’Malley-Brown Administration and leaves to join the Obama Administration as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice.

“It has been an honor to serve the O'Malley-Brown administration,” said Perez. “Under the Governor’s leadership, we have been able to implement a wide range of innovative programs to protect and empower Marylanders. From foreclosure prevention to living wage implementation to workforce development, the Governor has charted an aggressive path that has enabled DLLR to help Marylanders in so many different ways. I am certain that this progress will continue under Alex Sanchez’s leadership, and under the able leadership of the dedicated staff at DLLR.”

Prior to joining the United Way in 2005, Sanchez served as President and CEO of United Neighborhood Centers of America, a national, non-profit umbrella organization whose mission is to strengthen and empower member organizations to foster neighborhood pride, local decision-making and better social conditions and to help individuals and families lift themselves out of desperate social conditions in some of America’s most threatened neighborhoods. Sanchez developed job training and employment programs, and earned an Annie E. Casey Foundation national family strengthening award grant partnership during his tenure there.

He also served as Executive Director for the Hispanic National Bar Association & Foundation, where he was successful in increasing membership more than 30 percent through promoting the interests of Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors and law students throughout the United States.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College in 1990, and holds a Masters of Government Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School. Sanchez remains involved in local community organizations, including the American Red Cross, Center for Families and Children, and the Center for Community Solutions.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

He'll be Sotomator's replacement when she gets laughed off the Supreme Court.

Anonymous said...

SotomaYor not Sotomator. why's wrogn with you, son?

Concerned Retiree said...

O'Malley / Obama does this show the path MD is on since no one has been talking about how O'Malley has been destroying MD with is agenda since his reign of terror began.