Governor Ehrlich to present the Honorable Helen Bentley with the World Trade Center Institute’s Governor’s International Leadership Award
Former Congresswoman and President of Helen Bentley and Associates, the Honorable Helen Delich Bentley, will be honored by Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. with the prestigious Governor’s International Leadership Award on Thursday, March 30, 2006. The World Trade Center Institute alongside the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development and title sponsor T. Rowe Price will host this annual event at the Jim Rouse Visionary Center in Baltimore. The event has become a true must-attend for the "who's who" of Maryland’s international business community, drawing over 75 CEO's and Presidents, and 400 area business leaders.
Bentley’s longstanding and tireless efforts on behalf of Maryland and the maritime industry made her an obvious choice for Governor Ehrlich. Her dedication, leadership and vision have made her a critical player in Maryland’s strides to reach new global heights.
"Helen Bentley clearly deserves this recognition," said Maryland comptroller William Donald Schaefer. "Her initiative and energy dedicated to the state of Maryland and, especially, to the Port of Baltimore make her stand out among her peers."
The self proclaimed “Mother of the Port” has continued to break barriers for women in government and business throughout her career. "It is energizing indeed to see former Congresswoman Bentley honored as the first woman to receive this Award" said Deb Kielty President of the World Trade Center Institute, "particularly as it is the highest Award given in Maryland for international leadership." Not only is Bentley the first woman to be honored with the Governor’s International Leadership Award in the event's ten year history, but she has also led the way for women in government.
Bentley’s key accomplishments reveal that she was the first woman chair of the Federal Maritime Commission (at the time she was the fourth highest ranking woman in the federal government), the first woman to serve in a key governmental position in the maritime field, the first woman to be appointed by a President to head a regulatory agency and maritime editor of the Baltimore Sun for 24 years. President of the Private Sector Port Coalition Bud Nixon describes Bentley as a “ROCK, constant and steady for 50+ years... and still going strong.”
She also headed up the search committee, which selected Brooks Royster as the new Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration, and serves as Chairman of the Port Tricentennial Committee.
Currently, Bentley heads Helen Bentley & Associates, Inc., an international trade, business and government consultancy firm. She is a key consultant for the Maryland Port Administration and spends time in Washington working on behalf of several maritime companies.
Bentley sits on the Boards of ABCOV, Inc., and is Chair of Global Water Technology, Inc. She is also involved with many other organizations including the Center for International and Comparative Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore's Council on Foreign Affairs, Italy America Chamber of Commerce, Pride of Baltimore II, Navy League of the United States National Advisory Council, among others.
About WTCI:
Established in Baltimore in 1989 to help connect Maryland to the globe, today the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) is the region’s premier private sector international business partner. Financed jointly by area businesses and the State of Maryland, WTCI operates as a non-profit membership organization.
More than 2,500 Maryland firms benefit from WTCI’s extensive global network, pragmatic international business programs and customized consulting. WTCI is a member of the World Trade Center Association, along with nearly 300 fellow World Trade Centers operating in major business cities around the world.
About the Event:
Date: Thursday, March 30, 2006
Time: 5:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Jim Rouse Visionary Center, a part of the American Visionary Arts Museum, 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230
Refreshments/International Buffet/Latin Music Celebration
Cost: $100 WTCI members/$150 Non-members