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Founder and President of Banks Contracting, Ken Banks Has Been Appointed to the Governor's Workforce Investment Board for the State of Maryland by Governor Martin O'Malley

Founder and President of Banks Contracting, Ken Banks has been appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board for the State of Maryland by Governor Martin O’Malley.  The Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB) is the governor's chief policy-making body for workforce development.  The GWIB is led by 45 members, including the governor, the lieutenant governor, cabinet secretaries, college presidents, the state superintendent of schools, elected officials, representatives of non-profit organizations and prominent leaders of Maryland’s business community. The GWIB is charged with developing policies and strategies to form a coordinated workforce system through a variety of education, employment, and training programs.  The Board’s mission is to develop and lead a nationally recognized workforce development system that aligns with the economic and educational goals of the State of Maryland. This concerted effort will result in the creation of qualified workforce that will be available to employers across the State. Fred Mason, GWIB Member and President of the Maryland and D.C. AFL-CIO comments, “Ken's success as a business leader is well known, as is his broader commitment to social and economic justice. As the Governors Workforce Investment Board prepares policies to meet the demands of Maryland's 21st century workforce, such characteristics will be a tremendous asset. In recognizing Ken's experience, knowledge and integrity, I was honored to nominate him to join the ranks of those seeking to keep moving Maryland forward.”

 

Ken Banks joins Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB) as one of Maryland renowned business visionaries. As the Founder and President of Banks Contracting, Ken has a firm appreciation for the importance of developing a skilled workforce.  As a real estate development and construction industry leader, Banks has developed and employed hundreds of skilled workers and professionals to deliver mega-scale projects including: the Science and Technology Park at Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland at Baltimore Biotech Park, New Clinical Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel, and Coppin State University’s Physical Education Complex.  Many of those employed and mentored by Ken Banks have gone on to start their own businesses. 

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Even in his philanthropic endeavors, Banks supports innovative projects that will have a positive economic impact on communities around world.  Recently, Ken became integrally involved in a global health project with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to design and create locally assembled ventilation systems for thatched and adobe-style homes, in regions throughout the world.  In addition to potentially reducing indoor air pollution exposure for billions of people, this ventilation system will be assembled and installed utilizing local labor and materials, with the goal of stimulating the creation of micro-economies in remote regions across the world. Ken also serves on boards including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health- Health Advisory Board, University of Maryland School of Medicine- Board of Visitors, the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma- Board of Visitors, Maryland Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation –Board of Directors, Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Baltimore Committee.

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As an appointed member of the Governor's Workforce Investment Board, Ken hopes to utilize his 34 years of business expertise to address the needs of Maryland’s economy, and develop solutions for building a stronger workforce in Maryland.  Banks comments, “Being appointed to the GWIB is a great opportunity for me to collaborate with other leaders in the effort to find effective solutions to build a stronger, more globally-competitive workforce in Maryland.” For more information about the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board, please contact: www.gwib.maryland.gov/.

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