Five Public Servants Who Embody Maryland’s Best
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland’s government is filled with dedicated public servants who show up every day determined to make the state stronger, fairer, and more functional for the people who call it home. Thousands of state employees and appointees carry that mission with professionalism and pride. But even within that elite community, there are individuals whose work, steadiness, and impact stand out.
These five leaders — drawn from different corners of state government — represent the kind of talent that keeps Maryland moving forward.
Kevin Atticks — Secretary of Agriculture
In a state where agriculture intersects with environmental stewardship, economic development, and Chesapeake Bay policy, the Secretary of Agriculture must be equal parts manager, mediator, and strategist. Kevin Atticks has become known for navigating that complexity with a steady hand.
Public reporting consistently highlights his ability to work across rural and urban constituencies, bringing farmers, environmental groups, and policymakers into the same conversation. His background in Maryland’s agricultural economy gives him credibility in the field, while his collaborative style has earned him respect inside government.
Atticks’ portfolio is one of the most technically demanding in the cabinet, and he has kept it stable, forward‑looking, and free of unnecessary drama — a hallmark of effective public leadership.
Courtney Finklea Green — Deputy State Treasurer
Courtney Finklea Green has emerged as one of the most capable operational leaders in Maryland government. Her work overseeing Maryland 529 and the ABLE program placed her at the center of a complex, high‑visibility challenge — and the public record shows she approached it with precision, transparency, and a commitment to restoring public confidence.
Her background in education advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and political organizing gives her a rare blend of policy fluency and people‑centered leadership. She is also increasingly visible statewide, serving as a DNC delegate and as president of the South County Democratic Club.
Green represents the kind of quiet excellence that often defines Maryland’s most effective public servants: steady, competent, and deeply committed to the people the state serves.
Jake Day — Secretary of Housing & Community Development
Jake Day’s portfolio is vast — and the Maryland State Archives makes that clear. He sits on or leads dozens of statewide councils, commissions, and subcabinet groups, reflecting the administration’s reliance on him as a cross‑agency problem‑solver.
Housing, community development, climate resilience, infrastructure, and economic revitalization all intersect in his department. Day’s tenure as mayor of Salisbury gave him hands‑on experience with the challenges facing Maryland’s communities, and his statewide role now leverages that background at scale.
His workload alone signals the trust placed in him. His ability to manage it effectively has made him one of the administration’s most visible and relied‑upon leaders.
Mollie Byron — Secretary of Appointments
The appointments process is one of the most sensitive and consequential functions in state government. It requires judgment, discretion, and a deep understanding of Maryland’s institutions and communities.
Mollie Byron has earned a reputation as a stabilizing force in that role. Public reporting and insider commentary consistently describe her as a trusted operator with strong relationships across agencies and constituencies. Her work rarely makes headlines — which, in the appointments world, is often the clearest sign of success.
Byron’s ability to balance political, administrative, and community considerations has made her one of the most respected figures in Annapolis.
Manny Welsh — Deputy Chief of Staff
The Deputy Chief of Staff is one of the most demanding positions in the governor’s office. It requires coordinating agencies, managing crises, translating policy into execution, and keeping the machinery of government aligned.
Manny Welsh has become known as one of the administration’s most reliable internal managers. His role places him at the center of cross‑agency operations, and public descriptions of his work emphasize steadiness, competence, and a capacity to handle complex challenges without theatrics.
Welsh represents the kind of behind‑the‑scenes leadership that keeps state government functioning smoothly — the work that rarely gets attention but always matters.
A Portrait of Excellence in Public Service
Maryland is fortunate to have a deep bench of talented public servants. These five — Kevin Atticks, Courtney Finklea Green, Jake Day, Mollie Byron, and Manny Welsh — exemplify the best of that tradition.
They come from different backgrounds, hold different responsibilities, and serve in different corners of state government. But they share a common thread: a commitment to doing the work well, quietly, and with a focus on the people of Maryland.
In a moment when public trust in institutions is often strained, leaders like these remind us that effective, ethical, and dedicated public service is still very much alive in Annapolis.