The Business Of Getting Through COVID-19
Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable Examines County Economic Standing Under Crisis During Virtual Meeting
By Raoul Dennis
The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable hosted Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and Deputy CAO for Public Safety Director Mark McGaw at its May 13 meeting.
County Executive Angela Alsobrooks was scheduled to address the high tier business group but was called away to join CNN’s John King to discuss COVID-19’s impact on the county (click here to see “County Executive Addresses Nation”).
The virtual meeting was the first of its kind in the organization’s history.
Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable President M.H. Jim Estepp. PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
“The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable was founded in 2003,” says President and CEO M.H. Jim Estepp. “During the period since, all regular meetings have been held in person and none have ever been canceled. We weren’t about to let the coronavirus stop us. Our first virtual meeting was held recently on ZOOM and it felt very natural to see the faces of our members and guests, including Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson.”
The impact of COVID-19 was a presence throughout the meeting as Geoffrey Pohanka, president of Pohanka Automotive and current chair of the Roundtable opened the meeting.
“There is tremendous pressure to keep employees online and paid while on leave,” Pohanka remarked reflecting the challenge that many employers attending the virtual meeting are experiencing. “The funds are running low and the time is getting tight for keeping people paid and insured. We may need to open up a little more broadly and a little sooner,” he said as the meeting started.
It was the first time that the Maryland Senate President visited the county’s business community through the Roundtable since being elected to office.
Ferguson shared his own origins as a Maryland teacher whose path led him into politics before discussing the pertinent issues the state faces today.
Prior to the state of the state remarks, Ferguson gave a respectful nod to former Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller who maintained the seat for 33 years.
“I went down to his home last week to check in on him,” he said of the senior statesman who is battling cancer. “It has been a long hard battle but it is remarkable how well he is doing. We sat by [the Miller] pool and he was still giving me tips. It’s difficult to express how grateful I am to have his experience and his mentorship. He has been an incredible guide through this whole process.”
The Human and Economic Toll Of COVID-19 in Prince George’s
There is an average of nine COVID-19 related deaths per day in Prince George’s County, making coronavirus the leading cause of death in the county at this point. There are currently over 11,300 COVID-19 cases and over 430 COVID-19 related deaths in Prince George’s.
The economic toll has accumulated to some 50,000 county residents file for unemployment since March 15.
“That is far and beyond an unraveling of the five years of job growth that we have seen in our county,” said one county representative.
Many restaurants are still offering takeout and delivery services but that’s a minimal portion of their normal monthly sales volume.
In contrast, many real estate development projects have been ongoing. The construction industry is moving along well. All major projects are moving forward.
PGEDC President David Iannucci. PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
But the restaurant industry, hotels, and retail are feeling the crush of COVID 19, explained Prince George’s Economic Development Corporation President David Iannucci. “Some of those businesses are simply not going to reopen,” Iannucci said. We are trying to do everything we can to help them.”
He said retail rents are down by 42%. That means landlords and commercial property owners are now going to face a challenge because they won’t have the cash to pay their mortgage and debt. “This can lead to a liquidity issue with our banking system,” Iannucci said.
“It’s one of the reasons we set up the COVID Business Relief Fund and the County Executive announced an additional $10 million for the EDC fund and an additional $10 million from the CARES Act,” Iannucci declared. “That will make $20 million for this effort with small businesses.”
Click here to learn more about the administration’s allocation plans “Alsobrooks Addresses Council On Covid Relief Spending”
“We have had about 500 applications that are sound applications we are reviewing. About 100 have been processed so far. $4.5 million out of the first $10 million has gone out of the door. We were the first county in Maryland to disperse funds and get dollars out the door,” Iannucci says.
The senior economic executive noted the tough times ahead but the county will emerge well.
“I can’t understate how tough it’s going to be in the short term but we will get through this,” he said.
Public Safety Director Mark McGaw. PHOTO: PGPD NEWS
Public Safety
Public Safety Director Mark McGaw also presented at the meeting.
The director noted that although no department within first responders has been left untouched by COVID-19, there have been no significant losses nor challenges to them. Overall crime is down and emergency ambulance calls are down.
He shared contingency plans in preparation for the possibility of significant losses among first responders if the virus were to hit those departments hard.
“We need a contingency plan for if we go 30% down or 50% down in staffing how do we handle that? How do we cross disciplines and continue to provide service? They worked out scenarios for moving resources and personnel between agencies if need be for police, fire, sheriff, police, EMS, and corrections.”
It means that if ambulances need to be driven, but ambulance drivers are out due to COVID, police officers or sheriff’s officers may be asked to step in and drive. If there is an issue at the department of corrections, the sheriff’s department and the police department would step in during that crisis.
McGaw said cooperation for developing the plan went well despite the fact that crossing disciplines are traditionally frowned upon but COVID-19 changes the rules.
“We all have different patches but they all say Prince George’s County and we all took the same oath. No one flinched,” he said proudly of the briefing he led with first responders. “They step up. They always do and they always will.”
Leaving Soon
MGM National Harbor President Melony Johnson PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
A number of leaders will be leaving the Roundtable in the weeks ahead. They include 11th Wing and Joint Base Andrews Commander Col. Andrew M. Purath, MGM National Harbor’s Melony Johnson, Dr. Marco Clark, Brig. General (Select) Rebecca J. Sonkiss and Dr. Joseph Wright.
Melony Johnson, the president of MGM National Harbor, announced that she will be stepping down from her post in order to aid the company at its New Jersey facilities.
“It’s a bittersweet moment due to the impact of COVID-19, MGM Resorts International has a major reorganization restructuring on the top level and with that, I have been affected,” Johnson said. “I will be relinquishing my position as president and COO at MGM National Harbor and transitioning to a sister property at the Borgata (Hotel, Casino & Spa). Jorge Perez will be the property president of MGM National Harbor.”
Johnson went on to say that she enjoyed working and MGM National Harbor and in the county.
“I love the property. I love the area. This is a tough move for me because this is my life. My husband and I were really embraced by the community, and we enjoyed being here.”
Col. Purath reflected on the base’s relationship with the community and the Roundtable’s relationship with the base.
“I’m in awe of the community around us,” Purath said. “The leadership here makes our decision-making easier on base. We have found a very good balance.”
Col.Andrew Purath PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
Brig. Gen. (Select) Rebecca Sonkiss. PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE
He said the relationship encouraged base leaders to keep their doors open to veterans and others during the uptick of the virus.
“There’s no playbook for this. We all responded a little differently. Some of the bases and installations around the U.S. are locked down more than ours. We didn’t lock the doors,” Purath said. “We supported the veterans. That was really important to us. We took the risk. We are part of this community. Beneficiaries are continuing in getting prescriptions through curbside delivery. We kept those things going,” he said.
Col. Purath’s next assignment will include helping to coordinate strategic airlift across the globe.
Brig. General (Select) Rebecca Sonkiss will take her experience and vision to the next level of defense leadership and says although COVID-19 taught lessons, it did not stop anything.
“We are mission essential,” Sonkiss said. “We don’t get to say no or ask why. We had to work through it with our families.” The base only had 2 cases of COVID-19 illness.
“We are a success story: more efficient office operations. We learned what we can do from home and we sorted out resiliency issues. Our workplace is now led by more resilient workers. Thank you for the opportunity to work together and for all the support that you have given us.”
Dr. Marco Clark (left) with M.H. Jim Estepp. PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
Dr. Marco Clark, now former principal of Bishop McNamara High School, gave parting remarks as he is now leading a school system in Texas. Dr. John Barnhart will be his successor.
“It has been a tremendous honor,” said Clark who also attended school in Prince George’s as a youth. “ We were born and raised in Prince George’s County. We are proud of that. We raised our kids in Prince George’s,” he says.
Clark doesn’t believe COVID-19 will derail the county. “This Is a bump in the road. But you do see the communities coming together.”
Clark led the creation of the new La Reine Center at Bishop McNamara. “Thank you for inviting us to be a part of it,” he said humbly as he reminded board members that he would be visiting the county often. “My kids and grandkids still live in Maryland. We will be back quite often but we will miss Prince George’s dearly.”
Also leaving the Roundtable is Dr. Joseph Wright as he steps down from his position as acting Chief Medical officer of UMD.
“I will remain very involved. I will continue with the Quality Of Life Index to the county and the County Council. I will continue driving health policies and well-being of Prince George’s. I want to thank you all for your contributions to COVID-19 relief efforts.”
