Maryland Chamber Chairman Joe Slater hosted a private dinner with U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-5th District) for a small group of CEOs at the Greenbelt Marriott. Slater is President and CEO of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO). The meeting is part of the Maryland Chamber’s continuing CEO series for companies with 100 or more employees and focused on key issues being debated on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Hoyer, who holds the second most influential position in the House of Representatives, discussed health care, climate change, transportation funding and financial regulation reform, answering questions from the 12 CEOs who attended the invitation-only dinner. He encouraged attendees to communicate regularly with him and his staff and “to stay close to your chamber” for regular, non-partisan updates. Changes in proposed legislation, especially health care, are being made daily, he said.

The meeting was the second high level event in less than one week for the Maryland Chamber’s leadership, having coordinated a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano in Baltimore on September 23. “These private meetings with key officials clearly demonstrates the influence and value of the Maryland Chamber,” Slater said. “The State Chamber connects CEOs and other business executives to the right decision makers at the state and federal level. This is the time to join.”

Attendees at the Hoyer dinner included: Slater; Roger Blunt, Essex Construction; Betty Buck, Buck Distributing Co.; Drew Cobbs, Maryland Petroleum Council, Henry Hagan, AEGON/Monumental Life; Jock Menzies, The Terminal Corporation; Mike Middleton, Community Bank of Tri-County; Ron Peterson, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System; Bill Riley, CPA, Reznick Group; Alan Wilson, McCormick & Co.; and Chamber President/CEO Kathy Snyder.