We partner with non-profits, businesses,
associations, government leaders, and communities on initiatives to improve our world.
UMD Museum of Art
Presenting works that will intersect with cutting edge new media and technology, in a new state-of-the-art facility located in College Park, MD.
UMD School of Public Policy
A national leadership program for local government executives led by policy experts at the University of Maryland.
ABOUT
RUSHERN L .
BAKER III
In his eight years as Prince George’s County Executive, Rushern Baker changed a once stagnant County into a vibrant, successful, nationally recognized and awarded model of how focused, thoughtful, and collaborative leadership can transform communities, governments and lives.
As Prince George’s County Executive from 2010 to 2018, Rushern Baker showed exceptional leadership under extraordinary circumstances in reversing the trajectory of the second largest local government in Maryland. Despite being the wealthiest and most educated majority African American jurisdiction in the world, when Rushern Baker was elected in 2010 the County found itself plagued by rising crime, poorly performing schools, a stagnant economy, a large deficit stemming from an ongoing global financial crisis, fiscal strains from a decades-long property tax cap, staggeringly high numbers of residential foreclosures, and a government that plainly had been poorly managed in several areas. To make matters worse, just days after Rushern Baker was elected, his predecessor in office was arrested on federal corruption charges amidst loudly reverberating echoes of a larger “pay to play” culture among the County’s elected officials, putting Baker in the position of having not only to deal with the expected challenges of leading the County, but also to largely remake the executive branch of the government from scratch.
​
​​
​​
​
Armed with a well-articulated vision, and possessing the leadership, integrity, and courage to seek much needed but painful changes to enhance confidence in the County’s elected leadership, Rushern Baker made Prince George’s County the leading economic engine of the State, creating more jobs than any other local jurisdiction for the last three years of his Administration, reducing crime to record lows, and increasing property values by record amounts. His achievements led Governing Magazine to recognize him in 2013 for his leadership and led his peers to elect him to two terms as the Chair of the County Executives of America. Baker has served on the boards of the National Association of Counties, the Maryland Association of Counties, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. He has also received countless other awards for his leadership and excellence in government administration and programming.
​​
​
​
Former Prince George's County Executive.
As President and CEO of Baker Strategy Group, Rushern continues his life mission and successful legacy of making lives better for others. He helps elected leaders establish best practices through shared experience and engages with clients who seek assistance in advancing projects, initiatives, and ideas that make the world better for others.
Since leaving office in December 2018, Baker has successfully launched a national leadership institute for local government chief executives in consultation with the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and the County Executives America.
​
Baker is the President and CEO of the Baker Strategy Group, a consulting firm providing strategic operational solutions to a variety of public, private sector and non-profit clients through the Washington DC region. Baker also serves on several boards including the University of Maryland Medical System, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Junior Tennis Champions Center.
Government Relations
​Guidance for your organization or business to successfully navigate the legislative, regulatory and policy processes at the local, state, and federal level
Community Engagement
Identification of community stakeholders to plan, organize, and implement key strategic outreach activities
Government Relations
Community Engagement
Develop and cultivate industry relationships, external networks, and advocacy efforts supporting the strategic direction of our clients, and ensuring timely messaging and approaches that resonate with the media and policy makers
Strategic counsel to businesses, non-profit organizations, and institutions in project planning, designing and implementing of innovative organizational solutions
PROJECTS
We partner with non-profits, businesses,
associations, government leaders, and communities on initiatives to improve our world.
Baker Strategy Group has partnered with organizations such as the County of Executives America, Alzheimer’s Association, and the University of Maryland Medical System.
For project inquiries, please email info@bakerstrategygroup.com.
University of Maryland: School of Public Policy
The University of Maryland has partnered with Baker Strategy Group to establish the Elected Executive Leadership (EXCEL) Program. Local governments face an ever increasing range and complexity of issues. This leadership training program, which marries Rushern Baker’s award-winning leadership experience with the renowned expertise and research capabilities of the School of Public Policy, is designed to help local elected chief executives throughout the United States. Participants receive policy guidance from expert scholars and practitioners on the vast array of complex issues they will face and learn how to become effective leaders for the public good. EXCEL is a key component of the School’s growing State and Local Governance Initiative, which strives to prepare leaders who develop and recommend innovative ways to improve government services.
EXCEL
Program
With federal and state governments mired in gridlock and partisanship and pushing more and more responsibilities to local governments, the role and responsibilities of county and municipal level leaders are rapidly increasing in significance in American life. In addition to providing new leaders with a forum for peer to peer discussion and support, the program’s core mission will be to teach new elected chief executives how to transition into effective leaders at the local government executive level. Programming will be aimed at equipping local government executives with both practical insight into the tools they need to be successful public servants from successful local government elected officials and managers.
​
​
Designed as a nine-month program, each cohort consists of a non-partisan mixture of over a dozen new and experienced executives from jurisdictions across the United States, including Ohio, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Texas and Tennessee. ​
​​The program will include robust policy study and discussion around significant and timely issues facing local government leaders today, led by policy experts at the University of Maryland.
Christa Beverly Foundation
Founded in memory of Christa Beverly, a trailblazing civil rights lawyer, devoted mother, and wife of former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III,
the Christa Beverly Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and promoting education, arts, and culture in Prince George’s County.
Christa, affectionately known as "Cissy," spent her life fighting injustice and inequities with grace, grit, and an unwavering commitment to her community. A Howard University graduate with a law degree from the College of William and Mary, she had a distinguished career as the legislative director for Congressman William H. Gray III, the U.S. House majority whip, before joining the United Negro College Fund as a government affairs director. Christa was also a trusted political advisor to her husband, blending her sharp intellect and deep compassion to make an impact on Maryland politics.
Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2010, Christa approached her battle with the disease with courage and resilience. Even as her health declined, her legacy of joy, love, and strength endured, inspiring her family and community.
From her passion for historically Black colleges to her love for the arts and her tireless advocacy for criminal justice reform and the abolition of the death penalty, Christa’s life was a testament to the power of dedication and service.
Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2010, Christa approached her battle with the disease with courage and resilience. Even as her health declined, her legacy of joy, love, and strength endured, inspiring her family and community. From her passion for historically Black colleges to her love for the arts and her tireless advocacy for criminal justice reform and the abolition of the death penalty, Christa’s life was a testament to the power of dedication and service.