DOSEM Leadership Visits WHC Baltimore

September 18, 2026

Strengthening Maryland’s Business Ecosystem: DOSEM Leadership Visits WHC Baltimore

Published: September 18, 2026 | Author: WHC Team | Categories: Economic Development, Small Business, Government Relations, Entrepreneurship
At WHC, our mission has always been clear: equip entrepreneurs with practical solutions, access to capital, and the strategic guidance needed to grow sustainable businesses, create jobs, and build generational wealth. True economic mobility, however, requires intentional alignment between the entrepreneurs doing the work on the ground and the state leaders shaping policy and resources.
We were honored to welcome leadership from the Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DOSEM) to WHC’s Baltimore office.
The delegation included DOSEM Secretary Walter L. Simmons, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Ombudsman Nichelle Johnson, Deputy Secretary Donald Smith, along with key members of the DOSEM team.

Direct Dialogue on Entrepreneurial Realities

During their visit, WHC leadership and the DOSEM team held a substantive, roll-up-your-sleeves discussion centered on the evolving landscape for Maryland’s small, minority, and women-owned businesses.
Key points of discussion included:
  • Access to Capital & Growth Resources: The need for streamlined pathways to commercial lending, grant programs, and bonding assistance that allow growing firms to scale without predatory financing.
  • Procurement Readiness and Equity: Addressing persistent bottlenecks in state procurement and ensuring MBE-certified firms can compete for and win meaningful prime and subcontracting opportunities.
  • Workforce Development & Capacity Building: Strategies for preparing small business owners with management consulting, technology adoption, and operational systems that allow them to hire locally and retain skilled talent.
  • Reducing Administrative Friction: Practical recommendations on making state agencies and entrepreneurial support programs more responsive and accessible to founders navigating daily operational demands.

Solutions for Sustainable Economic Mobility

Under the leadership of Secretary Walter L. Simmons, DOSEM is actively expanding the tools and programs designed to lift communities by investing in their economic drivers—local small businesses.
During the session, the DOSEM team outlined specific initiatives and solutions their department is delivering across Maryland:
  • Targeted Support via the MBE Ombudsman Office: Ombudsman Nichelle Johnson shared how her office serves as an active advocate and problem-solver for certified MBEs, ensuring small business owners have a direct channel to resolve compliance issues, navigate agency barriers, and access opportunities.
  • Holistic Mobility Frameworks: Deputy Secretary Donald Smith highlighted DOSEM’s multi-pronged approach to connecting workforce training, social equity initiatives, and business development so that economic mobility reaches underinvested urban and rural communities alike.
  • Cross-Agency Collaboration: Deploying resources that intersect across economic development, labor, and procurement to make sure businesses don’t just launch, but thrive and sustain multi-generational growth.

Bridging Policy and Practice

“When state leadership steps outside administrative offices and into community spaces to listen directly to business advisors and founders, everyone wins. Secretary Simmons and his team brought both vision and practical solutions to the table. We look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure Maryland’s small business community remains competitive, well-funded, and positioned for long-term growth.”
— Will Holmes, Founder of WHC
WHC remains committed to serving as a trusted bridge between government agencies, financial institutions, and the entrepreneurs powering Maryland’s economy.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Secretary Walter L. Simmons, Ombudsman Nichelle Johnson, Deputy Secretary Donald Smith, and the entire DOSEM team for their time, leadership, and shared commitment to Maryland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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