Media Contact:
Ashlee Thomson
ashlee@wtci.org
410-576-0022 ext. 104
NEWS ADVISORY
Governor Ehrlich To Honor Robert Lawless with
The Governor’s Leadership Award
Baltimore, February 27, 2004— Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. will award Robert J. Lawless, Chairman, President & C.E.O. of McCormick & Company, Inc., with the Governor’s Leadership
Award during Maryland’s 8th Annual International Business Leadership Awards ceremony.
Hosted by the World Trade Center Institute and M&T Bank, the ceremony will take place at
RTKL Headquarters on Wednesday evening, March 31.
The Governor’s Leadership Award recognizes sustained, exemplary leadership efforts in support of Maryland's international relations.
“Bob Lawless has played a tremendous role in shaping Maryland’s engagement of new global
frontiers,” said Governor Ehrlich. Since becoming CEO in 1997, McCormick & Company, Inc.
has grown to a $2.5 billion publicly traded firm with 8,000 employees and operations in 19 countries. Additionally, the firm has become the number one performing company in the food industry in terms of shareholder return.
“Bob Lawless has been an extraordinary Ambassador for the State of Maryland,” said
Harold Adams, Chairman Emeritus of RTKL and Chairman of the Board of the World Trade
Center Institute. “His tireless efforts to establish McCormick beachheads across the globe has helped to promote Maryland on the global scene,” said Mr. Adams. “Our Board was unanimous about selecting this great Maryland leader for this award,” he said. Mr. Lawless will join a select group of past inductees including last year’s recipient, Former Governor Schaefer and previous honorees including William Brit Kirwan, Chancellor of the Maryland University Systems and George Collins, former CEO of T. Rowe Price to name a few.
In addition to the Governor’s Leadership Award, the World Trade Center Institute will honor
the top Maryland International business leadership winners in the small, medium and large
business categories. The winners for the year 2003 will be announced shortly and will be
presented on the same evening.
Date: March 31, 2004
Time: 5:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Location: RTKL Headquarters Baltimore/Bond Street Wharf
Refreshments/International Buffet/Global Music Celebration
Cost: $100 WTCI members/$125 Non Members