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Maryland Launches Comprehensive Cybersecurity Talent Strategy to Drive Economic Growth and Secure the Future

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New strategy will position Maryland as the nation’s cybersecurity capital

COLUMBIA, Md., April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announces its Cyber Maryland Program released the “Maryland’s Cybersecurity Talent Strategy” report (Cyber Maryland report). The report, created in collaboration with the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, follows a recent study conducted to better understand the current status of Maryland’s cybersecurity workforce pipeline. The study found more than 6,500 open public and private cybersecurity positions were available in Maryland and Washington, D.C. between December 2023 and January 2024; this demand is expected to continue to grow by nearly 40% over the next 10 years.

New strategy will position Maryland as the nation’s cybersecurity capital

The Cyber Maryland report meets this growing demand with strategy, outlining a plan to prioritize economic growth, diversification and resilience through the Cyber Maryland program. This includes creating a more robust catalog of registered apprenticeships, incorporating more cyber literacy into K-12 classes, and more.

“We must take action now if we want to continue to lead,” said Portia Wu, Maryland’s Secretary of Labor. “We have thousands of high-paying jobs waiting for skilled workers. Our strategy connects the dots—leveraging our world-class institutions, cutting-edge private sector and proximity to federal cyber agencies to ensure that Maryland remains the epicenter of cybersecurity innovation.”

Governor Wes Moore has identified three key industries as Maryland’s economic beacons: aerospace, technology and life sciences. Cybersecurity underpins all three, making Maryland’s leadership in this sector critical to securing jobs, innovation and national security.

Maryland is at a pivotal moment,” added Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO. “The talent is here, the resources are here and now we have the strategy to match. This is Maryland’s opportunity to double down on our strengths and secure our place as the nation’s cybersecurity capital.”

“There’s no question that Maryland’s cybersecurity sector is one of the strongest foundations upon which we can build,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “From protecting small businesses from cyber threats to developing security protocols for federal agencies, our local talent pool is at the top of its game. Enhancing our cybersecurity strategy will critically support each of our industries and spur economic growth across the state.”

Maryland Must Act to Stay Ahead

The Washington, D.C./Maryland region has more open cybersecurity jobs than anywhere else in the country, but neighboring states are aggressively investing in workforce development to compete for cyber talent and industry growth. Cyber Maryland’s strategy ensures that the state remains a leader in this high-stakes race.

“As a leader in the tech and cyber industry, I see firsthand the urgent need for a strong, strategic approach to building our cybersecurity workforce,” said Delali Dzirasa, CEO of Fearless and vice-chair of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. “Maryland’s Cybersecurity Talent Strategy is a bold step toward ensuring we have the talent pipeline necessary to protect our critical infrastructure and drive innovation. This plan not only strengthens our cyber ecosystem but also creates real opportunities for individuals looking to enter and grow in this field. As vice chair of the Maryland Governor’s Workforce Development Board, I am proud to support this talent strategy and the vital work we are doing to secure Maryland’s leadership in cybersecurity for years to come.”

Maryland’s Unmatched Cybersecurity Ecosystem

Maryland is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in cybersecurity. It is home to key federal cybersecurity agencies—including the National Security Agency (NSA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and U.S. Cyber Command—alongside a thriving private-sector cyber ecosystem and world-class academic institutions.

This unparalleled combination of assets, infrastructure and expertise makes Maryland the ideal location for businesses, government agencies and institutions looking to grow, innovate and protect the digital future.

Maryland has always been at the forefront of cybersecurity,” said Roger Austin, chair of Cyber Maryland. “But leadership is not a given—it’s a choice. With this strategy, we are choosing to lead.”

For more information about the Maryland Cybersecurity Talent Strategy, please visit tedcomd.com/cybermdstrategy.

About TEDCO
TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

About The Governor’s Workforce Development Board
The Governor’s Workforce Development Board (GWDB) serves as the governor’s chief strategy and policy-making body for workforce development. The Board engages key business, labor, education, community and State and local government leaders to develop strategies, drive alignment and accelerate implementation of innovative workforce development solutions that build robust talent pipelines, boost Maryland’s economic competitiveness, and advance pathways to work, wages and wealth for all Marylanders. gwdb.maryland.gov

TEDCO Media Contacts
Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, tthomas@tedcomd.com
Rachael Kalinyak, Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, TEDCO, rkalinyak@tedcomd.com 

GWDB and Maryland Department of Labor Media Contact
Dinah Winnick, Director of Communications, Maryland Department of Labor, dinah.winnick@maryland.gov

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maryland-launches-comprehensive-cybersecurity-talent-strategy-to-drive-economic-growth-and-secure-the-future-302419950.html

SOURCE TEDCO

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RocketReach Launches RocketReach MCP, Giving AI Assistants Direct Access to 700M+ Verified Contacts

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New integration empowers sales, recruiting, and marketing teams to prospect within ChatGPT, Claude, and others using existing RocketReach data

NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RocketReach, the leading sales and lead intelligence platform trusted by more than 30 million users and 95% of the S&P 500, today announced the launch of the RocketReach MCP Server. This milestone gives AI assistants direct, real-time access to RocketReach’s database of 700 million verified contacts and 60 million companies via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

The RocketReach MCP Server provides immediate compatibility with ChatGPT, Claude, and other MCP-enabled clients. The integration features a streamlined OAuth setup and allows users to perform lookups utilizing their current RocketReach credit balance without requiring additional billing or account creation.

“The best tools show up wherever people are already working. RocketReach MCP puts our entire contact database directly inside the AI assistants our customers use every day, no new tab, no new workflow, just a faster way to reach the right person. As AI transforms professional workflows, our strategy is to provide verified data exactly where teams are active. By integrating the world’s most accurate professional database directly into the AI assistants our customers rely on daily, we are removing friction and enhancing the speed of connection “

— Scott Kim, CEO, RocketReach

Optimizing Workflows Through Native AI Integration

The RocketReach MCP Server addresses the disconnect between AI assistants and the verified company data essential for sales teams. Users can ask a natural-language question such as ‘find me 20 VPs of Sales at Series B fintech companies in New York’ and get verified contact results directly inside their AI assistant, automatically saved to their RocketReach account.

The initial release of the RocketReach MCP Server includes seven core capabilities:

Comprehensive person search by title, location, and company, and moreAdvanced company filtering by industry, size, and funding stage, and moreVerified contact detail retrieval via profile identificationOn-demand access to detailed company profilesUnified calls for simultaneous person and company data lookupsReal-time account credit and usage monitoringServer connectivity and status verification

Verified by Default

Unlike single-vendor AI integrations from some competitors, RocketReach MCP is client-neutral by design — one server connects to every major AI platform. Every lookup runs through RocketReach’s real-time email verification, so AI assistants are working with data that’s accurate now, not a static cache. Connections run on OAuth 2.1, RocketReach never shares credentials with the AI client, and users can disconnect any individual AI client independently at any time from their RocketReach account settings.

“From day one, our focus was on building an MCP that customers could trust. Every lookup through RocketReach’s MCP server is verified in real time, using the same proprietary verification engine that powers our core platform.

— Jeremy Livingston, CTO, RocketReach

Market Availability

The RocketReach MCP Server is currently available to all RocketReach users. Search for RocketReach in ChatGPT Plugins, add RocketReach as a new custom Connector in Claude, or reference our detailed documentation and setup guides that can be found at knowledgebase.rocketreach.co.

About RocketReach

RocketReach is the leading sales and lead intelligence platform trusted by more than 30 million users and 95% of the S&P 500. Powered by proprietary technology, RocketReach provides access to over 700 million contacts and 60 million companies worldwide. Sales, recruiting, and marketing teams rely on RocketReach to connect directly with the right people and decision-makers. Learn more at www.rocketreach.co.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rocketreach-launches-rocketreach-mcp-giving-ai-assistants-direct-access-to-700m-verified-contacts-302832384.html

SOURCE RocketReach.co

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Hood River Tree Farm Carbon Project Issues Core Carbon Principles (CCP) Labeled Offsets

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PORTLAND, Ore., July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Climate Trust (TCT), an Oregon-based nonprofit leader in carbon finance and project development, today announced the first issuance of carbon credits from the Hood River County Tree Farm project. The forest carbon project joins the initial cohort of projects to receive the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). Carbon revenues will support the county’s complex multiple use forest management strategy that seeks to combine timber revenue generation for the county budget with world-class recreational opportunities and diverse wildlife habitat.

“Generating offset revenues gives us an incentive to store substantially more carbon when managing the forest for long-term benefits” explained Doug Thiesies, Hood River County’s Forestry Director. “We are excited to embark upon this new chapter with The Climate Trust.” The County plans to purchase additional forestland with carbon revenues and enroll it in the project.

Spanning over 32,000 acres of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forest, most of which are over 65 years old, the project provides significant climate benefits by committing the county to sequestering and storing forest carbon over the project’s 40-year term. Registered under the ACR Improved Forest Management on Non-Federal U.S. Forestland Version 2.1 Methodology, the project was developed by TCT in partnership with the Hood River County Forestry Department.

In the Pacific Northwest’s highly productive forests and strong timber market, there is immense potential to store more carbon through extending timber rotations beyond typical practices. Landowners frequently harvest all their timber over 45 years old in the northwest. Carbon crediting is based on the County Tree Farm committing to extend the average rotation age up to 90-years, far exceeding average age class and structural diversity observed on nearby industrially managed forests. The project will employ a dynamic baseline that requires recalculating carbon credit impact every few years to ensure ongoing crediting accuracy.

County residents and the larger community will benefit from the carbon project being located on a publicly owned and managed forest. “Community forest carbon projects like the Hood River County Tree Farm benefit so many people,” said Julius Pasay, TCT’s Executive Director. “We are thrilled that this project is generating public revenue in addition to supporting recreational opportunities for the community.”

“In timber-dependent counties, counties look to timber harvest as a means to fund essential services,” elaborated Allison Williams, Hood River County’s Administrator. “The carbon project provides an incentive to manage the forest for public benefit and disincentivize increasing timber harvest to fund general operations.”

Open to the public, The Hood River County Tree Farm serves as an important area for recreation activities such as mountain biking, OHV and hiking. In addition to these recreational opportunities, the Tree Farm’s sustainable management supports and protects a vibrant ecosystem that many threatened species rely on including the Northern Spotted Owl, Bull Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, and Steelhead.

If you’re interested in supporting this project, click here to connect with our team.

About The Climate Trust
Founded in 1997, The Climate Trust (TCT) is a nonprofit project developer focused on utilizing carbon markets to scale climate mitigation outcomes. TCT believes that carbon emissions reductions and good land stewardship go hand in hand – a core belief that has driven the organization’s work for over 25 years. TCT seeks to promote healthy ecosystems and resilient communities by scaling nature-based solutions and mobilizing markets to solve ecological issues in three areas of carbon project development and financing: Reforestation/Afforestation, Grassland Conservation, and Improved Forest Management.

Julius Pasay, Executive Director – jpasay@climatetrust.org 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hood-river-tree-farm-carbon-project-issues-core-carbon-principles-ccp-labeled-offsets-302832389.html

SOURCE The Climate Trust

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DCI Strengthens Lobbying and Strategic Alliances Teams, Announces New Hires

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Two senior hires bring decades of experience to DCI

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bipartisan public affairs firm DCI Group announced the hiring of two seasoned professionals, Tim Dupin and Tim Martin, further strengthening the firm’s strategic alliances and government relations capabilities. Dupin brings decades of experience in labor relations, center-left coalition building, and stakeholder engagement to the firm’s strategic alliances team, while Martin joins DCI Senior Advisor Doug Davenport to expand DCI’s lobbying practice.

Tim Dupin joins DCI as a Director, where he will support coalition-building, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy efforts, with a particular focus on labor organizations and allied constituencies. He brings extensive experience in center-left strategic alliances, grassroots advocacy, third-party engagement, and labor relations.

“Tim Dupin has built an impressive career bringing together organizations, advocates, and stakeholders to advance meaningful policy priorities,” said Managing Partner Brian McCabe. “As a bipartisan firm, his deep relationships within the labor community and extensive experience leading center-left coalition and grassroots efforts will strengthen DCI’s strategic alliances team and create even greater opportunities for our clients to build broad-based support for their initiatives.”

Prior to joining DCI, Dupin served as Director of Political Action at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), where he managed national political and legislative campaigns. Dupin previously served as a firefighter and labor leader in Kansas City, Missouri, including as President of the Greater Kansas City Fire Fighters IAFF Local 42, and retired as a Fire Captain. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies from the National Labor College and attended the Harvard Trade Union Program at Harvard Law School.

“DCI was built on growing and maintaining relationships, and I’m thrilled to support the strategic alliances team,” Dupin said. “I’m impressed with the character of the people who work at DCI, their commitment to their clients, and their singular focus on execution. I’m excited to be part of the team.”

Meanwhile, Tim Martin joins DCI as a Senior Vice President, where he will help expand the firm’s government relations and lobbying practice. Working alongside DCI Senior Advisor Doug Davenport, he brings deep experience in transportation, energy, and regulatory policy.

“Tim Martin brings exactly the kind of experience clients need as they navigate an increasingly complex legislative and regulatory environment,” said DCI Managing Partner Justin Peterson. “His background advising on transportation, energy, and public policy, combined with years of experience on Capitol Hill and in private practice, will be instrumental as we continue to grow our government relations and lobbying capabilities.”

Prior to joining DCI, Martin served as Vice President at Invariant, where he advised clients on legislative and regulatory strategy and led the firm’s transportation and infrastructure practice group. He previously served as Public Policy Counsel at WilmerHale, legislative director for Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL), and general counsel to Congressman Scott Tipton (R-CO). Tim received a Juris Doctor from New York Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is originally from Summit, New Jersey.

“I’m excited to help grow DCI’s lobbying practice,” Martin said. “For years, DCI has been known for having the best public affairs operation in the business. Adding lobbying services will only enhance the firm’s effectiveness for our clients, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dci-strengthens-lobbying-and-strategic-alliances-teams-announces-new-hires-302832391.html

SOURCE DCI GROUP AZ, L.L.C.

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