John P. McDonough, Secretary of State    

Jalisco, Mexico
Leaders from Jalisco attend 3-day State of Maryland – State of Jalisco Trade Conference ~ Click on photos for full size.
• Focus on Tourism Ed Hartman, owner of the Annapolis Sailboat Show (far left) poses with Beth Volk (Office of Secretary of State), Pete Chambliss (Maryland Department of Tourism), Angélica González (Coordinator at Jalisco’s Secretariat of Tourism), Lambros Ralis (Sister States Coordinator for the State of Jalisco), and Bob Agee (City Administrator for the city of Annapolis).
• Focus on Education, Business, Security, and the Tequila Industry Governor Martin O’Malley (far right) exchanges greetings with conference partners (from left to right) Ruby Stemmle (Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs), Nicolas Ramos (Commissioner, Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs), Maria Welch (Chair, Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs), Mendy Nitsch (Office of Secretary of State), Diana Márquez (Coordinator at Jalisco’s Secretariat of Education), and Lambros Ralis (Sister States Coordinator for the State of Jalisco).
• In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Maryland-Jalisco Sister State relationship, Governor Martin O’Malley gives Lambros Ralis (Sister States Coordinator for the State of Jalisco) a present to deliver to his counterpart in Jalisco, Governor Emilio González.
• The Associate Chair for the Maryland Sister States Advisory Board, Debora Fajer- Smith (right) listens as Carole Myers from UMBC’s Foundation accepts a contribution to its Esperanza Endowment Fund, a scholarship fund that supports students of Latino ancestry and also promotes awareness of the rich Latino and Hispanic heritage of UMBC alumni and students.
• The Maryland Hispanic Business Conference Maria Welch (Chair, Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs), Kim C. Dine (Chief of Police, Frederick, Maryland Police Department), Secretary of State John McDonough, Jeanne Hitchcock (Secretary of Appointments in the Governor’s Office, and Ruby Stemmle (Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs) pose together after Police Chief Dine was recognized as winner of the 2008 Hispanic Heritage Award as a Public Safety Hero.