Learning the Way to the Top

Community colleges are just one part of a Maryland puzzle that seeks to use higher education to reach the high end of the economic spectrum.
        "The states and municipalities that address these issues of competition are going to have a genuine competitive edge," says Bob Barnes. "I do not think that Maryland is likely to be a state that does well in low-end technology."
        Instead, that educated work force will continue to do well with more sophisticated high-end technologies, which Barnes says the state must concentrate on both retaining and growing. He'll find no disagreement from his former colleague Melissaratos.
        "My roots are manufacturing," says the new secretary, adding that his move to more high-tech concerns has given him a look at the complete spectrum.
        "I intend to address the full continuum," he says. "I want to make every campus in the state an engine of economic growth. We have a fantastic opportunity to capitalize on the most educated work force in the country. My dream would be to hold our own in Maryland - by the nature of our position, we generally suffer less in economic terms than the rest of the country - and position ourselves for growth when the economic turnaround is complete. New technology, biotech and IT - those improvements will feed the traditional manufacturing industry."