The Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Link, Jerry T. Sanford, and Dr. Karen Wayland to its Board of Directors. Appointed by the Governor, the MCEC Board comprises leaders in the clean energy sector who play a crucial role in setting strategic goals, reviewing policies, and developing key relationships to drive progress towards a sustainable energy future for Maryland.
Dr. Karen Wayland and Jerry T. Sanford will officially begin their terms in FY2026. Ben Link will be joining the Board effective immediately, filling a vacant position.
Meet Our New Board Members:
Ben Link serves as the Deputy Director of the Ralph O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute (ROSEI) and an Associate Research Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. In his role, Mr. Link leads ROSEI’s Impact initiatives, encompassing state and federal energy policy, technology commercialization, and strategic corporate partnerships. He is also a key member of the ROSEI leadership team, responsible for recruiting top-tier energy faculty to Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining ROSEI, Ben held senior management positions in global health equity, including Executive Manager of the Johns Hopkins Alliance for a Healthier World and Director of Executive Affairs at Partners In Health. Appointed by the Moore-Miller Administration, Ben will serve a four-year term on the MCEC Board. He holds an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an MSW from the University of Maryland, and a BA in Political Science from Connecticut College.
Jerry T. Sanford brings three decades of experience in public policy, corporate development, public-private partnerships, utilities & energy, financial services, and economic development to the MCEC Board. His extensive career includes senior roles at the Maryland Department of Commerce, the Alexandria (VA) Economic Development Partnership, Washington Gas/WGL, and the Montgomery County (MD) Economic Development Corporation. Currently, Mr. Sanford serves as Managing Director, Business and Economic Development Officer for Harbor Bankshares Corporation (HBC), a Federal Reserve-regulated bank holding company headquartered in Baltimore. His responsibilities include overseeing the operations of The Harbor Bank of Maryland, a Minority Depository Institution (MDI) and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI); The Harbor Bank of Maryland Community Development Corporation, also a CDFI; Harbor Bankshares Capital Corporation, an investment management and advisory affiliate; and Harbor Bankshares Corporation Community Development Entity (CDE), a specialized financial intermediary for the federal New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. Mr. Sanford’s community service includes volunteer firefighting/EMT work in Montgomery County, MD, and board positions with Employ Prince George’s, Sons of the American Legion Post 41, the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Maryland Economic Development Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus and has completed additional coursework in emergency medical services, economic development, finance, and real estate development.
Dr. Karen Wayland is a nationally recognized expert in energy and environmental policy, with extensive experience in government and non-profit leadership. Through her firm, kW Energy Strategies, she provides strategic consulting on grid modernization, coalition building, and communications to clean energy companies, environmental organizations, local governments, and foundations. During the Obama Administration, Dr. Wayland served at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she established a team for Secretary Moniz to develop state and local energy strategies, contributed to the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER), and authored the “Modernizing the Grid” chapter and policy recommendations. She also served as Senior Advisor for Domestic Energy Policy to Deputy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall. Dr. Wayland’s prior experience includes work on energy and climate legislation for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and then-Majority Whip Senator Harry Reid. She currently serves on DOE’s Electricity Advisory Committee, chairing the Smart Grid subcommittee, and holds board positions with the Energy Futures Initiative Foundation, Keystone Policy Center, and the Center for Sustainable Energy. Dr. Wayland earned a Master of Science from the University of Connecticut and a dual Ph.D. in geochemistry and resource development from Michigan State University.