Prince George’s County officials would contend — and many attendees would agree — that they host the party of the week at each year’s Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City.
Last year’s reception featured an unexpected appearance from civil rights activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
This year’s event, held Thursday at Spain Wine Bar, didn’t include such a high-profile surprise. But the county and the collection of companies sponsoring the reception regaled top officials and a large crowd with drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a buffet and a DJ at the venue overlooking Ocean City’s bayside.
“Tonight is really about showcasing Prince George’s County,” County Executive Aisha Braveboy said during the reception.
Braveboy, who has been in office since June 2025 and is the Democratic nominee to serve for the next four years, said there has been economic progress during her tenure and highlighted the opportunities existing in Prince George’s.
In addition to plans for a mini Sphere at National Harbor, Braveboy mentioned opportunities at the former site of Six Flags America in Bowie, which was purchased by an investment group that includes Prince George’s native and NBA superstar Kevin Durant.
She spoke of plans for the king of the Asante people in Ghana to visit the county, Northwest Stadium hosting Afro Plus Fest during Labor Day weekend, and the upcoming Quantum World Congress, which will convene in late September in College Park after being held in Northern Virginia in recent years.
“We have so much more that we are going after and we are competing for. And again, we will win,” Braveboy said.
Lobbying firms, elected officials and candidates hold fundraisers and receptions throughout the four-day Maryland Association of Counties summer conference, providing attendees with prime opportunities to schmooze at some of the area’s destination bars and restaurants.
Prince George’s held its reception as a collective, headlined by Braveboy and featuring Employ Prince George’s President and CEO LaTara Harris (who is also Braveboy’s former chief of staff), County Council members, planning commissioners, school board members, economic development leaders and more.
Deputy chief of staff Devan Martin, one of Braveboy’s top aides, served as emcee, donning sunglasses and guiding a DJ through the high-energy run of show, which on Thursday featured remarks from several elected officials and an appearance from the governor.
“It is Prince George’s County’s time. It is Maryland’s time,” Gov. Wes Moore said during the reception. “And y’all, keep on leading.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Attorney General Anthony Brown — a close Braveboy ally — also attended, as did Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones, the Democratic nominee for county executive in his jurisdiction.
During her evening remarks, Harris, of the workforce development nonprofit Employ Prince George’s, shouted out the evening’s sponsors, which featured several companies and county entities, including:
- Motorola
- Washington Gas
- Ngen, an IT services provider
- Prince George’s County Economic Development Corp.
- City of College Park
- Jasper’s Restaurant
- Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development
- Grant Capital Management
- Strategic Solutions Center
- Cigna Healthcare
- Tab Station
- Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County
- COWOC (Creating Opportunity Within Our Community)
“Nights like this really wouldn’t be possible without sponsors,” said Harris.
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