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Alexander M. Sanchez, Secretary of
Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation |
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Alexander M. Sanchez
Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Alexander M. Sanchez was appointed Secretary of Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation by
Governor Martin O'Malley in 2009 and is trusted to lead a department that protects and empowers Marylanders by
safeguarding workers, protecting consumers, providing a safety net and cultivating a thriving workforce that
can meet the demands of Maryland's vibrant economy. Since assuming leadership of the Department, Sanchez has
helped Governor O'Malley launch the Skills2Compete Maryland initiative to increase skills training and promote
continuing education for incumbent workers. Sanchez co-chairs the initiative alongside Lt. Governor Anthony G.
Brown. In part due to the State's skilled and educated workforce, even through the recent national economic
downturn, Maryland's unemployment rate has been among the lowest in the United States.
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The Maryland Department of Labor employs more than 2,000 workers and has a budget of
more than $315 million. The Department oversees seven critical divisions of Maryland State government, including the
Division of Financial Regulation (the primary regulator for financial institutions chartered in Maryland); the
Division of Labor and Industry (Apprenticeship & Training; Occupational Safety and Health; Prevailing Wage);
the Division of Unemployment Insurance (overseeing the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and all aspects of
Benefits, Contributions and Appeals); the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning (to increase
employment, retention, occupational skill attainment and earnings of Maryland workers); the Division of Occupational
and Professional Licensing (managing 25 Boards and Commissions and responsible for licensing and regulating the
activities of more than 200,000 individuals, corporations and partnerships), the Governor's Workforce Investment
Board (the Governor's chief policy-making body for workforce development); and the Maryland Racing Commission
(overseeing and regulating the horse racing industry, including off-track betting sites and the Preakness).
Before joining the O'Malley-Brown administration, Sanchez served as Senior Vice President for Community Impact
Leadership at the United Way of America - the nation's largest charity. Sanchez oversaw the strategic investment
of more than $4 billion in annual contributions. During his tenure at United Way, Sanchez used performance
measures and outcomes to create new investment area frameworks that built upon the foundations of Education,
Income and Health. Sanchez developed and launched the Financial Stability Partnership, an economic
self-sufficiency initiative for working families. In 2008-2009, this partnership increased Earned Income Tax
Credit refunds to $420 million and attracted additional corporate and foundation investments, establishing the
United Way as Internal Revenue Service's largest national partner. Other notable accomplishments include an
expansion of the Success by 6/Born Learning project to more than 7 million parents and the growth of the 2-1-1
national health and human services information phone line to cover 81 percent of the country and respond to more
than 14 million calls annually. Under Sanchez's leadership, the organization made a national commitment for all
chapters of the United Way to benchmark success and meet defined 10-year goals.
Prior to joining the United Way in 2005, Sanchez served as President and CEO of United Neighborhood Centers of
America, a national, non-profit umbrella organization that fosters neighborhood pride and local decision-making
to build better social conditions that help individuals and families lift themselves out of desperate social
conditions in some of America's most threatened neighborhoods. During his tenure there, he developed job
training and employment programs, earning an Annie E. Casey Foundation national family strengthening award
grant partnership. Sanchez has also previously served as the Executive Director for the Hispanic National Bar
Association & Foundation, where he increased membership more than 30 percent through promoting the interests
of Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors and law students throughout the United States.
Sanchez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College, a Masters of Government Administration degree
from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School. Among
other awards, Sanchez has twice been named among the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business
Magazine, most recently in 2010-11.
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