History
& Mission
From the seed of an off-hand exchange with his father more than 45 years ago, Rushern L. Baker, III has made it his life’s mission to meaningfully improve the lives of others less fortunate than himself. Railing against what the young Baker saw as the failed record of achievement of a local Massachusetts politician, his father challenged him to do better.
Baker adopted his father’s challenge and went on to lead a life dedicated to public service, including, most recently, as county executive of Prince George’s County, the wealthiest majority African American jurisdiction in the country and the economic engine of Maryland.
Baker took over as chief executive of a county of nearly one million residents on the heels of a predecessor mired in a national public corruption scandal and in the midst of a global recession, and was faced with a $150 million budget deficit, rising crime, declining school enrollment and an unsustainably large residential tax base.
Under Baker’s leadership, Prince George’s County is now leading the state in job creation for the first time in its history, crime is at historic lows, there is a healthy budget surplus, school funding increased and enrollment has grown significantly, and the newly created $50 million economic development incentive fund has led to more than $8 billion in economic development activity.
Baker plans to continue his life mission and successful legacy of making lives better for others in his new role as President and CEO of the Baker Strategy Group by engaging with clients who seek assistance in advancing projects, initiatives and ideas that make the world better for others.