Key Takeaways
- The MACo Summer Conference “Build What’s Next” runs August 12‑15, 2026 in Ocean City, MD, offering a Solutions Showcase of practical, innovative sessions for county leaders.
- Topics span injury prevention, AI‑driven workforce modernization, citizen‑service connectivity, employment liability trends, school‑nutrition impacts, maternal mental health, benefits‑administration technology, energy‑stack strategies, paid family‑leave compliance, broadband expansion, public‑interest finance trivia, digital‑front‑door service design, Social Security filing strategies, housing‑development resources, and pharmacy‑benefit optimization.
- Each session provides actionable insights, real‑world examples, and tools that counties can implement immediately to improve efficiency, equity, and resident outcomes.
- Networking opportunities, expert panels, and interactive formats (including a live trivia competition) encourage peer learning and collaborative problem‑solving.
- Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to address pressing county challenges while positioning their jurisdictions for sustainable, forward‑looking growth.
Conference Overview
The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Summer Conference, themed “Build What’s Next,” will be held at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD from August 12‑15, 2026. The event’s Solutions Showcase features a dense schedule of expert‑led sessions covering emerging technologies, public‑policy updates, and community‑well‑being initiatives. County officials, managers, and partners can select from a variety of topics tailored to current governance challenges, all designed to deliver practical, implementable solutions.
Prevention Matters: Reducing Preventable Injuries
Hosted by the University of Maryland Medical System, this session spotlights the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center’s statewide injury‑prevention programs. Highlights include the STOP THE BLEED® initiative that trains bystanders to control life‑threatening bleeding, the Fall Recovery and Prevention Program (FRaPP) targeting at‑risk seniors, and efforts to curb motor‑vehicle crashes and head/spinal injuries. The hospital‑based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) addresses root causes of interpersonal violence. Participants will learn how to build safer communities through partnership and evidence‑based interventions.
Moving From AI Hype to Digital Workforces
Workday’s presentation, led by former State CIO Tracy Barnes, distinguishes between generic AI and Agentic AI that can autonomously manage workflows. Attendees will explore how digital agents can streamline constituent services, act as force multipliers for overstretched teams, and improve daily operations. The session provides a framework for assessing organizational readiness, preparing staff to collaborate with autonomous AI, and governing these tools to ensure security, compliance, and public trust.
Modernizing Citizen Engagement Across County Government
Mitel examines how counties can meet rising resident expectations by integrating phone, email, SMS, web chat, and contact‑center interactions into a seamless service experience. Practical strategies focus on reducing wait times, improving routing, minimizing repeat explanations, and balancing budget, staffing, accessibility, security, and continuity. The session equips leaders with tactics to modernize communications while maintaining service quality and operational resilience.
Understanding Today’s Employment and Liability Risks
LGIT presents an overview of the most frequent employment and liability claims defended for Maryland local governments, including discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation, wage‑hour, and Fair Labor Standards Act issues. Attendees will learn how everyday decisions, policies, and documentation can create liability exposure, and gain insight into the litigation and claims‑defense process, claim trends, and statistics impacting Maryland jurisdictions.
Cafeteria to Classroom: How School Meals Improve Student Outcomes
The American Heart Association highlights research linking consistent access to healthy school meals with improved attendance, higher test scores, and fewer behavioral challenges. The session discusses how expanding and strengthening school‑meal programs can close achievement gaps, support working families, and reduce future healthcare and social costs. Counties are shown concrete ways to influence student success by ensuring no child learns on an empty stomach.
The Price They Pay: The Mental Health Toll on Working Moms
Cigna Healthcare addresses the unique mental‑health pressures faced by working mothers, emphasizing the intersection of job demands, caregiving responsibilities, and societal expectations. The presentation outlines data on stress, anxiety, and depression prevalence, and offers strategies for employers to support maternal well‑being through flexible policies, employee‑assistance programs, and workplace culture shifts that promote resilience and retention.
Digital Tools to Connect Families with the Safety Net
Nava Labs showcases open‑source, AI‑powered prototypes designed to alleviate paperwork burdens for county social‑services staff. By automating routine administrative tasks, the tools empower caseworkers to focus on direct client interaction, improve benefits enrollment, and enhance family navigation of public‑assistance programs. Pilot results demonstrate measurable time savings and increased service accuracy, providing a scalable model for counties seeking technology‑driven efficiency.
How Do You Build Your Own Supply Stack?
WGL Energy Services explores how Maryland’s 2026 energy legislation enables counties to develop localized energy portfolios. Topics include strategic procurement, on‑site solar, battery storage, community energy programs, and renewable integration. Attendees will learn how to leverage the evolving policy landscape to improve resiliency, stabilize long‑term energy costs, and advance sustainability goals while gaining greater control over their energy future.
Chesapeake Employers’ 2026 Summer Report
Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company presents its annual update, covering new workers’‑compensation rates, corporate dividends, and best‑practice recommendations for Maryland counties. The session helps risk‑management professionals understand how to optimize coverage, control costs, and promote workplace safety through proven insurance‑industry insights.
Preparing for Paid Family and Medical Leave: Updates, Requirements, and Next Steps
American Fidelity delivers a dynamic primer on Maryland’s evolving Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. The presentation outlines key updates, compliance obligations, funding structures, implementation timelines, and employer options between private and state plans. Practical guidance includes streamlined leave‑administration tools, strategies to avoid costly missteps, and ways to support employees effectively while maintaining operational efficiency.
Building Maryland’s Next‑Generation Fiber Infrastructure Across Counties
The Maryland Broadband Cooperative details its all‑fiber network expansion aimed at future scalability, resilience, and capacity growth. Attendees will learn about real‑world fiber and conduit systems, ongoing infrastructure development, and smarter deployment strategies that increase throughput and reach. The session shows how counties can leverage these investments to spur long‑term community growth and strengthen economic development.
Trivia Competition: In the Public Interest
Hosted by three+one, this fast‑paced, high‑energy trivia game challenges county leaders to think creatively about public‑finance opportunities. Powered by cashVest, the competition uncovers ways to generate revenue, protect public dollars, and maximize community impact. No finance background is required; participants compete live for prizes while gaining inspiration for innovative fiscal practices.
The Digital Front Door to County Government: Better Services, Faster Outcomes, Lower Cost
DMI, Inc., alongside ServiceNow, explores how counties can create a centralized “digital front door” for service requests, improving transparency and accelerating outcomes without massive multi‑year overhauls. Real‑world case studies illustrate improvements in constituent services, internal operations, and case management, offering actionable ideas for faster resolution times, leadership visibility, and enhanced employee experiences.
Social Security: The Choice of a Lifetime
Nationwide Retirement Solutions explains the significant impact of filing timing on Social Security benefits, noting that optimal strategies can increase annual benefits by up to 80%. The session reviews filing rules, spousal and survivor options, and integration with broader retirement‑income plans, empowering employees to make informed decisions that maximize long‑term financial security.
What’s New at DHCD: Tools, Partnerships, and Opportunities for Counties
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provides an update on new offices, including the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs and the State Housing Ombudsman. Attendees will learn about partnership avenues to reduce housing costs through factory‑built and modular construction, as well as other resources that support community‑development and affordable‑housing initiatives across counties.
Optimizing Pharmacy Benefits for Counties
MedImpact addresses the complexities of pharmacy‑benefit management (PBM) for employer‑sponsored health plans. The session outlines strategies to drive cost savings while supporting Maryland pharmacies and retailers, leveraging the State’s employee‑benefits contract to advantage counties. Participants will gain practical guidance on navigating PBM scrutiny, improving benefit design, and ensuring affordable access to medications.
Conclusion
MACo’s Summer Conference Solutions Showcase offers a comprehensive, forward‑looking agenda that equips county leaders with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to tackle today’s most pressing governance challenges. From harnessing AI and modernizing citizen engagement to strengthening public‑health initiatives, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and expanding critical infrastructure, each session delivers concrete, implementable insights. By participating, attendees will leave equipped to build safer, healthier, more efficient, and resilient communities for the residents they serve.