About Catherine

Catherine Pugh is a successful businesswoman, an effective legislator, and longstanding community leader. From a young age, Catherine possessed a strong work ethic and a passion for community service. One of seven children, born in Norristown and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Catherine was the first in her family to attend college.

A Successful Businesswoman & Entrepreneur

• A small business owner, Catherine is the President and CEO of C.E. Pugh & Company, a public relations consulting firm.

• In the mid 1970’s, Catherine founded Baltimore’s first African American business newspaper, the African American News. For the next seven years, she served as the paper’s Managing Editor. The publication was the first of its kind and helped the African American community build a strong business network within Baltimore. Catherine also served as an independent editor for the Baltimore Sun from 1986 to 1992.

• Catherine also served as the Dean & Director for Strayer Business College in Baltimore. Now called Strayer University, it has become one of the most respected adult focused universities in the United States.

• Catherine returned to Philadelphia in 1994 to work in television at WTGW-TV 48. She was the host of “Another View,” a weekly public affairs program that called attention to critical policy issues within the African American community and featured interviews with prominent community leaders and public officials.

• Catherine also authored “Mind Garden: Where Thoughts Grow and Healthy Holly”, a series of children’s book advocating for healthy children through exercise and proper eating.

• Catherine is a graduate of Morgan State University, where she received her M.B.A. and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

A Dedicated Public Servant

• Catherine’s career in public service began in 1999 when she was elected to the Baltimore City Council where she served until 2004.

• Representing Baltimore’s 4^th City Council District, she held positions on key committees including Chair of the Taxation Subcommittee on Economic Development, Vice-Chair of the Land Use & Planning Committee and member of the Urban Affairs Committee.

• In 2001, Catherine founded the Baltimore Marathon, which now brings over 22,000 participants annually to the city and generates nearly $28 million dollars in revenue.

• Catherine founded the Fish Out of Water Project, designed to promote Baltimore tourism and to raise money for local youth arts programs.

• Catherine founded the Need to Read Campaign, designed to help Baltimore residents of all ages learn to read at a time when Baltimore had a 38% illiteracy rate.

• Currently, Catherine is serving her second term in the Maryland State Senate. Passing over 77 pieces of legislation in only seven years, Catherine has worked tirelessly to put forward thoughtful policy solutions that result in a better quality of life for Baltimore.

• Under her leadership, over the past four years, the 40^th District delegation of the Maryland Senate has given over one million dollars in academic scholarships to Baltimore youth. She helped pass legislation to raise the Maryland minimum wage for working families. She has focused on giving tax credits to Maryland non-profits and businesses to hire new employees. This past year, she helped pass landmark legislation in Maryland, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, ending the exclusion of gay and lesbian couples from marriage.

• Currently, she serves as the Deputy Majority Leader, and chairs the Democratic Caucus for the State Senate.

• Member of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation and from 2007 to 2009 served as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Fair Practices.

• 2010-2012 Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, and the first female vice-president of the Women Legislators of Maryland.

• In 2010, the Baltimore City Paper hailed her “Legislator of the Year”.

A Leader in the Community

Catherine’s ongoing involvement in various academic, charitable, civic and business organizations is a testament to her dedication to the city of Baltimore.

• Catherine is also a member of numerous boards, advisory committees and charitable organizations including the Design School of Baltimore, University of Maryland Medical Systems, the Center for Urban Families and the Maryland Center of Arts and Technology.

• She has received numerous awards for her community advocacy, including the 2011 James Baldwin Medal for Civil Rights, honoring men and women in Maryland who have exemplified public service and have been active in the ongoing pursuit of civil and human rights for all people

• She is the founder of the Baltimore Design School, a new public middle-high school that will open in the fall 2011, focusing on fashion design, architecture and graphic design. This school presents a huge opportunity for young students to discover and develop skills that will lead to good paying jobs and fulfilling careers in Baltimore, with local businesses and companies.

• Working to develop an extensive plan to prevent and treat drug and alcohol abuse, she has been an active member of the Maryland State Drug & Alcohol Abuse Council.

• In the Maryland Senate, Catherine worked hard to expand the Family Planning mentoring program for young, which helped reduce unwanted pregnancies and by doing so helped save the city millions of dollars in healthcare expenses.