The William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year Award was introduced in 2004 to recognize and celebrate Maryland’s visionary business leaders.  The award is named for William Donald Schaefer, a founder of the Baltimore Museum of Industry and former Mayor of Baltimore who in 1977 began a project to recognize and preserve the innovations of this region’s industrial heritage. 

Each year, the award is given to a person who:

• Demonstrates superior leadership within the individual's business as well as their industry.
• Exhibits an innovative approach to industry or business.
• Strengthens Maryland’s economy, which may be shown in various ways such as through the creation of jobs as well as marketable goods or services or other relevant factors that may be unique to the individual nominee being considered.
• Contributes to the greater good of the community, which may be shown in various ways such as through personal volunteerism, support of nonprofit organizations or other worthy causes, the promotion of such activities within one’s own workplace, and other worthy contributions that may be unique to the individual nominee being considered.

Past recipients of the William Donald Schaefer Industrialist of the Year Award include:

2004

Mr. Richard E. Baker

Plant Manager

American Sugar Refining, Inc. (Domino Sugar)

Mr. Baker led Domino Sugars to decide to relocate a significant refining operation from Brooklyn, New York to Baltimore, creating many new manufacturing jobs for the State.

2005

Mr. Kevin Plank

President and Founder

Under Armour

Kevin Plank founded Under Armour in 1996. Currently, Plank oversees management, operations, strategic planning, sales, marketing, production and forecasting.

2006

Mr. Mark Sneed

President

Phillips Foods, Inc. and Seafood Restaurants

Mark Sneed launched Phillips Foods, the manufacturing side of the company in the late 1990s.  Today, Phillips is the #1 best-selling crab cake in the US retail market.

2007

Mrs. F. Suzanne Jenniches