Potomac Legal Group proudly supported and sponsored The Maryland Commission for Women’s Annual Women’s Legislative Briefing, held recently, at the Universities at Shady Grove.
The Women’s Legislative Briefing brought together policymakers, advocates, community stakeholders and leaders to address issues affecting women and girls throughout the state. The event featured a keynote panel of groundbreaking women: United States Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, and Maryland Speaker of the House of Delegates, Joseline Peña-Melnyk.
Fox5 DC Anchor Marissa Mitchell moderated an inspiring discussion of these extraordinary women’s paths to leadership and the important work they continue.
Jodi Danis, Esq., Senior Counsel, Potomac Legal Group, and a civil rights advocate, led a break-out session on the challenges and opportunities for women’s leadership, entitled “The Future is Female: Women Leading Change.” Ms. Danis is a dedicated advocate for women facing workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other unlawful employment practices. She also serves as a volunteer Commissioner on the Montgomery County Commission for Women, and was the Co-Chair of the Women’s Legislative Briefing in 2024.
The session Ms. Danis moderated served as both a celebration of the progress of women as leaders and a strategic roadmap for the challenges that remain in the pursuit of workplace and civic equity. The panel included Angela Franco, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, who offered insights into the vital intersection of business health and community prosperity, and Karen Sippel, Managing Director of the Maryland Women’s Business Center. Ms. Sippel emphasized the necessity of providing women entrepreneurs with the technical tools and capital required to turn vision into reality. Together, they painted a picture of an economy that is increasingly reliant on the ingenuity and resilience of female founders and executives. The Honorable Julie Palakovich Carr, Delegate for the Maryland General Assembly, discussed the importance of representation in Annapolis. She highlighted how the presence of women in the legislature directly influences the prioritization of policies that impact families and the workforce.
This year’s event featured significant support from the legal community, including Ms. Danis’s colleagues from Potomac Legal Group.
Gustav Gulmert, Associate Attorney and dedicated advocate for female employees, specializes in representing employees facing employment, age, gender, and pregnancy discrimination. Mr. Gulmert’s presence underscored the firm’s commitment to protecting the rights of women in the workforce. Also in attendance was Phoebe Gurdon, Senior Legal Assistant, further representing the Firm’s effort to support and empower women through advocacy and community engagement.
The Firm is currently advocating for the passage of a Maryland Assembly bill, HB0724, that Ms. Danis highlighted at a briefing panel addressing workplace barriers for women. HB0724, which Delegate Lesley Lopez recently introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates, would add protections against workplace discrimination based on caregiver status to Maryland’s Fair Employment Practices Act.
Throughout the briefing, the speakers returned to the idea that leadership is rarely a solo endeavor. By fostering mentorship, reaching across party lines, and advocating for transparent pathways to power, these leaders are ensuring that the current surge in female representation is not a temporary trend, but a permanent fixture of the Montgomery County landscape.
Potomac Legal Group is proud to support the ongoing dialogue regarding women’s rights, workplace equity, and leadership excellence in our community. As the session concluded, the consensus was clear: the future is indeed being shaped by those willing to lead change with empathy and authority.
Contact Jodi Danis and Potomac Legal Group for legal counseling related to any employment need.
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