Three inducted into Maryland Business Hall of Fame

Listen to this article

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce inducted three business executives from around the state into its Maryland Business Hall of Fame on Wednesday during the group’s annual membership meeting.

Joining the elite group of business leaders were R. Neal Black, president and CEO of Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.; Thomas S. Bozzuto, chairman and CEO of The Bozzuto Group; and Maurice B. Tosé, chairman and CEO of TeleCommunication Systems Inc.

“This year’s inductees are exceptional business leaders who have made a meaningful impact on Maryland’s economy and in our communities,” said Maryland Chamber President and CEO Kathleen T. Snyder.

Black, a 35-year veteran of the retail industry, was named president of Hampstead-based Jos. A. Bank Clothiers in 2007 and CEO in 2008. He joined the menswear manufacturer and retailer in 2000, and over the years has been responsible for all merchandising and marketing functions, including design, product development, merchandise management, planning and allocation, retail advertising, visual presentation, catalog and Internet.

Black is a member of the board’s Executive Committee that planned and executed the company’s growth strategy beginning in 1999. Over 10 years, the company more than quadrupled its sales and increased its profits by a factor of more than 40 times.

Bozzuto co-founded the Greenbelt-based residential development company that has been responsible for the creation of nearly 50,000 units, with an estimated value of nearly $7 billion. Since the formation of The Bozzuto Group in 1988, he has led the company’s development, construction and management of income-producing and for-sale housing in metropolitan areas throughout the East Coast.

Both Bozzuto and The Bozzuto Group have received many honors for their activities in the housing industry. Thomas Bozzuto received the Urban Land Institute of Washington’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, and in 2010 was recognized as Delta Associates’ Private Sector TrendSetter of the Year. Under his leadership, the company has been recognized as Builder of the Year, Multifamily Development Firm of the Year and Property Management Company of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders.

Tosé, together with his wife Teri, founded TeleCommunication Systems in Annapolis in 1987. Beginning as a small, IT-related business, the company has evolved into a publicly traded, high-technology innovator with offices in North America and abroad. TCS specializes in wireless messaging software and data systems and precise-location technology, including E911 call routing.

Tosé is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served for eight years in the Navy. He remained in the naval reserve following active duty, retiring after 30 years service with the rank of commander. He serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, and is a member of the Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council. He is also a board member of CTIA-The Wireless Association, and a member of the Maryland Governor’s International Advisory Council.

The chamber’s Business Hall of Fame was started in 2000 to recognize business executives and entrepreneurs whose contributions have helped advance the quality of life for Marylanders and improve the state’s business climate. Including this year’s inductees, there are 35 members in fields as diverse as energy, information technology, finance, publishing, development, food, health and education.