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A customer-driven business executive, thought leader, software architect/developer, and…
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Steve Simons reposted thisThanks, Andrew summed it up way better than I couldSteve Simons reposted thisHi LinkedIn Community, 👋 Some conversations are bigger than the event where they take place. Yesterday’s 🔥 The Towson Torch, Towson Growth Summit was one of them. Goucher College was a fitting place for it. The Summit took place inside the Sanford J. Ungar Athenaeum on Goucher’s 287-acre wooded campus in Towson. An impressive setting, but the conversation inside was about something even bigger. The future of the skilled trades and the workforce Maryland is going to need to keep building, growing and moving forward. This edition brought together people looking at that challenge from very different sides. Robert Newman from DEWALT / Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. brought the industry perspective, @Mick Rayburn from The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company brought construction, Jennifer Dewees, from the Maryland Center for Construction Education and Innovation (MCCEI) brought workforce development, and Matthew Van Hoose from Goucher College brought education and career pathways. With Tracy Tyler from Baltimore County leading the discussion, the question was clear: How do we get more people into these careers, create stronger pathways into the trades and make sure the opportunities already out there are being seen? One thing I kept coming back to was how important it is that we stop treating the skilled trades as some kind of secondary option. These are careers built around knowledge, experience and ability. They are also the people building, maintaining and improving the communities we depend on every day. Getting more young people exposed to these opportunities, and creating stronger connections between employers, educators and workforce organizations, will matter enormously for Maryland in the years ahead. That is what I appreciate about the Towson Growth Summit series. It brings people into the same room who may see an issue differently but ultimately have a stake in solving it together. I am also proud that FASTSIGNS of Arbutus has supported the Growth Summit as its signage sponsor from day one. Seeing our work throughout the room is rewarding, but supporting conversations like this means even more. A big thank you to Chris Forhan,🔥 The Towson Torch, and Goucher College for hosting. The setting at Goucher College was impressive, the conversation was worthwhile, and the hospitality was excellent too, with food from Fogo de Chão and drinks from Bread and Circus At FASTSIGNS of Arbutus and FASTSIGNS of Annapolis we work alongside many of the same industries represented in the room every day. If you’re building, opening, renovating or managing a space and need a signage partner who understands the project side of things, I’d be happy to talk. 💬 Drop me a comment. 📩 Email me Andrew.Thomson@FastSigns.com 📱 Call me at 410-279-6902 FASTSIGNS of Arbutus / FASTSIGNS of Annapolis
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Steve Simons reposted thisSteve Simons reposted thisWhat does a career in the skilled trades look like in 2026? AI. Robotics. Drones. Computerized modeling. Advanced manufacturing. Construction technology. And yes - using it all to ultimately build, create, fix and make things. 😊 Last night’s Towson Growth Summit at Goucher College focused on a challenge we heard repeatedly: we don’t have enough people entering the skilled trades to replace those retiring. But this isn’t just a pipeline problem. It’s perception, exposure, education, employer responsibility AND retention challenge. We talked about starting career exploration earlier and strengthening CTE programs, internships and apprenticeships in partnership with schools, community colleges, government and employers all playing a role. And yes, parents too. For generations, a four-year degree became THE marker of career success for many families. But there are many paths to a great career. Earn while you learn. Master a sophisticated trade. Build something you can point to and say, “I helped make that.” And potentially enter adulthood without significant debt. Employers have work to do, too - in creating workplaces that are safe, welcoming and supportive, with opportunities to learn and advance. Thank you to Chris Forhan and the 🔥 The Towson Torch team, along with Robert Newman, @Mick Rayburn, Matthew Van Hoose, Jennifer Dewees, Tracy Tyler and the other leaders who shared their perspectives. We’re in a pivotal age of massive change in work AND learning. It’s not college OR skilled trades. Increasingly, it’s what comes next. And next. And next. The ability to keep learning, upskilling and adapting throughout a career may matter most of all. #WorkforceDevelopment #SkilledTrades #FutureOfWork #LifelongLearning #AEC
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Steve Simons reposted thisSteve Simons reposted thisWhat a great night at the Towson Growth Summit: Skilled Trades Edition! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out and helped make the event such a success. The energy in the room was fantastic, and more importantly, the conversation around skilled trades, workforce development, education, and the future of our local economy was thoughtful, honest, and productive. Special thanks to our incredible panelists for sharing their experience and perspectives, and to our sponsors and partners who made the evening possible, especially Robert Newman Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. DEWALT Mick Rayburn The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Matthew Van Hoose Goucher College Jennifer Dewees, LEED AP Maryland Center for Construction Education and Innovation (MCCEI) Tracy Tyler Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development Fogo de Chão Bread & Circuses Bar and Bistro The whole idea behind the Towson Growth Summit is simple: get smart, engaged people in the same room, start meaningful conversations, and build stronger connections across the Towson business community.Last night delivered .Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, sponsored, spoke, shared the event, or simply helped spread the word. Restyn, Inc. Steve Simons Towson Chamber of Commerce Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce Greater Maryland Better Business Bureau Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development #Towson #TowsonGrowthSummit #SkilledTrades #WorkforceDevelopment #BaltimoreCounty #EconomicDevelopment #Community #Business
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Steve Simons reposted thisSteve Simons reposted thisI was privileged last night to represent Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. and DEWALT on the Skilled Trades panel at the 🔥 The Towson Torch Growth Summit in the Athenaeum in Goucher College. Thank you to Jennifer Dewees, LEED AP with Maryland Center for Construction Education and Innovation (MCCEI) , Mick Rayburn with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company , and Matthew Van Hoose with Goucher. Our moderator, Tracy Tyler kept our conversations focused. And THANK YOU to my colleagues who came out: Jon Howland , Albert Fitzgerald , Bill Harman , & Leylani Carstens It was great seeing familiar faces like Renee Carter and Jenny Trostel, MNA and meeting many great people. #DEWALT #skilledtrades #workforcedevelopment
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Steve Simons posted thisIf Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Dario Amodei all agree on something, what does that tell you? It tells me that I am missing something. If the three biggest AI players are all saying that AI development should slow down, what does that tell you? It tells me that I am missing something. What are we missing here? If three companies with wildly inflated market caps based on their incredibly high growth rate numbers and fantastical market expectations are asking to slow down, what does that tell you? It tells me that they aren't telling me something crucial about their operations. If three companies are burning capital and losing money at historic rates and asking to slow the development of better, more efficient, more cost effective, and more powerful technology that could accelerate them through the dissemination of innovation curve from the cutting edge to mainstream adoption and from heavy capital investment to operating profitability, what does that tell you? It tells me they know something I don't know. So what is it? If the magician is asking us to be afraid of AI and slow development out of existential fear for our lives and the very continuance of the human race is being said to be on the line, what is the magician doing with their other hand? Is it possible that this kind of "there be dragons" marketing that is trying to convince people not to buy "boats" or set sail across "the Atlantic" for fear of "falling off the edge of the earth" is just as superstitious and ignorant and power hungry as it was in the days of the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria? Which is more likely? That an energy hungry machine with an off switch takes over the world from actually sentient beings with free will and actual control? or that actually sentient beings have discovered that their promises, their stories, and their technology are not everything that they claimed they would deliver and so they are looking to sell a more palatable tale to the markets that have invested trillions of dollars at a fever pace in those promises, those stories, and that technology? Just curious. What exactly is going on with companies literally asking for TRILLION dollar plus valuations and considering IPOs while explaining that the investment they are asking for will most likely end humanity? Who are these investors who would make that investment? Why would we buy into funding the end of humanity? And how does slowing down that end actually help anything? Does it stop our adversaries from accelerating that same end? Or does it mean that the logical target of the technology being developed somehow changes? Frontiers are frontiers because they are pushing us into the unknown, but in this case it seems to this observer that we the people of the world are not being fully informed or accurately directed to focus on what is actually happening right now with this technology. For me? I still believe the future is human; and should remain that way. #Notpocalypse #AI #Leadership
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Steve Simons reposted thisSteve Simons reposted thisThe County's best networking and thought leadership event returns. Join us tomorrow for the Towson Growth Summit, Skilled Trades Edition together with Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Location: Goucher College, Athenaeum Time: 4-7 PM https://lnkd.in/gfa6Wxgd
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Steve Simons shared thisHow does this justify a $2Trillion dollar valuation? TWO TRILLION? Sounds insolvent to me... #Notpocalypse #AI #Leadership https://lnkd.in/eXsdER6cAnthropic’s leaked IPO prospectus details steep losses, rapid growth, and a fear that AI could end humanityAnthropic’s leaked IPO prospectus details steep losses, rapid growth, and a fear that AI could end humanity
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Steve Simons reposted thisSteve Simons reposted thisThis wednesday we have an allstar panel of experts discussing the economic impact of Skilled Trades on our economy locally and nationwide. Come join us at Goucher College's beautiful Athenaeum where we'll enjoy: 🍸 Networking over Cocktails and Light Fare provied by Fogo de Chão Brasil followed by: 🔥Expert panelists on Skilled Trades: Robert Newman DEWALT Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Mick Rayburn, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Jennifer Dewees, LEED AP, Maryland Center for Construction Education and Innovation (MCCEI) Matthew Van Hoose Goucher College Date: 9/30/26 Time 4-7 PM Location: Goucher College, Atheneum Tickets still available: https://lnkd.in/gBjDNeQq Sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker and Whiting Turner Together with Towson Chamber of Commerce Mid-Atlantic Properties, Inc. Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce Greater Maryland Better Business Bureau
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Steve Simons shared thisBill Gates says AI companies "self-regulating" isn't enough and governments should be involved. Um...yeah, Bill. True. AI companies should be subject to the same laws and regulations that every other company is and always has been. Laws and regulations like truth in advertising. Transparency and honesty with investors. Copyright. Patents. Trademarks. No fraud. No deceptive business practices. No intellectual property theft. Liability for criminal activity. Liability for harm under civil statutes and private contracts. etc. etc. etc. We don't need a new ruleset, we just need enforcement of existing law. The fact that we have an industry that apparently believes they are "self-regulating" says it all...why do we have people who don't believe they are subject to the law? or who don't believe that the law applies to them? AI didn't suddenly change the basic principles of honesty, transparency, fair trade, equal protection under the law, and justice. Did it? #Notpocalypse #AI #Law #Leadership https://lnkd.in/eCsw8Uz5Bill Gates says AI companies self-regulating isn't enough and governments should be involvedBill Gates says AI companies self-regulating isn't enough and governments should be involved
Steve Simons replied to a comment
6d
George Everitt Exactly. We don't need new laws, we just need to enforce the ones people seem to have forgotten still exist and apply. And ethically, it is our choice to keep the future human, AI can only do what we create it to do, what we allow it to do, and what we refuse to stop it from doing. AI is 100% deterministic even though it deterministically introduces variations for the explicit purpose of appearing and convincing human users that it is 100% autonomous and possibly sentient. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-isnt-artificial-intelligence-intelligent-stephen-simons-up8ce/
Steve Simons replied to a comment
6d
Poonam Sharma understanding that people are liable for their actions won’t stop innovation, it will shape it, target it, and align it with better human outcomes by putting pressure on developers to avoid harm to humanity.
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Steve Simons reacted on thisThanks, Andrew summed it up way better than I couldSteve Simons reacted on thisHi LinkedIn Community, 👋 Some conversations are bigger than the event where they take place. Yesterday’s 🔥 The Towson Torch, Towson Growth Summit was one of them. Goucher College was a fitting place for it. The Summit took place inside the Sanford J. Ungar Athenaeum on Goucher’s 287-acre wooded campus in Towson. An impressive setting, but the conversation inside was about something even bigger. The future of the skilled trades and the workforce Maryland is going to need to keep building, growing and moving forward. This edition brought together people looking at that challenge from very different sides. Robert Newman from DEWALT / Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. brought the industry perspective, @Mick Rayburn from The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company brought construction, Jennifer Dewees, from the Maryland Center for Construction Education and Innovation (MCCEI) brought workforce development, and Matthew Van Hoose from Goucher College brought education and career pathways. With Tracy Tyler from Baltimore County leading the discussion, the question was clear: How do we get more people into these careers, create stronger pathways into the trades and make sure the opportunities already out there are being seen? One thing I kept coming back to was how important it is that we stop treating the skilled trades as some kind of secondary option. These are careers built around knowledge, experience and ability. They are also the people building, maintaining and improving the communities we depend on every day. Getting more young people exposed to these opportunities, and creating stronger connections between employers, educators and workforce organizations, will matter enormously for Maryland in the years ahead. That is what I appreciate about the Towson Growth Summit series. It brings people into the same room who may see an issue differently but ultimately have a stake in solving it together. I am also proud that FASTSIGNS of Arbutus has supported the Growth Summit as its signage sponsor from day one. Seeing our work throughout the room is rewarding, but supporting conversations like this means even more. A big thank you to Chris Forhan,🔥 The Towson Torch, and Goucher College for hosting. The setting at Goucher College was impressive, the conversation was worthwhile, and the hospitality was excellent too, with food from Fogo de Chão and drinks from Bread and Circus At FASTSIGNS of Arbutus and FASTSIGNS of Annapolis we work alongside many of the same industries represented in the room every day. If you’re building, opening, renovating or managing a space and need a signage partner who understands the project side of things, I’d be happy to talk. 💬 Drop me a comment. 📩 Email me Andrew.Thomson@FastSigns.com 📱 Call me at 410-279-6902 FASTSIGNS of Arbutus / FASTSIGNS of Annapolis
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Steve Simons reacted on thisSteve Simons reacted on thisWhat does a career in the skilled trades look like in 2026? AI. Robotics. Drones. Computerized modeling. Advanced manufacturing. Construction technology. And yes - using it all to ultimately build, create, fix and make things. 😊 Last night’s Towson Growth Summit at Goucher College focused on a challenge we heard repeatedly: we don’t have enough people entering the skilled trades to replace those retiring. But this isn’t just a pipeline problem. It’s perception, exposure, education, employer responsibility AND retention challenge. We talked about starting career exploration earlier and strengthening CTE programs, internships and apprenticeships in partnership with schools, community colleges, government and employers all playing a role. And yes, parents too. For generations, a four-year degree became THE marker of career success for many families. But there are many paths to a great career. Earn while you learn. Master a sophisticated trade. Build something you can point to and say, “I helped make that.” And potentially enter adulthood without significant debt. Employers have work to do, too - in creating workplaces that are safe, welcoming and supportive, with opportunities to learn and advance. Thank you to Chris Forhan and the 🔥 The Towson Torch team, along with Robert Newman, @Mick Rayburn, Matthew Van Hoose, Jennifer Dewees, Tracy Tyler and the other leaders who shared their perspectives. We’re in a pivotal age of massive change in work AND learning. It’s not college OR skilled trades. Increasingly, it’s what comes next. And next. And next. The ability to keep learning, upskilling and adapting throughout a career may matter most of all. #WorkforceDevelopment #SkilledTrades #FutureOfWork #LifelongLearning #AEC
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Steve Simons liked thisSteve Simons liked thisAfter an extensive nationwide search, Baltimore County Public Library’s Board of Trustees has named Jason Homer as the library’s sixth executive director. He is expected to begin the role on December 1. Homer is a public library champion and innovator with more than a decade of experience transforming libraries to meet the evolving needs of their communities. https://lnkd.in/gtyP_fYd Baltimore County Public LibraryBaltimore County Public Library Board of Trustees Announces New Executive DirectorBaltimore County Public Library Board of Trustees Announces New Executive Director
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Steve Simons liked thisSteve Simons liked thisDo you see the world as it is? For most of my life, I saw the world through a false identity. And believe you me, I didn’t know it. Then one day, I sat down with God and had a conversation. He told me: “You are a giver of life. I created you to speak life into others, but first you have to receive it from Me.” So much began to make sense. But first, I had to recognize the false identity I had been living under. The things I had believed about myself for years. The things I had accepted as truth. You can live under a false identity for so long that you never think to question it. When I ask people, “What is your identity?” nine out of ten give me a blank stare—or tell me a role. Mom. Dad. Entrepreneur. Business owner. Those roles matter. But they don’t tell me who you are. Jesus looked at Simon and called him Peter. The angel of the Lord found Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding from his enemies, and called him a “mighty warrior.” God saw something in Gideon that Gideon couldn’t yet see in himself. It’s a beautiful thing when you begin to understand who God created YOU to be. Your unique identity. You start seeing yourself differently. You start seeing others differently. You start seeing possibilities you couldn’t see before. Sit down with Him. Have the conversation. “God, what have I believed about myself that isn’t true?” “Who did You create me to be?” And give yourself time to listen for his voice.. What you hear may change the way you see everything. #gorockthisday
Experience & Education
Volunteer Experience
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Co-Founder
Creation Springs Church
- Present 11 years 3 months
Economic Empowerment
Co-Founder of Creation Springs Church in Eldersburg, MD
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Founder
Bloom Safe: Make America The Safest Place To Be A Kid
- Present 2 years 3 months
Children
Our Vision
A nation where every child grows, learns, and thrives free from sexual harm.
Our Mission
To mobilize public, private, and faith-based partners behind a comprehensive, evidence-driven blueprint that ends child sexual abuse through education, empowerment, and care.
Why "Bloom Safe"?
“Bloom” evokes the potential in every child; “Safe” names the condition that allows that potential to flourish.
Publications
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My Body Is For Myself
Restyn
See publicationEvery child deserves to know this simple, powerful truth: My Body Is for Myself.
In this beautifully illustrated picture book about body safety, young readers are introduced to body autonomy, consent, boundaries, personal safety, self-respect, and self-advocacy in age-appropriate language they can understand and remember. Through warm, rhythmic verse and relatable examples, My Body Is for Myself helps children learn that their bodies belong to them, their feelings matter, and they can…Every child deserves to know this simple, powerful truth: My Body Is for Myself.
In this beautifully illustrated picture book about body safety, young readers are introduced to body autonomy, consent, boundaries, personal safety, self-respect, and self-advocacy in age-appropriate language they can understand and remember. Through warm, rhythmic verse and relatable examples, My Body Is for Myself helps children learn that their bodies belong to them, their feelings matter, and they can say “No!” to unwanted touch and turn to safe adults for help.
With a message that is clear, compassionate, and affirming, this book helps children recognize what feels safe, what feels uncomfortable, and when it is important to speak up. It introduces essential safety concepts in a way that builds confidence, awareness, and self-trust without shame or fear.
Through the rhyming and rhythmic flow of the book, kids learn simple, practical, memorable truths such as asking before hugging or showing physical affection, respecting boundaries, and understanding that whether someone is a stranger, a relative, or a familiar adult, a child’s body still belongs to that child. The result is a strong, uplifting message that supports healthy development and opens the door to important conversations about bodies, boundaries, safety, and how to identify safe adults.
The book also includes a helpful afterword for adults with information, educational context, and resources to help parents, caregivers, educators, counselors, ministry leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocates find help for survivors of abuse and continue the conversations about abuse prevention with wisdom and care both with the children they care for and the adults who serve them.
Give a child language.
Give a child knowledge.
Give a child confidence.
Give a child the empowering message they deserve to hear again and again:
My Body Is for Myself. -
The God Hour: A Sixty-Day Leadership Journal
WestBow Press a Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
The God Hour: A Sixty-Day Leadership Journal invites readers to dedicate one focused hour each day to align their leadership with God’s purpose. Through daily scripture, practical insights, and guided journal prompts, Steve and Galadriel Simons help readers cultivate clarity, resilience, authenticity, and joy in both personal and professional life. This book offers sixty concise, impactful reflections that draw wisdom from the Bible and connect it to real-world leadership challenges…
The God Hour: A Sixty-Day Leadership Journal invites readers to dedicate one focused hour each day to align their leadership with God’s purpose. Through daily scripture, practical insights, and guided journal prompts, Steve and Galadriel Simons help readers cultivate clarity, resilience, authenticity, and joy in both personal and professional life. This book offers sixty concise, impactful reflections that draw wisdom from the Bible and connect it to real-world leadership challenges, encouraging readers to embrace their calling, deepen their faith, and lead with integrity. Designed for executives, entrepreneurs, ministry leaders, and anyone seeking to lead from a place of spiritual strength, The God Hour equips readers to transform their leadership from the inside out.
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