Doris S. Mason

Known for her leadership, foresight and creativity during 25+ years of Maryland public human services, criminal justice and workforce development experience, Doris Mason has developed strong skill sets in organizational development, operations, program development, workforce/economic development and community education. As a strategic and analytical leader, she has led teams of 12 to 7000 professionals and paraprofessionals covering the gamut of the workforce/economic development and family-based (child welfare and adult services) programs. She has directed workforce/economic development, child welfare, energy/utility assistance, subsidized child care, adult protective services (including public guardianship), addictions treatment and criminal justice programs. She has translated her strong problem-solving abilities into successful outcomes for local communities. Leveraging her ever-increasing expertise within the Maryland’s services systems, she has been able to assume responsibility for managing budgets ranging from a few hundred thousand to over $9 million. She has been able to participate in the decision-making team for budgets exceeding $1.3 billion.

            Doris is proficient at implementing outcome-focused models for workflow management and staff/team development. She has designed practical continuous quality improvement and risk management systems successfully integrating the practices into daily operations. Throughout her career, continuously expanding her interpersonal, networking and media skill set, she has built an array of partnerships with state and federal governments, as well as other national organizations. While she is a  “big-picture” thinker, her work with diverse public sector, non-profit, business, legislative and judiciary services systems has very much equipped her to be a detailed- and results-oriented leader.

            Having earned a Bachelors’ degree in Political Science at Swarthmore College, and a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning, Doris began doctoral studies completing core research and statistics courses at the University of Maryland at Baltimore.

            Presently, she oversees a three-county quasi-public regional planning and development organization, as the Executive Director for the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC). She plans to increase the functionality and visibility of the organization to the local business, economic development, agricultural and human/health services communities within the Kent/Queen Anne’s/Cecil County region. Believing in the “power of partnership,” and confident that working across counties, regions and ultimately globally, will strengthen local economies, Doris’ goal is to lead the USRC, as it greatly enhances the quality of life for all residents within its reach. Doris is regularly tapped by other partner agencies, and professional collaboratives to present to audiences on the local economy and employment-related services in the region.