Legislative Representation

Legislative Representatives

Tom Pilon

Chairman, NAIOP Maryland State Legislative Committee
Executive Vice President, Development, St. John Properties

Tom Pilon is the volunteer Chair of NAIOP Maryland’s State Legislative Committee where his strong technical skills and political savvy lead the committee’s management of NAIOP Maryland’s legislative and regulatory agenda.

As Executive Vice President for Development at St. John Properties, Pilon, a licensed professional engineer, is responsible for project feasibility, entitlements, design, subdivision and permitting. He has overseen entitlement and permitting of more than 25 St. John Properties business parks, totaling more than 6 million square feet.

Brendan Gill

Chairman, NAIOP Maryland Political Action Committee
President, MacKenzie Management Company, LLC

As Chairman of the NAIOP-MD Political Action Committee, Brendan Gill leads the PAC’s Board of Trustees as it raises funds and determines how best to distribute those funds among politicians and candidates in order to serve the interests of the commercial real estate industry. Under Gill’s leadership, the PAC has posted increases in fundraising and political donations, expanded its Board of Trustees, and closely aligned its contribution strategies with NAIOP Maryland’s legislative interests.

As President of MacKenzie Management Company, Gill is responsible for the company’s property management platform which oversees 9 million square feet of commercial space in more than 200 buildings, serving over 1,300 tenants.

Tom Ballentine

NAIOP-MD Vice President for Policy and Government Relations

Tom Ballentine is Vice President for Policy and Government Relations for NAIOP Maryland and the chapter’s full-time industry representative before the Maryland General Assembly, state agencies and local governments. He has more than 25 years of experience in land use and construction related policy development.

Ballentine has represented NAIOP’s member companies before the Maryland General Assembly since 2009 and has submitted testimony at more than 500 bill hearings and work sessions on issues ranging from planning and zoning to environmental and land development regulations, construction codes, asset management and tax law. He represents the industry before state and local regulatory agencies and has been appointed to more than 30 commissions and policy advisory groups. His current appointments include the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission, the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Water Quality Trading, and the Mitigation Workgroup of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change.

Ballentine has managed projects recognized by eight national awards of excellence. Before joining NAIOP Maryland, Mr. Ballentine represented the Home Builders Association of Maryland (HBAM). He is a full member of the Urban Land Institute and holds a B.A. in History from The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.

Manis Canning & Associates

NAIOP Maryland’s Contract Lobbying Team

One of the premier lobbying firms in Annapolis, Manis Canning & Associates (MCA) has been representing the interests of its clients for almost 50 years. Mannis Canning has expertise in varied disciplines, including law, fiscal policy, business regulation and grassroots lobbying. Members of the firm have previously served in senior roles with the Maryland General Assembly, state government, University of Maryland System, Maryland Association of Counties and other governmental bodies. The team’s deep understanding of legislative issues and the nuances of the legislative process enable them to advise clients on strategies to accomplish their goals.