Board of Directors

Secretary of the Department of Planning, appointed on July 1, 2025. Ms. Flora has served as the Secretary of the Department of Planning since March 2, 2023.  Ms. Flora is currently a member of several State committees including, without limitation, the Governor’s Executive Council, the Governor’s Council on the Chesapeake Bay (Governor’s Chesapeake Bay Cabinet); the Principals’ Staff Committee for Chesapeake Executive Council; the Governor’s Subcabinet on Climate; the Sustainable Growth Subcabinet; the Smart Growth Subcabinet; the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority; the Maryland Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; and the Maryland Coordinated Permitting Review Council.  Ms. Flora also currently serves on a number of State Boards and Commissions. Ms. Flora attended St. Regis Falls Central High School in St. Regis Falls, New York. 

Ms. Flora earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York Plattsburgh in environmental science and received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  Ms. Flora’s past experience includes Executive Director, South Side Local Development Company from 1991-1997; Founding Executive Director, Green Building Alliance from 1997-2008; Adjunct Faculty at the School of Public Policy and Management, Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University from 1998-2008; Founding Chair and Board of Directors, Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) from 2007-08; Board of Directors, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens from 2007-08; Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development from 2007-08; Founder, ReMake, LLC from 2010-2023; and Sustainable Communities Practice Leader, Ecology & Environment from 2012-2016.