Jayson T. Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of Mayson-Dixon Companies, a family of companies that was originally founded in 2015 as MD Strategic Consulting, a public affairs firm that utilizes campaign-style tactics to tell clients’ stories to achieve their missions. As the company grew, Jayson’s love of community organizing transformed into a passion for equitable community development. He has since started complimentary businesses such as, Mayson-Dixon Properties & Development, Modern Builders, and Modern Suppliers, that combined with MD Strategic Consulting created the first turnkey community development firm that engages in neighborhoods, builds residential and commercial projects, solves complex supply chain issues, manages properties of all sizes, and thoughtfully brings investment partners into underserved communities.

Prior to becoming a small business owner, Jayson had a distinguished career in public service working for the late Maryland State Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller, former U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, and former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, to name a few. Jayson was inspired to become an entrepreneur after his appointment by then-County Executive Baker to serve as the Vice President for Strategic Alliances for the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation.  There, he was a part of the leadership team spearheading transformative community investment, small & minority business growth, the branding campaign for Prince George’s County, and playing a key role in enabling the development of the $1.2 billion MGM National Harbor.

Since its inception, Mayson-Dixon Companies has become one of Bloomberg/Goldman-Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni, has thrice won the “Bridging the Gap” Achievement Award from the Greater Baltimore Committee for the firm’s work in diversity and inclusion, and was voted as one of Baltimore Business Journal’s Healthiest Employers for their investment in holistic employee health.  

An alum of St. Mary's College of Maryland, Jayson has been named one of the Daily Record’s Very Important Professionals (VIP) Successful By 40 award recipients, 40 under 40 by the Baltimore Business Journal, LGBTQ 40 under 40 by Business Enterprise Magazine, LGBT Minority Business of the Year by the Maryland Minority Contractors Association, received the Trailblazer Award from the Reginald F. Lewis African American Heritage Museum and was awarded the Chairman’s Award, a unique honor, by the Asian-American Economic Development Corporation for his work in the Asian American business community.  

He currently serves as the first African American chair of the board of directors of the Pride of Baltimore II, Maryland’s Tall Ship, and on the board of directors of Lifebridge Health’s Levindale Hospital and the American Red Cross of Central Maryland. In 2021, he was appointed by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. to the Affordable Housing Workgroup focused on ensuring safe, accessible, and quality housing is available to everyone in the County. Jayson is also a member of the Harkins Builders Corporate Board of Directors since 2021.

Before starting his businesses, for over a decade, Jayson was an adjunct professor in the “Semester in Washington” program at the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, from which he also graduated in 2002. Many of his former students have gone on to distinguished careers in public service and business.

Andrew Coonan is a native of Golden, Colorado and proud alum of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He has a proven track record for success in management and operations, including nonprofit and business development, business analytics, and event management. He has been known to say, don’t pigeon hole his nonprofit background. During Andrew’s career he supported Food Bank of the Rockies distribution growth from 12.5 million pounds to 58 million pounds of food and essentials a year. He defines this as compound growth in a supply chain industry – albeit the community food system. He is thrilled to work with Mayson-Dixon to help expand our reach and impact in supply chain management.
Andrew received a Master of Science in Decision Sciences-Business Analytics from the University of Colorado, Denver. He is most proud of serving Hunger Free Colorado’s executive leadership group Full Pantries, Full Lives that helped create the Colorado Food Pantry Network; and serving as Past President of the Applewood Business Association in Colorado, a community his father served for more than 30+ years. He is proud to carry-on his father’s legacy in this role. Andrew is also passionate about healthy living and play. His favorite activities include swimming, mountaineering, and skiing. Free the heel, Free your mind. Above all, Andrew emphasizes compassion. It’s a human thing.