To submit a complaint, use the NPV Form ($200 filing fee).
Contact Us
You may not use this contact form to file a notice of probable violation. This form is for informational purposes only. To submit a complaint or report a suspected violation of the Title XII statute, use the Notice of Probable Violation Form .
Jim Barron is a construction management executive with an extensive background in excavation and underground utility installation; and an acknowledged damage prevention expert with experience working with both federal and state regulators and elected officials in the formulation of policies, laws and regulations pertaining to safety enforcement and best practices in the underground construction arena. Jim founded a full-service excavation and underground utility installation company in Harford County, Maryland. At the peak of its operations, Ronkin employed seventy individuals and managed many other subcontractors involved in large projects. Over the company’s lifetime, Ronkin has installed hundreds of miles of water, sewer pipelines and stormwater management facilities throughout the state of Maryland. Ronkin was acknowledged for its excellent safety record and honest business principles and practices. Mr. Barron chaired the development of the Damage Prevention program for the State of Maryland; which was authorized by the Maryland General Assembly in 2010, as a result of passage of the 2006 Federal underground pipeline safety act (PIPES). He was hired as the Authority’s first Executive Director. The Authority is a quasi-judicial agency of the Maryland Executive Branch, established to enforce the requirements of the Public Utilities statute – Title XII (Miss Utility law). As Executive Director, his duties include the oversight of all agency operations and the investigation of damages and probable violations of the Title XII law reported to the Authority. He also presents suspected violations to the Authority board for their consideration, and prepares cases for hearings, when the Authority members sit as Administrative Judges. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Barron attended Clarion College for undergraduate studies and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania for an advanced business management degree. He moved to Maryland in the mid- seventies and began work in the field of underground utility construction. He is the recipient a number of national construction safety awards and has held several leadership positions in national and local utility construction organizations.
Susan Ann Mary Stroud has been with the Authority for five years. She was originally brought to the Authority as a consultant to assist with grant applications and major writing projects. She was elevated to Deputy Director in 2018 and oversees office operations, communications, grant management and legislative issues. She is also the recording secretary and parliamentarian for the Authority when in session. Ms. Stroud brings a wealth of knowledge of state and local governments and the construction industry with over 25 years of experience working in the Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate and as an advocate for highway contractors, the healthcare industry and new home builders until her retirement in 2011. Ms. Stroud has two grown daughters and a grandson whom she is very proud of. In her spare time she enjoys gourmet cooking, travel and the Baltimore Ravens.
