National Strategies, a Washington-D.C. based state and local business development firm, just brought in former Maryland Democratic Gov. Parris Glendening as a senior advisor for environmental and energy issues.

After serving two terms as governor (1995-2003), "I have devoted my time to smart growth efforts," said Glendening, who will remain president of the nonprofit Smart Growth Leadership Institute. "But I also wanted to be involved in the private sector, so joining NSI is a way to keep my foot in both the private sector" and the nonprofit sector.

At National Strategies, Glendening helps businesses find state and local projects on energy efficiency and upgrading environmental standards of buildings and infrastructure. Glendening certainly has plenty of ties to the states, not only as a former government and head of a nonprofit institute but also because his son, Raymond Glendening, is the national political director of the Democratic Governors Association.

                                                                                      -- Bara Vaida, with Gregg Sangillo