Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe is a strong advocate for her community. Having lived in the Upcounty for nearly 30 years, Marilyn is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and do the hard work of community building.

Councilmember Balcombe is on the Transportation and Environment Committee and the Economic Development Committee. She is also the lead for Workforce Development and is committed to expanding career opportunities for all members of the community. Prior to her election to the County Council in 2023, Marilyn was the President/CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce. As the CEO of the Chamber, Marilyn was actively involved in land use planning, transportation and economic development. She has worked with thousands of businesses, large and small to help create a vibrant local economy. On the Council, her focus remains to strengthen the County’s business climate and bring jobs to the Upcounty.

Marilyn is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery (Class of 2000) and a member of the Leadership Group for Montgomery Moving Forward. She was most recently on the Board of Future Link and continues to be a mentor for students transitioning to Montgomery College. Marilyn was also on the Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census where she was the lead liaison for Germantown, as well as the Upcounty Vaccination Outreach Committee.

Prior to being at the Chamber, Marilyn was the Executive Director of BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. She was with the center during its construction and first year of operations. Marilyn was also a driver in the completion of the Germantown Library and the Germantown Town Center Park. She has also worked at Upcounty Regional Services Center as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Germantown community. Marilyn has been long dedicated to District 2, even before becoming a district councilmember.

Prior to her work in the community, Dr. Balcombe was an Organizational Psychologist with the U.S. Department of Energy. Her primary focus was the well-being of the contractor workforce and worked with psychologists across the country on issues such as substance abuse, mental wellness, and the safety and security of our federal facilities. In addition to her work in the United States, she worked in England at a newly opened medical school at the University of York, developing their organizational infrastructure.

Marilyn holds a Ph.D. is Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida; and a Bachelors degree in Accounting also from the University of Florida. She is a long-time resident of Germantown. Her daughter Emily is a proud graduate of MCPS Northwest High School.