Asti, an outstanding legal professional who has been applauded for her dedication to public service and her contributions to Maryland’s legal community, is excited about her newest leadership role. “I feel honored to be in this position,” she says. “I have the greatest respect for MSA and its accomplishments over the years and I am proud to be part of them.”

“It’s been a fascinating transition,” exclaims Asti. “Suddenly, I have overall responsibility for the operations of both stadiums and all of their business transactions. I have known most of MSA’s staff for 15 years, and we have a great team. We are looking forward to a bright future.”

After receiving a B.A. degree and Master of Arts in Economics from Duke University, Asti graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1979. She joined the Baltimore law firm of Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander, LLC, becoming a partner in 1986. She engaged in general corporate and commercial practice, handling a broad range of corporate, partnership and commercial matters which included business acquisition, securities matters, banking and bond work.

In 1990, Asti became General Counsel and Director of Development for the Maryland Stadium Authority, assuming responsibility for all commercial transactions with regard to the construction and operation of the Camden Yards Sports Complex, the Baltimore Convention Center expansion, the Ocean City Convention Center expansion, the Montgomery County Conference Center, the Hippodrome Performing Arts Center and other projects delegated by the Maryland legislature. She negotiated leases with the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens and other entities and handled all legislative and state law matters.

In addition to her professional work with the Stadium Authority, Asti is known for her very active volunteer role in Maryland’s legal community, supporting bar association activities and public service projects. She is also well known for her volunteer work at the national level. She served as a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates and the National Conference of Bar Presidents’ Executive Committee and was President of the Metropolitan Bar Caucus.

Currently, Asti is Secretary for the MSBA and serves on the Association’s Executive Committee and the Board of Governors. She was President of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, the Baltimore Women’s Bar, the Maryland Bar Foundation and the Baltimore City Bar Foundation. This devoted attorney also chairs The Daily Record’s Editorial Board and serves on the University of Maryland School of Law’s Board of Visitors. She was named one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” by Warfield’s Business Journal in 1996.

Asti believes it is advantageous to be a lawyer in her new leadership position. “I think it is interesting that the presidents of our two major league teams are also lawyers,” she states. “Lawyers are good business people.”

She brings a wealth of legal and administrative knowledge and experience to her new role as MSA leader and spokesperson. Asti believes her years representing MSA before the Legislature, the Board of Public Works and top Maryland officials, her knowledge of the workings of the state system and her experience handling the agency’s business transactions will prove invaluable as MSA’s top leader.

As Acting Executive Director, Asti already reorganized and restructured MSA. “We consider ourselves lean, mean and proficient at what we do,” she reports. She established new procurement guidelines and hired a procurement officer. “MSA now focuses on more fair and competitive practices with a greater emphasis on minority business enterprises and small businesses,” adds Asti. “With an entity like MSA and the operations we manage, it is easier to bring these businesses into our fold and bring them along.”

Now, MSA is focusing on new projects, including the Gateway Thoroughbred Track, the Downtown Arena, the Charles County Minor League Baseball Stadium and many others still in the infancy stage.

In addition to this very full agenda, Asti finds time to be very active in MSBA and the legal community as a dedicated volunteer. “I like to work hard and I care about public service,” she explains. “One of the reasons I am in this position is because I care about public service, and MSBA is an extension of this.”