On September 28th and 29th, the Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Class of 2016 participated in the first of nine educational programs, Orientation Retreat, for the 2015-16 LSM class.
The two-day event was hosted at the Holiday Inn – Solomons with Honorary Founding Member, Mr. Eliot Pfanstiehl, CEO of Strathmore in Rockville, MD, as the facilitator. The participants were led through a number of leadership and assimilation exercises that allowed them to bond as a cohort and prepare them for their nine-month LSM journey.
n addition, they were presented an economics brief targeted to the region by Dr. Memo Diriker, Founding Director of Salisbury University’s Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network (BEACON). The afternoon afforded the participants access to the all three county commissioner Presidents through a Commissioner Panel – Mr. Steve Weems (Calvert), Mr. Peter Murphy (Charles), and Mr. Randy Guy (St. Mary’s).
The day extended into an evening gathering hosted “under the Lighthouse” at Calvert Marine Museum by its director, Mr. Doug Alves, LSM’13 and catered by Elements Eatery and Mixology. More than 125 public, private, and nonprofit leaders from the Southern Maryland region attended this amazing reception and welcomed the Class of 2016.
The second day hosted additional leadership and community trusteeship exercises along with presentations by Leadership Maryland and Leadership Southern Maryland alumni regarding their experiences with the program and the impact of LSM on their professional and personal lives. One particularly riveting presentation was provided by RADM USN Retired Charles H. “Bert” Johnston on dealing with gray issues in the leadership realm.
The class interacted with staff, program advocates, and leaders living and working in the Southern Maryland region throughout the two days. Overall, the class participants are thrilled to be part of Leadership Southern Maryland and the Class of 2016. From Calvert County –
Carrie N. Plymire, director of the Calvert Library
Anthony J. Pucciarella, owner of Alaris
Kasia A. Sweeney, associate vice president of corporate communication and client services for Calvert Memorial Hospital/Calvert Health Systems
Angela M. Walters, public information specialist for the Calvert County Department of Economic Development
Christian E. Zimmermann, director of financial resources for the College of Southern Maryland
From Prince George’s County, though she works in Calvert County –
Angel D. Wright, director of human resources for The Arc of Southern Maryland
From Charles County –
David R. Hupp, clinical outcomes analyst for University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center
Katherine O’Malley-Simpson, director of communications/media for Charles County Public Schools
Larisa J. Pfeiffer, community relations coordinator for the College of Southern Maryland
Thomas Quattlebaum, managing partner for the Titan Gemini Group
From St. Mary’s County –
Samuel C. P. Baldwin, managing partner for Baldwin & Briscoe, P. C.
Laura M. Boonchaisri, publicity and outreach coordinator for St. Mary’s County Library
Teresa L. Brannigan, director of hospice and palliative care for Hospice of St. Mary’s/MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
Linda D. Colina, president and chief executive officer for Technology Solutions, Inc.
Amy E. Cricchi, director of admissions for St. Mary’s Ryken High School
Michael J. Cummings, director of admissions for St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Michael C. DeManss, managing director for DeManss and Associates, LLC
Ruby E. Hawks, marketing and public relations specialist for MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
Tony Jones, public information officer for St. Mary’s County Government
Roberta M. Loker, reverse mortgage specialist for Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.
Kathleen McClernan-Walz, attorney for Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy
Joseph A. Mortensen, chief of staff for the Test and Evaluation Group at the Naval Air Systems Command
Jennifer C. Normyle, software engineer for Smartronix
Maurice D. Patterson, president for the National Society of Black Engineers – Southern Maryland Professionals
Michelle A. Reeves, programs and promotions manager for The Wills Group
William C. Reuter, Jr., financial advisor for First Command Financial Services
Robin H. Salanon, director of human resources for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
Gladys B. Steptoe, contracting officer for the Navy Engineering Logistics Office
Frank E. Taylor, president of Taylor Gas Company, Inc.
Kelly L. Williams, corporate director of human resources for The Cherry Cove Group
Founded in 2008, LSM has successfully graduated nearly 240 regional leaders. LSM is an independent, educational leadership development organization designed to broaden the knowledge base of mid- to senior-level public and private sector executives about the critical issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the region. Leadership Southern Maryland is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
LSM is a nine-month tuition-based program specifically designed to develop leaders from the Southern Maryland area for regional collaboration. The LSM program is dedicated to building a cadre of informed regional leaders, prepared to address common issues and bring long-term benefit to their neighbors and communities and incorporates a cross-section of the region to include diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity and gender.
“The participants represent a broad array of high caliber folks from an extraordinary pool of applicants living and/or working in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties,” said Helen Mattingly Wernecke, executive director of Leadership Southern Maryland. “After participating in the LSM program, with a wide range of experiences throughout the year, these leaders will serve as important embassadors in the challenging and exciting effort to improve and shape the future of Southern Maryland.”