PRESS RELEASE  

For Immediate Release 
June 28, 2021 
Amanda Zinn 
410-583-5235

Leadership Baltimore County Celebrates the Graduates of the Classes of 2020 and 2021

Sparks, MD (June 14, 2021) – Leadership Baltimore County (LBC) announced that Marco Avila of Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce completed its signature community leadership program. They celebrated commencement as a group of 75 graduates on June 14, 2021 at DeJon Vineyard.

Leadership Baltimore County’s Signature Program brings together high achievers with diverse perspectives to heighten their civic awareness, enhance their organizational effectiveness and become a driving force for positive change in their workplaces and the greater Baltimore County community. 

Leadership Baltimore County takes place in locations across the region and educates leaders about the inner workings of Baltimore County, connects participants with elected officials and other high-ranking decision-makers over engaging discussions, shines light on the community’s challenges and opportunities and inspires class members to effect positive change in our community.

Each member of the class also participated in a 360° leadership assessment and a one-on-one executive coaching session to gain insight into their leadership competencies and strategize ways to maximize their strengths and mitigate their areas for growth. 

Both classes had the unique challenge of adapting their official learning due to COVID-19. The Class of 2020 started in person in September of 2019 and entered this unique part of our history in March 2020 having just completed a ride along with a police officer, shadowed an ER nurse, and shadowed a school principal. These experiences along with their monthly learning day retreats provided a wider lens to examine the political, economic, social, and technological challenges our nation faces. The class transitioned to a virtual format March through August supporting each other through the early days of the pandemic. In the fall of 2020, they held make-up learning days both virtually and via a hybrid format of in-person and virtual participants. 

The Class of 2021 began the program in January 2021 in a hybrid format with mostly virtual and some in person participants. “All participants signed-in electronically each session and through small breakout rooms grappled with a variety of issues from economic development, health care, social services, education, public safety and more. I am so impressed with the depth of the bonds and relationships participants developed with one another despite the hybrid format of the program,” said Amanda Zinn, LBC CEO. The program ended on June 14 with almost all in-person attendance.

Leadership Baltimore County’s Signature Program is open to senior-level leaders (holding a Director or Vice President role or higher) who have demonstrated a high level of success in their field, an interest in enhancing their leadership capabilities and a commitment to the Baltimore County community through volunteer activities. Applications are currently being accepted for the Class of 2022 which will run from September 2021 – June 2022. Learn more at leadbaltimore.org. 

Class of 2020 Graduates:

Antoine Banks, Comcast Cable Corp.; Tameka Bell, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Mehmet Boz, KCI Technologies; Patricia Corey Bradley, Towson University; Danielle Bradshaw-Lee, BGE; Monique Cephas, Social Security Administration; Dawn Chrystal-Wolfe, The Y in Central Maryland; Mitch Clay, University of MD St. Joseph Medical Group; Leah Covington, BGE; Jen Cox, Empower4Life; Dr. Tekemia Dorsey, International Association of Black Triathletes; Rich Grason VI, Hanley & Grason; Georgia Ibar-Wynter, Erickson Living; Erica Kimmel, DPR Construction; Tina Kummelman, Erickson Living – Oak Crest; Chris Ludwig, T. Rowe Price; Ben Lydecker, Accenture Federal Services; Julie Maneen, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Danielle Marshall, Culture Principles; Dave Mattera, BGE HOME; Capt. Doug McManus, Baltimore County Police Department; Kalisha Miller, Baltimore County Public Schools; Maria Morales, PNC Wealth Management; Jodi Neal, CCBC; Sevetra Peoples, Baltimore County Administrative Office; Moire Riley, CCBC; Kim Scroggins, The Arc Baltimore; Kristian Sekse, Board of Child Care; Earl Shaw, Erickson Living; Bob Smith, Baltimore County Recreation Services; Denise Smith, Morgan State University; Josh Sutherland, The Children’s Guild; Milana Vayner, Baltimore County Law Office; Kevin Walker, Penn-Mar Human Services; Mark White, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. 

Class of 2021 Graduates:

Rosemary Anderson, Rosemary Anderson and Associates; Marco Avila, WSP/MDHCC; Simone Baptiste, Vehicles for Change; Kenneth Baron, University of Maryland at Baltimore County; Lisa Betz, Dewberry; Brandon Bonanno, Gray and Son; Dorothy Boulware, The Baltimore Afro-American; Christine Breen, Tradepoint Atlantic; Kristin Brooks, National Kidney Foundation; Deanna Chemelli, Baltimore County Police Department; Kim Cooper, Edge Direct; Christine Davis, Accenture; Darice Dixon, The Daily Record; Nicole Ebb, Baltimore County Department of Corrections; Rachel Ferrara, Bunting Door and Hardware; Hennither Gant, Career Image Solutions; Megan Goffney, Community Assistance Network; Candas Granados, BD; Sharon Hendricks, Life Bridge Health – Northwest Hospital; JB Hensley, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center; Diana Janney, KCI; Aaron Koos, BGE; Shannon Lucas, KCI; Keith McGuire, KMass Solutions; Gina McKnight-Smith, AbbVie; Beverly O’Bryant, Coppin State University; Frank Orcel, Exelon; Brooks Paternotte, Irvine Nature Center; Rhonda Pringle, Baltimore Business Journal; Patti Provance, United Way of Central Maryland; Jewell Ralph, Baltimore County Public Schools; Nasim Reich, Community College of Baltimore County; Barry Sheehan, Greenberg Gibbons; Jamie Stoner, The Arc Baltimore; Melinda Swanson, T. Rowe Price; Ryan Tetteris, BGE HOME; David Thompson, PNC Wealth Management; Marcus Walker, BGE; Thomas Williams, Erickson Senior Living; and Dinah Winnick, University of Maryland at Baltimore County. 

About Leadership Baltimore County 

Now in its 38^th year, Leadership Baltimore County is a community leadership program that brings together high achievers with diverse perspectives to heighten their civic awareness, enhance their organizational effectiveness and become a driving force for positive change in their workplaces and the greater Baltimore County community. Class participants visit a variety of locations throughout the county, meeting prominent leaders and gaining insight into how the County works, its challenges and opportunities and how they can help make a difference individually and collectively. Leadership Baltimore County’s Signature Program is the only of its kind that includes a 360° leadership assessment with one-on-one executive coaching to help members understand and hone their leadership capabilities. To learn more, please call 410-583-5235 or visit leadbaltimore.org.