Meet Leadership Maryland’s class of 2023

The state’s key issues have been a continued focal point for Leadership Maryland, a nonprofit that has offered both professional and youth development programs.

In pursuit of its mission to improve Maryland, the Annapolis-based organization gathers leaders from across the state and various professional sectors for an eight-month program. On Dec. 5, the program’s 30th cohort celebrated its conclusion with a graduation ceremony held near Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

The class of 2023 was chosen earlier in the year by a committee, according to an announcement. The group of almost 50 “senior-level executives” participated in a curriculum that included an initial orientation. The program then went into targeted sessions with over 100 experts that dove into Maryland’s key regions. They also addressed “vital issues” related to economic development, education, health, criminal justice, the environment and diversity.

The October edition of eNews is out! Click the link below to see our upcoming member events, member news and sightings, and a recap of the Class of 2023’s Multicultural and Diversity session! https://t.co/ew9Ic0KI5P pic.twitter.com/8aHzeC7n5Z

— Leadership Maryland (@LMDLeads) November 2, 2023

Cohort member Joseph “Joey” Sagal II unexpectedly passed away before the conclusion of this year’s program. At the time of his death at age 44 in late October, he served as the executive director of the Maryland Transportation Authority. He would have been the 48th graduate.

Although the cohort actually started with an announced 53 participants, several couldn’t finish because of “personal or professional reasons,” according to spokesperson Lindsay Hebert of marketing firm Devaney & Associates.

The participant leaders are now part of the Leadership Maryland alumni network, comprising over 1,300 members.

Below is a list of the 2023 participants in Leadership Maryland, featuring some familiar figures from the tech and business sectors:

• Thomas R. Akras, director of the legal and legislative division for the Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission
• Abimbola O. “Bola” Audena, CEO and managing partner of MBA Growth Partners
• Anne A. Balduzzi, managing director of entrepreneur and ecosystem empowerment for TEDCO
• Christopher “Chris” Barber, founder and “Chief Nerd” of Cheaper Than a Geek
• Jodie L. Bollinger, director of business retention and expansion at Frederick County Office of Economic Development
• Jonathan H. “Jon” Bratt, assistant vice president for enterprise resilience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Jennifer L. “Jen” Brown, workforce development and programs director at The Patuxent Partnership
• Linda Schaefer Cameron, vice president of philanthropy for Kennedy Krieger Institute
• Melissa A. Clark, associate director of Maryland Area Health Education Center West
• Neil J. Coffee, chief technology officer for E-Risk Services
• Nicholas S. Cohen, executive director for Maryland Citizens for the Arts
• Diana C. DeBoy-Kean, community relations manager for the Maryland Judiciary
• Emily A. Dow, assistant secretary for academic affairs at the Maryland Higher Education Commission
• Donald D. Eaddy Jr., vice president of strategic partnerships and civic engagement at The Y in Central Maryland
• Mary Ford-Naill, manager of economic development for The City of Frederick
• William R. “Rob” Frampton Jr., assistant fire chief for the City of Salisbury Fire Department
• Kurt Fuchs, senior vice president of external affairs at Horizon Farm Credit
• Matt Gibson, Chick-fil-A owner and operator in Easton
• Elsie M. Goodwin, vice president of operations and information technology for HealthCare Access Maryland
• Elizabeth “Liza” Guroff, executive director of the Maryland Association of Behavioral Health Authorities
• Elvis Guzman, program officer for The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
• David M. “Dave” Hartman, president and CEO of Hartman Executive Advisors
• Tiffany L. Harvey, principal of Cornerstone Government Affairs
• Jennifer R.  “Jen” Herwig, vice president of human resources at Exelon and BGE
• John N. Hickman, director of Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network
• William J. “Jeff” Hill, project executive at Southway Builders
• Roslyn A. Hopkins-Fernandes, director of account management, major accounts at UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic
• Stacy L. Hutchinson, associate director of administration and facilities at The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
• Carolyn R. “Lyn” Lepre, president of Salisbury University
• Mark Luckner, executive director of the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission
• Angela R. Martin, executive director of Maryland Community Action Partnership
• Alexa J. Milanytch, director of development for Chase Brexton Health Care
• Voncia L. Molock, director of Service One IT Support and Telecom Svcs for Perdue Farms
• Tenyo Pearl, assistant professor of nonprofit leadership studies and director of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, Coppin State University
• Vicki L. Petro, vice president of human resources at Easton Utilities
• Odessa L. Phillip, president and CEO of Assedo Consulting
• Michele R. Potter, executive director of the Asbury Methodist Village
• Kimberly N. Prescott, president of Prescott HR
• Randall V. “Randy” Querry, director of government relations for the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation
• Monica E. Randall, deputy executive director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges
• Nickalus D. “Nico” Sanders, executive director of Community Housing Associates
• Robert S. “Scott” Saxman, vice pesident of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
• Sarah Sheppard, director of education, workforce and the Office of Telework for the Maryland Department of Commerce
• Jerray L. Slocum, assistant vice president of business, development manager and Community Reinvestment Act officer for Severn Bank/Shore United Bank
• Daniel  K. “Danny” Thompson, executive director of the Somerset County Economic Development
• Ashley A. Waters, executive director of Woman to Woman Mentoring
• Francine E. Waters, multimodal transportation project specialist for the Maryland Department of Transportation

Applications for Leadership Maryland’s class of 2024 closed at the end of October. Prospective 2025 candidates can apply starting next fall.

This editorial article is a part of Leadership Development Month of Technical.ly’s editorial calendar.