From the Board Chair & President & CEO

This letter from Jeanne Forrester Singer, Esq. ‘07 (LM), Board Chair  and Renée M. Winsky ‘05, President & CEO, appears in the Leadership Maryland 2020 Directory, which is being mailed to our members this week. We chose to also share it here, as it provides a great recap of the past year and what we have to look forward to in 2021. 

We hope this finds you in good health and high spirits. We are coming to the close of a chaotic year, having endured many months of grief, ambiguity, and trepidation. When the Board made the difficult decision to postpone Leadership Maryland programming, it sparked concern that our impact for the year would be significantly reduced. We are happy to report that our staff, volunteers, and alumni adapted to the new and uncertain landscape with great poise and admirable grace, working collaboratively to ensure our progress would go unhindered.
 
In response to the pandemic, the entirety of Maryland Leadership Workshops summer programming was transitioned to a virtual format with incredible success. Anita, her staff, and our immensely resourceful volunteers created a tremendous virtual program. Their work on MLW@Home also allowed us to expand the reach of our impact, providing free, at-home access to our leadership programming to students across the state.
 
The Board also spent more time this year interfacing with the Maryland Leadership Workshops Program Committee and staff. While the merger is now several years old, we have not given primacy to fully integrating the two programs until recently. Instead, we had essentially been functioning as two distinct entities, duplicating certain efforts and splitting overhead expenses. While this model had some advantages for both organizations, the Board wanted to identify and maximize synergies between the programs. As a result, we have adjusted our budgeting processes and are beginning to develop initiatives that will boost our alumni engagement, reconnecting a robust body of knowledge and experience within Leadership Maryland and Maryland Leadership Workshops. Stay posted for more information on these opportunities!
 
Lastly, we want to report that any message about Eliot’s departure was premature. He has decided to rejoin us for Leadership Maryland Class of 2021! The search committee will continue to work with Eliot to recruit his eventual replacement. That individual will undoubtedly have big shoes to fill, but we are confident we will find the right person for the job.
 
As we move into a new year, we hope you all take a moment to reflect on your experiences with our programs and the ways in which those experiences may have helped to prepare you for the tumult of the past several months. This is a moment that necessitates empathy, resolve, and clarity of purpose. Our communities are desperate for connectedness, shared vision, and resilient leadership. Our mission of empowering a diverse network of local leaders has never been more important; we look forward to meeting and working with many more of you as we continue in that endeavor.
 
Wishing you all a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2021!
 
Jeanne Forrester Singer, Esq. ‘07 (LM)
Chair
 
Renée M. Winsky ‘05
President & CEO

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