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Blog

Engaging Leaders Podcast Welcomes Sean Looney '96

6/14/2021

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Season 2, Episode 6: Spotting the Difference: Are You an Average or Outstanding Leader?
 
“Average leaders tell people what they want to hear, while outstanding leaders tell people what they need to hear.” – Sean Looney ‘96 

This month on Engaging Leaders, we welcome Sean Looney ‘96, vice president of state government affairs for Comcast NBCUniversal. Listen as Sean discusses which qualities separate average leaders from outstanding ones, and why true leaders are defined by their ability to adapt to circumstances, ask questions, and engage in uncomfortable conversations.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN 

In this episode, we discuss:
  • The traits of effective leadership during COVID-19
  • How to spot an average leader vs. an outstanding leader
  • The importance of asking questions and engaging in open dialogue to reach your destination
  • Integrity and toxicity in politics
  • The impact of the media on leadership
  • The power of community engagement and collaboration—why it’s beneficial to encourage people to become engaged with the public policy process

About Our Guest:
Sean Looney is vice president of state government affairs for Comcast NBCUniversal. He represents the company before state-elected and appointed officials in Maryland and Delaware. Sean has worked in state and federal government affairs for more than 30 years for NJ Bell, Bell Atlantic, Verizon, and Comcast. He is a 1996 graduate of Leadership Maryland and received the Leadership Maryland Leader of the Year Award in 2003. Sean has served in leadership positions for numerous business and community organizations. He lives in Annapolis, MD and Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ with his wife and two children. 

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Engaging Leaders Podcast Welcomes Joe DeMattos '08

5/18/2021

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Season 2, Episode 5: Crisis 101: Over-Communicating, the Alignment of Control, and Finding Balance In-Between

“Seek examples of effective leadership in unusual places—go out of your way to thank people and listen to what they share with you.” – Joseph DeMattos ‘08

In this episode, Eric Brotman ‘09, and guest host Eliot Pfanstiehl (LM) are joined by Joseph DeMattos ‘08, president of the Health Facilities Association of Maryland (HFAM). During the conversation, Eric, Eliot, and Joseph discuss leadership lessons from COVID-19—particularly in the healthcare industry—and how to lead from where you are, while understanding the importance of over-communication and the mirage of control during crisis.
 
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

In this episode, we discuss:
  • How leaders identify what they can vs. what they can’t control and how the alignment of control makes a difference during times of crisis
  • The impact of COVID-19 on skilled nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and more and how healthcare leaders successfully navigated specific aspects of the pandemic
  • How to distill what you know vs. what you don’t know, and prioritizing information to be shared based on importance and urgency of nature
  • The benefits of a public-private partnership during times of adversity
  • The overall multi-generational impact of experiencing a different kind of world war
 
About our guest:
In April 2009, Joseph DeMattos, Jr., MA became president of the Health Facilities Association of Maryland (HFAM) – the oldest and largest long-term care association in the state representing skilled nursing, sub-acute facilities, assisted living programs, and continuing care retirement communities. As president, DeMattos is responsible for managing and leading HFAM, a voluntary provider community association chartered in 1948 as the Maryland Nursing Home Association.
 
Prior to joining HFAM, DeMattos was AARP’s senior state director of Maryland—which has more than 875,000 members. He was responsible for the management of the AARP Maryland State Office in Baltimore, and charged with directing the organization’s advocacy, community service, and educational activities statewide.
 
DeMattos served in leadership roles for AARP’s Medicare Prescription Drug and Social Security campaigns. Prior to becoming state director, DeMattos was AARP’s interim Director of Advocacy where he directed government relations and advocacy nationwide.
 
DeMattos has more than 28 years of professional and community service experience in the fields of communications, community outreach, public relations, and government relations.
 
Before joining AARP, DeMattos was a government relations and crisis communications practitioner at a prominent Hawaii public relations firm. DeMattos served on Hawaii Governor John Waihee’s Executive Chamber staff and on the Office of Information staff. In Hawaii, DeMattos also served on the staff of the Attorney General and as a legislative aide in the State House.
 
DeMattos is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and is also a past president of the University of Hawaii Alumni Association. DeMattos holds a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University. He has completed executive education studies in Management at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. He is also an alumnus of the Pacific Century Fellows Program, a Hawaii-Pacific program modeled after the White House Fellows. He is an alumnus of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2008.

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Engaging Leaders Podcast Welcomes Jim Perdue '00

4/14/2021

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Season 2, Episode 4: Past, Present, Future: Analyzing Multigenerational Leadership

“Being a strong leader is about being yourself and developing your own footsteps. If you want people to follow you, you need to take on a cause.” – Jim Perdue '00

This month, Eric Brotman ‘09 and guest host Memo Diriker ‘12 are joined by Jim Perdue ‘00, chairman of Perdue Farms, for a conversation about how Perdue Farms has navigated the pandemic, the different dynamics of family leadership, and the importance of diversity in decision-making. 

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

In this episode, we discuss:
  • The pandemic’s impact on food production, distribution, and safety
  • Jim’s personal leadership style in comparison to his father, Frank Perdue’s and his grandfather, Arthur W. Perdue’s —and how diversity among leadership aids the decision-making process
  • The next chapter for Perdue and the process of preparing younger generations to lead
  • How Perdue continues to keep employees across the nation well-informed, safe, and productive
  • The importance of “taking on a cause” as a high-level leader

About our guest:
Jim Perdue has been the chairman and advertising spokesman of Perdue Farms since 1991. He is a third-generation leader of the company founded by his grandfather in 1920. In 1983, Jim Perdue accepted the invitation from his father, Frank Perdue, to return to the family business. Over the next eight years, he worked various plant management jobs and was then named vice president of quality improvement.
 
Under Jim’s leadership, Perdue has grown from an East-coast centered label of premium fresh chicken to a national roster of premium protein brands which includes chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb; in addition, Perdue Agribusiness went from a regional grain and oilseed business to a multi-faceted international player. His leadership guided Perdue to become a leader in workplace safety and associate health, including innovative wellness programs.
 
Jim’s commitment to earning consumer trust guided Perdue to becoming the first major poultry company to move all of its chicken to no-antibiotics-ever protocols. In 2016, Jim announced the company’s Commitments to Animal Care, a groundbreaking initiative that is transforming Perdue’s approach to raising chickens.
 
As Chairman, Jim is responsible for ensuring the company stays true to its vision and values and ensuring that the company continues to build on its strong corporate responsibility programs, especially continued leadership in elevating animal care and in strengthening relationships with farmers.
 
Jim received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, a master’s degree in marine biology from the University of Massachusetts at North Dartmouth, a doctorate in fisheries from the University of Washington Seattle, and his MBA from Salisbury University in Maryland. Jim is a member of Leadership Maryland’s class of 2000, he serves on the board of the National Chicken Council and the board of the Oyster Recovery Project, and he is extremely active in the local community.

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Embracing an ‘Ubuntu’ Mindset for a Collaborative Ecosystem

4/5/2021

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PictureArti Santhanam '21, PhD
By: Arti Santhanam '21, PhD, Executive Director of the Maryland Innovation Initiative at the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
 
When I was asked to write about TEDCO’s core value of collaboration, the word that immediately came to mind was “ubuntu.” Ubuntu is a Zulu word that Archbishop Desmond Tutu defined as “My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is yours.” In the simplest terms, ubuntu means, “I am because we are.”
 
Scholars of African studies and philosophy state that ubuntu is actually an intentionally vague term, similar to the Sanskrit word “namaste” (which loosely translates to “the divine light within me bows to the divine light within you”). Like namaste, ubuntu is much more than just a word—it’s a philosophy, a world view, and a framework for how we relate to and work with others.
 
While the concept of ubuntu has spiritual connotations, it has practical applications as well. As a socio-economic ideology, ubuntu encourages equity and equality as a means of generating shared wealth, promotes collective responsibility for the greater good, and fosters appreciation for each individual’s unique talents.  
 
At TEDCO, ubuntu manifests itself primarily in our core value of collaboration: “We focus on building trust and credibility across the organization and with our customers. We are transparent in the exchange of ideas and our encouragement of one another. We value teamwork in our pursuit of supporting innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.” Driven by this value, we embody ubuntu both internally and in our service to Maryland’s diverse entrepreneurial community. 
 
Collaboration serves as the foundation upon which TEDCO has helped build the state’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem since our founding in 1998. Over the last 22 years, our team has tapped into the power of partnership to identify opportunities to strengthen the state’s economy, provide valuable resources to entrepreneurs, and cultivate an environment that is open to innovation, creativity, and diversity. Without this group of like-minded, passionate people working together toward shared goals, TEDCO simply wouldn’t exist—and the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem would be nothing more than a great idea.
 
TEDCO has worked hard to knit together an entrepreneurial ecosystem that connects like-minded entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, academics, legislators, and business leaders from all corners of the state. Together, we have woven in diversity of thought, variety of skills, and myriad needs of our citizens to build a vibrant tech-based entrepreneurial community that’s consistently ranked in the top five in the United States.
 
A tangible example of successful collaboration in the spirit of ubuntu is the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII), which brings together universities—public and private, large and small—with the goal of leveling the playing field for technology commercialization. While equality doesn’t always lead to equity (we certainly have more work to be done in this area), we have embraced the ubuntu principles of community and collaboration to significantly impact the entrepreneurial cultures at Maryland’s universities. Collectively through this program, we have de-risked over 250 technologies, created 100 startups and attracted over $530 billion in investments.
 
During challenging times such as the ones we are living in now, it’s more important than ever to embrace ubuntu in spirit and in practice. Through collaboration, we can overcome challenges, find solutions, and empower Maryland’s entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into vital businesses that will expand wealth and improve quality of life for our state’s residents and beyond.  

This is a contributed post from our silver sponsor, TEDCO. 

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Welcoming the Class of 2021

3/23/2021

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Each March, we celebrate the beginning of another Leadership Maryland class year with our New Class Reception. This event gives our newest members a chance to gather for the first time, meet our board members and other past participants, and share their joy and enthusiasm for the coming year. After having to postpone our 2020 program, it felt great to renew this annual tradition this year, even if we did have to forgo our typical setting of the Governor’s Reception Room in the Maryland State House for a virtual celebration.

On Monday, March 15, we hosted more than 80 guests on Zoom, including the 50 members of the Class of 2021, the individuals who nominated them, our lifetime members, and our board. We also welcomed Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd K. Rutherford as our special guest speaker. In his remarks, the Lt. Governor reminded us that leadership comes in many forms, and the opportunity to lead can come at any time, regardless of your position. He also updated us on the State’s response to COVID-19 and thanked us as local business and community leaders for doing our part to help the state persevere and recover.

We then separated our guests into break-out rooms, divided into our five key geographic regions – Central, Western, Capital, Southern, and Eastern Shore. This gave our new class the opportunity to meet and chat with our alumni in a smaller and more personal format and hear what advice they had to offer for the class year. Our past graduates commended the new class on their resiliency and resolve and advised them to be prepared to be present in each session by taking care of things at the office and at home in advance, and that what they each get out of the program will depend on what they each put into the program.

The Class of 2021 also shared what they were most looking forward to this year. They expressed their intent to apply the perspective gained during the pandemic, and that they were looking forward to focusing on the Leadership Maryland program with a mindset no other class has experienced. This class is excited to renew, restore, and network to support our local and regional communities, as well as our state and nation, in a very different world than existed just a year ago.
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It felt wonderful to finally bring the Class of 2021 together in an official capacity, and it was also a bit therapeutic for us on the staff to do something that feels normal again – welcoming a new class and building excitement for the year ahead! 

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Engaging Leaders Podcast Welcomes Phoebe Stein '10

3/17/2021

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Season 2, Episode 3: Understanding the Value of the Human Experience

“Leading is not about having the answers—it’s about marshalling the resources, supporting others, and helping to get to the solution.” – Phoebe Stein ‘10

In this episode, Eric Brotman '09 is joined by the President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, Phoebe Stein ’10, to discuss the overall mission and values of the councils, why it’s critical to invest in the humanities—art, philosophy, literature, ethics, history, and more—the pandemic’s impact on new leadership roles, and the importance of relationship building.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

In this episode, we discuss:
  • The role of the Federation of State Humanities Councils and how the various councils are offering free, accessible public humanities to their communities
  • The pandemic’s impact on art, philosophy, literature, history, and more
  • How to respond to leadership challenges brought on by the pandemic—navigating change and transition and embracing new competencies
  • The importance of learning with the community and from the community, and how the councils are helping younger generations find connections through meaningful experiences

​About our guest:
Phoebe Stein is president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, the membership association of state and jurisdictional humanities councils founded in 1977. The Federation provides leadership, advocacy, and information to help member humanities councils advance public programs that engage millions of citizens across diverse populations in community and civic life. The Federation also strives to create greater awareness of the value of the humanities— history, literature, philosophy, ethics, the law—in public and private life. Stein serves on the board of the National Humanities Alliance and on the advisory councils of BFG Financial Advisors and Humanities Indicators, a project of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
 
Stein was the executive director for Maryland Humanities from 2008 to 2020 and has been an advocate for the humanities at local, state, and federal levels for more than 20 years. During her tenure at Maryland Humanities, Stein expanded the council’s partnerships and resources and hosted a radio spot, “Humanities Connection,” while advancing several of the council’s flagship programs, including Maryland History Day, Museum on Main Street, and One Maryland One Book. She served on the Federation’s Board of Directors from 2013 to 2017 as both vice chair and as a member of the Legislative Committee. In 2016, she was recognized as one of “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” by The Daily Record. She is also a member of the 2010 class of Leadership Maryland. Before joining the Maryland council, Stein was the director of public affairs at Illinois Humanities. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. in English from Loyola University of Chicago and her B.A. in English from the University of Michigan. 


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Engaging Leaders Podcast Welcomes Dr. Jim Fielder '98

2/18/2021

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Season 2, Episode 2: Optimism, Inspiration, Innovation: The Keys to Moving Forward

​“Always be prepared to expect the unexpected. The world will constantly be pushing in on you, but your inner confidence will provide your inner stability—watch your inner thoughts and talk because they often determine your outward actions.” – Dr. Jim Fielder, ‘98

In this episode, Eric Brotman '09 is joined by Maryland Higher Education Secretary Dr. James Fielder ’98 to discuss the status of higher education in Maryland—including how to move forward as a state during unprecedented times. Throughout the episode, Fielder hones in on the importance of lifelong learning, educated workforces, and how to stay relevant and ahead of the curve in the workplace and within educational institutions.
 
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

In this episode, we discuss:
  • The key differences of leadership and management
  • The status of innovative learning and how it will impact the workforce
  • How higher education has adapted and evolved—particularly during the pandemic—and the future of brick and mortar universities and educational institutions
  • How to encourage and implement lifelong learning for members of the community
  • The difference between engaging and enduring in the workplace
 
About our guest:
Maryland Higher Education Secretary Dr. James D. Fielder is an effective and highly regarded executive and public servant with a passion for leading change. Fielder is focused on improving the economic well-being of Marylanders through educational and business opportunities. 
 
He has been appointed by four Maryland governors, providing his talents and expertise in numerous leadership capacities.  These include:
  • Current Secretary of Maryland Higher Education Commission
  • Secretary of Appointments
  • Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
  • Deputy & Acting Secretary for Business and Economic Development
  • Assistant Secretary for Department of Economic & Employment Development
  • Governor Hogan’s Transition Team Member
 
He also served as Towson University’s Vice President of Finance & Administration, as well as the Director of Budget, Personnel & Institutional Research at the University of Michigan – Flint. Secretary Fielder obtained his Ph.D. at Michigan State University in higher education, his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he is a Leadership Maryland Class of ’98 graduate and a past board member. 

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What to Expect from the Maryland General Assembly’s 2021 Session: A Conversation with Sean Looney ’96 (LM)

2/8/2021

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PictureSean Looney '96 (LM) at Leadership Maryland Day in Annapolis 2018.
Maryland lawmakers recently returned to Annapolis for the beginning of an unusual 90-day session. Unfortunately, but understandably, one of the unusual aspects of this year’s session is that we aren’t able to hold our annual Leadership Maryland Day in Annapolis. But we did visit with Sean Looney ’96 (LM), Vice President – Government Affairs at Comcast and Leadership Maryland board member, who has served as our facilitator for the Annapolis program since our first event in 2006. We spoke with him about why he feels an inside-look at our state’s legislative process is valuable to our members, and what we should know about the 2021 session.

Why did you help create Leadership Maryland Day in Annapolis back in 2006?
I thought it was critical for those who are interested in learning about what really goes on in Annapolis. Unless you work in Annapolis, it’s very hard to understand the byzantine world that exists there, especially during the 90-day session.

What is your goal for the Day in Annapolis program each year?
I always begin the day with the message that if you want to be engaged in public policy, you have to understand how it works – the nuts and bolts of it – and I emphasize the “if” because it is not for the faint of heart. I think a lot of people do a little bit of exploration into the world of public policy and say “wow, this is a full-contact sport, thank you very much, but I’m not going to do this.”

But for the leaders who are the core of Leadership Maryland, the message is if you are a leader and you really want to get engaged in public policy, you have to understand what happens for 90 days in Annapolis. And I stress that the most critically important time is really the nine months leading up to the session, when the legislators are back home. I tell Leadership Maryland members to find out who their elected officials are and make time to get in front of them and talk to them about the public policy issues they are passionate about. Make a justification to your legislator as to why they should favor, or perhaps compel to change their view, on a public policy issue, and then follow it, track it, and push it through the 90-day session.

I also hope Leadership Maryland attendees gain an appreciation for the dedication and hard work of legislators and staff for the 90-day session and beyond. The vast majority are there for all the right reasons and work tirelessly on behalf of their constituents.

What do you enjoy most about Leadership Maryland Day in Annapolis?
I love meeting the great leaders who have gone, or will go, through this program over the years. I am always struck by the diversity and the strength of our members. I also enjoy seeing people who are extremely accomplished in their respective field, but yet are very naïve about the way it really works in Annapolis. I love seeing that “ahah” moment when I explain something, or give a little bit of history on an issue, and I see the person’s eyes pop open and they say “wow, so that’s really the way it works?!” And I say “Yep! For better or worse, that’s the way it really works in Annapolis!” I enjoy educating people about the complexity of our legislative process.

How is the pandemic impacting the legislative process during this year’s session?
We had a shortened session last year, so that critical time period outside of the 90-day session that I spoke of was actually 10 months this year. I’m learning that the people who are most effective right now in Annapolis are those who took advantage of that time to reach out to their legislators and meet with them back home in their districts as much as they could. This year, if the legislation is not baked, it is going to have a really hard time getting through. So, all that legwork I encourage people to do in the months before session is more important now than ever. This year, if you don’t have your sponsor/champion lined up, don’t have the bill worked out exactly the way you want it to look, don’t have people on board, and don’t have leadership understanding the importance of it, you are going to have a really hard time getting legislation passed this year.

There were a record number of pre-filed bills this year because legislators knew it was going to be that much more challenging to get a bill through, so they got them in the system much earlier than normal.

How else are events of the past year impacting the 2021 session?
Since last March, two of the most significant things that have happened around the world, and especially in our country and state, are this terrible pandemic, and the realization that we have a lot of work to do on social justice. So, I think two major priorities of this year’s session that will result in comprehensive legislation will be recovering from and moving forward from the pandemic, and figuring out how to make progress on fixing some of the social justice issues that are vexing our society.

Another issue I deal with directly is broadband. The pandemic alone has shown us that broadband is more critical than ever before for education, continuity of business, and personal communications. Everyone now realizes what those of us in the industry have been saying for years – we need a better broadband plan. There are two issues with broadband – one is access, and the other is adoption. We have done a pretty good job on both in Maryland, especially because a lot of other states are lagging behind, but we need to do better. So, I have been working with several legislative leaders on how to develop a plan moving forward for broadband.

Is there anything else significant to note about this year’s session?
If we ever needed another reminder that leaders matter, the last few months have done that. What is significant for me is that for a long time the two major leaders in Annapolis were “Mike & Mike” – Mike Busch, who passed away a couple of years ago, and was an incredible leader with a very distinct style, and Mike Miller, who just passed away recently. It broke my heart a little, with Mike’s [Miller’s] love of history, that he wasn’t able to see the historic inauguration and all it represented. But now we have two new leaders in Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones and they are putting their distinct impression on Annapolis, how it works under their leadership, emphasizing their priorities and demonstrating how legislation gets put through the system.
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I think leaders matter. An okay leader may tell people what they want to hear, but a great leader will tell people what they need to hear. If anything, we’ve learned recently that you need the courage as a leader to tell people what they need to hear, whether they want to hear it or not. You are not always going to get a favorable reception when you tell people what they need to hear, but I think that’s one of the top requirements of a great leader. Whether it is regarding social justice, political conduct, or how to deal with a worldwide pandemic, we need leaders who are willing and able to have the courage to tell people what they need to hear. 

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Sean Looney '96 (LM) addresses attendees during Leadership Maryland Day in Annapolis 2016.
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Leadership Maryland Announces Class of 2021

2/4/2021

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52 business and community leaders chosen to complete eight-month professional development program

Annapolis, Md. (February 4, 2021) – Leadership Maryland officially announces the Class of 2021, consisting of 52 business and community leaders from across the state chosen to participate in the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland.
 
The Class of 2021, Leadership Maryland’s 28th class, reflects a cross-section of the state, including diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity and gender. The class was originally selected as the Class of 2020 but was postponed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the safety of all participants, this year’s program will include a hybrid of virtual programming and in-person sessions, if and when possible.
 
The program will run from April to December, and include five, two-day sessions focused on Maryland’s five main geographic regions and the most vital issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment, and multi-culturalism/diversity across the state. More than 100 experts representing business, government, education, and the non-profit community will serve as panelists and guest speakers.
                                                                                                                                     
“Like everyone else, our organization has been forced to adapt over the past year, and after postponing our program for the first time in our history, we are excited to welcome the Class of 2021,” said Renée M. Winsky ‘05, president and Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Maryland. “Last year’s selection process was our most competitive ever, and we are honored that the majority of our chosen candidates agreed to wait and join us this year. We are still finalizing the details for this year’s sessions and events, but we are prepared to incorporate virtual programming and are committed to making any other necessary adjustments to protect everyone’s health while ensuring the Class of 2021 experiences the full impact of the Leadership Maryland program.”
 
Leadership Maryland is open to senior-level executives with significant achievements in either their careers and/or their communities. Ideal Leadership Maryland members have a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical issues and a personal commitment to be a force for positive change in their organizations, their communities, and their state. For more information about Leadership Maryland, please visit www.LeadershipMD.org, call 410-841-2101 or email Info@LeadershipMD.org.
 
Leadership Maryland Class of 2021 participants:
 
Amanda N. Allen
Government & Community Affairs Manager
Transurban
 
Adrianne M. Arthur
Executive Director
University of Maryland Strategic Partnership 
 
Nichole Doye Battle, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
GEDCO
 
R. Andrew “Andy” Bauer
Vice President & Regional Executive, Research
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Baltimore Branch
 
Denise L. Beaver, CEcD
Deputy Director, Economic Development
Carroll County Government
 
Dr. Mary W. Bolt
President
Cecil College
 
Matthew Bolyard, MBA
Vice President
Southway Builders, Inc.
 
Christopher P. Breedlove
Chief, Zoning Enforcement
Calvert County Government
 
Lauren T. Buckler-Duncan, PE, CEM
Assistant Secretary of Design, Construction & Energy
Maryland Department of General Services
 
Lucas I. Cade
Senior Economic Development Advisor
Potomac Edison – A First Energy Company
 
Patricia Carper
Division Vice President
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
 
Brian Cleary
Chief Information Officer
Qlarant
 
Jennifer Combs
Managing Director
Accenture Federal Services
 
Danielle Lee Conrow
Deputy Director of Engineering & Highways
Calvert County Government
 
David J. Corkum
Executive Vice President
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
 
Suzanne Luers Crawford
Director of Administration
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
 
Melissa S. Drew
Project Executive, Director - Eastern Shore
Gilbane Building Company
 
Nancy L. Easterling
Executive Director
Historic Sotterley, Inc.
 
Michele S. Eberle, MBA
Executive Director
Maryland Health Benefit Exchange
 
Dr. Chrys Egan
Associate Dean, Fulton School of Liberal Arts
Salisbury University
 
Enas Y. Elhanafi, M.Phil, MPPA, M.S.Ed
Associate Director of Community Engagement, Director Global Nexus Program
Montgomery College
 
Kelly Ennis
Founder/Managing Principal
The Verve Partnership LLC
 
Elizabeth Fitzsimmons
Managing Director, Office of Tourism and Film
Maryland Department of Commerce
 
Paul Frey, IOM
President & CEO
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
 
Kendrick T. Gibbs
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
National Institutes of Health

Jeremy D. Goldman
County Administrator
Caroline County
 
William Robert Hair
Superintendent
Maryland School for the Blind
 
Heidi Hammel, PMP, GISP
Vice President
KCI Technologies, Inc.
 
John J. Horner Jr., MBA
Senior Vice President & COO
Easton Utilities
 
Arthur A. Jones-Dove, PE, PMP, CCM, MBA, PgMP
Vice President
Atkins, member of SNC-Lavalin Group
 
Lisa Kemp, CPA
 
Deena Deese Kilmon
Director of Engagement
Arc Central Chesapeake Region
 
Irene Katherine Magruder, CEcD
Executive Director
Maryland Clean Energy Center
 
Kim I. McCalla
Associate Vice President Facilities, Design and Construction
Morgan State University
 
Chris McDonell
President & CEO
McDonell Consulting Group/Sandler Training
 
Austin L. Miller
Chief Technology Officer – MTA
Maryland Department of Transportation
 
Dr. Robert C. Mock, Jr.
Chief of Staff
University of Maryland-Eastern Shore
 
Luisella Perri, Esq.
Principal
Miles & Stockbridge, PC
 
Wendi Wagner Peters
Special Secretary of Smart Growth
State of Maryland
 
Dr. Bradley D. Phillips
Deputy Executive Director
Maryland Association of Community Colleges
 
Mark J. Potter
President & CEO
Maryland Science Center
 
Antonio P. Salazar, Esq.
Commissioner of Financial Regulation
Maryland Department of Labor
 
Arti Santhanam, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Maryland Innovation Initiative
Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO)
 
James C. Schmutz
President & CEO
Special Olympics Maryland, Inc.
 
Susan L. Schnaars
Vice President - Senior Investment Advisor
Wilmington Trust
 
Sharon Markley Schreiber
Chief Operating Officer
Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore
 
Sarah J. Shin, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
 
Dr. James Scott Smith
Superintendent
St. Mary's County Public Schools
 
Corey E. Stottlemyer
Director, Strategic Customer Service
Maryland Department of Transportation
 
Richard A. Tabuteau, Esq.
Attorney & Lobbyist
Tabuteau, LLC
 
CMarie Taylor
President
Equity Through Action
 
Reggie Turner
President
Turner Wealth Management

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R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out What it Means to Me

1/26/2021

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By: Tammi Thomas '18; Vice President, Marketing & Communications, TEDCO

Aretha Franklin famously sang, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T; find out what it means to me!” The song earned her two Grammy awards, was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, and ranked number five on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
 
What makes the song so popular and, well, respected? In addition to being catchy and memorable, its lyrics speak to a universally recognized value: We all want respect—and we all know that to get respect, we must also give it. 
 
Yet getting and giving respect can be difficult to put into practice consistently. Many organizations include respect in their values, but without considering its true meaning and what it takes to “walk the walk.” True respect can’t be in name only—it has to be authentic to be effective.
 
At TEDCO, our commitment to respect is reflected in our core values: “We uphold a culture of respect at work, within our communities, and nationally. We embrace diversity and value our employees for their individuality and the unique perspectives that they bring to the organization.”
 
But respect at TEDCO is much more than words on paper. The TEDCO team represents a group of passionate people from different nationalities and backgrounds who are leaders in technology, life sciences, and commercialization. It’s because of this diversity—not in spite of it—and our mutual respect for each other’s unique perspectives and expertise that we can achieve our collective mission.
 
Not only is diversity important to TEDCO’s culture, we know that it also fuels Maryland’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. There’s a large body of evidence to support the connection between diversity and innovation. According to research summarized in Forbes, companies with above-average diversity produced a greater proportion of revenue from innovation (45% of total) than from companies with below average diversity (26%). This 19% innovation-related advantage translated into overall better financial performance. Clearly, organizations that value and respect differences outperform their peers.
 
TEDCO isn’t the only organization demonstrating a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect. Stanford University instituted a Respectful Workplace training that all new faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate students must take. Closer to home, Leadership Maryland trains business leaders from across the state to have crucial conversations in an environment of trust, respect, and civility.
 
One of the best ways that you can start demonstrating respect is to encourage dialogue among those with unique backgrounds and perspectives and then really listen. The gold nuggets of innovation can be found at the intersection of diverse viewpoints.
 
Respect is an important value to me personally and professionally. I believe in treating all people with respect and celebrating diverse points of view—and it’s incredibly rewarding to work with a group of people who feel the same. 

This is a contributed post from our silver sponsor, TEDCO. ​

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