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Leadership Southern Maryland group graduates its first class
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by DARWIN WEIGEL
Clockwise from lower left, Leadership Southern Maryland graduates Joan Gelrud of Lexington Park, Barry Friedman of St. Mary's City, Glenna Edwards and graduate Robert Hor of St. Mary's County, Susan Vogel of La Plata and Ann Seely of La Plata enjoy conversation Friday before the LSM graduation ceremony and banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn in Solomons.
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Participants in the 2009 Leadership Southern Maryland class celebrated Friday, May 8, at a graduation ceremony held in their honor at the Hilton Garden Inn in Solomons.
"We came away from that experience more informed and with a greater appreciation for the great work being done by so many individuals in our region," said Bonnie Bowes, managing director and Navy ERP production manager at Bearing Point. "As a region we have a lot of challenges, but we have lots of great work being done that will create even more opportunities for everyone."
Tom Jarboe and Ray Wernecke alumni of Leadership Maryland class of 2006, explained that it was that experience that prompted their participation in the creation of Leadership Southern Maryland.
During the nine-month program, Leadership Southern Maryland participants engaged with recognized leaders in academic, health care, government and industry, focusing on leadership development by highlighting pertinent regional issues that included: land use and the environment, housing and transportation, human services, health of the community, economic development, tourism, and the defense industry, education and workforce development, and multi-cultural/diversity.
"Your graduation is not the end of your commitment. I charge you to become involved in making a change for the better," said Capt. Matt Scassero, vice commander of Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
"These individuals have successfully completed the inaugural year of LSM and helped strengthen our region by engaging in a curriculum rich with topics critically important to Southern Maryland," said Ray Wernecke, LSM board president. "We are confident that these individuals will apply their LSM experience in positive and dynamic ways to benefit the region."
"We are so proud of the class," said Karen Holcomb, executive director of LSM. "This group of individuals brought their own life experiences, professional perspectives, values and commitment to the LSM program. They are passionate, sincere and ready to make a difference in Southern Maryland."
Leadership Southern Maryland is a nine-month tuition-based program specially 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.
For more information, contact Holcomb at 301-481-2727 or via e-mail at holcombke@msn.com or visit www.leadsomd.org.
St. Mary's graduates of Leadership Southern Maryland
Laura Bayless
Bonnie Bowes
Ken Carkhuff
Lisa Franzen
Barry Friedman
Joan Gelrud
Daniel Grant
Barbara Hanna
Robert Hor
Barbara Ives
Mary Kukla
Adrienne Latimer
Chris Longmore
Brian Norris
