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53 business and community leaders chosen to complete the eight-month professional development program MARYLAND (February 12, 2026) – Leadership Maryland officially announces the Executive Program’s Class of 2026, consisting of 53 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 2026, the Executive Program’s 33rd class, reflects a cross-section of the state, including diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity, and gender. 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 multiculturalism/diversity across the state. More than 100 experts representing Maryland’s business, government, education, and nonprofit communities will serve as panelists and guest speakers. “Welcoming a new cohort to our flagship Executive Program is always a highlight of our year, and the Class of 2026 is truly exceptional," said David Fike ’16 (LM), president and CEO of Leadership Maryland. "Selection for this program is incredibly competitive, and these leaders stood out not just for what they’ve already achieved, but for their genuine commitment to shaping a better future for Maryland. We can’t wait to see how they challenge each other and grow together to drive meaningful change across our state.” Leadership Maryland’s flagship Executive Program 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 leadershipmd.org, call 410-841-2101, or email info@leadershipmd.org. Leadership Maryland Class of 2026 participants: Leigh Adams ‘26 Executive Director Ausherman Family Foundation Dr. Paula Anderson ‘26 President/CEO PACE Consulting Marsha D. Anderson ‘26 Executive Director, Strategic Accounts Kaiser Permanente Ross Benincasa ‘26 Senior Vice President of Community Development Fello Anthony Betterson ‘26 Managing Director – Chief of Staff The Harbor Bank of Maryland Michael A. Bowers ‘26 Executive Director of Human Capital U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Shane Breakie ‘26 Vice President – Sustainability and Organic Growth Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Yvonne Briley-Wilson ‘26 Maryland Correctional Ombudsman State of Maryland – Office of the Correctional Ombudsman (OCO) Matthew Calhoun ‘26 Executive Vice President – Retail Banking M&T Bank Nicholas Clark ‘26 SVP – Commercial Banking Executive Maryland Fulton Bank Torine B. Creppy ‘26 President Safe Kids Worldwide and Vice-President Children's National Hospital Dr. Percy E. Dangerfield ‘26 Chief Administrative Officer Maryland Transportation Authority Renee R. Dash ‘26 Chief Operating Officer The League for People with Disabilities Courtney Davis ‘26 Deputy Director State of Maryland, Office of Social Equity (OSE) Candace Dodson-Reed ‘26 Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President MEDCO Beth Anne Dorman ’26 President & CEO For All Seasons, Inc. Christopher Eccleston ‘26 President/Owner Delmarva Veteran Builders Janssen Evelyn ‘26 Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Anne Arundel County Government Mary Pat Fannon ‘26 Executive Director Public School State Superintendents’ Association of Maryland James Fraser ‘26 Vice President H&H Rock Companies Claudia Glover ‘26 Chief Investment Officer, Financial Advisor BFG Financial Advisors Geyssel Gonzalez ‘26 Deputy CFO Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO) Sara Goodman-Stickler ‘26 President & CEO Global Cold Chain Alliance Scott Gottbreht ‘26 Assistant Secretary of Policy Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development Amir Hammad ‘26 Plant Manager – Hydro Constellation Sara Johnson ‘26 Co-Founder & COO CASH Campaign of Maryland Matt Laurent ‘26 Dean of the College of Health and Human Services Salisbury University Christine Leister ‘26 CFO Qlarant Amy Liebman ‘26 Chief Program Officer Migrant Clinicians Network Thomas Luginbill ‘26 Executive Director, PIC MC Montgomery College Carrie Manuel ‘26 Vice President, Finance Easton Utilities Francesco Marra ‘26 President & CEO Marra Forni Dr. Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm ‘26 President University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Robert Moore ‘26 Senior Vice President The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Bryan Mulford ‘26 Vice President, Commercial Markets CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Scott A. Nicewarner ‘26 City Administrator City of Hagerstown, MD Moyah Panda ‘26 Executive Director, Office of Police Accountability Anne Arundel County Government Christopher “Scott” Pomento ‘26 Chief Financial Officer Maryland State Highway Administration Deborah Ricker, Ph.D. ‘26 President Hood College Gayon Sampson ‘26 Chief of Staff to the Mayor The City of Frederick Larissa Severn ‘26 Director of Client Engagement Orases Steven Skerritt-Davis ‘26 Executive Director Maryland State Arts Council Louise D. Slezak ‘26 Assistant Vice President, Continuing Education and Workforce Development Community College of Baltimore County Teaera Strum ‘26 CEO Strum Contracting Company Bridgette Stumpf ‘26 CEO & Co-Founder Volare Meghan Sweigart ‘26 Executive Director TechFrederick Mark Thompson ‘26 Chief of Commercial Development Charles County Economic Development Department Colleen E. Vacelet ‘26 Founder/President of Intreegue Design, Inc. Owner/President of Order Green Supply Partner at MHG Engineering Lori Valentine ‘26 Senior Consultant Candace F. Vanderwater ‘26 President & CEO Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas Matthew J. Wessel ‘26 Senior Director, External Engagement Rodgers Consulting, Inc. Lynn Wilkinson ‘26 Chief Financial and Compliance Officer The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region Walter Woods ‘26 Coordinator for Outreach and Strategic Initiatives University of Maryland Eastern Shore About Leadership Maryland Leadership Maryland is a statewide nonprofit offering professional development programs dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its business and community leaders. Established in 1992, Leadership Maryland’s Executive Program selects as many as 53 diverse and accomplished senior-level leaders from Maryland’s public and private sectors each year to come together as a class for an eight-month learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. And new in 2024, Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program brings together a class of 30-40 of the state’s rising stars and gives them the skills and tools they need to advance in their careers. With an alumni network comprised of leaders from all industries and regions of the state, Leadership Maryland has established thousands of Marylanders on their career leadership path, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to influence positive change. To learn more, please visit leadershipmd.org. # # #
53 business and community leaders chosen to complete the eight-month professional development program
MARYLAND (February 12, 2026) – Leadership Maryland officially announces the Executive Program’s Class of 2026, consisting of 53 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 2026, the Executive Program’s 33rd class, reflects a cross-section of the state, including diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity, and gender. 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 multiculturalism/diversity across the state. More than 100 experts representing Maryland’s business, government, education, and nonprofit communities will serve as panelists and guest speakers.
“Welcoming a new cohort to our flagship Executive Program is always a highlight of our year, and the Class of 2026 is truly exceptional," said David Fike ’16 (LM), president and CEO of Leadership Maryland. "Selection for this program is incredibly competitive, and these leaders stood out not just for what they’ve already achieved, but for their genuine commitment to shaping a better future for Maryland. We can’t wait to see how they challenge each other and grow together to drive meaningful change across our state.”
Leadership Maryland’s flagship Executive Program 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 leadershipmd.org, call 410-841-2101, or email info@leadershipmd.org.
Executive Director
Ausherman Family Foundation
President/CEO
PACE Consulting
Executive Director, Strategic Accounts
Kaiser Permanente
Senior Vice President of Community Development
Fello
Managing Director – Chief of Staff
The Harbor Bank of Maryland
Executive Director of Human Capital
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Vice President – Sustainability and Organic Growth
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
Maryland Correctional Ombudsman
State of Maryland – Office of the Correctional Ombudsman (OCO)
Executive Vice President – Retail Banking
M&T Bank
SVP – Commercial Banking Executive Maryland
Fulton Bank
President
Safe Kids Worldwide
and Vice-President
Children's National Hospital
Chief Administrative Officer
Maryland Transportation Authority
Chief Operating Officer
The League for People with Disabilities
Deputy Director
State of Maryland, Office of Social Equity (OSE)
Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President
MEDCO
President & CEO
For All Seasons, Inc.
President/Owner
Delmarva Veteran Builders
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Anne Arundel County Government
Public School State Superintendents’ Association of Maryland
Vice President
H&H Rock Companies
Chief Investment Officer, Financial Advisor
BFG Financial Advisors
Deputy CFO
Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO)
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Assistant Secretary of Policy
Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development
Plant Manager – Hydro
Constellation
Co-Founder & COO
CASH Campaign of Maryland
Dean of the College of Health and Human Services
Salisbury University
CFO
Qlarant
Chief Program Officer
Migrant Clinicians Network
Executive Director, PIC MC
Montgomery College
Vice President, Finance
Easton Utilities
Marra Forni
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Senior Vice President
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Vice President, Commercial Markets
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
City Administrator
City of Hagerstown, MD
Executive Director, Office of Police Accountability
Chief Financial Officer
Maryland State Highway Administration
Hood College
Chief of Staff to the Mayor
The City of Frederick
Director of Client Engagement
Orases
Maryland State Arts Council
Assistant Vice President, Continuing Education and Workforce Development
Community College of Baltimore County
CEO
Strum Contracting Company
CEO & Co-Founder
Volare
TechFrederick
Chief of Commercial Development
Charles County Economic Development Department
Founder/President of Intreegue Design, Inc.
Owner/President of Order Green Supply
Partner at MHG Engineering
Senior Consultant
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
Senior Director, External Engagement
Rodgers Consulting, Inc.
Chief Financial and Compliance Officer
The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
Coordinator for Outreach and Strategic Initiatives
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Leadership Maryland is a statewide nonprofit offering professional development programs dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its business and community leaders. Established in 1992, Leadership Maryland’s Executive Program selects as many as 53 diverse and accomplished senior-level leaders from Maryland’s public and private sectors each year to come together as a class for an eight-month learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. And new in 2024, Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program brings together a class of 30-40 of the state’s rising stars and gives them the skills and tools they need to advance in their careers. With an alumni network comprised of leaders from all industries and regions of the state, Leadership Maryland has established thousands of Marylanders on their career leadership path, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to influence positive change. To learn more, please visit leadershipmd.org.
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