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32 rising stars and high-potential employees chosen to participate in Leadership Maryland’s six-month professional development program MARYLAND (February 25, 2026) – Leadership Maryland, the statewide nonprofit offering professional development programs dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its business and community leaders, announces today the 32 individuals selected to participate in the Emerging Leader Program 3rd Class. The class consists of rising stars and high-potential employees from across the state who are poised for upward growth within their organizations and eager to hone their core leadership skills. The Emerging Leader Program runs from June to November and consists of monthly day-long sessions that include interactive training led by a facilitator and panel discussions featuring leaders from across the state as guest speakers. The curriculum offers a holistic approach to leadership development, designed to increase self-awareness and equip participants with the behaviors, skills, and tools to become more adaptive, inclusive, strategic, and impactful leaders. “We are excited to announce the new Emerging Leader 3rd Class and welcome these motivated and forward-thinking individuals to our program,” said David Fike ’16 (LM), president and CEO of Leadership Maryland. “The class members demonstrate exceptional promise and a strong commitment to their communities,” said Meghan Blanchard, Director, Emerging Leader Program, Leadership Maryland. “Through our comprehensive curriculum, they will gain the strategic insights and self-awareness necessary to drive positive impact within their organizations and across the state.” Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program is open to individuals advancing in their careers, actively involved in their communities, and seeking to become stronger leaders in both areas. Ideal 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, communities, and state. For more information, please visit leadershipmd.org, call 410-841-2101, or email info@leadershipmd.org. Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program 3rd Class Participants: Starr Baker, EL 3rd Class Senior Strategic Planning Project Manager United States Department of Commerce Brian Bennett, EL 3rd Class Street Maintenance Supervisor City of Laurel Kate Bleile, EL 3rd Class Public Affairs Coordinator Salisbury University Mary Buffington, EL 3rd Class Project Manager Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative John Caine, EL 3rd Class Project Manager The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Alexander Choi, EL 3rd Class Executive Director, Government, Program Development, Research & Policy Maryland Technology Development Corp. Leah Copper, EL 3rd Class Billing & Collections Supervisor Easton Utilities Nora Corasaniti, EL 3rd Class Deputy Director of State Legislative Affairs Maryland Department of Transportation Asa Council, EL 3rd Class Sr. Mortgage Consultant Mortgage Experts Kathryn Dachille, EL 3rd Class Associate Counsel – Global Intellectual Property & Brand Protection McCormick & Company, Inc. Sharon Distance-Hawkins, EL 3rd Class Division Chief Maryland State Highway Administration Jessica El-Zeftawy, EL 3rd Class Development Officer Frederick County Public Libraries Madan Gaddam, EL 3rd Class Assistant Division Chief, Engineering Geology Division Maryland State Highway Administration – Office of Materials Technology Emad Gheibi, EL 3rd Class Deputy Director for Planning and Programming Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Ashley Gibbs, EL 3rd Class Digital Applications Specialist City of Bowie, IT Department Jessica Gross, EL 3rd Class Local Care Team Coordinator Charles County Government T’Amani Hamlett, EL 3rd Class Chief Building Official for the Office of the Fire Marshal and Permit Services City of Laurel Zachary Hands, EL 3rd Class Executive Director Maryland State Board of Education Breanna Hill, EL 3rd Class Director, Community Impact APG Federal Credit Union Ibrahim Jalloh, EL 3rd Class DevOps Engineer Open Systems Technologies Corporation Jeri Lawson, EL 3rd Class Vice President, Human Resources Standard Solar, Inc. Chijiaku “CJ” Maduka, EL 3rd Class Director of Talent Development Fello Kitty McIlroy, EL 3rd Class Project Manager III Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority Mira Morgan, EL 3rd Class Project Manager, Community Development Administration Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Brent Murphy, EL 3rd Class Environmental Operations Superintendent Charles County Government Joshua Papsan, EL 3rd Class Manager Substation and Services Baltimore Gas and Electric Luke Pinton, EL 3rd Class Associate Funk & Bolton, P.A. Yixin Qiu, EL 3rd Class Product Manager Qlarant Naeemuddin Qureshi, EL 3rd Class Assistant Division Chief Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Beth Rehbehn, EL 3rd Class VP of Financial Wellness AFS 401(k) Retirement Services, A HUB International Company Joseph Toolan, EL 3rd Class Justicia Y Equidad Fund Director GreenLatinos Abraham Yoffe, EL 3rd Class Vice President HDC Inc 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 participate in an eight-month learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic, and environmental issues. In 2024, Leadership Maryland launched the Emerging Leader Program to bring together 30–40 of the state’s rising stars and provide them with the skills and tools needed 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. # # #
32 rising stars and high-potential employees chosen to participate in Leadership Maryland’s six-month professional development program
MARYLAND (February 25, 2026) – Leadership Maryland, the statewide nonprofit offering professional development programs dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its business and community leaders, announces today the 32 individuals selected to participate in the Emerging Leader Program 3rd Class.
The class consists of rising stars and high-potential employees from across the state who are poised for upward growth within their organizations and eager to hone their core leadership skills.
The Emerging Leader Program runs from June to November and consists of monthly day-long sessions that include interactive training led by a facilitator and panel discussions featuring leaders from across the state as guest speakers. The curriculum offers a holistic approach to leadership development, designed to increase self-awareness and equip participants with the behaviors, skills, and tools to become more adaptive, inclusive, strategic, and impactful leaders.
“We are excited to announce the new Emerging Leader 3rd Class and welcome these motivated and forward-thinking individuals to our program,” said David Fike ’16 (LM), president and CEO of Leadership Maryland.
“The class members demonstrate exceptional promise and a strong commitment to their communities,” said Meghan Blanchard, Director, Emerging Leader Program, Leadership Maryland. “Through our comprehensive curriculum, they will gain the strategic insights and self-awareness necessary to drive positive impact within their organizations and across the state.”
Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program is open to individuals advancing in their careers, actively involved in their communities, and seeking to become stronger leaders in both areas. Ideal 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, communities, and state. For more information, please visit leadershipmd.org, call 410-841-2101, or email info@leadershipmd.org.
Senior Strategic Planning Project Manager
United States Department of Commerce
Street Maintenance Supervisor
City of Laurel
Public Affairs Coordinator
Salisbury University
Project Manager
Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Executive Director, Government, Program Development, Research & Policy
Maryland Technology Development Corp.
Billing & Collections Supervisor
Easton Utilities
Deputy Director of State Legislative Affairs
Maryland Department of Transportation
Sr. Mortgage Consultant
Mortgage Experts
Associate Counsel – Global Intellectual Property & Brand Protection
McCormick & Company, Inc.
Division Chief
Maryland State Highway Administration
Development Officer
Frederick County Public Libraries
Assistant Division Chief, Engineering Geology Division
Maryland State Highway Administration – Office of Materials Technology
Deputy Director for Planning and Programming
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
Digital Applications Specialist
City of Bowie, IT Department
Local Care Team Coordinator
Charles County Government
Chief Building Official for the Office of the Fire Marshal and Permit Services
Executive Director
Maryland State Board of Education
Director, Community Impact
APG Federal Credit Union
DevOps Engineer
Open Systems Technologies Corporation
Vice President, Human Resources
Standard Solar, Inc.
Director of Talent Development
Fello
Project Manager III
Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority
Project Manager, Community Development Administration
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Environmental Operations Superintendent
Manager Substation and Services
Baltimore Gas and Electric
Associate
Funk & Bolton, P.A.
Product Manager
Qlarant
Assistant Division Chief
VP of Financial Wellness
AFS 401(k) Retirement Services, A HUB International Company
Justicia Y Equidad Fund Director
GreenLatinos
Vice President
HDC Inc
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 participate in an eight-month learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic, and environmental issues. In 2024, Leadership Maryland launched the Emerging Leader Program to bring together 30–40 of the state’s rising stars and provide them with the skills and tools needed 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.
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