County and Municipal Officials Celebrate Academy for Excellence Graduation

The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance celebrated its 2022 graduates on Sunday, September 18, at the University of Maryland.

The Academy, voluntary certificate program, was co-founded by MACo and the Maryland Municipal League (MML). It is sponsored by the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) and coordinated through the School of Public Policy of the University of Maryland. Enrolled local government officials are required to take a set of core and elective classes, all available on a rotating basis during MACo, MML, and LGIT events. All courses focus on leadership and building a strong foundation of best practices for governance.

Academy core courses focus on local government fundamentals, such as consensus and teambuilding, ethics, conducting effective meetings, the Public Information Act, budgeting and finance, and more. Elective courses allow Academy Fellows to dive deeper into the hot topics of the day by attending timely courses at MACo, MML, and LGIT conferences and events.

Sunday’s graduation was held at the beautiful Memorial Chapel at the University of Maryland College Park, followed by a reception at the new School of Public Policy building.

92 county and municipal officials were recognized for completing the program, with about 50 attending the graduation ceremony. Delegate Eric Luedtke, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the State and Local Governance Initiative at the University of Maryland College Park, conducted the ceremony. MACo President and Talbot County Council Member Laura Everngam-Price gave the keynote address.

“Leadership is never easy,” said President Everngam-Price, “If it is, you’re doing it wrong. Leadership is always about hard work and growth and learning. But none of us do this hoping it will be easy. We do this because we’re called to do this, to be public servants and to help our fellow Marylanders…thank you all for your time and your dedication and your diligence in completing this program. Thank you for what you do for the people of Maryland.”

Congratulations to the 2022 Graduates of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance!

  • Rhonda Akers, Councilwoman – Town of Capitol Heights
  • Pamla Bennett, Code Enforcement Officer – City of New Carrollton
  • Billy Boniface, Director of Administration – Harford County
  • James E. Braswell, Council Member – Town of Williamsport
  • John P. Breeding, Director of Planning and Zoning – Town of Mt. Airy
  • Caroline Brown, Councilwoman – Town of Capitol Heights
  • Evalyne L. Bryant-Ward, Councilmember – Town of La Plata
  • Colin Byrd, Council Member – City of Greenbelt
  • Beverly A. Churchill, Director of Human Resources – Queen Anne’s County
  • Eric Colvin, County Commissioner – St. Mary’s County
  • Mary Beth Cook, Director of Planning and Zoning – Calvert County
  • Susan Coppage, Director, Dept. of Social Services – Queen Anne’s County
  • Cheyenne Cowell, Asst. Clerk & Planner – Town of Trappe
  • Jessica D. Cropper, Deputy City Clerk – Town of Ocean City
  • Lorna Jeannett Cudmore, Chief Financial Officer – St. Mary’s County
  • Carl Dewalt, Council Member – City of Laurel
  • Mark Dyer, Councilman – Town of Sykesville
  • Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager – Town of Centerville
  • Amanda Fiedler, Councilmember, Anne Arundel County
  • Faith Ford, Council Member – Town of Capitol Heights
  • Nina Forsythe, Commissioner of Water, Parks & Rec. – City of Frostburg
  • Cheyenne Foster, Zoning/Billing Administrator – Town of Trappe
  • Andrea Fox, Former Town Manager – Town of Garrett Park
  • Milton Frech, Chief of Police – City of Brunswick
  • Amy Fry, Council Member, Town of Cheverly
  • Judith Fuller, Council Member, Town of Taneytown
  • Lynne Galletti, Council Member – Town of Mt. Airy
  • James D. Gaston, III, Town Administrator – Town of Brentwood
  • Dr. Darren T. Gibson – Prince Georges County
  • Lorna Grant-Charles, Director of Finance – City of New Carrollton
  • Alan Grasley, Council Member – Town of Sykesville
  • Averi Gray, Town Clerk – Town of Edmonston
  • Sara Green, Executive Asst. to the Mayor – City of Laurel
  • William Green, Mayor – Town of Williamsport
  • Dennis Grove Sr., Council Member – Town of Williamsport
  • Kevin G. Grove, Commissioner of Public Safety – City of Frostburg
  • Araceli Guzman-Benitez, City Clerk – City of New Carrollton
  • Keith Hall, Deputy Director of Planning, Zoning & Comm. Development –  Wicomico County
  • Michael Edward Henry, Mayor – Town of Hurlock
  • Monica Higgs, Councilmember – City of Seat Pleasant
  • Adam M. Hiob, Councilman – City of Aberdeen
  • John David Hoatson, Town Clerk – Town of Upper Marlboro
  • Allyne Hooks, Councilmember – City of New Carrollton
  • Erin Hughes, Commissioner – Town of Bel Air
  • David M. Jenkins, Council Member – Town of La Plata
  • Kelsey Jensen, Human Resources Director – Town of Berlin
  • Keith Johnson, Council Member – Town of Denton
  • Wayne K. Keefer, Commissioner – Washington County
  • Zachary Kershner, Director of Public Works – City of Frederick
  • Andy Kitzrow, City Administrator – Town of Salisbury
  • Douglas L. Krinsky, Executive Director – JP Morgan
  • Gary W. Kuc, County Solicitor – Howard County
  • Dashaun N. Lanham, City Clerk – City of Seat Pleasant
  • Elizabeth Lawton, Councilwoman – Town of North Beach
  • Ruie Marie Lavoie, Director, Board of Elections – Cecil County
  • Linda Linthicum, Director, Animal Control – Frederick County
  • Karen Luffman, Chief Financial Officer – Town of Centerville
  • Vincent Lyew, Lieutenant, Police – City of New Carrollton
  • Nancy Luna, Executive Assistant – Frederick County
  • Carletta L. Lundy, Former Councilmember – Town of Bladensburg
  • Judy Mackall, Deputy Director – Calvert County
  • Nicole M. Malloy, Former Code Enforcement Officer – Town of Edmonston
  • Cynthia DB Mills, Council Member – City of New Carrollton
  • Erika Gail Moore Lecates, Community Engager & Board of Appeals Member – Town of Pittsville
  • Karl Munder, Council Member – Town of Mt. Airy
  • Kayce Munyeneh, Mayor – Town of Cheverly
  • Ana Navarro, Senior Administrative Assistant – City of Laurel
  • Shannon Q. Nazzal, Director of Parks and Recreation – Calvert County
  • Mark L. Paddack, Councilman – Town of Ocean City
  • Jason Willaim Papanikolas, Councilmember – Town of Berwyn Heights
  • Keith L. Pardieck, Councilmember – Town of Chesapeake Beach
  • Lenny Pfeffer, Council Member – Dorchester County
  • Christian L. Pulley, City Administrator– City of Laurel
  • Pamela M. Reed, Council Secretary – Town of Mt. Airy
  • Karen Reid, Accounting Specialist – City of New Carrollton
  • Donald Richardson, Town Manager – Town of Easton
  • James W. Richardson, Division Chief in the Department of Public Safety – Calvert County
  • Vaughn F. Ripley, Councilmember – City of Brunswick
  • Mark E. Ripper, Chief Information Officer – Carroll County
  • Laurie-Anne Sayles, Councilmember – City of Gaithersburg
  • Sheldon Shealer, Town Councilman – Town of Myersville
  • Matthew T. Simpson, Councilman – Town of La Plata
  • Erica Spell Wolf, Council Member – City of Hyattsville
  • Erica Stevens, Office Manager, Dept. of Public Works – City of New Carrollton
  • Elizabeth Easton Stickler, Town Clerk – Town of Glen Echo
  • Andre Triplett, Director of Public Works – City of New Carrollton
  • Jacqueline Vaughan, Director  of the Dept. of Public Safety – Calvert County
  • Sara Visintainer, Chief of Staff – Caroline County
  • Wanda A. Wheatley, Commissioner – Town of Cottage City
  • Cathy Willets, Town Manager – Town of Emmitsburg
  • Julian M. Willis, Community Planning – Calvert County
  • Carolyn J. Zinner, Councilmember – Town of Harve de Grace