The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance celebrated its 2026 graduates on Sunday, September 27, 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 and the Institute for Public Leadership 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. Are you a county official or employee interested in joining the Academy? Learn more.
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.
124 county and municipal officials were recognized for completing the program. John Ronquillo, Director of the Institute for Public Leadership at the University of Maryland College Park, conducted the ceremony. MACo President and Frederick County Council Member MC Keegan-Ayer gave the keynote address.
Congratulations to the 2026 Graduates of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance!
(listed by jurisdiction)
- William H. Montgomery, III, Aberdeen
- Tandra A. Ridgley, Aberdeen
- Elizabeth Thomas Tanner, Allegany County
- Brenda Ignacio Cachuela, Anne Arundel & Howard County
- Dana Petersen Moore, Baltimore City
- Tiffany A. Papanikolas, Berwyn Heights
- Hollyce Goodwin, Berwyn Heights
- David A. Wolfinger, Berwyn Heights
- Kalisha Nicola Dixon, Bladensburg
- Marilyn Blount, Bladensburg
- Anthony C. Nally, Boonsboro
- Mary Kathleen Anna Hartig, Bowie
- Fredy Rosales Portillo, Bowie
- Daniel Aaron Yochelson, Brunswick
- Julie Martorana, Brunswick
- Jeremy Mose, Brunswick
- Eric L. Smothers, Brunswick
- Tamara Blake-Wallace, Calvert County
- Catherine M. Grasso, Calvert County
- Todd Ireland, Calvert County
- Shay Lewis-Sisco, Cambridge
- Sputty I. Cephas, Cambridge
- Anita Anderson, Capitol Heights
- Joy Ren, Capitol Heights
- Ron’Treece Gibson-Colbert, Capitol Heights
- Michael W. Robinson, Sr., Carroll County
- Christine M. Cambareri, Carroll County
- Valerie D. Hawkins, Carroll County
- Robert E. Hicks, Carroll County
- Rhonda Gaye Adams, Centreville
- Alexis B. Blackwell, Charles County
- Thomas Costanzi, Charlestown
- Kenneth Hamilton, Charlestown
- Samelia Okpodu, Chesapeake Beach
- Christopher R. Wade, Cheverly
- John LeGloahec, Cheverly
- David Tansey, Cheverly
- John P. Griffin, Church Hill
- Grailing John Mills, Clear Spring
- La’Toya Moore-Contee, College Park
- Alison Pages, Colmar Manor
- Reney Henderson, Sr., Cottage City
- Danielle Urey, Cottage City
- James Furstenberg, Cumberland
- Allison Layton, Cumberland
- Irene Barnes, Dorchester County
- Kristin C. Budd, Dorchester County
- Linda Moore-Garoute, Eagle Harbor
- Steve Ramsey, Edmonston
- Madeline Kathleen Shaw, Emmitsburg
- Clifford L. Sweeney, Emmitsburg
- Sherri Downing, Fairmount Heights
- Sarah Grabowski, Frederick County
- Marcus R. Henderson, Fruitland
- Yamil Hernandez, Gaithersburg
- James Francis McNulty, Gaithersburg
- Lia Jones, Gaithersburg
- Sarah Elizabeth Merrell, Galena
- Susan M. Theis, Glen Echo
- Danielle McKinney, Greenbelt
- Jennifer A. Pompi, Greenbelt
- Amanda Weaver, Greensboro
- Steven Scott Overbay, Harford County
- Tammy Lynn Schneegas, Havre de Grace
- Johnny D. Boker, Havre de Grace
- Bonnie Franz, Hurlock
- Cederick Turner, Hurlock
- Michelle Y. Lee, Hyattsville
- Cassandra Stillwell, Indian Head
- Tyjon C. Johnson, La Plata
- Rommel Pazmino, Landover Hills
- Fredy E. Aguilar, Landover Hills
- Kathleen Diane Walker, Landover Hills
- Adrian G. Simmons, Laurel
- Natalie C. Williams, Laurel
- Kyla M. Clark, Laurel
- Jeffrey W. Mills, Laurel
- Heather M. Earhart, Leonardtown
- Eki Oyegun-Ighile, Montgomery County
- Alma Ferrufino, Mount Rainier
- Kourosh Kamali, Mount Rainier
- Jarrett Stoltzfus, Mount Rainier
- Kaitlyn Elizabeth Schisler, New Carrollton
- Nathaniel Howell, New Carrollton
- LaTisha Thornton, New Carrollton
- Maisha M. Williams, New Carrollton
- Jasmine Boateng, New Carrollton
- Darryl A. Green, New Carrollton
- Keith Lewis, New Carrollton
- Kenneth Wilcox, North Beach
- Kimberly Davis, North East
- Catherine Ann Bernard-Dutton, North East
- Andrew Mark Sauder, Oakland
- Valerie Stemac, Oakland
- Julie A. Jeric, Perryville
- Brandy Renee Matthews, Pocomoke City
- Todd J. Nock, Pocomoke City
- Randa Thiele, Port Deposit
- Janice Ann Isenberg, Preston
- Turkessa M. Green, Prince George’s County
- Amy G. Moredock, Queen Anne’s County
- Dwayne Embert, Queen Anne’s County
- April Plummer, Queen Anne’s County
- Clarence B. Sears, Ridgely
- Chad D. Leister, Ridgely
- Ifiok C. Inyang, Riverdale Park
- Judy Penny, Rockville
- Megan Ann Caton, Salisbury
- Julie English, Salisbury
- Vanetta N. Van Cleave, St. Mary’s County
- David M. Yingling, St. Mary’s County
- Joyce Ellen Sapp, St. Mary’s County
- James Mac Hudson, III, St. Michaels
- Cara Honzak, Takoma Park
- Christopher Miller, Taneytown
- Grant D. Godfrey, University Park
- Casey Morgan Kelby, University Park
- Derrick Brooks, Upper Marlboro
- Charles A. Burkett, Washington County
- Ann Gilbert, Westminster
- Dionne Church, Wicomico County
- Amy Kernodle, Wicomico County
- Eric Joseph Fiori, Worcester County
- Charlene Sharpe, Worcester County
