KEITH HALLER INSPIRES LEADERSHIP MARYLAND
CLASS OF 2002 WITH “GREAT VISION, AMAZING IDEAS”

Keith Haller, President/CEO of Potomac Incorporated, garnered special recognition as one of the 49 “graduates” in the Leadership Maryland Class of 2002 at a Baltimore ceremony on December 3.   

The Class of 2002 cited Haller as their “action hero,” demonstrating great leadership and vision. “You will forever be an inspiration to all of us,” the class inscribed on his award, the America Wide photography collection by Ken Duncan. “Keep the ideas coming.  You are awesome.”

With Haller's encouragement, the class of 2002 created its first-ever distinguished public service commendation - the One Maryland Award - and presented it to Speaker of the House Casper R. Taylor, Jr.  The One Maryland Award honors Speaker Taylor as “an individual whose lifelong dedication and contributions have greatly advanced the best interests of our state.”  More than 200 leaders from throughout the State, including prominent members of the Maryland General Assembly, attended the graduation.

Potomac Incorporated designed the Award to capture the spirit and legacy of a unique leader who develops and implements strategies to provide equal opportunity for all citizens and who rises above partisanship, ethnicity, local differences, and other delimiting factors.  The Award will be cast in metal and glass for presentations to Speaker Taylor and future recipients.

Founded a decade ago, Leadership Maryland now numbers nearly 500 outstanding individuals with backgrounds in business, education, politics, and public service – all of whom comprise a “uniquely talented network…the catalyst for positive change in Maryland,” says Nancy Wolff, Executive Director.

Potomac Incorporated is now marking its 20^th year as both a strategic public affairs and marketing research firm.  Haller has been at is helm since its founding in 1982 in Bethesda, Maryland.  

The Leadership Maryland 2002 Yearbook noted that Haller “cinched the title of Outstanding College Athlete of America” while at Syracuse University and still plays baseball as well as golf.  He is a founder of Leadership Washington.

Comcast videotaped the Class of 2002 graduation event along with the tribute to Speaker Taylor for subsequent airing on cable television channels throughout the state. 

Members of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2002 are listed below.  For more information about Leadership Maryland, visit www.leadershipmd.org.

LEADERSHIP MARYLAND CLASS OF 2002

Judy Ashley, President, Ashley Consulting Group, Cockeysville

Dr. Eric Baugh, Senior VP, CareFirst, Inc., Baltimore

Nathan "Nate" Beil, Senior VP, KCI Technologies, Inc., Hunt Valley

Russell W. Blake, Pocomoke City Manager, Pocomoke

Richard "Kevin" Brooks, Executive Director, Maryland Rural Development Corp., Inc., Annapolis

Bernard A. Cook, Esq., Partner, Cook & DiFranco, Baltimore

Anna Custer, Executive Director, The Greater Cumberland Committee, Cumberland

Dr. Jack Dale, Superintendent, Frederick County Public Schools, Frederick

Joseph Donegan, VP-Sales/Leasing, Tyler-Donegan, Inc., Ijamsville

Jay G. Fitzhugh, Senior VP-Strategic Directions, Provident Bank, Baltimore

John B. Frisch, Esq., Vice Chairman, Miles & Stockbridge, P.C., Baltimore

Dr. R. Lorraine Fulton, Deputy Superintendent, St. Mary’s County Public Schools, Leonardtown

Edward J. Gilliss, Esq., Baltimore County Attorney, Towson

James J. Gordon, VP-Public Affairs, Atlantic Division, Comcast, Silver Spring

William B. Grant, Chairman and CEO, First United Bank & Trust, Oakland

Keith Haller, President and CEO, Potomac Incorporated, Bethesda

Marcia S. Harris, President and CEO, Restaurant Association of Maryland, Columbia

Thomas Hendershot, Esq., Prince George’s County Council Member, Upper Marlboro

Dr. Mary Ellen Hrutka, Vice Provost/Dean-Undergraduate Studies, University of Maryland, University College, Adelphi

David M. Jenkins, Executive Director, Tri-County Council for Southern MD, Hughesville

Leronia A. Josey, Regional Director-Government Relations-MD/DE, Comcast, Baltimore

Donald R. Kann, President, Kann & Associates, Inc., Baltimore

Paula Klepper, President, Mid-Atlantic Business Finance Co., Glen Burnie

Rev. H. Gerard "Jerry" Knoche, Bishop, Delaware/Maryland Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Baltimore

Linda H. Lamone, Esq., Administrator of Elections, Maryland State Board of Elections, Annapolis

Dr. Diane M. Lee, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, University of Maryland/Baltimore County, Baltimore

Joseph R. Lizza, President, Chairman and CEO, Susquehanna Bank, Towson

Dr. Patricia N. Marks, Grants Specialist, Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville

Joan E. Marshall, Executive Director, College Savings Plans of Maryland, Baltimore

John Maxwell, President and Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America Baltimore Area Council, Baltimore

Stephen R. McHenry, Executive Director, FORVM for Rural Maryland, Baltimore

Thomas E. Mohler, Associate, Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, Baltimore

T. Conrad Monts, Chairman and CEO, Washington Development Group, Inc., Annapolis

Caroline G. Moore, COO-Commercial Development, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Baltimore

Ovetta "Vetda" Moore, Director-Business Communications, MD Department of Business & Economic Development, Baltimore

George M. O’Donnell, President-Board of Commissioners, Queen Anne’s County Government, Centreville

Joseph R. Ollinger, Chairman and CEO, Data Services, Inc., Salisbury

Dr. W. Stephen Pannill, President, Cecil Community College, North East

Richard Reichenbaugh, Partner, Associated Engineering Sciences, Inc., Hagerstown

Joseph P. Ross, President and CEO, Shore Health System, Easton

Kristin M. Saunders, Special Assistant-Intergovernmental Affairs, Comptroller of Maryland, Annapolis

Charlotte M. Scott, Project Manager and Owner, East Coast Operations, Inc., Crisfield

Dr. Nancy S. Shapiro, Associate Vice Chancellor-Academic Affairs, University System of Maryland, Adelphi

Dr. Carl W. Smith, Executive Director, Maryland Association of Boards & Education, Annapolis

Dr. William Sondervan, Commissioner of Correction, Maryland Division of Correction, Baltimore

William T. Sturgis, President and CEO, The First National Bank of St. Mary’s, Leonardtown

Gene W. Townsend, President and Owner, GT Financial Services, Inc., Hollywood

Sandy N. Weeks, Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Baltimore