The Shore Leadership Alumni Association recently welcomed a new executive committee and five new board members to mark the organization’s thirteenth year of education and development programming for Eastern Shore leaders. Nancy Andrew, ‘02, has been named president in her third term of service, with Marcia Bryan, CPA, ‘06, serving as vice president, David Short, CPA, ‘07 serving as treasurer, and Edward L. Delaney, PhD, ‘00 serving as secretary.

New board members include Jennifer Fisher, ‘08 of Oxford. Fisher is the COO/Practice Manager for Tidewater Physical Therapy in Easton and begins her first, three-year board term and as a member of the development committee. She also is a past co-chair of Easton High School’s 2008 After Graduation Party and is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Phoenix. “Because of the wonderful experience I had during my Shore Leadership class, I felt compelled to make sure other leaders have the same opportunity,” commented Fisher. “Involvement in Shore Leadership preserves all the reasons why the shore remains a great place to live and work.”

Jackie Noller, ‘07 of Cambridge, also joins the board and continues her second term as the ambassadors committee chair. Noller is a full time volunteer with many local organizations, including her work as steering committee chair and vice president of the Dorchester branch of Habitat for Humanity of Talbot and Dorchester Counties. Previously serving on the boards of the Salvation Army, Sailwinds, Inc. and Cambridge Main Street, Noller is also an organizer of Dorchester’s Crabtoberfest event and currently serves as a volunteer grant writer with Cambridge Department of Public Works and on the German partnership committee of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce.

Also joining the board is Sue Simmons, ‘04 of Greensboro, who is the director of Caroline County Recreations and Parks. Simmons public service extends beyond her 22 years in local government. She is an active board member of the Caroline Human Services Council, the Caroline County Council of Arts and the Caroline Mental Health Foundation. “Shore Leadership helps define and shape the leadership skills of each participant, and engages them through education and awareness to the unique issues and challenges facing the Shore region,” said Simmons, who is also serving as co-chair of Shore Leadership’s program committee.

Stacey Weisner, ‘08, of Salisbury, also joins the Shore Leadership board for her first term and alumni committee. Most recently serving as the Director of Planning and Codes Enforcement for Caroline County, Weisner carries a long history of community service, including work as a key coordinator for Ben’s Red Swings community playground in Salisbury and as an organizer for the American Bone Marrow Donor Registry. She is a recipient of the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay’s Green Angel Award for outstanding service and the Distinguished Service Award from Habitat on Maryland’s Lower Shore.

Also joining the board is Laurie Yorkilous, ‘06, of Easton, who is the director of marketing for Shore Bancshares, Inc. and also serves on the ambassadors committee. Yorkilous is the Chesapeake Chamber Music, Inc. chair for the 2009 Gala, “A Night in Rio,” to be held March 13th and is a past board member of Talbot Partnership. She is an active member of Soroptimist International of Talbot County, Maryland, whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities, and serves on its public awareness committee.

This year also marks the beginning of a second term of service on the board from Shore Leadership Alumni Association members Paige Bethke, ‘00, Julia Marlowe, ‘04, past-president Kathleen Radcliffe, ‘04 and the Rev. Dave Seymour, ‘05.

Formed in 1997, Shore Leadership is an organization created to facilitate a positive change and enhance the quality of life in the communities of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Through the development of a broad base of leaders and the use of private and public partnerships, Shore Leadership fosters shared ownership and a regional approach to community issues helping to shape the future of the entire Eastern Shore.

Using face-to-face discussions with community leaders and experts from organizations and institutions helping to form the region’s structure, Shore Leadership participants — including executives and senior managers from business, government and nonprofit organizations — develop an in-depth understanding of the interrelationships and complexities of the region.

Each year’s participants meet monthly throughout the Eastern Shore for nine full-day sessions, beginning with an overnight retreat in April at Aspen Institute and culminating in a December graduation. In addition to training facilitated by a master-certified leadership coach, each session focuses on a topic of regional interest including legacy, technology, economic development, community and arts, environment, education and government.

Shore Leadership graduates also earn five Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from Chesapeake College. After graduation, Shore Leadership alumni carry forward a traditional “Best Class of Shore Leadership” rivalry among classes.

For Shore Leadership graduates wanting to join the Alumni Association or for more information about enrollment in the 2009 class, contact Nancy Andrew, ‘02 at 410-822-1000, ext. 5482 or email nandrew@shorehealth.org.