This Year’s Theme “Ensuring Educational Innovation and Success in a Changing World”

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Allegany! Class of 2023 participated in the program’s annual Education Day co-hosted by the Allegany County Public Schools, Allegany College of Maryland, and Frostburg State University.  The day’s theme was “Ensuring Educational Innovation and Success in a Changing World.”

The class began their day at the Center for Career and Technical Education, where they had the opportunity to hear from a CEO panel and have a subsequent question and answer session with Mr. Jeff Blank, Superintendent, Allegany County Public Schools; Dr. Cynthia Bambara, President, Allegany College of Maryland; and Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk, President, Frostburg State University. After this panel discussion, the class had the unique opportunity to tour the school’s fifteen skill areas before returning for a closing discussion with ACPS staff members. Participating on this panel were Dr. Eric Van Slyke, ACPS Secondary Science Supervisor; Mrs. Jackie Enright, ACPS Supervisor of Early Childhood Education; Mr. Joseph Brewer, ACPS Supervisor of Career and Technical Education and Leadership Allegany! Class member; and Mrs. Breann D’Atri, ACPS Coordinator of Apprentice Maryland and Workforce Development.

Leadership Allegany’s! Education Day continued at ACM’s Western Maryland Works Training Center and MakerSpace. The class heard an overview of ACM and the college’s workforce development initiatives from Mr. Jeff Kirk, ACM Dean of Continuing Education; Mrs. Kathy Condor, ACM Director of Health and Human Services; Dr. Jennifer Light, Program Coordinator, A.A.S. Engineering – Automated Manufacturing Technology; and Ms. Melanie Chapman, ACM Director of Adult Basic Education and Supported Employment. Class members were treated to an interactive game, “Getting to Know Allegany College of Maryland”, hosted by ACM College Recruiter, Courtney Jensen, followed by a tour of workforce development and makerspace facilities.

After the tour, the group participated in a business leader panel discussion on ACM and workforce development initiatives. Panel members included Mr. Sam Griffith, President, National Jet; Mr. Gene Silverman, President, Berkley Springs Instruments; Mr. Eric Hughes, President, Ironworkers Local 568; Mr. Brad Butler, Assistant Warden, Wester Correctional Institution; and Mr. Mike Otto, Manager of Metal Fabrication Process Engineering, Northrup Grumman.

Next, Leadership Allegany’s! Education Day continued at Frostburg State University. Their visit there began with brief remarks and an overview of academic programs from Dr. Michael Mathias, FSU’s Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science. Mr. Troy Dell, FSU Athletic Director, then gave the class an overview of FSU’s athletics programs and a tour of Bobcat Stadium and fieldhouse. The group continued Education Day with an overview of student affairs and an activity with FSU Assistant Vice President for Student Life, Mr. Robert Cooper. The day concluded at FSU with a Q&A segment with directors from FSU’s health center, counseling center, career center, and civic engagement center.

Members of the Leadership Allegany! Education Day 2023 Organizing Committee were David Jones, Vice President of Advancement and Community Relations at ACM; Mia Cross, Public Information Officer for ACPS; and Dr. Jeff Graham, Senior Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at FSU.

Published 11/10/22