CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD — The Cecil Leadership Institute (CLI) proudly celebrated the graduating Class of 2025 with a banquet held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Chesapeake Inn Restaurant and Marina. This year’s cohort, one of the largest in the program’s 25-year history, included 26 graduates representing a diverse array of business, government, and community organizations.
The CLI is dedicated to fostering leadership development in Cecil County. The 15-week program offers emerging and established leaders the opportunity to engage, collaborate, and gain insights into the key issues impacting community growth and prosperity. Participants also benefit from hands-on leadership experiences and the chance to create lasting professional connections.
“Building a thriving community requires people working together to create a shared vision to solve problems and celebrate triumphs. Looking to the future, well-informed, diverse, and high-quality leadership is necessary for Cecil County to grow and prosper,” said Dr. Miles Dean, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Cecil College and a 2016 CLI alumnus.
The ceremony featured remarks from Cecil College President Mary Way Bolt and Dr. Dean, as well as a keynote address from Joan Pirrung, HMA Fellow and Interim Campus President of ChristianaCare, Union Hospital. These speakers emphasized the importance of leadership, collaboration, and community impact, inspiring graduates to continue making a difference.
Throughout the program, participants engaged with leadership from prominent organizations, including Northrop Grumman, Deep Roots at Clairvaux Farm, Great Wolf Lodge and Resort, and Wildcat Point Generation Facility. They also completed a community service project, underscoring the program’s emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility.
The Class of 2025 includes Jacqueline Bell (Harford Bank), Cameron Bennett (Hollywood Casino Perryville), Michael Berth (Cecil County Dept. of Emergency Services), Stacey Brown (Susquehanna Workforce Network), Megan K. Coleman (Cecil County Public Library), Zachery Crescenzo (State of Maryland Department of Human Services), Laurie W. Fitzgerald (Cecil College), Cynthia C. Fuller (Cecil Bank), Kate Gingue (Cecil County Public Schools), J.P. Glynn (Visiting Angels of Harford & Cecil Counties), Loretta Lynn (Deep Roots, Inc.), Brian Huguenin (APGFCU), Dane Hutchinson (Meeting Ground, Inc.), Steve Jones (APGFCU), Kerri Kulesza (Cecil County Public Library), Shankia Mardenborough (Siemens Healthineers), Gerard Morgan II (Perryville Police Department), Parker J. Ness (Cecil County Government), Steven M. O’Connor (Air Clear), Jessica Plato (Cecil County Government), Greg Raphael (Monument Sotheby’s International Realty), Karen A. Rowley (Chesapeake Care Resources, Inc.), Kathleen L. SanDoe (Town of Charlestown), Becky Wells (Cecil County Public Schools), Christina Woodie (M&T Bank), and Aaron Wright (Voices of Hope, Maryland).
Programs like CLI continue to develop leaders who are well-equipped to inspire progress and address challenges across Cecil County. Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2025 for their commitment to growth, leadership, and community impact.
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