Governor O'Malley Swears in Maryland Commission for Women; Various Appointed Positions
ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 3, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley today swore in thirteen new members to the Maryland Commission for Women, a 24-member citizen’s group charged with improving the status of women in the State of Maryland. Governor O’Malley today also swore in other various appointees to the Board of Trustees for the Maryland State Retirement and Pension Systems, the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) Board of Directors, the Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) Board of Directors, the Maryland Economic Development Commission, the State Board of Physicians, the Critical Area Commission for Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, the Board for the Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund, the Advisory Committee on the Budget of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, and the Maryland Transportation Authority.
“This is a fitting time in which to swear in this Commission, as Women’s History Month has just come to a close in our State – a chance for us to observe the undeniable impact that women throughout history have had on our State,” said Governor O’Malley. “Since revolutionary times, Maryland has largely been influenced by dynamic women – and their legacy of strength, perseverance and compassion for our communities has continued since Maryland’s birth. Without the women that helped build our State, we would not be where we are today. I am confident that the members appointed today to the Maryland Commission for Women will continue that legacy.”
The Maryland Commission for Women was created in 1965 and established by an act of the Maryland General Assembly in 1971. The Commission's membership represents the geographical regions and diversity of the State. Members are appointed for terms of four years. The Commission is housed in the Maryland Department of Human Resources. The Maryland Commission for Women advises government, advances solutions, and serves as a statewide resource to expand social, political and economic opportunities for all women.
The following members were appointed by Governor O’Malley to the Maryland Commission for Women:
- Councilwoman Helen L. Holton – Ms. Holton is a Councilwoman for District 8 in Baltimore City and Certified Public Accountant. She is a Baltimore City resident.
- Alderwoman Classie Gillis Hoyle – Ms. Hoyle is an Alderwoman for Ward 3 in Annapolis. She is an Anne Arundel County resident.
- Erum Malik – Ms. Malik is an activist in community and women’s organizations in Howard County. She is a Howard County resident.
- Katherine A. Perez – Ms. Perez is Chief of Police for the City of Bowie, and former director of the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit for the Office of the Attorney General. She has served as a police officer since 1983. She is a Prince George’s County resident.
- Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen – Rabbi Kohen is an Associate Rabbi with the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity. She is a Baltimore County Resident.
- Melissa A. Techentin – Ms. Techentin is the Central Office Engineer for Network Engineering and Planning for Verizon and is President of the Southeastern District Police Community Relations Council. She is a Baltimore City resident.
The following members were appointed by Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller to the Maryland Commission for Women:
- Dixie Miller – Ms. Miller is President of Dixie Miller Presents, LLC, an educational consulting firm, an instructor for the Corporate Center at the College of Southern Maryland, and a member of the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission for District 12 (Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties). She is a Calvert County resident.
- Deborah Risper – Ms. Risper is a legislative aide to Baltimore County Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver. She is a Baltimore County Resident.
- Sandra B. Schrader – Ms. Schrader is a former Maryland State Senator for Howard County. She is a Howard County resident.
The following members were appointed by Speaker of the House Michael Busch to the Maryland Commission for Women:
- Jean B. Cryor – Ms. Cryor is a former member of the House of Delegates for Montgomery County. Ms. Cryor is a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board. She is a Montgomery County resident.
- Susan Elgin – Ms. Elgin is an attorney with Kaufman, Ries & Elgin and volunteers for the Women’s Law Center of Maryland. She is a Baltimore County resident.
- Roseanna Vogt – Ms. Vogt is an attorney, Treasurer of the Calvert County Commission for Women, and a member of the Calvert County Juvenile Drug Court Steering Committee. She is a Calvert County resident.
- Kathleen White – Ms. White works for the Maryland State Department of Education in the Correctional Education Program. She is a Baltimore County resident.
Governor O’Malley today also swore in members of various Boards and Commissions.
“I am proud to nominate these outstanding candidates to fill key posts in Maryland’s state government,” said Governor O’Malley. “We have worked hard to compile a list of individuals from across our State with diverse geographic and ethnic backgrounds to continue to help protect Maryland’s priorities."
The members sworn in today include:
- Thomas E. Dewberry, Chief Administrative Law Judge – Judge Dewberry is former member of the House of Delegates for Baltimore County, and former Speaker Pro Tem. He has served as Chief Administrative Law Judge since 2002. He is a Baltimore County resident.
- Leonard “Bud” Schuler, Jr., Board for the Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund – Mr. Schuler is a business agent for Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486 and a licensed master plumber. He is a Baltimore County resident.
- Michael G. Comeau, Advisory Committee on the Budget of the Workers’ Compensation Commission – Mr. Comeau is Assistant County Attorney for the Baltimore County Office of Law and former Delegate for Harford County. He is a Harford County resident.
- Mary Beyer Halsey, Maryland Transportation Authority – Ms. Halsey is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cecil Bancorp, Inc. and Trustee for the Mount Aviat Academy. He is a Cecil County resident.
- David S. Blitzstein, Board of Trustees for the Maryland State Retirement and Pension Systems – Mr. Blitzstein is Special Assistant for Multiemployer Plans for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and Director of the Pension Research Council of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Montgomery County resident.
- Douglas M. Hoffberger, Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) Board of Directors – Mr. Hoffberger is President and Director of CPC, Inc., President and Director of Keystone Realty Co., Inc., Vice President, Director of LEH Corporation, and Director and Secretary of Terminal Refrigeration and Warehousing Company. He is a Baltimore City resident.
- Eric G. Orlinsky, Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) Board of Directors – Mr. Orlinsky is partner at Saul Ewing and a Board Member of the East Baltimore Incubator, Inc. He is a Baltimore City resident.
- Robert N. Smelkinson, Maryland Economic Development Commission – Mr. Smelkinson is a Board Member of the Levindale Geriatric Hospital and a Board Member of Columbia Bank. He previously served as Division President and Chairman of the Sysco Corporation. He is a Baltimore City resident.
- Walter Allen “Butch” Tilley, III, Maryland Economic Development Commission – Mr. Tilley is Executive Vice President of Home Paramount Pest Control and a member of the Collegiate Counsel for York College of Pennsylvania. He is a Harford County resident.
- Suresh K. Gupta, M.D., State Board of Physicians – Dr. Gupta is a practicing physician at Forest Glen Medical center, President of Health Care Services for Asian Indians for Community Service, Inc. and a life member of the Indian American Medical Association of Washington, DC, Inc. He is a Montgomery County resident.
- Sadara B. Barrow, Critical Area Commission for Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays – Ms. Barrow is an elected Colmar Manor Council Member, Executive Director of the Port Towns Community Development Corporation and Board Chair of the Anacostia Trials Heritage Area. She is a Prince George’s County resident.
