CSM Foundation Announces New Board Members

LA PLATA, Md. (Nov. 1, 2016)—The College of Southern Maryland Foundation has announced the addition of seven members to its board of directors. James Di Misa, Dixie Miller, Lisa Oliver, Dr. Stephen Peters, Gregory S. "Trey" Proctor III, Dr. Ila Shah and Harry Shasho have been appointed to the board to serve five-year terms.

Di Misa, of La Plata, with more than 30 years of banking experience, is executive vice president, chief operating officer of Community Bank of the Chesapeake. He joined Community Bank in 2005 as senior vice president in charge of operations. Prior to joining Community Bank, Di Misa served as executive vice president for Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank in a similar capacity.

Di Misa is chairman of the board of trustees for the Maryland Bankers School, president and founder of the La Plata Business Association, and on the board for the Town of La Plata Ethics Commission, chair of Charles County Rotary Scholarships program; past president of Charles County Rotary Club and a governor appointment (2008-14) to the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board. He is a 1979 graduate of the college.

Miller, of Dowell, president of Dixie Miller Presents LLC, is an instructor/facilitator at The Corporate Center at CSM. Her career history as a speaker and trainer includes work for the Transportation Security Administration, United Airlines, CareerTrack Seminars and Training, Dale Carnegie Leadership Institute, Trans World Airlines and Montgomery General Hospital.

Miller graduated from the Charles Area Medical Center in 1975. She also attended West Virginia University Institute of Technology and Glenville State College, where she majored in education. In 2007 and 2011, she was appointed by former Gov. Martin O'Malley to the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission. In 2008, she was appointed by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. to the Maryland Commission for Women. She has been named an Outstanding Woman of Vision and Action and Woman of the Year, among a number of other awards and honors throughout her career.

Miller said that while the foundation's role as a fundraiser is important, it also serves as a leader in the community. "Success at the foundation is also dependent upon effective leadership from the executive team, the board of trustees and the board of directors, all of which resonates throughout all levels of the organization," she said. "This type of leadership requires a balance between well-developed skill sets, life experience and the ability to implement standards of excellence in order to meet the demands of a diverse community. The foundation's role is not only to build relationships that inspire trust among its members but be able to gain philanthropic support from the corporate community that, in turn, creates a culture of giving."

Oliver, of Mechanicsville, is the executive assistant to the president and CEO of the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. Oliver has held several positions at SMECO in her more than 15 years with the utility company. She also was an adjunct faculty member at CSM, and she developed a Certified Administrative Professionals Exam prep course for the Charles County Board of Education.

Oliver holds an associate degree from CSM in paralegal studies, a bachelor's degree in management studies from University of Maryland University College and a master's degree in management and human resources management from UMUC. She is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals and the American Society of Administrative Professionals. She has volunteered with the March of Dimes March for Babies and the Calvert County Relay for Life.

Oliver said she is looking forward to serving on the foundation's board. "It will allow me to show my appreciation to CSM; this college has meant so much to me and my family. I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years and the time came to decide whether or not to return to the working world. I knew that if I returned to work, I had to bring my skills up to the current standards. Further, I realized this was an opportunity to define my career path," she said. Oliver then contacted the college about programs for adults returning to the classroom.

She credited the college's Division of Student and Instructional Support Services with getting her on the right track to make a successful return to the workplace.

"Since then, I earned my bachelor's and my master's degrees and have a wonderful position that allows me to make a real contribution to the financial wellness for my family," she said.

Proctor, of Accokeek, was born in Charles County and graduated from Elon University in May 2008. He is associate vice president of strategic management for G.S. Proctor & Associates. Previously, he was assistant vice president and credit analyst at Old Line Bank in Bowie. Proctor is a member of Leadership Prince George's County and a Maryland Bankers' School graduate. He has volunteered for the Maryland Bankers Association, was president of the National Panhellenic Council; held a leadership position within the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and is a charter member of Pi Sigma Epsilon.

Proctor said he will value his time on the foundation, and he is excited to be participating in the academic community. "An education is probably the most valuable resource you can invest in, both short-term and long-term," he said, adding that while education is important for a student's career, it's also important in life. "When you have some understanding of many subjects—whether it's politics or science or communication—you do not have to rely on the interpretations of others. The more educated someone is, they more they are able to form their own path in life."

Peters, of Port Republic, has lived in Southern Maryland for 26 years and is a professor of pediatric pathology, microbiology and immunology at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He previously served as secretary at the National Association of Laboratory Immunologists, chair of the D.C. Public Health Laboratory Advisory Council and chair of the MedStar Health Microbiology Advisory Council.

Peters retired as director of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Diagnostics and co-director of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Pathology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

"Being an academician of many years, I believe in and support strong educational programs which lead to successful careers in both the trades field and professional endeavors," Peters said. "It is readily evident that the College of Southern Maryland provides students with the environment to achieve these goals."

Shah, of Mechanicsville, is a founding member of Shah Associates, a medical practice based in Hollywood. She moved to St. Mary's County in 1974, drawn at first by its untouched beauty. She quickly realized the dire need in the community for advanced pediatric care. Using her neonatology training, and with the support of her family and friends, she has been able to establish the largest private practice in Maryland, and has taken care of thousands of children during the last 40 years. She is a board certified pediatrician and a fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics.

Shah has been a past chief of staff and a member of the board of directors of St. Mary's Hospital. She is a distinguished Rotarian and has served as president of the Rotary Club of Charlotte Hall. Her international humanitarian efforts are well known, and she was awarded the Service Above Self Award by Rotary International in 2007.

She considers education to be of paramount importance and that every person deserves a chance for higher education. She further believes that the community should support deserving students with financial assistance. As a physician, she has a keen understanding of the shortage of qualified health care workers in the region and would like to support CSM's health science programs in nursing, medical assisting and medical laboratory studies.

Shah considers her position as a director to be a privilege and would like to support institutional activities by educating community members. She would like to actively participate in defining and implementing CSM goals and would support these efforts wholeheartedly with both personal contributions and fund-raising.

"Having seen thousands of deserving children blossom into young mature professionals with the help of CSM has been a highlight of my career. I hope that I may contribute my time and expertise to continue these initiatives and help those students who may not have had another chance to succeed," she said.

Shasho, of La Plata, is the president and broker for Shasho Consulting PA Commercial Real Estate. Previously, he served as the chairman of the Charles County Economic Development Board. In addition to the CSM Foundation, Shasho is serving on the CSM Campus Advisory Council, BB&T Advisory Board and Charles County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee as EDC chair. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Maryland Association of Realtors, Southern Maryland Association of Realtors, and the chambers of commerce in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties. With his extensive business experience, Shasho said he is well aware of the value CSM offers to the business community through workforce development and business training partnerships. Shasho said he has a unique perspective as a Vietnam veteran, and he hopes to leverage that experience to serve the students of CSM.

"If there's one thing I'd like to get done on the foundation, it's creating more educational programs and more scholarships for veterans returning to school," Shasho said.

Also serving on the foundation are Rané Franklin as chair, Nancy Hempstead as first vice chair, Kimberly Rosenfield as second vice chair, Theodore "Ted" L. Harwood II as trustee representative, 1969 alum Linda Cox, 2005 alum Leah Estevez, 2000 alum Ruth Ann Ferrell, David Hruda, Alland "Al" Leandre, 1975 alum Reuben F. "Jay" Lilly, Micheline Lopez-Estrada, Brenda Lowe, Jean McDougall, Vickie Kite Milburn, Robert V. Price Jr., Thomas Quattlebaum, Bernadette "Birdie" Shannon, Gary Simpson, Stacy Trimble and Jennifer Wamsley. CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried serves as foundation secretary-treasurer and CSM Vice President of Advancement Michelle Goodwin serves as executive director.

The CSM Foundation is the fundraising arm of CSM since 1970. The foundation serves the community and students by providing educational opportunities and services.

For information on the foundation, visit foundation.csmd.edu/