Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Don Schilling
Board Chair
Frederick Health
Don has a BS degree in Accounting from Mount Saint Mary’s College and has his CPA certification. His career started in public accounting and then became involved in the manufacturing of construction products for twenty two years. During this time period he was involved with many mergers and acquisitions, day-to-day operations and held many executive management positions. For the last seventeen years, Don has been involved in the healthcare industry more specifically the Occupational Health Industry and Ambulatory Services operations of Frederick Health.

In addition Don has been married for 42 years to his wife Phyllis and has three grown children and six grandchildren. Both Don and his wife are natives of Frederick County and have been active in numerous community charities. Don is currently a Board Member of FITCI (Frederick County’s business incubator and accelerator).

Dr. Andrea Chapdelaine
Immediate Past Chair
Hood College
Andrea E. Chapdelaine, the 11th president of Hood College, brings more than two decades of experience in higher education, including serving as provost and chief academic officer at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. She earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in social psychology from the University of Connecticut after she graduated cum laude from the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in justice studies. In addition to her presidency, she is also a tenured faculty member in the psychology department.

Bradly Hoffman
Vice-Chair
DeLeon & Stang, CPAs & Advisors
As a partner and head of DeLeon and Stang's Leesburg and Frederick offices, Brad provides tax and consulting services to a wide variety of clients. With more than 20 years of experience in accounting, Brad is a constant advocate for his clients. His love for the Frederick community runs deep - he champions many businesses in the area and is involved in multiple local organizations. Brad resides on a small farm in Frederick County with his wife and their two sons.

Jennifer Milas
Treasurer
McLean, Koehler, Sparks & Hammond
Jennifer is a CPA at McLean, Koehler, Sparks, & Hammond (MKS&H) in Frederick, MD. She is a Principal at the firm and has extensive experience in tax planning and compliance for closely held mid-size businesses and their owners. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Hood College, and has a Master’s in Taxation from American University. Jennifer resides in Frederick, Maryland with her husband and two children.

Steve Heine
Woodsboro Bank
Steve is President & CEO of Woodsboro Bank. Established in 1899, it’s Frederick County’s oldest independent community bank. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree from Alfred University and an MBA from the University of Albany. Steve’s banking career spans 39 years, including the last 21 years in Maryland. Steve has extensive Board experience including with Alfred University, Woodsboro Bank, the YMCA of Frederick County, The Maryland Science Center, The Urban League, The American Red Cross, and the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek. Steve’s wife, Carole, is a Hood College graduate. Steve and Carole are avid hikers, cyclists, and travelers. They are the parents of four grown children, a granddaughter, and live in Ijamsville.

Dwayne Myers
Dynamic Automotive
Dwayne Myers is a co-owner and CEO of Dynamic Automotive, an Independent automotive repair business with four locations in Frederick County. He has spent his career, of over 30 years, in the maintenance and repair industry ranging in size from lawnmowers to tanks in the US AMY. As CEO Dwayne leads and develops the executive and management teams. He focuses on the continuing development of all team members to build a stronger culture in the company. This development is key to the growth of both Dynamic and its team members.

Danny Severn
St. John Properties
Danny is a Frederick local, with roots and family in Middletown. He works in commercial real estate having joined St. John Properties in 2008. He manages development projects in Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington counties in Maryland, as well as Loudoun and Prince William counties in Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from York College and a Master of Science degree in Real Estate from the Edward St. John Real Estate Program at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Danny is an active member (and former Board member) of the Rotary Club of Frederick, and also a Board member of the Mental Health Association of Frederick.

Gloria Bamforth
Frederick Health Employer Solutions
Gloria Bamforth is the Director of Operations for Frederick Health Employer Solutions. Gloria has enjoyed serving in various roles over the course of her 20 year career with FRES. She uses her business and management experience to develop a well-rounded and dedicated teams. Gloria is currently the Treasurer for the Frederick County Health Care Coalition. She has a MBA with a focus in health care. In addition, to being a Six Sigma Green Belt, Gloria has earned her SHRM-SCP. She and her husband are the proud parents of two children and reside in Hagerstown with their very spoiled dog, Benjamin.

Mark Blacksten
M&T Bank
Mark Blacksten is a Vice President and Business Banking Regional Manager with M&T Bank in Frederick, MD. He has worked in the Maryland banking industry for over 27 years. Mark and his team provide customized financial solutions to businesses, business owners, their employees and families. In addition to the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, Mark has and continues to volunteer on many boards and committees with focuses on healthcare and education. Mark is the 2017 recipient of the President’s Business Partner of the Year Award from Frederick Community College.

Brian Gaudet
Battelle National Biodefense Institute
Brian Gaudet is the communications director for the Battelle National Biodefense Institute, which operates and manages the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has worked on Fort Detrick since Battelle was awarded the initial NBACC contract in 2006. For the last fourteen years Brian has worked exclusively in the high consequence industries of biodefense and aviation. In the 1990s he spent four years in Colorado and Idaho on economic development efforts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Rocky Flats Plant and the Idaho National Laboratory.

Jeff Griffin
Board Liaison: Leadership Frederick County (Chair)
DCM BioServices

Jeff is the Director of Business Operations at DCM BioServices. DCM Bio is a local biotech firm that specializes in laboratory automation service and support. With over 15 years of business experience in finance, operations and business development, Jeff thrives and excels at connecting the dots for people and organizations in his work and community service. Jeff previously served for five years as CFO at Community Living Inc. after an eleven year career in financial services. His time outside of work is spent enjoying life with his wonderful wife, two amazing children, and other family and friends. Jeff is an active member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, the chair of the Leadership Frederick County Council, and volunteers with a number of other local organizations.

Sue Hough
Board Liaison: Women in Business (Co-Chair)
Octavo Designs
Sue founded Octavo Designs in April 2000. Since then, Octavo has grown into a locally and nationally recognized graphic design studio. Sue is the creative director with a branding focus that ties directly into each client’s marketing strategies and goals. Sue’s studio atmosphere evokes fun and creativity, and her work is no different. She also devotes her efforts to the community and enjoys sponsoring activities and volunteering her design services for numerous regional non-profit organizations. Sue is the co-chair of the Chamber's Women in Business committee.

Lanie Swanhart
Board Liaison: Generation Connect (Co-Chair)
Postern
Lanie Swanhart has been a marketing professional throughout Frederick for the past five years. She is the Digital and Social Marketing Specialist at Postern, a community focused full-service marketing agency in Frederick. She has worked with various businesses and on projects like the Official Ice Cream of Frederick with South Mountain Creamery and Visit Frederick. Lanie joined the Generation Connect board in 2020 to support young professionals building careers and establishing themselves in Frederick. She enjoys investing time to support the Frederick community and is excited to expand and grow in her position on Generation Connect.

Eric Johnson
Audio-Video Group
Eric Johnson is the President of Audio-Video Group, LLC, which he started in 2000 and joined the Chamber in 2001. He has over 30 years of experience in the AV industry and earned the CTS-D (Certified Technology Specialist – Design) designation in 2008 from InfoComm International. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, where he served as chair of the Welcoming Committee for over eight years. Eric is a Leadership Frederick County graduate (Class of 2017) and resides in Frederick with his wife and two children.

Sarah Lynn
Board Liaison: Nonprofit Alliance (Chair)
Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County
Sarah Lynn is the Development and Marketing Director at Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County where she manages all fundraising activities – campaigns, appeals, meetings, trainings, events, etc. - as well as the marketing and social media. Since working in the nonprofit sector for almost 10 years, she lives by the notion that “fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving,” as quoted from fundraising philosopher, Hank Russo, and she strives to teach that joy to as many people as possible. Sarah is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Western Maryland Chapter where she serves as Chairperson of the Membership Committee and manages the Chapter’s social media. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek where she serves on the Fundraising, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Officer of the Month committees, and she is a member of the Will Group Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Laura Melia
Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

Helen Propheter
Frederick County Government
Helen Propheter, Director of Frederick County Economic Development, was appointed to the position in 2012. Helen began her career with Frederick County Government 25 years ago. She has over twenty years of experience managing programs, staff and projects. The economic development team has created numerous new initiatives for business attraction and retention to include Frederick’s Top 50 (our most influential businesses), The FRED (FrederickReal Estate Dealmakers) Awards. Homegrown Frederick (sustaining our Agriculture heritage) and ROOT (our downtown innovation center that aliens private & public partnerships with the focus of strengthening businesses roots in our county). Recently, this team welcomed Navistar Direct Marketing (200 jobs), Daly Computers (200 jobs) Emmes Corporation (100 jobs) and Asbury Communities headquarters (120 jobs) to Frederick County. They also assisted 7 larger expansions of businesses currently located in Frederick. Helen serves on the following Boards: Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Frederick County Workforce Development, the Frederick County Higher Education Board, the Downtown Hotel and Conference Center Taskforce, the Frederick Chamber Board of Directors and is a member of the noon Rotary Club of Frederick. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College. She lives with her family in Lake Linganore in New Market, Maryland.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW MEMBERS