Earth Data Employees Help Get the School Year Off to a Good Start

Employees of Earth Data, Inc. in both Maryland and Virginia committed to helping get the school year off to a positive start by donating time and supplies.

“We continue to be proud of how our employees seek opportunities to really make a difference in the communities where we serve. Their generosity of spirit is evidenced every day in the ways that they show up and contribute to make our communities stronger both in Maryland and Virigina,” comments Earth Data president Mark Williams.

The Virginia staff of Earth Data, Inc. purchased and donated $265.00 worth of school supplies to WAVY 10 New’s Operation School Supplies to benefit schools in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

In Maryland, employees of the Centreville office helped pack food items for CarePacks, a weekend food program aimed at preventing hunger among Talbot County’s most economically vulnerable students.

For further information on Earth Data, visit earthdatainc.com.

For more than 47 years, Earth Data, Inc. has been providing field-oriented water resources and geospatial consulting services using high-tech tools to collect, analyze, manage, and distribute data in sophisticated ways. For further information, visit earthdatainc.com.

The keynote speaker for “Pathways to Prosperity” is Becky McCray

A challenging economy, lack of good living wage jobs and access to affordable housing and health care may seem like a laundry list of today’s challenges in most, if not all communities across the United States. However, these issues are nothing new for small towns and rural communities who practically wrote the book on how to weather bad times whether it be a particularly bad harvest, an economic downturn, or even a pandemic.

On Tuesday, November 14, the Rural Maryland Council will host its biennial Rural Summit, a one-day conference to bring together community leaders, legislators and stakeholders who will share their stories of rural innovation, resilience, and sustainability. In addition to gleaning information that they can take to their own communities, attendees will have an opportunity to network with possible future collaborators. 

The Summit, titled “Pathways to Prosperity”, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Crown Plaza, 173 Jennifer Road, Annapolis. Registration is $60 per attendee. Meals are included.

“What makes our Summit different from other conferences is that RMC starts from the perspective that our experts are also our attendees,” says RMC Chair Susan O’Neill. “Attendees will get great information from the presenters and panelists during our breakout sessions and plenaries, but that stranger seated next to them may be a future collaborator on a grant project or program that they’ve been tying to get off the ground,” she says.

The keynote speaker for “Pathways to Prosperity” is Becky McCray, international speaker and award-winning author of Small Biz Survival. McCray will share her insights on resilience as a lifelong small-town entrepreneur, business owner and cattle rancher. 

The Summit will kick off with an optional forestry focused bus tour on Monday, November 13, from1 to 5 p.m. to Garman Brothers, Inc., a family owned and operated sawmill in Crownsville and the Home Innovations Lab in Upper Marlboro, where research into improving the moisture performance of wood-framed balconies and decks is taking place.
In addition to the keynote address, the Summit will include a preview of the upcoming legislative sessions from Maryland legislators as well as breakout sessions on Agriculture, Community Development, Economic Development and Health Care. The networking luncheon will feature remarks by Maryland Department of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. 

Founded in 1994, the Rural Maryland Council operates under the direction of a 40-member executive board in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. RMC is committed to creating real change by going to go directly to the rural stakeholders who understand their community’s challenges. The organization provides grants and opportunities to connect stakeholders with legislators and like-minded people in the state who can create policy and help create real impact.

To register for the Summit, visit rural.maryland.gov or contact RMC at (410) 841-5772 or [email protected]. For updates on all RMC events and activities connect with the Rural Maryland Council at facebook.com/RuralMaryland or on Twitter @RuralMaryland. 

On Tuesday, November 28th, Mid-Shore Community Foundation will host Mid-Shore Gives 2023, the 24-hour fundraising event to benefit local nonprofits.

“Mid-Shore Gives is a way for us to support our nonprofits, while engaging the community,” said Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. “Last year’s event was a success, with 443 donors and 70 participating organizations, the inaugural event raised $62,869 for local nonprofits! We hope to make an even greater impact this year.”

Nonprofit organizations, including those under fiscal sponsorship, serving Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties, are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.  Participants will be provided with the tools and resources needed to have a successful charitable campaign, including best-in-class fundraising technology, and there is no cost to participate.

Businesses are invited to join with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation in sponsoring this year’s event.  Thanks to generous sponsors, prize money and incentives will be awarded throughout the day. This year’s sponsors include Easton Utilities, Mason Investment Advisory Services and Envision Wealth Planning.

The giving begins on Tuesday, November 28th at midnight! Donations will be accepted online at midshoregives.org.  Donors can use the shopping cart feature to select the nonprofits they want to support and how much they wish to donate to each, then check out with just one credit card transaction. 100% of all gifts will go to the designated nonprofits, less any credit card fees, unless the donor selects to cover the fees. The minimum donation is $10.00, and all donations are tax-deductible.

This year, a feature has been added to allow both businesses and individuals to participate in fundraising.  Businesses and individuals may host an event or create a fundraising profile to invite friends, family, and colleagues to join them in giving back.  This is a great opportunity for those looking to engage with the community, while putting your brand at the forefront of this local philanthropic event.

Registration closes on October 31st.  For additional information or to get involved, visit midshoregives.org or contact Heather Pickens at (410) 820-8175 x 102 or [email protected]. 

Jaime Windon, president and founder of the Windon Distilling Company and maker of LYON RUM in Saint Michaels, Maryland, was recently named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. NSBA is the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization, and operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis. Windon, a recognized leader in the small-business community, joins the NSBA Leadership Council alongside other small-business advocates from across the country as they work to promote the interests of small business to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

“As a small-business owner, I know the importance of being involved and active when it comes to laws and regulation,” stated Windon. “Joining NSBA’s Leadership Council will enable me to take our collective small-business message to the people that truly need to hear it: our legislators in Congress.”

Since 2012, Windon has focused on developing and growing her distillery, while promoting the industry across the state and advocating for craft distillers nationwide. As a founding member of the Maryland Distillers Guild, she served as the inaugural president, and continues to chair the Government Affairs Committee. This year she was elected to the American Craft Spirits Association Board and also appointed chair of the Advisory Commission on Maryland Alcohol Manufacturing.

Windon joined the NSBA Leadership Council as part of her broader efforts to continue to identify and tackle the many critical issues facing small businesses. The NSBA Leadership Council is focused on providing valuable networking between small-business advocates from across the country while ensuring small business a seat at the table as Congress and regulators take up key small-business proposals.

“I am proud to have Jaime Windon as part of our Leadership Council,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “She came to us highly recommended and I look forward our coordinated efforts for years to come.”

For more on the NSBA Leadership Council, please visit www.nsba.biz

The Windon Distilling Company opened in 2013 and continues to lead the industry both locally and nationally, by crafting award-winning American Rum, supporting community organizations, and advocating for small-scale manufacturers. www.lyonrum.com

Astonishing views of the Chesapeake are part of the draw at Silver Swan Bayside, the popular special-event facility on Kent Island. The company is taking a step this fall to return the favor to Mother Nature, giving back to the Bay through an “Oyster Partnership” designed to help clean the Bay by boosting the population of one of  its signature creatures.

Silver Swan will celebrate the launch of this endeavor at its monthly open-to-the-public Supper Club event on Thursday, Oct. 19.

“The urge to try and help comes naturally here,” says David Andersen, Chief of Operations for Queen Anne Marina and Silver Swan Bayside. “It is hard from our waterfront location to overlook the treasure we have in the Bay, so it’s imperative that we do what we can to enhance the quality of the Bay and its ecosystem. “

Managed by the nonprofit Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Oyster Partnership gives individuals and businesses a chance to pitch in and boost the Bay’s health. Participating waterfront landowners sink cages full of baby oysters from their docks. They then care for those cages—by cleaning them and shaking out sediment regularly—while the oysters grow.

Silver Swan has committed to 50 cages on its docks, a number that Andersen says would rank as “one of the bigger installs” in the Bay-wide program.

After a period of roughly nine months, the oysters get big and strong enough to be planted on “sanctuary” reefs that are off limits to commercial harvesting. Along with many other shellfish, oysters possess a clean-water superpower. In the process of eating bits of floating algae and phytoplankton floating, they remove nutrients like nitrogen, a key ingredient in fertilizers. Excess nitrogen is bad news for water quality, but abundant oysters can help—scientists say  a single adult filters the nitrogen out of 50 gallons a day.

Healthy, unharvested oyster reefs also boost the blue crab population. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation cites one study finding that juvenile crabs growing up on healthy oyster reefs survive at rates three to four times higher compared with crabs on a sandy, oysterless bottom.

“The fact that this program cleans the water in the bay is a great enough reason to participate, but the positive effect it has on the crab fishery that our watermen depend on makes it a project we cannot turn away,” says Amanda Bramble, Director of Events and Sales at Silver Swan. 

In the days before the Supper Club event on Oct. 19, Silver Swan Bayside and Chesapeake Bay Foundation workers will sink those 50 cages. There will be some expert talk over that dinner about the Oyster Partnership, as well as an opportunity for landowners to sign up to participate next year if they want.

The five-course meal with wine and cocktail pairings will be prepared by Chesapeake Chef Service, a team of private chefs specializing in shore-to-table foods sourced from local waters and local farms. The October menu is still in the planning stages, but Bramble says diners can expect some delectable items that speak to healthy Bay living. 

“This dinner and the project it celebrates is just a natural step for Silver Swan Bayside,” Bramble says. “It’s a perfect fit with our mission of helping this community and its visitors to celebrate the milestones in their lives amid the awesome beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake.”

For reservations for October’s Supper Club, please email [email protected] or call them at 443.249.0400.

Grants & Awards Luncheon on April 24th at the Tidewater Inn.

The Women & Girls Fund of the Mid-Shore, a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, is now accepting grant proposals from IRS-designated non-profit organizations for programs addressing the needs of local women and girls.  Completed applications must be received by Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Grant recipients will be announced in April 2024. 

“Beginning this year, all applications will be submitted online,” said Allie Prell, Women & Girls Fund board members and Grants Committee chair.  “We were pleased with our test of the new system last year, which streamlined and improved the application process for applicants and reviewers.”  

Since 2002, grants totaling $839,523 have been awarded to 110 non-profit organizations in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties.  In 2023, 17 grants totaling $57,221 were given for a wide variety of programs, including Benedictine School for Exceptional Children “Accessibility Upgrades for the Adult Services Residential Program”, Imagination Library of Talbot County “Early Literacy Lifts”, Kent Attainable Housing “Future Homeowners Program”, Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence “Food Pantry Program, and New Beginnings Youth and Family Services “Who Am I”. 

“Programs offered by our grant recipients have made a huge and long-lasting impact on the populace of the Mid Shore. The variety of programs address many aspects of life, from mental and emotional health, to food insecurity, to shelter, to literacy, to life skills, and to all forms of education for all ages,” said Karen M. Kaludis. Board President.  “We encourage applications for innovative programs that target critical needs facing women and girls.  No organization should be reluctant to apply.”

Grant guidelines and applications are available at www.womenandgirlsfund.org.  For further information, call 410-770-8347 or e-mail [email protected].  

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Sherize Urquhart has joined the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as Director of Marketing & Communications.

In this senior leadership position, Urquhart is responsible for overseeing and executing comprehensive communications strategies to advance CBMM’s mission.

A St. Michaels resident, Urquhart brings a demonstrated history of excellence as a marketing and communications professional and entrepreneur within the travel and tourism industry. She is the founder and Chief Experience Officer of Queens of Virtue, an award-winning travel brand specializing in luxury experiences for affluent women.

Through the firm, Urquhart has created a network to help brands, professionals, and influencers connect with an emphasis on putting diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront of these relationships.

In her new position, Urquhart is excited about finding opportunities to strengthen CBMM’s connections within the local community that she calls home while cultivating new partnerships within the state, region, and beyond.

“After leaving the corporate world in 2021 to pursue entrepreneurship full-time, I had no desire to work for anyone. But there was something about the call to leadership at CBMM that resonated with me. I saw it as an opportunity to make a difference, an impact, and be a part of the culture and community of the Eastern Shore, all at once,” Urquhart said.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Urquhart holds degrees from Florida International University (Journalism & Photography) and Long Island University (Communications & Media Arts) as well as industry certifications from NYU, Florida Atlantic, Delaware, and The Travel Institute.

She has deep experience in content creation, public relations, marketing, and event management serving a variety of clients through the years, including Wanderful, a global lifestyle brand that helps women connect through travel.

Locally, Urquhart has worked in mental health and healthcare marketing and event management in Easton, Cambridge, and Annapolis.

Urquhart relocated to the Eastern Shore with her son Ayden in 2019, after her oldest daughter, Kayla, graduated from the University of Delaware, and moved to Ireland to study law, and her second daughter, Krysta, stayed in Delaware to complete her degree at Wilmington University.

Drawn by the sweet “Hallmark Town” appeal, Urquhart felt that St. Michaels would be the perfect quaint hometown to raise her son and start over. Always down for an adventure, she has enjoyed exploring CBMM’s campus and experiencing its annual events this summer, and she is passionate about sharing both with new audiences moving forward.

In a short time, Urquhart has already made a difference at CBMM with her energy and innovation.

“We are delighted to welcome Sherize as the newest addition to CBMM’s Senior Leadership Team,” CBMM President & CEO Kristen Greenaway said. “Her remarkable background and valuable insights will play a pivotal role in driving us closer to our strategic goals.”

Tina Grace Jones of Cordova has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at For All Seasons. Tina is a For All Seasons senior leadership team member responsible for financial planning and budgeting, accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, procurement, treasury services, and risk management. She also develops cost proposals and assures compliance with all grant requirements, and is responsible for human resources, payroll, and employee health and welfare programs.

Previously, she worked as Deputy Executive Director of FreeState Justice, Maryland’s LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization. There she led the Community Education and Empowerment division where she created a statewide Community Needs Assessment to capture lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ community members across Maryland, identified and implemented new programs serving Maryland’s queer community, and provided valuable input into the creation of FreeState’s updated strategic plan. Before this position she worked for eight years as Vice President for Administrative Services at Chesapeake College; for eight years as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Engineered Solutions at Sotera Defense Solutions; and for 15 years as Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care.

Tina holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA from Virginia Tech and has completed coursework in Organizational Leadership at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She has been and continues to be involved in many community organizations. Currently, she is the founder and facilitator of the Delmarva Gender Expression Movement, Secretary/Treasurer, co-founder and Inaugural Chair of Delmarva Pride Center, a board member of the Maryland LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, FreeState Justice, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Easton.

“I’m excited to be part of For All Seasons. Life’s experiences have shown me how important mental health is to our overall well-being and happiness. My passion as a non-profit financial professional has always been to find innovative ways to reach as many people as we can with the resources we have. It’s wonderful that I am getting the opportunity to do that for MY community.”

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.