Harford Business Ledger

Schmidt named Harford Chamber Member of the Year

Kim Schmidt. Photo courtesy of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce

Kim Schmidt has been named the Harford County Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year. She received her award at the chamber’s awards and scholarship luncheon, held June 18 at the Bayou restaurant in Havre de Grace.

Schmidt, a sales executive with the Ramada Inn Conference Center, has been a member of the Chamber Board of Directors, serving on the business development, ways and means and executive committees.

Chamber President/CEO Bill Seccurro noted she has contributed unique hand made items for the chamber’s annual auction, helped staff the chamber booth at every expo in the Harford Mall for the past three years and volunteered many hours to help with the business expo program.

Dick Molinaro, president of WSMT Insurance, Inc., was installed in the Chamber’s Hall of Fame. He has served on the board of directors and been its chairman, provided leadership for many events and activities and served on the membership development committee.

The Chamber’s Community Service Award was presented to Dave Hall, Harford Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer construction trainer and team leader. During the past six years he has taught more than 2,000 volunteers and worked with students at Harford Technical High School students on Habitat projects. Since 2005, he also has led teams of volunteers to work in storm-damaged communities along the Gulf Coast.

The Law Enforcement Officers of the Year Award went to members of the Bel Air Police Department.

Bel Air Detective Donald Ravadge received an award for a six-week investigation of an alleged incident of sexual child abuse. His work, which eventually involved the Harford

County Child Advocacy Center and the FBI Innocent Image Task Force, identified at least five juvenile victims and adult survivors linked to the suspect in the case. A search and seizure work at the suspect’s home also netted a large quantity of suspected child pornography.

Also receiving law enforcement awards were the members of the Bel Air Police Department’s “midnight” squad, which includes Sergeant Dennis Myrphy, Corporals Frank Krick and Rob Pfarr and Officers Christian Rider, Brad Helm, Jonathan Kauffman and Sergio D’Alto. Since May 2008, the squad has made 161 DUI arrests, 145 criminals arrests and issued 856 Maryland citations. Their efforts have resulted in closing a number of criminal cases with the town limits and surrounding jurisdictions.

Chamber officers and board members recognized for their contributions included Laura Lang, Dick Molinaro, Eric McLauchlin, Bill Vanden Eynden and Phil Logan.
Chamber officers for 2009-2010 are: Bill Vanden Eynden, RKS Realty, chairman; Eric McLauchlin, Gessner, Snee, Mahoney & Lutche, P.A, chair elect; Steve Wiseman, Wiseman & Associates, vice chair finance; Kim Schmidt, Ramada Conference Center, vice chair administration; Phil Logan, Slavie Savings Bank, past chair; Joe Bittner, Melvin Benhoff and Sons, and Brenda Blackburn, Harford Community College, members at large; and Betsy Campion, Campion Insurance and Claudia Holman, APG Federal Credit Union, ex officio members.

Also serving on the board are Linda Aaby, Homestead Publishing; Laura Altman, Harford Mall; Paul Balsamo, Balsamo, Stewart, Ruth & Lutters; Milton Branson, Constellation Energy; Pete Bucha, Battelle; Vicki DeGraw, Mercantile County Bank; Courtney Hart, Boyle Buick Pontiac; Keith Marchiano, Decisive Data Systems; Vanessa Milio, Harford County Public Library Foundation; Tim Peifley, Rite Aid; Robin Sommer, Images of Sommer and Fred Thursfield, Upper Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

2009 Scholarships

The recipients of scholarships through the Harford Chamber of Commerce were (from left): Juliana Belsan, Elyssa Brown, Ryan Richardson, Lauren Offidani, Mia Ayers and Earline Rogers. Rebecca Thompson also won a scholarship.

The Harford Bank Business Scholarship was awarded to W. Ryan Richardson, a graduate of North Harford High School. Ryan, who plans to attend the University of Virginia, was awarded $2,000, which he can use for tuition at a post secondary school of his choice.

The B2B Connection Leads Group Business Scholarship of $1,000 was received by Juliana Belsan, a graduate of Aberdeen High School. She plans to attend Harford Community College.

The Medical/Health Scholarship of $1,000 went to Elyssa Brown, a Harford Technical High School graduate who plans to attend Harford Community College.

The Huntington Learning Center Teacher Scholarship was awarded to Rebecca S. K. Thompson, a graduate of John Carroll High School. Rebecca, who will be pursuing a degree in chemistry and secondary education, got $1,000 to use for tuition at a post secondary school of her choosing.

The Teacher Education Scholarship went to Mia Ayers, a North Harford High School graduate. Mia received $1,000 to use for tuition as she pursues a degree in elementary education.

The Science/Math/Technical Scholarship was awarded to Lauren Offidani, another graduate of North Harford High School. Lauren, who will to Harford Community College, received $1,000.

Earline Rogers received a $1,000 Returning Adult Scholarship, which she plans to use at the University of Baltimore pursuing a degree in business administration.