LEONARDTOWN, Md. – The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program went behind the scenes of the Southern Maryland energy sector in April to better understand its impact on the region’s life and economy.

The day-long tour took the group to SMECO’s headquarters in Hughesville, where Government Affairs and Community Relations Director Natalie Cotton, Vice President of Electric Operations and Construction Brian Lazarchick, and Vice President of Distributed Energy and Sustainability Jeff Shaw described the cooperative’s mission, operations, sustainability efforts and future endeavors. Participants were treated to a Hot Line safety demonstration and a tour of SMECO’s solar farm.

The executives traveled next to Constellation’s Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant where Sr. Manager of Operations Support and Services Victoria VanderMeersch briefed them on nuclear energy, and staff provided a rare walking tour of the facility.