Letters From Leaders - Leadership Southern Maryland

Letters From Leaders

An LSM Initiative to Inspire and Empower

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou

Think of the leaders in your life. They left indelible imprints on you, on the way you see the world, on what you choose to engage with as you go forward.

In Letters from Leaders, we will hear from a cross-section of Southern Maryland leaders intimately familiar with our region and our people. We will be touched by stories from their lives and facets of their experiences they carry with them along their journey. As we explore topics through their eyes and through their hearts, feel the impact of their words, their compassion, and their courage. Perhaps they, too, will leave their imprint on you.

– Matt Scassero, LM ’07, LSM Leadership Council

Leading from Where You Are: Bonnie Green

“Persistence and passion matter so much. Your work should never be ‘just a job,’ or ‘just a board,’ or ‘just a project.’”

– Bonnie Green, LM ’07, Executive Director, the Patuxent Partnership

In this second installment of Letters from Leaders, we continue our exploration of what it means to lead from where you are—to make a difference regardless of title, industry, or location. Bonnie Green brings a wealth of experience from government, private industry, and the nonprofit world. Through these diverse environments, she has shaped a philosophy rooted in authenticity, persistence, and purpose.

Ms. Green’s letter is a call to lead with intention and courage, wherever you may find yourself. From her early days as an intern learning under a quiet leader who listened deeply and empowered others, to her current role in regional STEM and defense initiatives, Ms. Green reminds us that leadership starts not with authority, but with belief—in your mission, in your voice, and in the people you serve. The trajectory of a life of authentic servant leadership across multiple domains is inspiring. Her words are a masterclass in how influence, earned trust, and shared success define the most impactful leaders.

Bonnie Green, LM ‘07

Bonnie Green is Executive Director of the Patuxent Partnership, an organization that works with government, industry, and academia on science and technology initiatives and programs in support of the Navy and broader Department of Defense community. Her distinguished career includes service as a senior advisor for Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore, and as Deputy Maritime Administrator at the U.S. Department of Transportation. She has served on the boards of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland, Historic Sotterley, and other prominent Southern Maryland institutions. She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Maryland and a Founding Sponsor of Leadership Southern Maryland.

My career started as an intern in the federal government. It included work in the private sector, and then the nonprofit sector that ranged from Catholic Relief Services to where I serve now as the Executive Director of The Patuxent Partnership. The two agencies remain two very different nonprofit organizational experiences – each requiring two very different styles of leadership that continue to contribute to my leadership philosophies to this day.

When I started as an intern, I was blessed to work for a leader who, while I did not recognize it at the time, epitomized leadership. He treated everyone with respect, helped us to learn from our mistakes, and he was always ready to listen – or at least made us feel heard. He invested in us by sending us to education and training programs and he stood up for us when others attempted to dismiss us for lack of experience. He allowed us to participate in meetings, including meetings involving senior government and industry officials, and he recognized us in those meetings. His faith in me gave me the courage to speak up for myself, and to do the right thing, rather than what was the least path of least resistance or easy and convenient.

So, I learned early on that you must believe in what you are doing, be passionate about it, be persistent at it, and want to have a positive impact: Persistence and passion matter so much. Your work should never be ‘just a job,’ or ‘just a board,’ or ‘just a project.’ What you do when you work or volunteer must be important to you because when it is worth your time and talent and you believe in your cause, others will see and feel your passion and join the effort.

Throughout my career I learned that I could exert influence if I did my homework, articulated well, engaged others in the process, and made it clear why ‘our cause’ mattered. So, I strongly encourage you to do your homework to achieve your institution’s goals. But also make no mistake, there is a thin line you don’t want to cross. Sometimes exerting influence, while useful, may not always lead to the desired result. And that’s okay, because failure is also a strong growth tool, but only if you are cognizant and open to learning from it. With that in mind, I highly recommend that you identify other thought-partners and stakeholders who support your efforts, learn to collaborate with them, and seek out those who share in your value of respecting others at all times. It could be your stakeholder’s influence, instead of your own, that helps to accomplish the mission.

Remember, your ability to influence the end-result increases your leadership profile and opens opportunities to lead from higher levels of authority, whether you are leading a company or a food pantry. The results you deliver, working with and through others, will multiply your effectiveness, set the standard, and deliver success.

And lastly, be authentic. It is so exhausting and ineffective to be anything but authentic. Successful leaders are successful because of their unique authenticity. Your reputation and integrity are absolutely everything and while people may not love you, they will respect you and trust you if they know you are sincere. You must deliver what you promised or say that you are unable to do it, because your word matters. To be a respected leader who gets things done, you must work with others to accomplish the goal, always give credit and visibility to others, and in doing so, you will earn the trust of the community you seek to serve.

Bonnie Green, LM ’07, LSM Founding Sponsor

About Bonnie Green, LM ’07

Bonnie Green is Executive Director of the Patuxent Partnership, an organization that works with government, industry, and academia on science and technology initiatives, programs, STEM education and outreach, and STEM workforce development in support of the Navy and broader Department of Defense community.

Prior to joining the Patuxent Partnership, Ms. Green served as a senior advisor for Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore and traveled extensively in support of their programs. She worked for American President Lines, Ltd. in various positions.

Ms. Green also served as the deputy maritime administrator at the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1999-2001 after a career in international trade and transportation. She began her career as a trainee at the Maritime Administration.

A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Ms. Green received her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and, in 1981, a Master of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University. She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Maryland and a Founding Sponsor of Leadership Southern Maryland.

Ms. Green served on the St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees from 1993-2006, and as president of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Foundation from 2021-2024, where she currently serves as secretary. She is the vice chair of the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission and serves on the USMSM Board of Advisors,the Board of Trustees for Historic Sotterley, Inc., and on the Center for the Study of Democracy Advisory Board. She previously served as president of the Historic St. Mary’s City Foundation, as vice chairs and treasurer of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Board of Trustees, and on the board of Leadership Maryland.

Other professional memberships include the National Defense Transportation Association and the Navy League of the United States. Ms. Green received the SMCM Outstanding Alum Award in 2001, the Order of the Ark and Dove Award in 2018, the 2022 Leadership Maryland Outstanding Leader of the Year Award, and, in 2024, the College of Southern Maryland Trustee Distinguished Service Award.

Ms. Green is active in St. Mary’s Episcopal Parish, St. Mary’s City, Maryland.

About Matt Scassero, LM ‘07

Matt Scassero is the Director for Operations and Outreach for the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering MATRIX Lab at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM). He promotes the Clark School’s role in the areas of integrated education and research (specifically focusing on autonomous technologies), outreach, and economic/community development. He completed a three-decade career flying off carriers for the Navy, and has both worked and volunteered in the social non-profit sector.

Scassero graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, is a Leadership Maryland 2007 graduate and member of the LSM Leadership Council.

About Letters From Leaders

“Letters from Leaders,” a program of The Leadership Table with Matt Scassero, is a monthly series featuring real stories, insights, and reflections from leaders across Southern Maryland. The current theme, “Leading from Where You Are,” explores the many ways leadership happens in everyday moments.

Leadership is a journey, and we invite you to be part of it! Follow along in our newsletter and on social media, and be part of the conversation.

In September we’ll bring these lessons to life with a special live event: The Leadership Table with Matt Scassero – featuring “Letters from Leaders.” Join us for a dynamic, in-depth conversation where Scassero will sit down with all six contributing leaders in a live, interactive discussion.

Check back each month for a new letter, and stay tuned for details on our Leadership Table live event!