LEONARDTOWN, Md.  – March 8, 2018 – The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) board of directors announced today that Denise Foster has been selected as the new executive director.

Foster will join LSM on April 1 and comes with over twenty years of combined work experience within the government and nonprofit sectors.  Within the past two years, Foster has been completely dedicated to nonprofit and community-based organizations with her consulting business, DKFoster Services, LLC. Foster has had the opportunity to work with many area nonprofits, including Leadership Southern Maryland, and understands the hard work and commitment it takes to be a true part of the community.  Foster holds a bachelor’s degree in public communication and a master’s degree in public administration with a focus on nonprofit management.

“I look forward with enthusiasm to taking on the role of executive director of Leadership Southern Maryland,” said Denise Foster.  “With outstanding alumni and a dynamic board of directors, I am excited to build on the great work of my predecessor, Helen Wernecke, and to continue to promote and expand in Southern Maryland.”

“The LSM executive search committee conducted an exhaustive search for a new leader,” said Patrick Murphy, president, LSM. “Denise has strong experience and a proven passion for this work.  She will be an asset to LSM and we are very happy to have her as our new executive director. I look forward to all the great things Denise will do for LSM and our community.”

Outgoing executive director, Helen Mattingly Wernecke stated, “it has been such an honor and privilege to serve Leadership Southern Maryland and its amazing network of leaders as well as the Southern Maryland communities they support.  This educational program and its experiences gave me a more heartfelt appreciation for the three counties and the amazing people who live and work here. As LSM prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, I am honored to have been a part of the LSM family.”

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For more information about LSM, please contact Helen Mattingly Wernecke, Executive Director Leadership Southern Maryland, 240-7258-5489, via e-mail helen@leadershipsomd.org or visit devaney.adminprotools.com.

Leadership Southern Maryland is an independent, educational leadership development organization designed to broaden the knowledge base of mid to senior level public and private sector executives about the critical issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the region. Leadership Southern Maryland is a not-for-profit organization.