Awards

Larry Ulvila, Jr. Received LAA’s Distinguished Graduate Award (June 2010)

LAA presented Larry Ulvila, Jr., CEO of Insurance Solutions with the 2010 LAA Distinguished Graduate Award for his significant contributions for the betterment of the community. He has been a member of 2-3 LAA boards and committees each year and has been a major supporter of the organization since graduating from the Flagship Program in 1995. He currently serves on the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber’s Economic Development Committee, the CommerceFirst Bank of Board of Directors, and the Anne Arundel Medical Center Capital Campaign Committee. He has served on other boards in the past, including the 21st Century Foundation. He will be joining the Board of Anne Arundel Community College.

Dave Vogel Honored with LAA Volunteer of the Year Award (June 2010)

LAA recognizes a LAA graduate who has given tirelessly of his or her time and expertise to LAA each year. The 2010 honor went to Dave Vogel, Principal Consultant, President Subsidiary, ABSI/Compass Information Systems, who is a graduate of the 2007 Executive Leadership Series program and this year's Inaugural Leadership Fellows Seminar Series. Dave has devoted time and energy into planning ELS classes the past two years, fundraising for LAA, and reaching out to many new technology companies in western Anne Arundel County.

Julio Martinez Receives LAA Community Champion Award (June 2010)

The LAA Community Champion Award provides a full scholarship to LAA's Leadership Fellows Seminar Series to a graduate of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA). Julio Martinez, Anne Arundel Workforce Development and 2009 NLA graduate, was selected as this year's recipient based on his dedication and enthusiasm for the LAA program.

Distinguished Grad Award 2009

Erwin Abrams, Executive Director of the Hospice of the Chesapeake, was recognized for his achievements with the 2009 Distinguished Graduate Award for Exemplary Community service.

Erwin Abrams has gone way beyond his professional role, tasked to manage the administration of patients served in our county, to reach out as a volunteer and leader demonstrating to our region and the nation how it is possible to offer a number of alternative settings and residences for both the dying and the grieving process. Today 260 patients are served per day on an average by Hospice of the Chesapeake and two hospice facilities are in operation plus the reach of Hospice of the Chesapeake has expanded into Prince George’s County. But in addition to expanding revenue at hospice from one million in 1993 to 14.5 million in 2009, Erwin is the first representative of Hospice of the Chesapeake to serve at a national level as a member of the Public Policy Committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and he leads hospice providers in Maryland by serving for a second term as president of the Hospice and Palliative Care Organization of Maryland. When someone is needed to testify before the Maryland General Assembly on hospice and end of life issue, it is Erwin who comes before our elected officials and speaks on the importance of end of life issues and hospice.

Erwin also serves as a Board member of the Arthritis Foundation of Southern Maryland, and the Anne Arundel Public Library Foundation, and an active member of the Parole Rotary Club.

Barbara Huston, Executive Director of Partners In Care, was celebrated for her contributions with the 2009 Distinguished Graduate Award for Exemplary Community Service. Partners in Care began as an idea that services and support between various members of our community who have varying talents can be exchanged for mutual benefit and support. Since 1993 more than 4,500 individuals have benefitted by the services of Partners in Care which was co-founded by Barbara Huston with her sister Maureen Cavaiola and colleague Sandy Jackson.

Making a dream a reality is one thing, but to keep driving this innovative organization to new heights, expanding on the initial idea and taking the concept beyond just Annapolis into many counties- Frederick, Baltimore, Calvert County and the Eastern Shore takes a lot of hard work. A good idea is spreading but it takes incredible persistency and leadership skills that only Barbara Huston possesses.

Last year Partners in Care drivers traveled approximately 90,000 miles. Currently 2,600 participants are utilizing the various programs offered by partners in care: Ride Partners for transportation, Repairs With Care for home maintenance, The Boutique raises money and provides social interaction through retail sales, There are Just in Case…Emergency Kits, Warm Houses for socialization and Lifeline for personal safety.

This year Partners in Care received a grant from the National Council on Aging. The purpose of the grant is to study the model of Partners in Care for possible national replication.

A noted speaker on aging issues and a board member of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit organizations, Barbara currently serves on the A.A. County Task Force on Poverty, the A.A. County Commission on Women, The Senior Provide Group, Friends of Arundel Seniors, and the A.A. County Commission on Aging to name just a few of the community organizations to which she volunteers her time.

MAGGIE GRIFFIN-SYNOWSKI RECEIVES THE PATRICK M. LEE, JR. AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO LEADERSHIP ANNE ARUNDEL

Maggie Griffin-Synowski, Flagship 2005 graduate, was recognized for her enthusiasm and dedication for her volunteer efforts with the Patrick M. Lee, Jr. Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to Leadership Anne Arundel. Maggie was chair of LAA’s 15th Anniversary Gala and Homecoming, chair of the Tribute to Community Leadership, and has served as chair of LAA’s Marketing Committee for the past three years. Maggie serves on LAA’s Board of Directors and volunteers to speak on behalf of LAA at community events, program sessions and council hearings.