Leadership

Dr. Cynthia Bambara was appointed Allegany College of Maryland’s (ACM) fifth president in March of 2011 and the first woman to lead the Cumberland-based community college in its more than 50-year history. Dr. Bambara came to ACM from Virginia, where she was a veteran community college administrator. During her tenure, Dr. Bambara served as interim president at Central Virginia Community College and as vice president of student success at Lord Fairfax Community College. Dr. Bambara received her Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from Colorado State University, her M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Alabama and her B.S. in Psychology from Juniata College.

Dr. Bambara serves the community in various capacities including the Cumberland Rotary Club (board member and past president), The Greater Cumberland Committee (Executive Committee and Education Workgroup chair), the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (board member), and the Western Maryland Health System Community Advisory Board. She is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Allegany! Dr. Bambara is an Evaluation Team Chair for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. She serves as the chair of the Maryland Council of Community College Presidents and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges. Dr. Bambara represents the State of Maryland as a board member for the Community Colleges of the Appalachia. She also serves at the Maryland Representative on the President’s Advisory Board of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

Shawn is the Chief Operating Officer of Beitzel Corporation and Pillar Innovations. Operating out of various locations across the United States, Beitzel and Pillar provide construction, service, and support to the industrial sector, including energy, mining, and manufacturing. Shawn joined the Beitzel Corporation team in 2003 to develop the excavation side of the business. Since then, he has held various roles in the Beitzel/Pillar team, as it has grown to employ over 500.

Shawn was a member of Governor Martin O’Malley’s Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Initiative (2011-14) and also served on various local advisory committees focused on shale gas development. Shawn and his wife Sarah have four daughters and live on a small farm north of Accident Maryland.

Al Delia is the inaugural vice president for regional development and engagement at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland. He oversees the University’s efforts to help advance the region it serves through engagement with business, industry, community organizations and government. Prior to his return to Maryland in 2018, Al served in a variety of positions in academe and in government in North Carolina. Positions he has held include service as Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services; Senior Advisor and Policy Director to Governor Bev Perdue; CEO of North Carolina’s Eastern Region Development Commission; and East Carolina University associate vice chancellor for research, economic development and community engagement. Most recently, Al was director of health access at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

Al is a political science graduate of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. He is married to Cecelia Karas and lives in Cresaptown, Maryland. He has two adult sons, Jordan and Alex.

Jared is the Vice President of Operations for the Field Services Division of Beitzel Corporation where he oversees the company’s multi-state construction activities that focus primarily in the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors. Jared joined Beitzel in 2012 to help the Company’s growth into the oil and gas market and has since helped the Company become established in the renewable energy market. Prior to joining Beitzel, Jared had a 10 year career in residential construction in the suburbs of Washington, DC.

Jared has a BS in Economics and Finance from Bridgewater College and an MBA from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Jared Lives in McHenry, MD with his wife Laura and 3 Yorkshire terriers.

Timi Hadra is a Partner at IBM and serves as IBM’s Senior State Executive for West Virginia. She leads IBM’s regional client innovation center in Rocket Center, West Virginia, where she led the expansion of the workforce by more than 47% in just over three years. Much of Timi’s work is focused on creating STEM and workforce development opportunities in under-served regions. In 2018, Timi led IBM’s launch of the first Application Developer Apprenticeship program in West Virginia. In addition to workforce issues, Ms. Hadra is a transformational leader providing relevant and compelling solutions to government clients’ missions in the areas of agile transformations, application innovation, and cloud migration. She has over 17 years of experience serving our Federal Government clients in various capacities including contract management, program management and business development.

Timi was born and raised in the Rocket Center region and is committed to supporting its economic revitalization. She is active in the economic development and education communities and serves on several local community organization boards. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Frostburg State University, a Master’s of Science in Regional Economics from the Pennsylvania State University, and a Masters of Contract Management from the American Graduate University.

Daniel B. Harshberger has been an Assistant Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer with Somerset Trust Company since 2018. Dan provides business financing throughout Western Pennsylvania and Western Maryland. Before banking, he worked as a Constituent Services Liaison for U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. in his Pittsburgh field office. There, he worked with the Reginal Director and supported the office of Constituency Services. After his work with Senator Casey, Dan worked in Political Communications and Fundraising for two years throughout Western Pennsylvania. After his time in Politics, Dan worked for Westmoreland County President Judge Rita D. Hathaway, where he spent a year in the Criminal Court Division.

Dan attended Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and majored in Political Science. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Fort Ligonier, a historic British Fortification from the French and Indian War and renowned Museum. Dan now resides in Somerset County and is also an active member of his local Rotary Club.

Jeremy G. Irons is a Vice President for The Belt Group of Companies. He began his career with Carl Belt, Inc. as an accountant; performing payroll & job costing duties. In 2009, he transitioned from the accounting department to project management, eventually becoming a Vice President in the company. His experience includes work in commercial, education, health care, historical renovation, utilities & heavy highway.

Jeremy is a Past Chairman of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce and is also a member and Chair of the Legislative Committee and Co-Chair of the Crab Feast committee. He is a member of the Western Maryland Jaycees and received the 2016 Outstanding Young Professional Award. Jeremy is also the Co-Chair of the Mountain Maryland PACE Reception held annually in Annapolis and serves on the Frostburg State University College of Business Advisory Board.
A lifelong Allegany County resident, he is actively involved in local athletics serving as an Executive Board member, baseball coach for the Cumberland Dapper Dan Club and was the 2018 Dapper Dan Man of the Year. Jeremy also serves on the board of CASL (Child Adaptative Sports League) and previously served as the JV baseball coach at Allegany High School.

Jeremy currently resides in LaVale, MD with his wife of 12 years, Meredith and sons Bryson and Brennan.

Kim Barclay Leonard grew up in Hyndman PA. One of Kim’s most cherished accomplishments while growing up in Hyndman was attaining the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America. From 1962-1967 Kim earned both a Bachelor and Master’s degree from Penn State University. Upon graduation, Kim joined the U.S. Army and used his leadership skills as captain serving in Viet Nam. For his valor he was awarded a Bronze Star. Upon return from Service abroad, Kim worked at the Corporate Headquarters of Container Corporation of America in Chicago. In 1972, Kim and Marion moved to Cumberland and Kim joined his father at Aircon Engineering Inc. which is a distributor of heating and air-conditioning products in a four state area. Kim served as president and CEO for 30 years.

He served as president of the Cumberland Rotary Club, The Western Maryland Health System (WMHS), the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, the Potomac Council Boy Scouts of America, the WMHS Foundation Board, and still continues his active participation in these organizations. Kim played a pivotal role in local health care, serving on the Board at Memorial Hospital and as chairperson helped forge the Western Maryland Health System and now serves on the UMPC Western Maryland board. While busy with the WMHS, he also became a trustee of Allegany college of Maryland and now chairs the Allegany College Board of Trustees. Kim also chaired the Greater Cumberland Committee pursuing regional economic growth and most recently been involved in the North South Highway project. In 1996 Aircon Engineering was recognized by the Chamber as The Business of the Year. Then in 2003 the Chamber recognized Kim as the “Individual of the Year.” In 2006, Kim was honored with the Henrietta Schwarzenbach Community Service award. In 2008 the Potomac Council Boy Scouts of America, recognized Kim’s dedication to the Scouts with the Silver Beaver Award representing the highest volunteer award in Scouting. In 2011 Kim and Marion Leonard were honored by the Allegany County Chamber for the Community Service Award. In 2016 Kim and Marion Leonard were honored by the Community Trust Foundation for the Humanitarian Leadership Award. At this time Kim continues to dedicate his time and energy to UMPC Western Maryland, Allegany College of Maryland, Cumberland Rotary Club, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Cumberland Committee and the Boy Scouts.

Michele Martz has been part of the Maryland healthcare delivery system since 1989, when she began her career in finance at Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Cumberland. Michele was named Vice President, Financial Services of the Western Maryland Health System in 2002. She moved into operations in 2012, serving as Vice President of Physician Enterprise. In January 2020, Michele was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of UPMC Western Maryland, and in January 2021, Michele was named President of UPMC Western Maryland, a 201-bed acute care facility with $340 million in operating revenues.

Michele has 33 years of healthcare experience and began her career in public accounting at Deloitte LLP in Pittsburgh, PA. She holds both a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Accounting from West Virginia University. Michele is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has completed training in both the ACHE Senior Executive Program, as well as the Baldrige Executive Fellows Program.

Michele is an active member of her community, serving on a wide variety of community organizations, including Treasurer of the County United Way, and the boards of directors at Allegany College of Maryland, the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Cumberland Committee. She also serves on the national board of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Bill Meagher is the current Past Chairman of The Greater Cumberland Committee, a business-based organization serving three states and five counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia on long-term projects of regional relevance in areas of economic development, transportation, education, energy and next generation leadership. He is currently focusing on several new initiatives specifically, a regional asset map from Morgantown WV to Cumberland MD, A Tri-State Addiction Symposium and Broadband to the underserved Appalachian Region.

Bill has served as a Board Member on the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and active member on the legislative committee. He is a Board Member of the Garrett County Economic Development Corporation and worked on the current Economic Development Plan. Bill is a founding member of the Oakland Revitalization Committee, which is helping bring businesses and economic development back to small town America. Bill is the past Chairman of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce where he served on various committees.

Since 1995 Bill has opened several businesses in Garrett County. Lakeside Creamery is a homemade ice cream shop and is Bill’s first business in Deep Creek Lake MD. He has also opened several other businesses such as: The Copper Kettle Popcorn Factory, a gourmet popcorn and chocolate shop; Funtime Water Sports, a jet ski and pontoon boat rental service; Deep Creek Donuts, a made to order donut shop; Lakeside Commercial Properties which develops and manages commercial properties; Oakland Commercial Properties, that restores and manages commercial buildings; and Mountain Maryland Enterprises that develops residential homes.

Bill also teaches entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has also taught at the University of Maryland, University of Florida, Penn State and the University of Guelph. He has been a key note speaker at various trade organizations and trade shows. Bill is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also a graduate of Leadership Maryland, class of 2011.

Colleen T. Peterson has 40 years of experience as an administrator in higher education and not- for-profit management. Her career includes serving as Vice President for a University Advancement at Frostburg State University (Maryland) and Executive Director of The Greater Cumberland Committee. Currently, she provides consulting services to businesses and not-for-profit organizations in the areas of strategic planning and capacity development. Her clients include Railey Mountain Lake Vacations, United Way, Frostburg State University, and the YMCA of Cumberland.

Ms. Peterson is an active member of her community and has served or is serving on a number of boards including the Allegany County Visitors Bureau (Chair, Board member), the Maryland State Chamber of Commerce (Board member), the Senator J. Glenn Beall Institute for Public Affairs (Secretary, Board member), Frostburg First Main Street Program (Board member), Allegany Arts Council (Board member), the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (Communications Committee Chair, Board member), Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (Board member), Canal Place Authority (Board member), and the North/South Appalachian Highway Work Group (Chair).

Philip L. Rodeheaver has been in the financial services industry for 25 years, and is the Market President for First United Bank and Trust, a community bank headquartered in Oakland MD. He oversees the retail sales operations of 10 branches in Garrett & Allegany counties Maryland, and Mineral county, West Virginia. He also leads the Bank’s call center and sales teams in these regions. In addition to his banking career, he serves the community through his involvement as a board member (past Chairman and Treasurer) of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, and as Treasurer of The Greater Cumberland Committee. He previously served on the board of Garrett County Community Action Committee, Garrett County United Way, and as a member of the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club. He is a member of Oak Grove Church of the Brethren.

A Northern High School and Garrett College Graduate, Phil has his Bachelor of Science degree (accounting major) and his MBA from Frostburg State University. Phil attended the Maryland Bankers Association Emerging Leaders program and graduated from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking where he also earned a Wharton Leadership Certificate. Phil resides in Oakland with his wife, Sherry, and their two children, Austin and Paige.

John R. Smyth, Jr. is a Certified Public Accountant/Personal Financial Specialist, a Certified Financial Planner, and a Registered Financial Consultant. He has received a Certificate of Educational Achievement in Business Valuation from the AICPA. Mr. Smyth has prepared business appraisals for the past thirty-three years and has consulted with business clients regarding acquisitions and dispositions for small business interests for the past forty-four years. In addition to business appraisals, he specializes in taxation, business consulting, succession planning, litigation support, financial planning, and wealth management. His formal education includes a Bachelor's of Science degree from Frostburg State University (1975). He has attended special training in financial management, financial analysis, personal and corporate income taxes, appraisal techniques, and methodology, and numerous other business and accounting related subjects. He has been a frequent speaker and lecturer on various tax and financial related subjects. Mr. Smyth has written many newsletters on business and tax matters. Mr. Smyth has appeared numerous times as an "expert witness" regarding business valuations and accounting related issues and has acted as a valuation arbitrator in a dissenting shareholder case.

Mr. Smyth is employed as a managing director for CBIZ MHM, LLC and is a shareholder in Smyth & Pyles, LLC (an independent CPA firm). Mr. Smyth is a member in good standing of: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants, The Institute of Business Appraisers, Inc., The Institute of Certified Financial Planners, and The International Association of Financial Planners. He is a member of The National Association of Securities Dealers and holds a Series 7, 65, and 66 licenses with the organization. In addition, he is a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. He holds a variable and fixed-life insurance license and is registered as such in various states.

David W. Turnbull, graduated summa cum laude from Frostburg State University in May, 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a minor in Business Administration. That same year he obtained his license as a CPA. David served in the audit and tax departments of an international accounting and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. before returning to Turnbull, Hoover & Kahl, P.A. where he currently serves as President of the company. David has been actively involved in over 25 community organizations including leadership roles in Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Cumberland Committee, Fidelity Bank (now PNC Bank), church council, Greater Allegany County Business Foundation, City of Cumberland Economic Development Commission, Frostburg State University Board of Visitors and MACPA Western MD Chapter.

David utilizes over 35 years of experience to review and deliver individual and corporate income tax planning and related return preparation engagements, direct audits in the governmental, nonprofit, and ERISA plan industries, supervise the preparation of interim and year end financial statements, and consult with small and medium sized businesses including business formation, ownership transitions, and business development.

A graduate from West Virginia University School of Physical Therapy in 1985, Bucky worked as a staff physical therapist at Memorial Hospital and Medical Center of Cumberland from 1985 to 1988. Bucky also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration, from Frostburg State University and has served as an instructor and clinical instructor at Allegany College of Maryland in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, and clinical instructor and guest lecturer for West Virginia University in the Physical Therapy Program. Bucky is President/Co-founder of Progressive Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Center. His areas of expertise include the evaluation and treatment of biomechanical foot and ankle dysfunction as well as lower extremity (foot/ankle) rehabilitation.

In addition to post-surgical foot care and trauma and overuse injuries of the foot and ankle, other areas of special interest include sports-related injuries, and acute/chronic orthopedic injuries to the knee, shoulder and spine. Bucky is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Private Practice Sections. He has also served as an Executive Board member of the Physical Therapy Providers Network of Maryland and West Virginia.