MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 20, 2003

CITY STAFF TO SPEAK AT MML 2003 ANNUAL CONVENTION

Frederick, Md. --- Mayor Jennifer Dougherty, the Board of Aldermen, and key City staff will be attending Maryland Municipal League's (MML) 2003 Annual Convention in Ocean City, Maryland, from Sunday, June 22 through Wednesday, June 25.

This annual convention provides a unique opportunity for Frederick's elected officials to meet with colleagues from around the state and share ideas, solutions to problems, and techniques for service provision and municipal administration. The City of Frederick is proud to announce that three staff members will be speaking at the convention.

Richard Griffin, director of economic development for the City, will be speaking on the topic of "The Basics of Economic Development". Griffin has been the director of the department of economic development for the City of Frederick for a year. Previous to joining City staff, he served for nearly two years as the executive director of the Greater Frederick Development Corporation (GFDC) focusing on economic development and urban planning in the City of Frederick. Prior to joining GFDC, Griffin was the program manager of Comprehensive Planning for Loudoun County, Virginia. An accomplished urban planner with more than a decade of professional planning experience, he is an accredited member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and has worked in planning and economic development at the city, county, and regional level - including the Appalachian Council of Governments in Greenville, South Carolina, the City of Seattle, Washington, the City of Frederick, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia. Griffin holds degrees from Western Carolina University and Clemson University.

Roelkey Myers, director of recreation, will also be speaking on "Small Town Programming". Myers has been the director of the department of recreation for the City of Frederick for 10 years. Prior to joining the City he worked for over a decade at the YMCA of Frederick County where he rose from camp counselor to senior program director. In his role with the City, Myers oversees operations of the William R. Talley Recreation Center, five satellite facilities, two swimming pools, 60+ parks, Clustered Spires Golf Course, Harry Grove Stadium, and all programs. He earned a B.S. in Recreation from West Virginia University. Myers also volunteers his time and services within the community. Myers is a past board member of Big Brothers, Sisters of Fredrick County; Maryland's Tomorrow Program; past chairman and board member of the Frederick County Sports Hall of Fame Committee and founder and past vice president of the Frederick Excel Soccer Club. Myers currently serves on the board of the new Frederick Boys and Girls Club and is a member of the Frederick Rotary, Maryland Recreation and Parks Association.

Finally, Heather Price Smith, chief legal officer for the City will address MML participants on "The Scope of Municipal Regulatory Authority and Service Delivery". Prior to her current position as chief legal officer, Smith served as an assistant county attorney in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and as assistant city attorney for the City of Frederick. She holds a J.D. from the University of Baltimore, School of Law, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore. Smith received her undergraduate degree at Western Maryland College now known as McDaniel College.