TWO CITY STAFF TO SPEAK AT MML 2006
ANNUAL CONVENTION

Frederick, Md. --- Mayor William J. Holtzinger, the Board of Aldermen, and key City staff will be attending Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) 2006 Annual Convention in Ocean City, Maryland, from Sunday, June 25 through Wednesday, June 28.

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 two staff members will be speaking at the convention.

Richard Griffin, director of economic development, and Roelkey Myers, director of parks and recreation, will both be speaking on the topic of "How Cities/Towns Use Parks to Help Spur Community Revitalization". Griffin has been the director of the department of economic development for the City of Frederick since 2002. Previous to joining City staff, he served for nearly two years as the executive director of the Downtown Frederick Partnership focusing on economic development and downtown urban planning in the City of Frederick. Griffin has also served as the program manager of Comprehensive Planning for Loudoun County, Virginia. An accomplished urban planner with more than a 16 years 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 parks and recreation, will also be speaking on the same issue. Myers has been the director of the department of recreation for the City of Frederick for 13 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.