Board of Directors
Terry Russell, Ph.D.President, chairs the Social Work Department at Frostburg State University. Previously he was employed in the Intensive Treatment Unit for Three Rivers Youth in Pittsburgh, PA, and in Aging Adult Services with Lutheran Affiliated Services, and has worked with numerous church-related organizations. He resides in Rawlings, Allegany County. (Since 2001)
Robert Huebner, Ph.D.
Vice President is owner and broker of Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty. He was a member of the Human Development faculty at the University of Maryland from 1969-1995, and is currently President of Garrett Cooperative Ministry (Christian Crossing Thrift Shop). He is also President of Garrett County Habitat for Humanity, Treasurer of Garrett County United Way, and a member of Oakland Mountain Lake Park Lions Club. Dr. Huebner lives in Swanton, Garrett County. (Since 2001)
Lowell Bender
Secretary, Dean of Continuing Education at Garrett College, has provided leadership to community and church organizations for over 30 years. He chairs the Garrett County Community Action Board, is Vice President of the Small Business Development Center, and is a member of Western Maryland Workforce Investment Board and the Economic Development Corporation and other community organizations. He is a resident of Bittinger, Garrett County. (Since 2003)
Kim Durst
As a certified paralegal with specialties in civil litigation, real estate law, corporate/business organization law, wills, trusts and civil litigation, Kim has 25 years of legal and research experience. Her current position as Economic Development Specialist with Garrett County's Department of Economic Development includes demographic, workforce and other research of the tri-state area (MD, WV & PA), as well as title searches and legal research as they pertain to County projects and business prospects. She is the administrator of the Enterprise Zone, County Business and GIEC Tax Credit Programs for the County, is responsible for researching and submitting applications to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development for designation of the County's enterprise zones, and is responsible for updating and maintaining the Department of Economic Development's website (www.gcedonline.com).
Kim has an AA degree in Math/Science from Garrett College in McHenry, MD, a paralegal certification with specialties from the Professional Career Development Institute in Atlanta, GA, and has received specialized training in GIS applications as they relate to economic development and Federal statistics.
A long-time advocate for children with special needs, Kim is a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Salem Children's Trust, Inc., Grantsville, MD, Chair of the Garrett County Department of Social Services Advisory Board, and Chair of the Garrett County Mental Health Advisory Committee.
Matthew Eichhorn
Matthew Eichhorn serves as the senior pastor of Eckhart Baptist Church in Frostburg, MD. Prior to his current ministry, he was the youth pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cumberland, MD and faculty member at his alma mater, Appalachian Bible College in Bradley, WV. He and his wife Amber reside in Frostburg, Allegany County with their two sons, Alexander and Benjamin.
Crystal Merrill
is a clinical social worker (LCSW-C) specializing in family, infant and early childhood mental health and developmental disorders. While she has experience in management and community organization, she currently has a private practice providing mental health therapy, mediation services, parenting consultations and assessments and mental health consultation services. She is also pursuing a doctoral degree with the ICDL Graduate School. She has lived in Garrett County most of her life and currently resides in Grantsville, MD.
Patricia Mace-Leonard
Patricia Mace-Leonard, ED.D, retired in 2001 as an elementary principal in the Washington County Maryland Schools. During the past seven years, she has been employed as an adjunct professor at Kaplan University and a University Supervisor/Instructor for the Masters of Art Teaching Program at Frostburg State University. Dr. Leonard has a BA Degree from Glenville State College; MA from West Virginia University; and Doctorate Degree from NOVA, Southeastern University of Florida.
An active member in the community, she has served the past 17 years as Education Coordinator for Children’s Safety Village in Hagerstown. She is founding president of Sigma Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, international sorority for women educators and is currently the MD State Altruistic Chairman and Secretary Treasurer for the MD Potomac District of Alpha Delta Kappa. She is a trustee of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and continues to be involved with church projects.
She is a former resident of LaVale, Maryland. She and her husband currently live in Hagerstown and spend the weekends at their LaVale home.
