DR. MEENA B REWSTER

St. Mary’s County Health Officer

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION AND CAREER.

Education — public health trained physician. Graduate school in public health and medical school from University of Miami (FL). Clinical training post-medical school in the medical specialties of family medicine and sports medicine.

Career — Have served as the St. Mary’s County Health Officer for eight years which involves directing our local health department. Prior to this, spent some years addressing public health with the Indiana State Dept of Health. Prior positions also include teaching medical students, primary care residents, and sports medicine fellows at Indiana University. Patient care responsibilities included primary care for all ages, and team physician for different sports and levels of athletics.

WHAT IS A WAY YOU CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR COMMUNITY?

Public health is all about community. I’m grateful to serve in a role where my main job is to bring community partners and residents together to work on better health for all. We have incredible public health professionals at our local health department that are compassionate, creative, and always ready to serve our community. It is an honor to work alongside them as we lead public health for our county. Some of the services we provide as a local health department include planning for and responding to disease threats (including COVID!), prevention and control of chronic or infectious diseases, health communications and education, environmental health services, health data monitoring, promoting mental health and addressing substance use, and promoting access to and providing health care services. In all of this we emphasize the importance of health equity and make sure to consider the needs of our most vulnerable.

TELL US ABOUT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT INSPIRED YOU.

My sister, who lives here in St. Mary’s County, is the person who has influenced me most in my life. Monika Lee is an outstanding human being — someone who always uplifts others. She is genuine, truthful, direct, caring, and humble in everything she does. She is a remarkable family physician, mom, and sister. I admire her enthusiasm, energy, “just get it done already” attitude, and practical approach towards life. I am so grateful to her for so much, but mostly for the unrestricted love she has always given honestly, without judgement, and without fail.

DIANE H ICKS

SVP, Director of Marketing and Communications Community Bank of the Chesapeake

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION AND CAREER.

I received my Bachelor of Science in Marketing from University of Maryland University of College. I joined Community Bank of the Chesapeake in 2006 and served as Executive Assistant and Shareholder Relations for a short period before transitioning into the Marketing Department. I joined the department as AVP, Marketing Manager. Promoted to VP, Director of Marketing and currently serve as SVP, Director of Marketing and Communications. We are a multi-billion dollar financial institution with branch locations in Maryland and Virginia.

Over the years, I have been responsible for marketing governance, communications, strategy, channel marketing, strategic partnerships, budget, social media, direct and channel marketing, community relations, public relations, etc.

From a giving back to the industry perspective, I participated in a panel discussion at the ABA (American Bankers Association) Annual Conference about content creation, use and value.

I spoke on a panel at the 2020 CSM Non-Profit Institute Conference called Shift in Focus: The Changing Nature of Nonprofits and Interactions with the Business Community.

WHAT IS A WAY YOU CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR COMMUNITY?

I currently serve as Chair-Elect of the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation. The Foundation mission is to enhance the medical center’s financial resources, while building awareness, so it may provide excellent health care services to all members of the community. I serve on event/fundraiser committees, volunteer at events, etc. I am a former Board Member of the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland.

As an organization, we support our community in numerous ways. From financial support, volunteering, serving on committees and boards, etc. We found a particular unique way to support local businesses through our Cash Mobs. We launched this program in 2017 to support shop local, support local. More can be learned about Cash Mobs at https://www. cbtc.com/community/cashmob/, if of interest. When the pandemic hit, we knew we had to support our small business community. We turned our Cash Mobs digital, encouraging small business support via online ordering, etc.

TELL US ABOUT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT INSPIRED YOU.

I had a mentor much of my career that played a large role in growth and success. From imparting the skills and mindset to shape my career, to guidance, support and inspiration. To mentor is to touch a life forever and I am grateful having mine along my journey.

I have tried to live by Audrey Hepburn’s quote, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”