Towne Spotlight Local

 Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors Honor Mayor Gavin Buckley

In January, Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors today presented the 2022 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards to three elected officials at The U.S. Conference of Mayors 90th Winter Meeting. The honorees included: Gavin Buckley, Mayor of Annapolis, Maryland, awarded the National Award for Local Arts Leadership for cities with a population fewer than 100,000; Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston, Texas, received the National Award for Local Arts Leadership for cities with a population of 100,000 or more; and Bill Anaotubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, was awarded the National Award for State Arts Leadership—the first elected leader of an Indigenous nation being awarded a Public Leadership in the Arts Award. “Governor Anaotubby, Mayor Turner, and Mayor Buckley embody the best of what civic leaders can do to support the arts,” said Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The U.S. Conference of Mayors said, “[These] mayors understand the inherent value of the arts to bring people together, promote cultural understanding, and make cities safer places to live, work, and play.”

LOCAL ENT PRACTICES MERGE

For those who haven’t heard the big news, Anne Arundel Ear Nose & Throat (AAENT) has officially merged with Severn River Ear Nose & Throat (SRENT), becoming Anne Arundel ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery and Severn River MediSpa & Laser Center. Dr. Rob Meek, the medical director at AAENT, and Dr. Kleiman, the medical director of SRENT, found from years of collaborating, that they share the same philosophy of care and high standards of skill and excellence in each of their surgical practices. In fact, the two doctors have long been respected colleagues and friends of one another and have been partners at the Arundel Ambulatory Surgical Center for over 16 years. As a combined practice, they excitedly welcomed the addition of a new physician to their team, Dr. Brandon Wachal. To learn more about the merged practice, visit aaentmd.com.

 REGAL RIBBON CUTTING

Regal Paint Centers recently cut the ribbon and opened a new location at the Crofton Center. The independently-owned paint and decorating retailer specializes in premium, commercial, and industrial coatings. The center’s new address is 1637 Crofton Center, Crofton. Additional locations are in Annapolis, Frederick, and the greater D.C. region. To learn more, visit regalpaintcenters.com/pages/crofton.

 NEW LEADERSHIP FOR WATERMARK

This January, longtime Watermark president Debbie Gosselin retired and turned over the business to Watermark General Manager of Vessel Activities and longtime family friend Jake Iversen and his wife Laura. “While this may come as a surprise to some, we have been planning the hand-off for some time,” Gosselin explained. “I couldn’t be more confident of entrusting the stewardship of this organization to Jake. He is passionate about Watermark and everything it stands for.” In 1999, Gosselin purchased Watermark from her father C. Edward Hartman, II. Hartman founded Watermark, then Chesapeake Marine Tours, with Bert Jabin in 1972. The company grew from one boat to a fleet of 12. In 2004 Chesapeake Marine Tours acquired Three Centuries Tours, which had been providing walking tours since 1975, creating Watermark, the provider of the complete Chesapeake Bay experience as it is known today. “I couldn’t be happier and more honored to take the helm at Watermark,” Jake Iversen said. “Debbie and her father before her have built a strong, vibrant company. Watermark’s biggest asset, though, is the Watermark team.” To learn more about the company, visit watermarkjourney.com.

AACC Foundation Gifts Clauson Center to College

AACC Foundation gifted and dedicated the Clauson Center for Innovation & Skilled Trades to Anne Arundel Community College on December 16th. The event included a ribbon cutting in addition to recognizing and thanking donors, Board members, business and community leaders, AACC faculty and staff, and partners for their support in making the new facility a reality. The 11,300-square foot Clauson Center was built “by the community, for the community,” as AACC’s first building to be funded solely through philanthropy. Through the generosity of approximately 200 donors, the AACC Foundation secured over $4.25 million in private contributions to construct the building, including a lead donation made by Janet and James Clauson, for whom the building was named. The building opened to students studying electrical work, forklift operations, HVAC, plumbing, welding, framing and finish carpentry, general contracting and more in January. “By expanding our workforce development programs, we can support the needs of our employers and our local economy while helping people start and maintain successful careers,” said Dr. Dawn Lindsay, president of AACC. For more information, visit aacc.edu.

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