Founding Board of DirectorsThe Community Foundation of Southern Maryland is overseen by a diverse volunteer board and operated by paid professional staff with expertise in understanding the community’s needs, opportunities and resources.

The CFSOMD Board of Directors:

Jessica Light
Jessica Light, MBA Board Secretary
Community Wealth Advisors
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As a native of the Chesapeake area, Jessica is pleased to serve as a board member for the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland. The opportunity to partner those in need with the organizations that provide resources is one of many ways she is entrenched in the community. She is also an active parishioner, attends many local Chamber of Commerce events and regularly volunteers for the school and sports leagues in St. Mary’s County where her Son, Daughter and Husband of 14 years live and enjoy their time with an extended network of family, great neighbors and wonderful friends. Jessica is most thankful for the business and personal relationships that extend throughout Southern Maryland.

Jessica joined the Community Wealth Advisors in 2017, she is a Financial Advisor with Infinex Investments, Inc. She holds licensing for life and health insurance and achieved Series 7 and 66 registrations. Jessica received a bachelor’s degree from Marymount University in Arlington, VA and a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.


Ellen Flowers Fields
Board Member
College of Southern Maryland
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Ellen Flowers-Fields serves as Associate Vice-President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development at the College of Southern Maryland. She is responsible for the oversight of all areas of the non-credit economic and community development programming in Southern Maryland, including the Center for Trades and Energy Training, MCET, the Workforce Center, the SBDC, the Non-Profit Institute, the Transportation Center and adult basic education at all CSM campuses.

Ellen has over 25 years of progressive professional experience in the field of workforce development and human capital management. Her diverse background includes the acquisition, project management and implementation of various federal, state and local programs that address community economic development needs. Throughout her career she has acquired and managed nearly $100 million dollars in support of various economic and community development initiatives. Funding acquisition from USDOL, USDA, US Dept of Commerce, Veterans Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and numerous state and local agencies, in NY, GA and MD.

Prior to serving in her current role, Ellen served Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center at CSM. Ellen served as Acting Assistant Secretary, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation from 2011 – 2014; Regional Director of Economic Development at the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland from 2006 – 2011; and Executive Director for Southern Maryland Works from 2000 – 2006. In this role, Ellen led the efforts to establish the region’s first One Stop workforce service delivery system and Workforce Investment Board under the Federal Workforce Investment Act.

Ellen holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Pace University in New York; Certification from the International Business Innovation Association in Business Incubation Management; and is credentialed as a Global Career Development Facilitator from the Center for Credentialing and Education. She is a 2009 graduate of the inaugural Class of Leadership Southern Maryland, an entrepreneur, and a self-published author.

Affiliations include Executive Board member Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland; Member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and the Maryland Economic Development Association; Past Board Member Maryland Broadband Coordination Board; Past board chair, Bethel House Inc.; Immediate past Board chair, Community Foundation of Southern Maryland; Alumni of the Inaugural class of Leadership Southern Maryland 2009.

Recognitions include recipient of 2017 Excellence Award from the National League for Innovation in Community Colleges; 2018 recipient of CEO award from the Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce; Calvert County Commissioner’s Business owner appreciation recognition 2008 & 2014; Recipient of 2008 Woman of the Year award from Calvert County Concerned Black Women; Recipient of 2005 Charles County Minority Business of the Year; Nominations for the 2006 Leadership Maryland class and 2006 Maryland’s Top 100 Women.

Jeffrey C. Slagle
Jeffrey C. Slagle
Board Member
Chaney Enterprise
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Jeff started his career in the concrete industry in 1995 as a sales trainee in Washington DC after receiving his AS in Business Administration from the College of Southern Maryland and attending University of Maryland University College. In 1998 he was promoted to Territory Manager followed by Sales Manager, GM VA Operations, and currently Concrete Operations Manager for MD, VA, and DE. He has been engaged in the ready mixed concrete industry as a board member for the Maryland Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Chairman Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association Northern Virginia Concrete Council, Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association board of directors and VRMCA Secretary/Treasurer.

Industry Associations

Director Maryland Ready Mixed Concrete Association 2005-2008
Chairman Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association NOVA concrete council 2011-2012
Director Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association 2012-2016
Executive Committee Virginia Ready Mix Concrete Association Secretary/Treasurer 2018-2019

Awards/Recognition

Chaney Enterprises Master Club Award recipient 2000, 2003
NRMCA Developing Industry Leader (DIL) 2005

Appointments/Boards

Charles County American Red Cross Director 2003-2005
Charles County Chamber of Commerce Director 2004-2006
Maryland Ready Mixed Concrete Association Director 2006-2008
VRMCA Northern VA Concrete Advisory Council Chairman 2011-2012
VRMCA Board of Directors 2013-2016
VRMCA Executive Committee 2018-2019

Founding Board of Directors

A special thank you to the Founding Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Charles County: (from left to right – front row)
John Trefry, Michael Besche, William Greer, Jr., Lara Castle, Kevin Wedding, Dorothy Harper (Advisory Committee), Gretchen Heinze Hardman (Executive Director); (back row) Susan Vogel (Advisory Committee), Michael Middleton, Frank Chaney, Brad Howard, Diane Warren (Advisory Committee). Not pictured: Evie Hungerford and John Jilek, Mary Grant (Advisory Committee) and Michelle Goodwin (Advisory Committee).