Board

College Savings Plans of Maryland Board

Nancy K. Kopp, Board Chair, has been the Treasurer of the State of Maryland since February 2002. Prior to that she served in the Maryland House of Delegates for over 27 years. She has served as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and Economic Development for the past seven years and served as Assistant Majority Leader and Speaker Pro Tem in the House of Delegates.

Norman Freidkin, Board Vice Chair, certified public accountant, has over thirty years of diversified experience in public accounting, including six years with a national public accounting firm. He founded the firm Freidkin, Matrone & Horn, P.A., in 1974. This thirty-plus person firm was recognized among the top 25 accounting firms in the Washington, D.C. area. Mr. Freidkin also holds an extensive set of community leadership positions, including member of the Board of Directors of the Weizmann Institute of Science, and Council Member of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Thomas H. Price, III, Board Secretary, an attorney in Maryland and the District of Columbia for the past thirty years, is the managing partner of the Law Offices of Thomas H. Price, III, P.A. Mr. Price served as President of the International Eye Foundation for one term and as a member of its Board of Directors for six years. Mr. Price is a current member of the Boards of Trustees for the Glenelg Country School and Jemicy School as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Howard Hospital Foundation.

Dr. James Earl Lyons joined Governor O'Malley's cabinet as the Secretary of Higher Education Commission in February 2007. Prior to that, he served as the President of California State University, Dominguez Hills. A native of New Haven Connecticut, he received a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a master's degree in student personnel from the University of Connecticut, where he also received his doctorate in Professional Higher Education Administration.

Susan R. Buswell, was the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education from 1989-1998. Prior to that she served in the Maryland House of Delegates for seven years and as a member of the Howard County Board of Education from 1973-1982. Ms. Buswell also led the Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Facilities and the Maryland Association of Elementary School Administrators.

Nancy S. Grasmick, Ph.D has been the Maryland state superintendent of Schools since 1991. She served as Secretary of Juvenile Services and as Special Secretary for Children and Youth. She also serves on numerous national and state boards. She has over 30 years experience in education.

William Kirwan, has been Chancellor of the University System of Maryland since August 1, 2002. A widely respected academic leader, Dr. Kirwan served as president of Ohio State University for four years, and as president of the University of Maryland, College Park for nine years. Prior to his presidency, he was a member of the University of Maryland faculty for 34 years.

Peter Franchot was elected Maryland's 33rd Comptroller on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006. Prior to his election to statewide office, Comptroller Franchot served 20 years in the Maryland General Assembly, in the House of Delegates, representing the residents of Silver Spring and Takoma Park. During his time in the House of Delegates, Peter was a member of the Appropriations Committee and served as Chairman of the Transportation & the Environment Subcommittee. Through his career, he has been a strong advocate for education, health care, transportation and environmental protection initiatives.

Gary Dorsch is co-founder of Allegiance Capital Limited Partnership and president of its management company, Allegiance Capital Management Corporation. Prior to establishing Allegiance Capital, Gary spent 24 years with Bank of America and its predecessor banks, NationsBank and Maryland National Bank. During his banking career Gary had executive responsibility for various commercial banking divisions and managed several specialty-banking groups. Gary was also co-chair of the $17.5 million Towson University Capital Campaign.

Lewis A. Robinson is Executive Director of the Prince George's County Educators' Association and has served in his current capacity for 16 years. In addition, Mr. Robinson is the Chair of the Prince George's County Labor Coalition which represents 25,000 public and private employees in Prince George's County. He has served in this leadership role for 10 years. Mr. Robinson is also very active in community activities for youth. Current and former memberships include The Industrial Relations Research Association, NAACP, Chamber of Commerce and Progressive Maryland.

CSPM Board's Mission, Vision, Goals

Mission
To provide a simple, convenient ways for Maryland families to save in advance for college and reduce future reliance on loans.

Vision
That Maryland will become a state where all families who have college dreams for their children are motivated to save in advance for future college costs.

Goals
1. Create and maintain statewide awareness of the College Savings Plans of Maryland by communicating the benefits of plans and results in significant participation among:

    a. Parents of Newborns through 12th graders
    b. Grandparents
    c. Those who are interested in providing for the higher education of a child who may not be a family member

2. Ensure excellence in customer service, records administration and transaction processing for current participants.


Governor Martin O'Malley		Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown

2008 CSPM Board Meeting Schedule

All meetings are on a Thursday and will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Baltimore meetings will be held at 217 E. Redwood Street, with the specific conference rooms to be provided with the meeting agenda. Annapolis meetings will be held at the Maryland Higher Education Commission at 839 Bestgate Road.

Please be aware that these meetings are scheduled months in advance and are subject to change. To confirm dates, time and location you can call the College Savings Plans of Maryland at 410 767 2024 or 1 888 463 4723, option #5.

February 21, 2008 -- Annapolis
May 22, 2008 -- Baltimore
July 1, 2008 -- Baltimore (1:00pm - 4:00pm)
August 28, 2008 -- Baltimore
October 30, 2008 -- Baltimore
December 4, 2008 -- Baltimore