Meet the Leadership Team for Summer Lead & Learn

We are excited to share the bios of the three individuals who will provide the leadership components for the Summer Lead & Learn sessions. Your youth will learn leadership skills that will help build a bright future! Many of us have had the opportunity to participate in trainings and leadership sessions. Now it's time to give this opportunity to our kids. Ready to register? Register today to reserve your preferred session(s).

	Julie Gaver has been professionally speaking nationwide for the past twenty five years and is known for her high energy presentation style. Her self-deprecating humor and ability to connect with audiences help to make training programs, conferences, and retreats dynamic and memorable. Her training organization, Julie Gaver Training & Development, LLC helps create work environments which foster higher levels of attitude, productivity, teamwork, and communication. Julie is the author of the book series Must Love Shoes: A Collection of Stories About Life in a Woman’s Shoes. Often described as a cross between Erma Bombeck, Carol Burnett, and Lucille Ball, Julie captures many of life’s ordinary moments in such a way that we are able to see the meaning, lesson, and humor in the little things. Julie graduated with honors from Frostburg State University with a BA in Sociology, a minor in Psychology and earned a Master’s Degree in Instructional Systems Development from UMBC in Baltimore, Maryland.
	Tara Sargent is the Executive Director of Leadership Washington County. She served for three years as an Assistant Professor in the John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania where she taught courses for and advised the Information Technology for Business Education major. Tara taught both undergraduate and master’s level business management classes for Mount St. Mary’s University’s Department of Business, Accounting and Economics from 2000 to 2007. Tara enjoys being active in the Washington County community. She currently serves as a member of the Hagerstown-Washington Chamber of Commerce board of directors, a member of the Greater Hagerstown Committee, a member and board member of the Hagerstown Rotary Club, as part of the Literacy Initiative Task Force, and as a member of the Income Grant Review Team for the United Way of Washington County. She is a graduate of Leadership Washington County Class of 2008, and a graduate of Leadership Maryland Class of 2011. Tara earned her Doctor of Education in Adult Education from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a baccalaureate degree in education (1995) and a master’s degree in Business Administration (1999) both from Frostburg State University.
	Mary Ellen Waltemire is a life and leadership coach committed to energetically partnering with individuals, businesses and organizations that want to be and do more. She focuses attention on helping her clients identify strategies for success while holding them accountable for plans they identify. She enjoys coaching individuals as well as teams and is excited to work with a variety of age groups. She encourages individuals to focus on the present as they make purposeful choices for a more satisfying future. Through engaged collaboration, she empowers others to live, work and play more fully and effectively. One Step Closer Coaching is her coaching business and her passion. Ms. Waltemire has a B.S. degree from Shepherd University, a M.A. from Hood College and an MBA degree from Frostburg University.
	Leslie DeMott is the Promotions Manager at WHAG-TV and Your4State.com. Working in television for close to 9 years, Leslie has served as a Production Assistant, Graphic Artist, and Supervising Newscast Director at WHAG and Director/Editor at Maryland Public Television. Currently, it is her job to manage the WHAG and Your4State.com brands on multiple platforms and social media outlets. Leslie is a 2002 graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School and in 2006 earned a BFA degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with an emphasis in Cinema. Leslie is a proud member of United Way of Washington County’s Marketing and Communications Committee and Hagerstown Kiwanis Club.
	Michelle Horst is a News Anchor & Reporter at Herald-Mail Media. She grew up just outside Maugansville, where she did everything from play softball at Broadfording Christian Academy to work at Maugansville Creamery (when it was called RJ’s Ice Cream). Michelle is a graduate of Hood College, where she studied journalism and served as editor of “The Blue & Grey Today.” Having lived in Hagerstown her entire life, Michelle has a vested interest in the people, stories and history of Washington County. In 2013, Michelle adopted Sadie Lou, a Jack Russell Terrier, from the Humane Society of Washington County, and the two have been inseparable ever since. Michelle is also proud to be part of Leadership Washington County’s Class of 2015.