STAFF
Laurie Schwartz | President
Laurie has dedicated her career to helping make Baltimore an even better place to live and work. In the early 1980s, Laurie helped the city and area businesses start Downtown Partnership. She then served as its first President for over fifteen years. Following a stint at City Hall with Mayor O’Malley, Laurie worked as an independent consultant for nine years. During this time, she helped Waterfront property owners, Waterfront area attractions, and the City of Baltimore start Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc. In 2010, Laurie agreed to join the organization full-time as its Executive Director. In her spare time, Laurie paints and shows her artwork. She is also an avid swimmer, and is training for her first harbor swim from Fells Point to Tidepoint.
Contact: 443.743.3307 | Laurie@WaterfrontPartnership.org
Eric Souza | Director of Operations
Prior to working with Business Improvement Districts, Eric spent eight years in various management roles in the restaurant industry, including positions as an Executive Chef and General Manager in Baltimore. He is a graduate of the Baltimore International College and has a degree in Hospitality Management. Eric joined the Waterfront Partnership in November 2009 when he was hired by Block By Block as the Operations Manager. While in Baltimore, Eric experienced a five year tenure in that position before being promoted to the Regional Vice President of the Mid Atlantic. Eric quickly jumped at the opportunity to once again work in Baltimore with the organization because of his deep passion for the city. He currently resides in Locust Point with his wife and two daughters.
Contact: 443.743.3308 x3208 | Erics@WaterfrontPartnership.org
Adam Lindquist | Director, Healthy Harbor Initiative
Adam joined the Waterfront Partnership team in 2011. He received his Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his experience includes working for the Water Resource Division of the Maryland Department of Planning. He is a passionate conservationist, and is involved with protecting and restoring the rivers and streams of his community. He enjoys helping to lead Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative, and looks forward to one day swimming in the harbor. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and recording his own music and teaching his wife how to play the guitar.
Contact: 443.743.3309 | Adam@WaterfrontPartnership.org
Matt Shaffer | Director of Marketing Communications
Matt joined the Waterfront Partnership in 2017 as the Director of Marketing Communications. He received his Bachelors degree in International Business and Marketing Management and manages all aspects of the overall marketing function of the organization. Matt is excited to be a part of the Waterfront Partnership team, and help promote the Waterfront as a world-class destination for Baltimoreans and tourists. Matt recently moved to Baltimore from Massachusetts with his wife and two kids, and he enjoys exploring the city, trying out new restaurants, going to festivals, and keeping active with outdoor activities.
Contact: 443.992.7731 | MattS@WaterfrontPartnership.org
Amber Chavis | Senior Accountant
Amber has a dynamic past experience in accounting, with nearly ten years in the field. Before joining the Waterfront Partnership, she held accounting positions at RailAmerica, Inc. and Medical Staffing Network, Inc. Most recently, she worked at Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, first as an accounting tech and then advancing to the assistant finance director. As assistant finance director, she was responsible for managing six finance staff members, preparing monthly financial reports for leadership, and coordinating the annual budget for high-totaling grants, along with many other duties. Amber holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Finance degree from East Carolina University.
Contact: 443.743.3310 | Amber@WaterfrontPartnership.org
Ben Hyman | Director Of Special Projects
Ben Hyman is the Director of Special Projects at Waterfront Partnership, serving as project manager for the redevelopment of Rash Field Park and activations at West Shore Park. He joined Waterfront Partnership in June 2018. For more than five years, Ben served as Executive Director of Pigtown Main Street, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Pigtown, a neighborhood in Southwest Baltimore. Ben received his BA in Geography from George Washington University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. When he’s not at work, you can find Ben relaxing in one of Waterfront Partnership’s public parks or catching an O’s game at Camden Yards. He lives in Canton with his wife, Sarah.
Contact: 443.743.3306 | ben@waterfrontpartnership.org
Leanna Wetmore | Manager of Neighborhood Programs
Leanna joined the Waterfront Partnership team in 2014 as the Community Coordinator. She has been a community organizer in Baltimore City for seven years, using her creative spirit to inspire residents and build leadership in some of Baltimore’s most charming neighborhoods. She received her BFA from MICA, and is a Maryland Master Gardener. She looks forward to working with neighborhoods upstream of the harbor to reduce litter by changing the behavior of litter bugs and effecting system changes within city government. In her spare time, you can find Leanna making art under festival tents, growing vegetables in her backyard, volunteering for awesome causes, or walking her dog in one of Baltimore’s beautiful parks.
Contact: 410.561.7308 | Leanna@WaterfrontPartnership.org
Casey Merbler | Project Manager, Healthy Harbor Initiative
Casey joined the Waterfront Partnership team in 2015 as a Chesapeake Conservation Corps Volunteer and later joined the Waterfront Partnership as a full-time employee in August of 2016. She received a degree in Environmental Studies and Spanish from Dickinson College, and her experience includes social media and program management, sales, and event planning. Casey is a lifelong resident of Baltimore City and is passionate about its urban natural environment. In her free time she enjoys traveling, playing in local sports leagues, cooking, and spending time on the water. She is excited to be a part of the Healthy Harbor Initiative and work toward a swimmable and fishable Baltimore Harbor.
Contact: 443.743.3308 x3312 | Casey@WaterfrontPartnership.org
Tiffany Kim | Program Manager, Healthy Harbor Initiative
Tiffany joined the Waterfront Partnership team in 2018 as the Program Manager of the Healthy Harbor Initiative. She is a dedicated conservationist with experience in wildlife research and rehabilitation, public engagement, and lecturing. She received her BA in Environmental Sciences from Northwestern University, as well as a MS in Conservation Biology and a MPP in Environmental Policy and Nonprofit Management from the University of Maryland, College Park. Tiffany is excited to help local volunteers and students discover a passion for protecting oysters and the other amazing life in the Baltimore Harbor.
Contact: 832.257.1298 | Tiffany@waterfrontpartnership.org
Kaylee Zielinski | Events Manager
Kaylee joined the Waterfront Partnership team in 2018 as the Events Manager. She was born and raised in Maryland and graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a degree in Media Communication Studies. Kaylee has worked in the event planning industry for nearly a decade with organizations such as the Maryland State Bar Association, Maryland SPCA, and Baltimore City Parks and Recreation. Kaylee has a true passion for Baltimore city, the Inner Harbor and creating fun and free programming for all residents in Maryland. In her free time, you will find Kaylee kayaking, traveling abroad or to music festivals or finding a new adventure with her Australian Shepherd, Finn.
Contact: 443-743-3308 ext. 5308 | Kaylee@waterfrontpartnership.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Justin Bakewell
J.P.Morgan
Amy Beall
Legg Mason
Michael Beatty
Beatty Development Group
James Bond
Living Classrooms Foundation
Rudy Chow
Department of Public Works
Michael Cunningham
Constellation Energy
Brian Dean
T. Rowe Price
Terry Donahue
Waterfront Marriott Hotel
Rachel Duncan
Federal Hill Resident
Andrew Frank
Consultant
Donald C. Fry
Greater Baltimore Committee
Marco Greenberg
Consultant
Michael Hankin
Brown Advisory
Sarah Harrison
Morgan Stanley
Frank Lance
Parks and People Foundation
Tim O’Donald, Board Chair
Harbor East Management
Leon Pinkett
Baltimore City Council
Mark Pollak
Ballard Spahr LLP
Mark Potter
Maryland Science Center
Joan Pratt
Comptroller
John Quinn
BGE
Dale Schmidt
National Aquarium
Steve Sharkey
Department of Transportation
Zed Smith
Cordish Company
Traceé Strum-Gilliam
PRR, Inc.
Colin Tabert
Baltimore Development Corporation
Camera Thomas-Wilhite
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Ira Weinstein, Treasurer
Cohn Reznick LLP
WATERFRONT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Beatty
Beatty Development
James Bond
Living Classrooms Foundation
David Bookhout
Avalon Bay
Terry Donahue
Waterfront Marriott Hotel
Susan Flanigan
Resident
Gail Furman
Max’s on Broadway
Sally MacConnell
Johns Hopkins University
Carolyn Mozell
Baltimore Mayor’s Office
Tim O’Donald, Board Chair
Harbor East Management Group
John Pezzulla
Bozzuto Management
Leon Pinkett
Baltimore City Council
Mark Potter
Maryland Science Center
Ed Prutzer
Rusty Scupper
Dale Schmidt
National Aquarium
Doug Schmidt
Workshop Development
Zed Smith
Cordish Company
Gerben Van Dorpe
Harbor East Management Group