Leadership Maryland Selects Martin Schwartz for its Class of 2014

Vehicles for Change, Inc. (VFC) President Martin Schwartz has been selected for the Leadership Maryland Class of 2014. Schwartz is one of 52 accomplished and talented Maryland leaders selected to participate in the eight-month program. Leadership Maryland is one of 34 state leadership programs nationwide and has graduated nearly 1,000 statewide leaders.

An established influential leader, Schwartz founded VFC in 1999 and has directed the expansion of the program throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C. and most of Virginia. He has received several awards and recognitions including the University of Baltimore 2007 Social Entrepreneur of the Year and Baltimore Visitors and Convention Bureau’s “Sales Person of the Year” awards. In 2011, Schwartz was recognized as an “Influential Marylander” by the Daily Record and VFC received the MassMutual Citizenship Award for its public-private partnership developed with Precision Tune Auto Care.

“I am honored to have been selected as a member of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2014,” said Schwartz. “This Class represents a distinguished and admirable group of leaders throughout Maryland and I look forward to the opportunity to work alongside them and affect positive change and progression for Maryland’s future.”

Following a two-day opening retreat in April, Schwartz will join class members in attending five two-day intense sessions over the course of the year focusing on economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment and multiculturalism/diversity. The program year will conclude with a one-day closing retreat in November and a graduation celebration in December. More than 100 experts representing business, government, education and the nonprofit community will serve as panelists and guest speakers.

“The participants represent a broad spectrum of highly qualified executives from an extraordinary pool of statewide applicants,” said Renée M. Winsky, president and CEO and Class of 2005 graduate of Leadership Maryland. “After participating in a comprehensive program of experiences throughout the year, these leaders will serve as important participants in the united effort to shape Maryland’s future.”

Founded in 1992, Leadership Maryland is an independent, educational, nonprofit organization designed to inform top-level executives, from the public and private sectors, about the critical issues, challenges and opportunities facing the state of Maryland and its regions. For further information about Leadership Maryland, visit www.LeadershipMD.org or contact Renée Winsky at 410-841-2101.

About Vehicles For Change
Founded in 1999, Vehicles for Change is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering families with financial challenges to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership and technical training. Since its founding, VFC has awarded cars to more than 4,600 low-income families throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia, impacting the lives of more than 16,100 people.

For additional information about Vehicles for Change, or to donate a vehicle, visit www.vehiclesforchange.org or call 410-242-9674. Follow the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vehiclesforchange and Twitter @vehicles4change.