A mix of seven Baltimore alumni and local leaders confirmed for the October 16-18 event
Baltimore Homecoming introduced today seven co-chairs for the second annual event, which will bring accomplished Baltimore “alumni” back to the area to mobilize investment by connecting them with the city’s remarkable leaders and doers. Duff Goldman, Mark and Patricia Joseph, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Lance Reddick, Mike Rowe and Melanie Whelan will attend and participate in the three-day event from October 16-18.
“We’re thrilled to have these notable alumni and Baltimoreans headline the 2019 event as each of them bring unique perspectives and experiences that will enhance Homecoming,” said Dan Schochor, Baltimore Homecoming’s executive director. “We’re in the midst of building this year’s program, but we’re hopeful that each co-chair will play an integral role in the event’s success and help attract new and returning alumni to Baltimore,” he added.
The co-chairs will support the organization as it reaches out to and invites alumni back to Baltimore for the event. They will also play an important role in the event’s programming by serving as moderators, participating in panel discussions, leading a breakout session or delivering a keynote speech.
Goldman is a chef, artist, entrepreneur and TV personality who started his first business, Charm City Cakes, in Baltimore in 2002 and helped to put Baltimore’s food scene on the map with 10 seasons of the hit Food Network show “Ace of Cakes.” Goldman was also a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
“Baltimore, to me, is a city full of hope, creativity and love, and it’s one that I care deeply about. It’s where I began my career and opened my first business in 2002 – aptly named for the city known for its charm,” said Goldman. “I’m excited to be a co-chair for this year’s Baltimore Homecoming and to be able to give back to the city that has continued to support me.”
Mark and Patricia Joseph are longtime Baltimore philanthropists. Mark is the president of The Shelter Foundation and founder of The Shelter Group/Brightview Senior Living companies. Patricia is chair of The Shelter Foundation, as well as a trustee at Baltimore Community Foundation, Baltimore Museum of Art and Baltimore School for the Arts.
Before becoming a Senator in 1986, Senator Mikulski was a social worker in Baltimore, helping at-risk children and educating seniors about the Medicare program. She then ran for Baltimore City Council in 1971 where she served for five years. Next, she served in Congress representing Maryland’s 3rd district for 10 years until becoming the first Democratic woman Senator elected in her own right in 1986, a position she held through her retirement in 2017.
Reddick is an actor currently starring on both the Amazon series “Bosch” and Comedy Central’s “Corporate.” He has starred in several big and small screen films and television series over his career, including multiple seasons of “The Wire” and “OZ” for HBO, in addition to the HBO miniseries “The Corner.” Reddick was born and raised in Baltimore and attended Friends School of Baltimore.
“Like anyone or anyplace, Baltimore is multifaceted and complex. Growing up in North Baltimore, with my father’s relatives in West Baltimore, and so many of my mother’s friends, from her active involvement in city politics, from East Baltimore, I was fortunate to constantly experience so much of the city’s diversity and cultural richness. And my great good fortune to be a part of perhaps the greatest drama in the history of American television, ‘The Wire,’ was not only a once in a lifetime career moment, but perhaps more importantly, another opportunity to learn more about the heart and soul, the challenges, heartbreak, courage and resilience of this great city,” said Reddick. “So, I was thrilled to be invited to co-chair this year’s Baltimore Homecoming event. It’s an opportunity to try to give back to the city that has given so much to me, by participating in an event that is helping to reshape the city’s future.”
Rowe is a writer, show host, podcaster, and executive producer best known as “the dirtiest man on TV” from Discovery Channel’s hit series Dirty Jobs. Today, you can watch Rowe on Facebook’s groundbreaking series Returning the Favor and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It” on TBN. You can listen to him on “The Way I Heard It,” America’s #1 short-form podcast. Rowe is also CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, a non-profit organization that challenges the myths and misperceptions about the skilled trades and works to help close the skills gap. It has granted or helped facilitate the granting of, more than $5 million in technical and vocational scholarships. Rowe was born and raised in Baltimore and graduated from Towson University. “I’ve lived in a lot of places, but Baltimore is still my home. It always will be,” said Rowe.
Whelan is the chief executive officer of SoulCycle, a brand she has helped to build to 90 studios in 18 markets across the U.S. and Canada. Before joining SoulCycle, Whelan held positions at Equinox, Virgin Management, where she was on the founding team for Virgin America, and with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Whelan was born and raised in Baltimore and attended Bryn Mawr School.
“We are thrilled to have the support of so many great co-chairs who are coming back to Baltimore to show their support for our City and raise awareness of the positive people, nonprofits and leaders who are helping to make a difference. While most of our co-chairs have left Baltimore they still remain close to our city and we are gratified that each of them wants to help,” said JM Schapiro, one of Baltimore Homecoming’s co-founders.
More announcements are expected to be made in the coming months.
About Baltimore Homecoming, Inc.
Baltimore Homecoming, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Maryland. It was founded by Nate Loewentheil and JM Schapiro, who serve respectively as President & Chair of the Board and Board Treasurer. The Board of Directors also includes Brandon Etheridge, General Counsel at The Baltimore Ravens, Sophia Silbergeld, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Adeo Advocacy, and new this year, Ganesha Martin, Director of Criminal Justice for the Mayor’s Office. The organization’s 2nd annual event, the Baltimore Homecoming, is scheduled for October 16-18, 2019. More information is available at www.baltimorehomecoming.com.
Baltimore Homecoming Host Committee
Christine Aspell (KPMG), Nichole Baccala Ward (TBC), Christopher Bedford (Baltimore Museum of Art), James Bond (Living Classrooms), Erricka Bridgeford (Baltimore Ceasefire 365), John Brothers (T. Rowe Price Foundation), Monique Brown (Baltimore Police Department), Marc Bunting (Blue Jar Family Council), John Cammack, Jed Dietz (Maryland Film Festival), Amy Elias (PROFILES), Michael Fader (MileOne Holdings), Matt Gallagher (Goldseker Foundation), Tom Geddes (Plank Industries), Mike Gill (Evergreen Advisors), J.P. Grant (Grant Capital Management), Fagan Harris (Baltimore Corps), Tim A. Hodge, Jr. (Nelson Mullins), Samuel Hoi (Maryland Institute College of Art), Brett Ingerman (DLA Piper), Joe Jones (Center for Urban Families), Jon Laria (Ballard Spahr), Samantha Manekin (University of Md., St. Joseph Medical Center), Alphonso Mayo (Mentoring Mentors), Bill McCarthy (Catholic Charities), Jamie McDonald (Generosity Inc., Light City), Patricia J. Mitchell (The Center Club), Lydell Mitchell (Former Colts Running Back), Anthony Moag (The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company), Kevin Pearson (M&T Bank), Jay Perman (University of Maryland, Baltimore), Debbie Phelps (Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools), Rhonda Pringle (Baltimore Business Journal), Shanaysha Sauls (Baltimore Community Foundation), Bishop Willard Saunders, Jr. (Created for So Much More Worship Center), Donna Sawyer (Baltimore Office Promotion of the Arts), Dara Schnee (Baltimore Community Foundation), Joyce Scott (Artist), Jim T. Smith, Jr. (Baltimore City Hall), Jessica Solomon (Robert W. Deutsch Foundation), Craig A. Thompson, Esq. (Venable LLP), Kisha Webster (Greenmount West Community Center), David Wilson (Morgan State University), Christy Wyskiel (Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, JHU), Brittany Young (B360).
