Leadership Anne Arundel (LAA) has hired a veteran banking executive and well-known community volunteer as its executive director.
Eric Edstrom will assume the organization’s leadership position on April 25. He replaces Patrick Lee, who will remain with LAA as a volunteer through June.
Edstrom has more than 25 years in financial and managerial experience and most recently was president of the Annapolis Community Bank before its purchase by CFG Bancorp in 2009. Previously, he served as COO of Whitmore Print & Imaging in Annapolis.
“We are very fortunate to have someone who has a deep involvement in the community and who has a wealth of business and educational experience to help guide LAA into the future,” said Tom Marquardt of Capital-Gazette Newspapers, LAA’s board president.
Edstrom has been very involved in community activities. He was president of the Annapolis Rotary Club in 2006–2007 and is currently the president of the Library Foundation. Edstrom is treasurer of the Annapolis Optimist Club, Hillsmere Pool Association, Fairwinds Condominium Association and several Masonic organizations including the Annapolis Lodge 89 AF&AM Foundation. He also has served on the boards of Annapolis Wellness Center, Eastport United Methodist Church and United Way Anne Arundel County Partnership Board.
He has also taught business courses at Salisbury University and Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury, and is an adjunct management and economics instructor with Washington Adventist University and Anne Arundel Community College.
LAA provides tuition-based education and networking opportunities through four programs structured to familiarize participants in such topics as government, business, agriculture, technology and the environment. More than a thousand local residents, including business owners and elected officials, have graduated from one of its programs. Edstrom graduated from the organization’s Flagship Program in 2003.
