New Members Named to Chesapeake Board of Trustees

Four new members were recently appointed to the Chesapeake College Board of Trustees by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. The new appointees to the 10-member board replace outgoing members from Caroline, Dorchester, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties.

“We’re pleased to welcome these four new members to our highly engaged and active Board of Trustees. Chesapeake College will benefit from their varied backgrounds and experiences,” said President Clifford P. Coppersmith.

Addie Eckardt – Dorchester County

Ms. Eckardt, a nurse and former state legislator, brings decades of public service to Chesapeake’s board.

First elected in 1994 to the Maryland House of Delegates, she served for 20 years in the Maryland General Assembly representing District 37B, Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot and Wicomico Counties. She was a member of the House Economic Matters Committee for 8 years and the House Appropriations Committee for 12 years. She also served as Chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation and is past Chair of the House Republican Caucus, and past President of the Women’s Caucus.

Elected to the Maryland Senate in 2014, Ms. Eckardt represented the 37th Legislative District and was a member of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

Ms. Eckardt retired in 2003 as a full-time Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist employed at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center after 30 years. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, School of Nursing with a Master of Science degree and maintains certification as a Psychiatric Nurse Clinical Specialist by the American Nurses Association. Currently, she is the director of nursing at Eastern Shore Hospital, an 82- bed State Inpatient Psychiatric Forensic facility located in Cambridge.

Brent Fuchs – Caroline County

Mr. Fuchs joins the board with more than 20 years of financial planning experience and community involvement.

Mr. Fuchs is a certified financial planner practitioner and partner with Heritage Financial Consultants. He has been in the financial services industry since 2000, and his passion is helping individuals and families create comprehensive financial and retirement plans that lead to financial independence.

Outside of work, Mr. Fuchs loves to spend time with his wife, Lucy, and coaching his two kids, Paight and Sadie, in their sports endeavors. He also devotes his time and resources to several charitable organizations: Food for Learning, Caroline County 4-H, and the Chesapeake YMCA.

He is a huge Maryland sports fan—whether it’s the Orioles, Ravens, or Terps—and he tries to squeeze in a round of golf whenever he can.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic FA, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic FA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic FA. CRN-7168973-100924

Shelly Gross-Wade – Queen Anne’s County

Ms. Gross-Wade first brought her 40 years of private and public executive management experience to Chesapeake as a member of the Chesapeake College Foundation Board.

As the founder and principal on BCCS, Ms. Gross-Wade provides comprehensive advisory and consulting services to economic, community development and faith-based organizations, government agencies, non-profits, and small and minority-owned businesses.

She is the vice chair of the Queen Anne’s County Economic and tourism Development Commission.

In 2023, Ms. Gross-Wade earned the Daily Record’s Leadership ICON Honors Award, the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Hall of Fame Award, and the Maryland’s Top 100 Women Award.

Ms. Gross-Wade is a board member for Hospice of the Chesapeake and Maryland Economic Development Association. She is also a graduate of both Leadership Maryland and Leadership Anne Arundel.

Erica Osterhout – Kent County

Ms. Osterhout is a native to the Eastern Shore, calling Kent County home since 1997. With two decades of leadership experience across industries including sales, marketing, and project management, her expertise and passion are aligned as a leader within the YMCA of the Chesapeake nonprofit organization. She served on the Board of Directors for Homeports, an age-in-place nonprofit dedicated to seniors living with quality of life.

Mrs. Osterhout attended Salisbury University, earning a Bachelor of Exercise Science degree.

A lifelong athlete, Erica is a group fitness coach serving general and special populations. She and her wife, Genna, reside in Worton.