Dr. Rodney Oakley and Dr. Bruce Nwadike of the Mid-Atlantic Specialty Hospital (MASH) in Huntingtown received the Small Business of the Year award during the college’s sixth annual Leading Edge Awards banquet in June. Since 2002, the veterinarians have run the only board-certified, surgery referral hospital in the tri-county region. The hospital offers operations for a wide variety of animal ailments including ruptured discs, cancer and degenerative joints. MASH is also the only place in the region where a person can take a dog to a licensed, certified canine rehabilitation practitioner.

Robert Salta and Kirk Swain of the DM Group received the Calvert County Technology Company of the Year award the college’s sixth annual Leading Edge Awards banquet in June.  A second-generation family-owned firm, the DM Group has been devising and introducing new direct mail strategies for more than 30 years, including the recently launched website, www.DirectMail.com.

Catherine and Robert Askey of Askey, Askey & Associates, CPA, LLC were selected by the Patuxent Partnership to receive the Patuxent Partnership Member Firm of the Year. Since 1996, the firm has helped customers determine their financial strengths and weaknesses while maintaining a family-oriented, employee-centered workplace. The Askeys were recognized during the college’s sixth annual Leading Edge Awards banquet in June.

Accepting the Excellence in Economic Progress Award during the college’s sixth annual Leading Edge Awards banquet in June for the Indian Head Defense Alliance, was John Bloom.  Nominated by the Southern Maryland Economic Development Association, the Indian Head Defense Alliance has been working to keep the county’s largest employer, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, open for business since 1993. In its evolution, it has helped the base negotiate Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) proceedings.

This year’s College of Southern Maryland Corporate Center CEO of the Year is Lloyd Harrison, president and CEO of Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank (MSMB). Since 2001, he has proven his dedication to providing his customers and staff with personalized service. Harrison was recognized during the college’s sixth annual Leading Edge Awards banquet in June.

The CSM Foundation has selected Chaney Enterprises for its CSM Partnership in Education Award. From left accepting the award are Frank Chaney, Patsy Berquist, Doreen Bickel and Bill Childs. For more than 40 years, Chaney Enterprises has been one of the leading Mid-Atlantic suppliers of construction materials and supplies, this family-owned and operated company attributes its success and outstanding service to the ability to retain qualified and dedicated staff through education and incentive programs.

The Charles County Technology Council has named the Civista Medical Center as its Charles County Technology Company of the Year during the college’s sixth annual Leading Edge Awards banquet in June. Accepting the award is Civista CEO Christine Stefanides. The rapid growth of technological advances, including hi-tech rolling carts equipped with wireless phones and laptops that connect nurses to the hospital’s information system employed by Civista Medical Center, is revolutionizing Southern Maryland health care.

The Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, represented by Todd Morgan, also received the Excellence in Economic Progress Award during the college’s sixth annual Leading Edge Awards banquet in June. The SMNA was founded in the early 1990s to inform national and regional leaders about the importance of PAX River and St. Inigoes to regional and national economies, and to protect these bases from BRAC lists.