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The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) celebrated 20 years of service as a regulatory agency on Thursday April 19. The spirit of MDE was recognized in bringing together hundreds of hardworking employees, both past and present. MDE was formed in 1987 by consolidating programs from the Departments of Natural Resources and Mental Health and Hygiene
MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson welcomed MDE employees, former Secretaries David Carroll, Jane Nishida, Richard Pecora and Kendl P. Philbrick. Former Deputy Secretaries and special guests included Ron Nelson, Arthur Ray, Denise Ferguson, J. L Hearn, Cathy Wagenfer (Snyder), and Susan Scotto.
MDE employees and guests were treated to a light brunch while roaming and reminiscing with one another. The Montgomery Park auditorium was decked out with well-planned displays of each administration’s accomplishments, memorabilia, and old photos from years past.
The event kicked off with a 10-minute video of MDE’s first 150 days, recently discovered and dusted off for this event. It featured MDE’s first Secretary Marty Walsh at his premier news conference. The video also presented an opportunity to play “who has grey hair now” showing a host of former and present-day employees performing outreach tasks for their administrations in Air, Waste and Water Management.
Gifts that Green
MDE employees were offered gifts of 400 white pine seedlings for planting, sunflower seed packets and lottery tickets (Maryland Lottery is a fellow state agency located in the Montgomery Park building - that’s why!)
Well-received giveaways and gifts involved a rain barrel, compost bed, seedlings and 50 lottery tickets. Attendees won prizes by correctly answering the MDE 20th Anniversary Brain Teaser crossword puzzle, which featured answers found on the various displays throughout the room.
After All, What’s a Celebration Without Cake!
The event culminated with a cake-cutting ceremony and pictures taken with all participating past and present secretaries, as shown in the many photos clickable in the left sidebar of this page.
Former MDE Secretary Robert Percisepe continued the celebration by visiting MDE headquarters on April 25 to visit with staff.
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