PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 5, 2004
Contact: Anne Harter 301-860-0809
GREATER PRINCE GEORGE’S BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
ON FAST TRACK
FIVE NEW CEO’S JOIN ALLIANCE TO HELP BUILD VISION
Established less than one year ago, the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable
is rapidly gaining ground in both private sector executive suites and community circles.
The word has spread that the Roundtable means business. And, that it’s about the business of bringing people together. To the Roundtable, only a unified vision will spell success for our economy.
Today, the Roundtable Board of Directors welcomes five new members. Moving forward to build an alliance of major business stakeholders who have the vision, motivation, resources and opportunity to effect positive change in the political, economic and community environments across Prince George’s County, the Roundtable is adding five new stars to the Board of Directors roster. Joining the ranks of fellow business leaders will be Robert L. Bonaventure (Chairman / Owner, Alpha Security, Inc.), Linda Gooden (President, Lockheed Martin Information Technology), Rene LaVigne (President, PlanetGov), B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr. (President & CEO, Industrial Bank, N.A.), and Geoff Pohanka (President / CEO, Pohanka Automotive Group).
Currently seated at the Roundtable are key players who define business success within Prince George’s County and beyond. Moreover, they are individuals who share a common commitment to their community and the well-being of its residents. The five new board members clearly meet the established criteria, each bringing his or her wealth of entrepreneurial wisdom and dedication.
The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable is honored to introduce the following members:
Robert L. Bonaventure, is the Chairman and Owner of Alpha Security, Inc., based in Ft. Washington, Maryland. A graduate of Iowa State University, Mr. Bonaventure has attained great success in the field of industrial engineering including top level positions at Beretta USA Corp. and FMS Corp. ( both in the U.S. and Italy). Mr. Bonaventure has also proudly served as a pilot in the United States Air Force. Highly regarded for his philanthropic endeavors, Mr. Bonaventure is actively engaged in the greater Prince George’s community and currently serves on the Board of Doctors Hospital.
Linda Gooden is President of Lockheed Martin Information Technology (LMIT) and an officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. LMIT is an 11,000 member organization responsible for Information Technology and other services for federal agencies across the United States (50 major locations) and in 16 foreign countries. A graduate of both Youngstown State and San Diego Universities, Ms. Gooden has been the recipient of numerous national awards including the 2002 Federal 100 “Eagle” Award and the 2002 Corporate Leadership Award by Women in Technology. Ms. Gooden actively supports professional, academic, community and civic organizations and serves on many executive boards including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association International, the Information Technology Association of America’s Enterprise Solutions, the Keystone Center, the University of Maryland’s James A. Clark School of Engineering and Robert A. Smith School of Business’ Center for Electronic Markets & Enterprises and the Prince George’s Community College Foundation.
Rene LaVigne is President and Chief Operating Officer of PlanetGov, a federal and commercial systems integrator headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia. PlanetGov develops product solutions and services with specific emphasis in the areas of software development, networking, storage management, enterprise management software and security solutions. Previously, Mr. LaVigne served as President of Northrop Grumman IT Computing Systems. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Mr. LaVigne attained his CPA certification in California, in 1987. An active participant in professional and community endeavors, he currently serves on the boards of the Technology Council of Maryland, Prince George’s Technology Council (Founding Member and Chair), Prince George’s Community College Foundation and the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corp. Along with his wife Alison and sons, Rene Jr. and Andre, Mr. LaVigne is a resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr. is President and CEO of Industrial Bank, the second largest minority-owned commercial bank and the third largest minority-owned financial institution in the country. A native Washingtonian, Mr. Mitchell was born and raised in the Washington banking community that his grandfather, the Bank’s founder, and father helped create. Mr. Mitchell holds a degree in Economics from Rutgers University. In 1990, he became President of Industrial Bank. Under his leadership, in 1994, bank expansion was facilitated into Prince George’s County. As one of the first financial institutions to utilize the new interstate banking laws, Mr. Mitchell was recognized by the Secretary of Treasury, Lloyd Bentsen, as a pioneer in the banking industry at the signing of the Interstate Banking Bill enacted in 1994. Actively engaged in the greater Washington community, Mr. Mitchell serves on the boards of the Neighborhood Economic Development Corp., the Federal City Council, the Luke C. Moore Academy, the Montgomery / Prince George’s County CEO Roundtable of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the National Coalition of Minority Businesses and the U Street Theatre Foundation (Lincoln Theatre).
Geoff Pohanka is President and CEO of Pohanka Automotive Group, a long established company of automotive dealerships located throughout the greater Washington region. Truly a family owned and operated business, the Pohanka history began in 1919 with a single Chevrolet dealership in downtown Washington, D.C. Today, the Pohanka Automotive Group includes 16 automobile dealerships in Maryland and Virginia representing 21 different franchises. Nationally recognized for its pioneering efforts to achieve automotive service excellence, the Pohanka legacy includes the founding of the National Automobile Technicians Educational Foundation and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Today, Mr. Pohanka, representing the third generation in the business, is very involved in his industry. He serves as Director of the National Automobile Dealer’s Association and has received the American International Automobile Dealer’s Association All-Star Dealer Award for professional excellence and community leadership. He is a long time supporter of the Oxon Hill Boys and Girls Club and a Trustee of Saint James School in Hagerstown, Maryland.
At the helm of theGreater Prince George’s Business Roundtable, the sentiment isclear. Gary S. Murray, Sr., GPGBR Chair knows the value of engaging the right people toget the job done. “It takes individuals who realize how important it is to communicate, share ideas and work together. Basically, we all want the same things. Our Board Members have both the business acumen and the community sensitivity to help Prince George’s County succeed.”
And,as President and CEO M.H. Jim Estepp states, “The significance of theRoundtableis reflected in its membership. This is an outstanding group of business leaders who want to work with and, most importantly, listen to our community. No doubt about it, they are going to make a difference.”
Click here to download printable copy of GPGBR Press Release 04-05-04
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