On Thursday, November 21, Shore Leadership is hosting an evening of networking and “fun-raising” for alumni and anyone interested in how to be a more effective leader. The program “Leader Development through Improv” will be held at Channel Marker, 8865 Glebe Drive in Easton. The evening begins with happy hour at 6:30 pm and the program starts at 7:00 pm.

Admission to this program is free. Donations to the Shore Leadership scholarship fund are welcome. Sponsors for the event are Campbell’s Lane Farm, Channel Marker, Easton Utilities, and Shore United Bank. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Bring your own beer and wine.

“Leader Development through Improv” features Dan Brown of Reflex Improv. Brown caught the improv bug while in college, performing in the school’s short-form and sketch program, acting in school and community plays, as well as writing, directing, and starring in many comedy short films. After moving to the Washington, DC area, he took a free workshop at Washington Improv Theater and fell in love with the joy and freedom of long-form improv. His approach to teaching is positive, encouraging, joyful, fast-paced, and, most of all, fun.

Brown teaches improv classes in Virginia and Maryland. He most recently added a class that meets in Easton. No acting experience is required.

Improv student Nancy Andrew, a Shore Leadership alumna and former chair of the board, says, “I’d been curious about trying improv for years. In 2018, I signed up for two of Dan’s Annapolis classes. He’s a great teacher! Improv, for me, is pure fun with some good life lessons that teach me to be more present, to listen, and to receive what’s given to me.”

Andrew adds, “I was thrilled when Dan agreed to lead a class on the Shore. When we launched the first Easton class, it was great to find some fellow Shore Leadership alumni in the group, laughing and learning with me.”

Photo: Dan Brown (seated, center) of Reflex Improv. Pictured with Brown are members of his Easton improve class: seated, Shore Leadership alumni Linda Mastro and Nancy Andrew; standing L-R, Dan Van Skiver, Steve Clyburn, and Jeremy Hillyard.

Many corporations have hired Brown to bring the improve experience into the work place. “The easiest way to get people to work together is to get them to play together first,” says Brown, whose team of instructors introduces improv to corporate work teams. “Using the concept of ‘Yes-And’ encourages co-workers to listen and look for agreement. Two other improv fundamentals – ‘I’ve got your back’ and making each other look good – also encourage team work in any situation.”

During this two-hour workshop Brown will introduce participants to the building blocks for creating improvisation scenes, including warm-ups to break down barriers and build camaraderie, exercises to inspire top-of-the-head thinking and creativity. Expect lots of laughter and lessons that can be easily applied to everyday situations at work and in other areas of life.

At this event Shore Leadership alumni will have an opportunity to reconnect and discuss ideas for extending the learning they began as colleagues in the “best class ever.” Members of the Shore Leadership board will be on hand to provide information and answer questions for anyone interested in the program.

The Shore Leadership Program offers executives, managers and leaders on Maryland’s Eastern Shore the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the issues and challenges facing our region. Led by a certified master coach, participants are guided through skill building activities and conversation to foster collaboration and problem solving. A measureable impact on the expansion of personal and professional networks among the class participants is an inevitable outcome. Programs are uniquely placed in one of the nine Shore counties to explore a particular theme and connect that theme to the leadership challenges.

Register for “Leader Development through Improv” by emailing shoreleadership@gmail.com. Include your name, phone number and email address.

Learn more about Dan Brown and Reflex Improv at www.refleximprov.com.

Shore United Bank is proud to announce that Lynn Hancock has joined the company as a Branch Manager. Lynn will be managing our new branch location in Ocean City, Maryland that is scheduled to open in February of 2020. Lynn joins Shore United Bank with prior experience in consumer and business banking and knowledge of the Ocean City market area.

“We are excited to have Lynn on our team. Her knowledge of banking and experience in the Ocean City market will be an asset to our expansion. She has a passion for helping customers reach their financial goals,” says Jennifer Joseph, Executive Vice President, Chief Retail Banking Officer.

“I am proud to work for a bank that truly cares about the community.  Shore United Bank offers on-the-go banking options with a focus on security, along with personalized service that you would expect from a local, community bank,” says Ms. Hancock.

Lynn resides in Ocean Pines, Maryland with her husband Todd and their two children, Katelyn and Ethan. Lynn enjoys crafting, baking and going to the beach with her family.

For more information about Shore United Bank, visit ShoreUnitedBank.com.

Shore United Bank believes it is important to help local schools, senior centers, and other organizations by providing financial education through on-site programs and presentations. Year after year, their employees volunteer countless hours to provide credit counseling and financial literacy training to people of all ages. In 2016, Shore United Bank began a partnership with His Hope Ministries, a local homeless shelter in Denton, Maryland to teach a six-week course on financial literacy. This partnership, along with Shore United Bank’s involvement in other organizations, has inspired Shore United Bank to launch Money Management 101. This online program makes the financial information that their employees review with many organizations accessible to everyone – to help us all make wiser financial decisions.  Through careful planning, Shore United Bank has made every effort to present the information online in a brief, simple, and easily digestible manner to help consumers differentiate between needs and wants, establish a budget, understand how to establish or improve credit, prevent identity theft, avoid online scams, and more.  If you have friends or family members who could benefit from this new resource, please encourage them to check out the new online resource at shoreunitedbank.com/money-management-program.

For many young adults, college is the first time they are in control of the majority of their finances. As freshmen across the country embark on their first semester, Shore United Bank has highlighted eight tips to help ease their transition to financial independence.

“Striking the balance between spending and saving can be particularly hard when you are focused on everything else that comes with college life, but it is important to keep a close watch on your spending habits from day one,” said Laura Heikes, SVP Community & Government Relations Officer. “There’s no better time than the first year of college to establish good money habits and take control of your financial future.”

Shore United Bank offers the following tips to help ease the transition to financial independence for college freshmen.

1. Create a budget. Take some time to figure out your income and set your goals, factoring in recurring expenses that must be paid (like tuition, books, and car insurance), some of your “wants” (like concert tickets and other recreational activities), and savings for emergencies. Shore United Bank offers services that will help you keep track of your money – and stay on track of your goals.

2. Track your spending. Create a spreadsheet or download an app to see where your money is going each month. Mapping out your spending habits can help you identify where you might want to make adjustments.

3. Save a little each month. Save your spare change and deposit it into your bank account at the end of each month. Increase the amount by $5 each month or quarter. This is an easy and manageable way to establish good financial habits that “Future You” will appreciate.

4. Open an interest-bearing account. Stash some of your high school graduation money in an account that earns interest for doing nothing. When you open a certificate of deposit (CD), for example, you will earn interest in exchange for agreeing to leave your money alone for a specific period of time. Plan it right, and you can have CDs mature right as you need them each semester to help pay for tuition and expenses.

5. Utilize campus resources. Universities today offer plenty of amenities to students for little-to-no cost. Take advantage of benefits such as free access to the campus rec center and shuttles that take you to off-campus locations.

6. Take advantage of student discounts. When you want to take a break from the campus dining halls, or feel the urge to treat yourself, try looking for places that offer student discounts. Most discounts typically range from 10 to 15 percent and will accept your campus ID as verification.

7. Build credit wisely. Look into applying for a student credit card that you can use for small purchases that you are able to pay off in full each month, like a music streaming subscription. If you don’t have your own source of income or are not comfortable handling the responsibility of credit alone, ask your parents to add you as an authorized user for one of their credit cards to establish a history of credit.

8. Ask questions. Just like in the classroom, this is a learning experience. If you need help or are curious about a financial issue, ask trusted resources like your parents or your bank.

Shore United Bank is a full-service community bank offering innovative banking solutions. From student checking accounts to mobile banking to many other convenience services, we have products and resources to help college students manage their finances. With over 20 branches serving Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, stop into a branch near you or call 877.758.1600. For more information, visit ShoreUnitedBank.com. Member FDIC