Leadership Anne Arundel executive director resigns

Less than a year after she took the reins of Leadership Anne Arundel, the executive director of the nonprofit organization suddenly resigned last week.

Dr. Pamela Brown, former chief of staff for the Fort Lauderdale City Commission who was recruited from Florida as part of a nationwide search, said she stepped down Wednesday, citing "philosophical differences in the goals and direction of the organization."

She declined to elaborate, saying her post "was not a good fit."

Leadership Anne Arundel provides leadership training programs designed to help county residents and business executives become effective community leaders. The organization is now in its 15th year.

Maura Walden, incoming board president for Leadership Anne Arundel, declined to comment on Dr. Brown's resignation, but said the organization is "putting together a transition plan as we speak" and hopes to find a replacement soon.

She said she is excited about the organization being in its 15th year. Leadership Anne Arundel has many great programs and is revamping its Executive Leadership program, she said.

"We have so many committed volunteers that I'm just very excited about it," she said. "I'm excited about the fact that we are moving forward. There is so much in the works."

Dr. Brown took over the group's executive director position in November from Griff Hall, who served as the group's executive director for more than eight years before starting his own leadership training and consulting firm, Leadership Arts.before starting his own leadership training and consulting firm, Leadership Arts.

Despite her resignation, Dr. Brown said she has had a "wonderful experience" at Leadership Anne Arundel.

"I have met some of the kindest, best people I have ever met in any community anywhere," Ms. Brown said. "Much of it has been a real joy."

Dr. Brown said she plans to continue living in the county and will take a "couple of months to decide what I want to do next."

She said she will continue teaching as a professor for the online University of Phoenix and Florida Atlantic University.

"It's been a tremendous experience and it's because of the people who make up the large pool that is LAA," she said. "I have been delighted by Anne Arundel County."

Hal Shear, managing director for Board Assets Inc., an Annapolis company that provides advisory services for directors, boards and chief executive officers, said anytime an executive director leaves an organization abruptly it is "obviously disruptive."

Dr. Brown's exit within roughly six months is a "no-foul period," he said. If she resigned after two weeks on the job, it could indicate "something seriously wrong," he said.

But "not everything works out after the honeymoon period," he said.