Blog – Page 4

Eric Wakefield: Peer Support Means You’re Never Alone At On Our Own of Frederick

written by: Zanne Lamb-Hunt

Eric Wakefield grew up on the East Coast. He had “a sort of typical suburban childhood” but shares that “from early on, it was rather confused and messy. There were things that have never made sense in my life.

“Both of my parents graduated from Harvard and I never got a high school degree.” There was time spent at a boarding school but that didn’t culminate in a diploma either.

“Then it was sort of the late ’60s and early 70’s — sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll.” Eric bounced from one exotic location to another, had many wild and carefree adventures, admits to spending about a year and a half drunk and guesstimates that he held more than fifty jobs.

Monica Pearce: Cheers to Frederick’s Own Craft Booze at Tenth Ward Distillery Company!

written by: Zanne Lamb-Hunt

Monica Pearce refers to herself as a ‘Fredneck at heart,’ having grown up right here in Frederick. She waitressed at the Waffle House on Patrick Street when she was only fourteen and has primarily remained in the service industry since that time.

She earned a BS in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Maryland. She then achieved a Masters in Natural Resource Management from Virginia Tech.

Jan Hummer: Open Minds, Inc. Is Relieving Suffering Through Mindfulness Education

written by: Zanne Lamb-Hunt

Jan Hummer grew up in Middletown, Maryland, where she currently resides. “I’ve moved to so many places,” shares Jan, “but I always come back here because it’s such a beautiful place and the community is so supportive.”

She especially enjoys spending her spare time in outdoors activities in the area and hanging out with her young daughter. “She’s nine years old and growing up fast. She enjoys a lot of the same things that I do. We’re huge Star Wars fans!”

Jan achieved her RBA in Graphic Design, Early Childhood Education and Social Justice at Shepherd University in 2002. She followed it up with a Masters of Arts Degree in Contemplative Education from Boulder, Colorado’s Naropa University in 2011.

Dana Dudley: Auctioneer, Mortgager & Jill of All Trades

written by: Zanne Lamb-Hunt

Dana Dudley grew up in lower Montgomery County in a suburb on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. in the Wheaton/Silver Spring area. “It was a modest neighborhood. There wasn’t a lot of extra money for things.

“At a young age, I learned that if I wanted something I was going to have to earn it. So, I had a grass-cutting business. I had my own lawn mower.” During the winters, she shoveled snow. And, she also earned cash by cleaning houses in the neighborhood on Saturday mornings.

Dana admits to being a tomboy as a kid. “I played with tools, electronics, and especially cars. I liked to see how they operated…how they worked.” She spent a lot of time at Summit Point Raceway where her father was employed.
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Eric Verdi: The Start Of Frederick Advice Givers And Growing A Community

written by: Zanne Lamb-Hunt

Eric Verdi is a life-long resident of Frederick. Aside from the time he spent attending Salisbury University where he was awarded a degree in Finance in 1998, he’s also a 2002 graduate of Hood College where he achieved his MBA in Finance.

He’s the Associate Broker and Co-Owner of Maryland Real Estate Group, the author of The Psychological Approach to Sell Real Estate, the host of the highly-successful Frederick Advice Givers podcast and the Creator and Editor-in-Chief of the monthly Frederick Advice Givers magazine.

He also delivers the daily (M-F) thought-provoking Morning Musings and he’s the entertaining storyteller behind the monthly Eric Verdi Letter newsletter with Stories From The Street. And, this is only a small peek into the creative and industrious world of Eric Verdi.

Sarah Kurtanich: Introducing Downtown Frederick Through Taste Frederick Food Tours

written by: Zanne Lamb-Hunt

Sarah’s love of historic small towns started in the one she grew up in — Sykesville, Maryland. She moved to Frederick with her family when she was about eleven and lived “about four miles outside of Downtown.

“I’ve lived here ever since, with the exception of college,” she shares. She graduated from The Smith School at the University of Maryland in College Park with a B.S. in Marketing.

“I moved back after college and started working at Footlights Dance & Theater Boutique on East Street. I grew up dancing so it was kind of a natural fit. It was a lot of fun.” Then came a job that wasn’t so much fun.