New Leadership in the Ellicott City Partnership!

Last Updated 7/29/2026


The Ellicott City Partnership Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Gasser as our next President! Mark was approved unanimously by the board and will begin his tenure on July 1.


“Mark has already demonstrated a deep commitment to the success of Ellicott City and the work of the Ellicott City Partnership. His collaborative leadership style, innovative thinking, and genuine passion for our community make him the right person to help guide ECP into its next chapter. I am excited to work alongside him and confident that our organization and community will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
— Tami Shaw, ECP Executive Director


Mark has served on the ECP Board of Directors for the past year and has demonstrated a genuine commitment to moving the organization and the community forward. He brings a collaborative and energizing presence to his leadership, unites people around a common purpose, and approaches challenges with fresh thinking.


“I’m thankful for the trust and support of my fellow board members and the confidence the organization has placed in me,” said Gasser. “Old Ellicott City is at an exciting moment, and I look forward to working alongside our incredible staff, volunteers, businesses, and community members to realize the ambitious vision we all have for this place.”


Mark, with his wife, Alex, and their animals, has been a resident of Main St for more than 10 years. Mark is a research scientist and project manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Ghent University (Belgium), and a doctorate in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.



“It has been an absolute privilege to have served the Ellicott City Partnership these last few years. We have navigated all types of challenges and celebrated many successes as well. I will forever be grateful for the support, guidance, and trust of my fellow Board members and this community, and it is with great excitement that I look to the future with Mark and the rest of the Executive Committee. There is no doubt that the ECP has amazing things to come under their leadership! I will always be here for the ECP, my fellow business owners, and this community I love so much. Thank you!”
— Julia Sanger, Outgoing ECP President



Joining Mark on the Executive Committee are Roy Chernikoff, Vice President; Kevin Markle, Vice President; Tiffany Averill, Secretary; and Jeff Jarina, Treasurer. The board is grateful for their willingness to serve and for the leadership they bring to this work.


The ECP Board would like to express its deepest gratitude to Julia (outgoing President), Alison Burkowske (outgoing Vice President), and Mark Hemmis (outgoing Treasurer) for their dedication and service to the Ellicott City Partnership and the Old Ellicott City community. They will remain a valued part of the organization, continuing as board members and in a close advisory capacity to the incoming President and Executive Committee members.


With a strong leadership team in place and the continued support of our community, the future of Old Ellicott City is bright. We look forward to all that we'll accomplish together in the months and years ahead!

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