"Apprentice" winner addresses UMES grads

PRINCESS ANNE, MD –

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Some 370 seniors at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, graduated on Friday during the University's 2009 Spring Commencement Ceremony. Some 77 of them graduated with honors.

The event began at 10 a.m. in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center arena on the UMES campus. Dr. Randal Pinkett was the keynote speaker.

He has appeared and re-appeared on NBC's "The Apprentice" as a boardroom advisor and is a regular segment host for "CEO Exchange" on PBS. He's also the co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a multimillion dollar management, technology and policy consulting firm based in Newark, NJ.

Dr. Pinkett is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, and holds five academic degrees.

Joining Pinkett for the event were Rilous Carter, vice president of Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida; Neil M. Meltzer, president and CEO of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Md., and senior vice president of Life Bridge Health; Stephen L. Powell, president and CEO of Powell Steel Corporation in Lancaster, Pa.; Ellis M. Stanley Sr., director of western emergency management services for Dewberry, LLC in Los Angeles, Calif.; and Dr. Darlene F. Williams, general deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Administration for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For more information about the commencement ceremony, visit http://www.umes.edu/