Local attorney, Derek Hills received the Lee A. Caplan Award this month at the MSBA Legal Summit. Nominated by Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Hills was chosen for the Caplan Award — an award geared toward a solo or small firm practitioner who has rendered pro bono service over many years.

“The Awards Committee received a terrific response to our request for nominations this year,” Dave Pantzer, Director of Education, Outreach, & Technology, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland said. “With such a wonderful selection of recommendations, the decisions for each award were often difficult ones.  Indeed, all the nominees deserve special recognition for their outstanding contributions toward increasing access to legal services for the poor.  Even so, the Committee was particularly impressed with these candidates’ pro bono efforts to ensure equal access to justice.”

Hill’s nomination was submitted by Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq., Managing Attorney at Mid-Shore Pro Bono. Girard said she was thrilled that Hills was accepted for the service award.

Hills operates a solo practice, The Law Office of Derek Hills, LLC, on West Street in Easton. Hills has been a dedicated Mid-Shore Pro Bono volunteer since he began his law practice in 2015. Girard said, “His volunteer service providing counseling and representation on consumer debt cases has resulted in concrete economic benefits for his clients and led to the creation of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s consumer debt program, which serves over 300 clients every year.”

In that time Hills has worked with MSPB specifically to resolve consumer debt cases — providing hundreds of hours of service on 182 cases to 368 clients.

“Hills is an extraordinary advocate for the rights of low-income people facing debt, collections, auto fraud, and other consumer challenges,” Girard wrote in her nomination, and as a result hundreds of Eastern Shore residents have received, pro bono, much needed advice on their rights and representation in court. “Derek’s clients describe him as a compassionate and effective advocate who stands up for people who often feel they have little voice,” she said.

Hills recognized that defendants in debt buyer cases often do not come to court, often resulting in lasting negative economic consequences. Through the creation of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s consumer debt program, they are proactively able to reach out to individuals who are being sought after in court by debt buyers and provides them with legal advice and direct representation.

In the first year of the program, Hills represented over 40 clients — and as of 2021 has represented 182 clients in cases and assisted 368 clients with consumer debt issues. Mid-Shore Pro Bono provides targeted outreach and marketing, including mailings to people who are being sued in District court, as well as case management and language interpretation.  “As a result of Derek’s effort to create the consumer debt program, Mid-Shore Pro Bono has helped low-income clients recover over $889,000 in financial benefits,” Girard said.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of Hills’ work is the care he takes to ensure that each client has additional resources they might need beyond their legal issue, Girard noted, citing one instance where he called MSPB requesting information about housing resources for a family he was assisting after he learned that they were living without heat or cooking facilities.

“His clients are often burdened by multiple consumer debt issues,” said Girard.  “Derek consistently and relentlessly assists his clients with humanity and humility.”

Long serving Delmarva Community Transit (DCT) Manager Jerome Stanley will be retiring at the end of this month.  Dr. Santo Grande, President/CEO and the Delmarva Community Services Board of Directors are excited to announce the selection of Keith Adkins as the new Transit Manager.  Keith will begin employment on May 24^th which will allow him the opportunity to work with Mr. Stanley prior to his retirement.

New Transit Manager Keith Adkins is a Dorchester County native, a resident of Linkwood, and has previously served as the County Manager for Dorchester County.  He also operated his own local trucking company for 13+ years. Keith has significant supervisory and budgetary experience, as well as extensive knowledge of safety regulations and compliance.  He is dedicated to customer service and recognizes the importance of building a strong working relationship with our transit team members. He has volunteered on a number of local boards and organizations, including Past President and Chief, and Life Member of the Linkwood-Salem Volunteer Fire Company.  He has also served as Past President of the Dorchester County Volunteer Fireman’s Association.

In addition, current mobility manager and dispatcher Jerome Fitchett has been promoted to Assistant Transit Manager.  Jerome has been with Delmarva Community Transit since 2014 and has both management and hands on transit operations experience.  Jerome is a Dorchester County native and is a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army.  Jerome’s knowledge and experience, combined with his outstanding customer service skills, will serve the organization well as it moves forward.

DCS would be remiss not to thank Jerome Stanley for his 35 years of service. Jerome began his career at the agency in 1986 as a disability program coordinator. He advanced professionally becoming a job coach and then Vocational Services Manager.  When offered the opportunity to manage the burgeoning transit department he took the job and has directed it since. Along the way, Jerome has achieved many professional accomplishments including becoming a statewide safety instructor, judge of the CTAA National Roadeo and officer of the Transportation Association of Maryland.

Delmarva Community Transit is the transportation division of Delmarva Community Services (DCS), a multi-service, non-profit agency human services agency whose mission it is to help people who wish to maintain dignity and an independent lifestyle within their rural community on the Delmarva Peninsula. The agency serves those in our community who are most vulnerable. Having begun in 1974, DCS now offers services in 9 counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore and in 2 Delaware counties. DCS works with/under the guidance of state/federal agencies including the Developmental Disabilities Administration, MAC Inc. (Area Agency on Aging), Department of Housing & Community Development, & the MD Transit Administration.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono (MSPB), a non-profit organization on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that provides free or reduced fee legal services to eligible community members, today announced the addition of four new board members, Ruth Thomas of Preston, Rebecca Burner of Grasonville, Samantha Bowers Welte of Easton and Doncella Wilson of Denton, Maryland.  Previous treasurer Timothy Abeska has been named president of the Board of Directors.

“These new directors will provide strategic direction for the continued growth of our organization,” said Sandy Brown, executive director, Mid-Shore Pro Bono.  “We are excited to channel their talents, expertise and energy into furthering our mission.”

Ruth Thomas, Preston Maryland

Ruth Thomas has worked with attorneys for twenty years and has a deep understanding of the non-profit sector, specifically related to fundraising.  Her role as the USA Vice President for Finance and Administration for SAT-7 North America in Maryland, involves experience in forecasting, marketing, development and financial and personnel management.  She is also trained in legacy giving methods and campaigns and has testified on the issue of charitable deductions.  “One of the top reasons people give to non-profits is financial accountability.  They want to know their gifts are being used wisely.  I am looking forward to working with the board to strengthen fiscal transparency to grow our donor base.”

Rebecca Burner, Grasonville, Maryland

Rebecca Burner brings more than thirty-five years of government relations experience to the board through her work with the Maryland General Assembly.  Her expertise lies in budgeting, finance, and personnel administration.  She has worked for the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and the Maryland Department of the Environment.  Her professional experience will become a critical part of successfully fulfilling MSPB’s mission and achieving internal and external goals.

“Access to justice should be impartial and non-discriminatory. Yet there is an obvious gap when it comes to the availability of legal services to people from low socio-economic backgrounds.  I am looking forward to helping close that gap and assuring that all people have access to representation when dealing with civil legal issues.”

Samantha Welte, Easton, Maryland

Samantha Welte’s experience working with English as a Second Language (ESL) students in Talbot County Public Schools has exposed her to the reality of immigration issues which many local families are facing.  This is what attracted Samantha to MSPB.  “We have children disappear because they have been deported. I think Mid-Shore Pro Bono is providing an extremely valuable public service to all members of the community because the work they are doing helps stabilize these types of situations for all segments of society.”

Samantha’s professional experience as an educator spans across many diverse areas including curriculum development, research, advocacy, evaluation, and fundraising.  Her expertise in the representation of diverse populations through her role as an educational advisor to Seattle Public Schools will provide insight to the way in which MSPB represents community immigration challenges.

Doncella Wilson, Denton, Maryland

As a licensed social worker, Doncella Wilson monitors programs for the Governor’s Office for Children to facilitate local care teams which include state agencies, community partners and families.  Her experience as an intake coordinator for Mentor Maryland, provided her the opportunity to work with children and adolescents who are in foster care and clients with mental health diagnoses to identify placements, eligibility for community-based care and offers counsel to families on coping strategies.  This work has brought her close to the clinical, therapeutic, and programmatic issues these families are exposed to on a regular basis.  As a Denton town council member, Doncella understands the importance of continued community support, compliance, and efficiencies in the public sector.

The newly elected executive committee consists of:

• Timothy Abeska, President
• Jim McComb, Vice President
• Mike Starling, Esq., Treasurer
• Holland Brownley, Esq., Secretary

The 2021 board also includes Sarah Dahl, Esq., Tawes Harper, Stephanie A. Shipley, Esq., and Judith Showalter, Esq.

Tim Abeska, who has served on the board for several years, is the newly elected board president.  Tim’s experience includes managing a nineteen-member litigation department, service on the Management Committee of what was then an Am Law 200 law firm (now an Am Law 100 firm), thirty-five years of managing a busy law practice, and service on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Bar Foundation.

“I am looking forward to working with the board on expanding our outreach to the communities we serve so we can increase awareness and client referrals,” said Abeska.  “I’m also excited to work on the development of a robust fundraising program to recruit and retain donors with the goal of providing unrestricted funding to better fulfill MSPB’s mission.”

For more information about MSPB, please visit midshoreprobono.org or call 410-690-8128.

About Mid-Shore Pro Bono

The goal of Mid-Shore Pro Bono is to strengthen the communities of Maryland’s Eastern Shore by ensuring equal access to civil justice through connecting low-income individuals and families in need of civil legal help with volunteer attorneys and community resources. Based on this belief, we envision a community where all individuals should feel respected and empowered throughout the legal system.  To learn more or to support our work please visit www.midshoreprobono.org.