directors' biography

Vincent "Vince" O. Leggett— Career Business Owner, Nonprofit Practitioner, African American Historical Site Trainer and Youth Guide, Golf Enthusiast, Junior Golf Advocate and Mentor who serves as the first Vice President/Chief Operating Officer with the Executive Board.  Furthermore, Vince is currently the President and CEO of the Leggett Group USA which is an Annapolis based consulting firm that specializes in Government Relations, Public Affairs and Advocacy. Additionally, Vince is a certified regulated lobbyist in the State of Maryland General Assembly in the areas of Equity Educational Funding, Natural Gas, Oil and Clean Energy, Environmental, and Historic & Cultural Preservation.  As the Founder and President of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation which the Library of Congress and the U.S. Congress have designated as a Local Legacy Project, Vince provides specialized services to document the significant contributions of African Americans in the maritime and seafood related industries.  In 1998 according to the Baltimore Sun, it reported that “A legend sets sail on the bay Waterman: On his 80th birthday, Earl White joins a handful of black men in Maryland maritime history with the honorary title of Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay.”  Also, according to Vince, the Mayor of the City of Annapolis declared November 17, 1998, Earl White Day.  For the aforementioned Legacy Project, in 2017, Governor Larry Hogan commissioned Kent Island resident Captain Eldridge Meredith who is the fifth African-American known to have received this honor as the 101st Admiral of Chesapeake Bay which is a prestigious lifetime achievement award for an individual’s extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.  Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford presented the award on Meredith’s 91st birthday.  Vince’s contributory efforts of the Chesapeake legacy project have led to his development of consulting and the providing of training in the areas of social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. Currently, Vince holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning & Community Development from Morgan State University and a Master’s of Arts degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan.  Besides those academia efforts, Vince has completed additional training through the University of Michigan Multi-Cultural Leadership Development Initiative along with Executive Director Development Training through the Center of Government Services at The Rutgers University.  Lastly, Vince and his wife make their home in Annapolis, Maryland where he serves as Chaplain for the Fire Department in his spare time.

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