Garrett College Foundation

Board of Directors

Carissa Rodeheaver

President, CEO and Chairman of the Board

First United Bank & Trust and First United Corporation

Oakland, MD

Carissa Rodeheaver’s long-standing membership on the Garrett College Foundation Board of Directors and her current leadership over the organization is a testament to Carissa’s strong belief in education and her passion for the students of Garrett County. She sees the Foundation as a supporting arm of the College, creating educational opportunities for students through scholarships, grants, capital campaigns and ongoing support. She is also particularly passionate about the I Can Swim program and the opportunity that it provides to all Garrett County kindergarten students. Carissa believes that a strong education can open doors to amazing careers and life experiences and is happy and honored to serve on the Garrett College Foundation Board.

Carissa Rodeheaver is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer for First United Bank & Trust and First United Corporation, a $1.8 billion publicly traded financial holding company headquartered in Oakland, Maryland and operating 27 branch offices and a $1.4 billion wealth department. Carissa is passionate about customizing financial solutions for customers throughout Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, having worked in the banking industry for over 30 years. Her career in banking began in wealth management where she served as a Trust Administrator, Sales Officer and Sales Manager before she transitioned into bank finance where she served as Chief Financial Officer before becoming CEO. She is an avid supporter of the financial industry through her involvement as past Chairman for the Maryland Bankers Association, current Director for the Maryland Bankers Association and Director and Treasurer for the American Bankers Association, past Chairman for the American Bankers Association BankPac and Membership Committees, member of the American Bankers Association Government Relations, Investment and Venture Investment Capital Committees and Voter Education Advisory Council, past member of the American Bankers Association Accounting Committee and founding member of the Maryland Bankers Association Council for Professional Women in Banking and Finance.

Locally, Carissa currently serves on boards and committees for the Garrett College Foundation, the Garrett Development Corporation, UPMC Western Maryland Health Systems, the Community Trust Foundation and the Garrett County Public Schools CTE Committee.

Carissa is a certified public accountant with a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maryland at College Park where she graduated with honors. During her career, Carissa has been publicly recognized by the Maryland Association of Public Accountants as a Woman to Watch, was inducted into the Garrett County Women’s Hall of Fame, was recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record in 2020 and 2022, their 2022 Maryland Power 30 in Banking and Finance and 2022 Most Admired CEO. Under her leadership, First United Corporation has been recognized for multiple years by Women on Boards and Executive Alliance 20/20 Honor Roll for its gender diversity and has established a charitable foundation to benefit the communities where the bank operates.

Executive Board:

Carissa Rodeheaver, Chair
Rosie Verteegen, Vice Chair
Walt Malecki, Treasurer
Julia Hoffmann, Secretary
Lori Richards, Vice-Chair Finance & Investment Committee
Gary Wakefield, Vice-Chair Development Committee

General Membership:

Katharine Alvarez, Member at Large
Barbara Baker, Member at Large
Dick Carroll, Member at Large
Carolyn Dennicker, Member at Large
Elizabeth Georg, Member at Large
Christian Mash, Member at Large
Bartlett Naylor, Member at Large
Mary Helen Spear, Member at Large
Alison Sweitzer, Member at Large
Rosie Verstegen, Member at Large
Elizabeth Wotring-Nelson, Member at Large
Lori Youse, Member at Large

Ex-Officio Membership:

Madeleine Collins, Garrett College Board of Trustees Liaison
Cherie Krug, Executive Director – Garrett College Foundation
Richard Midcap, President – Garrett College