Harford Employee Receives Northeastern Maryland Technology Council Visionary Award

Jill Peregino, Associate Professor of Data Science and Mathematics at Harford Community College, was among those honored at the 15th Northeastern Maryland Technology Council (NMTC) Visionary Awards ceremony held at the Water's Edge Events Center on February 26. She was awarded NMTC’s Visionary Award in the “Mentor” category.

Several Marylanders were honored this year for their volunteer efforts that contribute to STEM-educated workforce development and advancing our technology and innovation base to grow the economy and protect national security. The NMTC awards gala, the largest of its kind in Maryland, is supported by leaders and contributors from industry, government, and education.

2026 Award recipients represent excellence across multiple categories, including emerging student leaders, workforce champions, and innovators who make progress possible.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to John Casner, who served as NMTC Executive Director from 2006 to 2023.

The Visionary honoree is Kimberly A. Watts, DEVCOM U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. Leader honorees include Kimberly D. Justus, Susquehanna Workforce Network; Rob Limpert, iCEV; Phil Rogofsky, Maryland STEM Festival Inc; and Tamera Rush, Tenax Technologies. Awardees in the Innovator category include Thomas Keller III, Cecil College; Nick Lattanzi, Elite Edge Partners LLC; and Bharat Patel, Accenture Federal. Mentor category honorees include Melissa Dethlefsen, Harford County Public Schools Central Office; Corey Geho, APGFCU Education; Keisha Nandalal, Retired Educator; Jill L. Peregino, Harford Community College; Tim Pistel, Harford County Public Schools (Aberdeen High School); and Dr. Shomari Zachary, Harford County Public Schools. The Rising Star category honoree is Gabrielle Whitworth, CHOSEN Community Development Corporation. NEXTGEN honorees are Grace Buxton, Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School; Meghan Greimel, Harford County Public Schools, student; and Christopher Peterson, student.

The Visionary category recognizes a person who is making significant contributions to our entire community's well-being, displayed as a personal commitment to the advancement of building our workforce for the future or advancing innovation and technology with demonstrated qualities of enlightened leadership over a notable period. 

The Leader category acknowledges the individual's steadfast, consistent contribution to building our STEM-educated workforce or advancing our innovation and technology base in a public way while inspiring others to help in accomplishing shared goals.

The Mentor category recognizes those who consistently go above and beyond in volunteering their knowledge, experiences, and wisdom to stimulate and inspire greatness in students, teachers, or emerging technology businesses.

The Innovator category recognizes exceptional personal efforts in developing and implementing innovative programs or products benefiting building our STEM-educated workforce or advancing our innovation and technology base, with the potential for broad positive impact in the community.

The Rising Star category acknowledges those who demonstrated the potential to be excellent, long-term contributors to building the STEM-educated workforce or advancing our innovation and technology base.

Previous NMTC Visionary Award winners from Harford Community College include Al Horst, Richard Schwanke, Marlene Lieb, John Mayhorne, Deb Wrobel, Denise Carnaggio, Bruce Burns, Rob Lieb, Sandra Young, Dennis Hiebert, Frank Mayer, Dawn Grissom, Laura Cianelli Preston, Jacklyn Madden, Andrew Adams, Dr. Bill Stephens, Breonna Martin, Dr. Pamela Pape-Lindstrom, and Chris Jones.