Howard Bank, a growth-focused community bank serving businesses, professionals and individuals in the Greater Baltimore area, announced today that Rosa Scharf, senior vice president and commercial lead of Howard County, has been named to the Howard Community College Educational Foundation Board of Directors (HCCEF).

Scharf will serve a three-year term alongside local banking and corporate professionals, who will help provide funds for scholarships, grants and programs that benefit the college and the students. Established in 1978, the HCCEF board’s mission is to improve the lives of students and the community as a whole by funding pathways to success that create opportunities.

“Our board is the backbone of our students’ success, and we believe Rosa has the right approach and ideas to help us continue our legacy and push for new programs,” said Mary Cannon, Chair of HCCEF’s Board of Directors. “Aside from her many years of banking expertise, she is well-known in Howard County for her community support. Howard Bank’s values and actions align with ours – to empower our community with the resources they need for long-term financial success.”

Scharf has more than 30 years of experience in financial sales, commercial lending and management experience. Since joining the Howard Bank team in 2004, she has developed the bank’s SBA guaranteed loan program, and helped initiate the Howard Bank Women in Leadership program.

“As a long-time resident of Maryland, I recognize our success relies on how we care for our neighbors – and investing in their education is crucial,” Scharf said. “I’m honored to serve the Howard Community College Educational Fund, and collaborate with local leaders who are ready to provide more opportunities for students to experience the college’s diverse programs.”

For the past two years, Scharf has been a board member of the Meals on Wheels Foundation of Central Maryland, and the Maryland Commercial Lender’s Association. She has also served as Commissioner of the Governor’s Commissioner of Service and Volunteerism, the St. Agnes Hospital Foundation, and the Boy Scouts of Central Maryland.

Throughout her career, Scharf has been awarded with several honors. In 2007, the Howard County Economic Development Center presented Scharf with the Individual Achievement Award. The following year, she received the United States Small Business Administration Financial Services Champion Award. In 2008 and 2012, she was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record. In 2015, she received the Individual Achievement Award from the Maryland Banker’s Association, and won their Champion for Women Award this year.

About Howard Bancorp, Inc.

Howard Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Howard Bank, a Maryland-chartered trust company operating as a commercial bank. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Howard Bank operates a general commercial banking business with approximately $2.1 billion consolidated assets through its 21 branches located throughout the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Additional information about Howard Bancorp, Inc. and Howard Bank is available on the company’s web site at?www.howardbank.com.

About Howard Community College Educational Board of Directors (HCCEF)

The HCC Educational Foundation (HCCEF) is nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that provides funds for scholarships, grants and programs that benefit the college. Contributions to the HCCEF are tax deductible to the fullest extent provided by law. One hundred percent of gifts go to support the scholarship, endowment, or program of the donor’s choice. All administrative costs are covered by the college to ensure that all of the money raised goes directly to scholarships or to advance and support the programs and facilities of Howard Community College.