The Outpouring of Community Support for Columbia Association President/CEO Lakey Boyd

There has been an outpouring of community support for Columbia Association President and CEO Lakey Boyd following reports that as many as 7 (out of the 10) members of the Columbia Association Board of Directors are actively plotting to remove Lakey Boyd as CA's President and CEO. Many community organizations, businesses, village boards, residents, and even Columbia Association employees and senior leadership have sent letters or provided oral testimony during resident speak out at CA meetings in support of Lakey Boyd, most notably during the standing room only CA Board Meeting held on Thursday November 10, 2022. Common themes amongst those testifying in support of Lakey Boyd are her organizational leadership; financial stewardship of the Columbia Association, creation of new community partnerships; commitment to diversity, inclusive, and equity; and as changemaker with modern vision for the future of CA.

The following table lists the organizations and individuals who have testified in in support of Lakey Boyd to date. The "speak-out" link directs to the exact point of the YouTube meeting recording in which that speak-out occurred.

Organization / Individual	Reference / Link
Columbia Association Senior Leadership Team Dan Burns - VP Community Programs & Services Susan Krabbe, Sr VP Admin Services Dennis Mattey, VP Community Operations Michael Aniton, General Counsel Lynn Schwartz, Director of Finance Tim Pinel, Director of Communications Armsby Carbon, Director of IT	Speakout from Dan Burns, VP of CA Community Programs & Services at 11/10/22 CA Meeting on behalf of the CA Senior Leadership Team.
Columbia Association Team Members (Petition signed by 156 CA Employees)	Speakout by Marty Oltmanns, Director of Aquatics, Columbia Association at 11/10/22 CA Meeting on behalf of 156 CA team members. Petition from CA Team Members. Team Member Support of Lakey Boyd - Google Docs .pdf Download PDF • 154KB
Resident Petition on Change.org	Over 750 individuals and counting have signed a change.org petition in support of Lakey Boyd as Columbia Association President and CEO. If you haven't already done so, add your name to the petition at the link above!
Harper's Choice Community Association Note: Harper Choice CA rep Alan Klein is one of the CA Boardmembers who appears to be supportive of effort to remove Lakey Boyd.	Letter from HCCA. Speakout from Rebecca Beall, Village Board Chair, on behalf of Harper's Choice Community Association at 11/10/22 CA Board Meeting
Owen Brown Community Association Note: Owen Brown CA rep Andy Stack is one of the CA Boardmembers who appears to be opposed to efforts to remove Lakey Boyd.	Letter sent on behalf of OBCA Speakout by Michael Golibersuch, Village Board Chair, on behalf of Owen Brown Community Association at 11/10/22 CA Board Meeting
Wilde Lake Community Assocation Note: Wilde Lake CA rep Bill Santos is one of the CA Boardmembers who appears to be opposed to efforts to remove Lakey Boyd.	Speakout from Kevin McAliley, Village Board Chair, on behalf of Wilde Lake Community Association at 11/10/22 CA Board Meeting
N.A.A.C.P. of Howard County	Speakout from Willie Flowers at 11/10/22 CA Meeting. Speakout from Willie Flowers at 11/10 CA Meeting.
Howard County Library System	Speakout from Tonya Aikens, President & CEO of HCLS at 6/23/22 CA Meeting. Letter from HCLS and Horizon Foundation published in Columbia Flyer on 11/24/22 (image below).
Horizon Foundation	Letter from HCLS and Horizon Foundation published in Columbia Flyer on 11/24/22.
Columbia Community Care	Speakout from Erika Chavarria, founder of CCC and Wilde Lake HS Educator at 6/9/22 CA Meeting
Columbia Festival of the Arts	Letter from CFA Staff and Board to Columbia Association Board of Directors in support of President/CEO Lakey Boyd Speakout from Allison Hickman, Chair of Columbia Festival of the Arts chair during 11/10/22 CA Meeting
The 3rd	Speakout from Laura Bacon, founder of the 3rd at 6/9/22 CA Meeting. Letter of Support from Downtown Columbia Partnership, Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Downtown Columbia Arts and Cultural Commission, and the 3rd Speakout from Philip Dodge, Executive Director of Downtown Columbia Partnership speaking on behalf of DCP, Merriweather Post Pavilion, DCACC, and the 3rd during 11/10/22 CA Meeting.
Downtown Columbia Partnership	Letter of Support from Downtown Columbia Partnership, Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Downtown Columbia Arts and Cultural Commission, and the 3rd Speakout from Philip Dodge, Executive Director of Downtown Columbia Partnership speaking on behalf of DCP, Merriweather Post Pavilion, DCACC, and the 3rd during 11/10/22 CA Meeting. Speakout from Philip Dodge at 6/9/22 CA Meeting.
Merriweather Post Pavilion	Letter of Support from Downtown Columbia Partnership, Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Downtown Columbia Arts and Cultural Commission, and the 3rd Speakout from Philip Dodge, Executive Director of Downtown Columbia Partnership speaking on behalf of DCP, Merriweather Post Pavilion, DCACC, and the 3rd during 11/10/22 CA Meeting.
Downtown Columbia Arts & Culture Commission	Letter of Support from Downtown Columbia Partnership, Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Downtown Columbia Arts and Cultural Commission, and the 3rd Speakout from Philip Dodge, Executive Director of Downtown Columbia Partnership speaking on behalf of DCP, Merriweather Post Pavilion, DCACC, and the 3rd during 11/10/22 CA Meeting.
Marcy Leonard, Principal of Wilde Lake High School	Speakout at 6/9/22 CA Meeting
Mae Beale, Prominent Civic and Community Activist	Speakout during 6/23/22 CA Board Meeting.
Amy Brooks, Educator at Oakland Mills HS, Oakland Mills Online co-founder, and MD Delegate candidate.	Speakout during 11/10/22 CA Board Meeting
Christie Lassen, Resident Harper's Choice	Speakout during 11/10/22 CA Board Meeting

This table will be updated as other organizations or individuals offer public support of Lakey Boyd. Please contact me via e-mail at themerriweatherpost@gmail.com if you are aware of any additional entities or individuals that should be added to this list.

For more on the CA controversary surrounding the CA Board and CEO/President Lakey Boyd, see How Poor Judgement, Ego, and Miscommunication Have Led the CA Board to Consider Firing CA President, The Merriweather Post, October 31, 2022, A coup in Columbia? A dynamic leader faces a disgruntled board in Maryland’s second-largest city, Baltimore Fishbowl, November 10,2022, or The Choices Tell You, Village Green/Town2, November 11, 2022.