Sep. 19, 2013
Garrett College has historically pursued a course of connecting with the adventure industry, and the administration has long recognized the need for the development of additional programming in the college’s academic plan. To meet this need and to expand educational opportunities, the Center for Adventure and Experiential Learning (CAEL) at the college has been established and will operate under the Continuing Education and Workforce Development Division.
College president Dr. Richard MacLennan, who says he is committed to moving this program from concept to reality, remains actively involved as an advisor in the development of CAEL, and said he sees it as a logical step for the college in the spirit of the Garrett College Aventuresports Institute (ASI) and the heritage of Garrett County.
“CAEL has developed into a strong component of the college’s strategic plan,” he said. “Through it we will provide educational opportunities to enhance the long history of outdoor adventure recreation in this region. We are moving along a continuum of creating the programs of study that embrace our area’s greatest assets of wildlife, forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes, as well as rugged venues for outdoors adventure experiences.”
Recently named to the post of program director for CAEL, Michael White has been working with a group of advisors to build the foundations upon which the program will grow. The vision for CAEL was the creation of a program at Garrett College that will become the portal to custom-designed education, training, and recreational experiences in Garrett County, and the surrounding region, he explained.
“The stated mission of the CAEL program is to provide high-quality, adventure-based programing to individuals and organizations with an educational and personal development focus,” White said. “In order to accomplish this undertaking, CAEL will coordinate efforts in the region to utilize the expertise of ASI trained students and other local partners. Using members of the local workforce to implement the educational programs builds an economic development component into CAEL.”
While developing the concepts that would enhance the educational opportunities in the adventure industry, Dr. MacLennan also saw that CAEL would positively impact workforce development and thereby contribute to economic growth in the area. He discussed the perceived benefits with former Garrett County Economic Development director Jim Hinebaugh.
Hinebaugh agreed that the CAEL program being developed has potential to provide a beneficial economic stimulus, which would dovetail well with Garrett County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, a plan that acknowledged the need for such growth. This discussion helped to create the connection for the development of the blueprint that would become part of the county plan.
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Jay Ferguson
Who I Am
My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service!
Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well.
I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’.
Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I
have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you.
Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about!
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