The Potomac KnowledgeWay Project today announced that William (Brit) E. Kirwan, Ph.D., president of the University of Maryland at College Park, and John R. Tydings, president of The Greater Washington Board of Trade, have joined its board of directors.

"The addition of two well-known and highly respected leaders underscores the Project's expanded focus and commitment to serving the interests of the entire greater Washington region," said Mario Morino, chairman of the Potomac KnowledgeWay Project. "Brit and John will help us reach out to a broader segment of the community and better serve the area's businesses, individuals and institutions."

The KnowledgeWay is focusing on four primary initiatives: increasing the awareness of what the communications revolution means to companies, individuals and institutions in the region; cultivating network driven entrepreneurship; promoting a net-savvy workforce; and advancing a regional information infrastructure that will improve and facilitate connectedness throughout the region.

"I am excited to become part of such a vital and innovative project," said Kirwan, who has served as the University's president since 1989 and has been a professor and administrator at College Park for more than 30 years. "My interest in finding creative, business-oriented solutions to educational challenges and in advancing the interests of the future workforce and the community makes this an exciting opportunity, one which meshes well with the strengths of this University," he added. Kirwan is credited with leading several significant University initiatives, including streamlining academic offerings, recruiting and retaining distinguished faculty and initiating a successful capital campaign. He is also known as a visionary and consensus builder.

Tydings, a long-time advocate and representative of the business community in the greater Washington region, will be a tremendous asset to the board. "The Potomac KnowledgeWay's efforts complement those of the Board of Trade," said Tydings, a founder of Leadership Washington and secretary to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Chambers of Commerce. "The greater Washington business community has an incredible opportunity to position itselffor the future based on some emerging new strengths. I want to help shape that future through the Potomac KnowledgeWay Project," he added.

Formed in June 1995, the Potomac KnowledgeWay Project has quickly emerged as a powerful and positive force in the greater Washington region. It is committed to establishing the region as one that has embraced the communications revolution and prospered from it by educating the community and workforce about the enormous opportunities the communications revolution represents.