DC on the Half Shell Past Honorees

Gregorio Photography

DC on the Half Shell serves as an opportunity to honor exemplary partners. This event allows CBF to celebrate the honoree’s strides in conservation along with hundreds of their friends, family, business partners, and bay-loving peers.

2024

(From left) Nick Pomponi, Crystal Patterson, Senator Ben Cardin, Hilary Harp Falk, Pamela Murphy, and Byrne Murphy

Honoree: Senator Ben Cardin
Event Chairs: Pamela & Byrne Murphy, Crystal Patterson, Kim & Nick Pomponi
Senator Ben Cardin was awarded he 2024 Clean Water Legacy award for his extraordinary efforts to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its local waterways.

2022

(From left) Hilary Harp Falk, Elizabeth Oliver-Farrow, Truman T. Semans, Alden Stoner, William C. Baker

Honoree: William C. Baker
Event Chairs: Truman T. Semans and Alden E. Stoner
As William C. Baker embarked on retirement, CBF was proud to celebrate his career and legacy by recognizing him with the 2022 Conservationist of the Year award. Will dedicated his life to saving the Bay and building a movement that is front and center in our homes, classrooms, and halls of power.

2020

(From left) Will Baker, Elizabeth Oliver-Farrow, Susan Mars and Frank Mars, Anne Mehringer, John Beaty

Honoree: Frank and Susan Mars on behalf of Mars, Incorporated
Event Chairs: Anne L. Mehringer & John T. Beaty, Jr.
On behalf of Mars and the Mars Family, Frank and Susan Mars accepted the 2020 Conservationist of the Year award for the company’s and family’s long-demonstrated commitment to the environment and leadership in corporate sustainability.

2019

Honoree: Kim Horner on behalf of Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States
Kim Horner accepted the 2019 Conservationist of the Year award on behalf of Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. They raised the bar for corporate impact with their deep commitment to organization-wide environmentally friendly practices.

2018

(From left) Larry Culp, Kurt Landgraf, Scott Miller, David Kaufman, Will Baker

Honoree: Kurt Landgraf on behalf of Washington College & Dr. Scott Miller on behalf of Virginia Wesleyan University
Event Chairs: Wendy & Larry Culp along with Kay & David Kaufman
In 2018, Washington College & Virginia Wesleyan University both earned the Conservationist of the Year award for their leadership and dedication to educating and empowering the next generation of Bay leaders.

2017

(From left) Arne Sorenson, Rick Hoffman, Katie Leavy, Will Baker

Honoree: Arne Sorenson on behalf of Marriott International
Event Chairs: Katie & David Leavy
Serve Our World is one of Marriott’s core values, which guides how they do business, support local communities, and work to protect the environment. This company-wide effort and longstanding partnership with CBF earned them the 2017 Conservationist of the Year award.

2016

Honoree: Michael D. Hankin, President and CEO of Brown Advisory
Event Chair: Susan Aplin
Michael Hankin received the first ever Conservationist of the Year award in 2016. Serving as a leader within the community, Michael has made it his mission to make the Baltimore harbor swimmable and fishable once again.