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NEWS RELEASE

September 6, 2007

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Ulman Makes it Official – Robert Frances, P.E., New Director of Inspections, Licenses & Permits

ELLICOTT CITY -- County Executive Ken Ulman announced today that he has chosen Robert Frances, P.E. as the County’s new Director of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP). Frances is an 18-year employee of the department and was named Acting Director in May, 2005 upon the resignation of former Director Mike Evans.

"Since the election, I have observed Bob Frances' leadership of the department and responsiveness and sensitivity to our customers,” said Ulman. “Bob has demonstrated that with his excellent credentials, he is the right person for the permanent director position."

Frances, whose move into the position is effective immediately said, “When County Executive Ulman took office nine months ago, I was pleased that he gave me a chance to continue in my “acting” role. Now, I am equally pleased that we both agree the timing is right for this change. I want to thank the County Executive for offering me this exciting opportunity. I also want to acknowledge the dedicated team of professionals I am privileged to work with each and every day that made this possible.”

Robert Frances joined the Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits 18 years ago as a Fire Protection Engineer. In 2000 he took over as the Chief of the Plan Review Division, and in 2005 as Acting Director. He has previously worked in Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and the Smithsonian Institution.

Frances holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland where he lived in a fire station while attending school on a scholarship from the Baltimore County Volunteer Fireman’s Association. He holds licenses to practice Professional Engineering in Delaware and Maryland. He has also served on the adjunct faculty at the Community Colleges of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus, teaching courses on Building Codes and Construction, and Fire Protection Systems Hydraulics.

Frances is a member of the National Fire Protection Association, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, the Maryland Building Officials Association and the International Code Council. He is a graduate of Leadership Howard County, Class of 2006. He is a Life-Active member of the Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company in Dundalk, where he has held the positions of Assistant Chief and Vice-President. In addition, Frances is a Structures Specialist for Montgomery County’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (MD TF-1). The team’s mission is to search for, find and extract victims from collapsed buildings. Frances has deployed several times with the team for local building collapse incidents, to the Pentagon following the September 11th attack, and in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Bob and his wife, Marcia, live in Hampstead with their five children: Colleen, Tom, Katie, Luke and Matt.