Ray LaPlaca is a member of the Upper Marlboro law firm of Knight, Manzi, Nussbaum & LaPlaca, P.A., general partner of Carrollton Enterprises, a Director of the Columbia Bank of Maryland. He currently is an active member of several boards of directors for associations including Past President of the Bonnie Johns Children Fund, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and a former member of the Federal City Council. He is the chairman of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland at College Park; a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Law; Vice chairman of the University of Maryland Foundation; Board of Directors of the University of Maryland Medical System Shock Trauma Center; and Board of Directors of Canton Railroad Company, and presently serves on the Governor's Commission for Education, Finance, Equity and Excellence. Mr. LaPlaca taught Counseling and Negotiation at the University of Maryland School of Law from 1993 to 1995. From 1975- 1979, LaPlaca was vice chairman of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. In 1982, he was chairman if the Washington Suburban Transit Commission and a board member of the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority. He recently received the Caritas Award from the Archdiocese of Washington. He has received the Distinguished Contribution to Improved Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Board of Education of Price George's County, and the Legacy of Excellence Award from Bowie State University. He and his wife, Rose, live in Edgewater, Maryland, have 4 children and 13 grandchildren.