Dr. Elizabeth Mahler, a 36-year resident of Howard County,  is a founding member of the national Encore Network, and past president of the Life Planning Network (Chesapeake Chapter).  She is  a former employee of Howard Community College and Howard County Public Schools and is currently an Associate Teaching Professor in the Graduate School of Education at  Northeastern University.  Her writing and research is focused on midlife  career transitions.  She speaks regularly on the topics of encore adulthood, transitions, and  careers, to both national and local audiences.