Edwin F. Hale, Sr.

Born November 15, 1946 in Highlandtown, East Baltimore, Mr. Hale is a local boy who graduated from Sparrows Point High School in 1964. He also attended Essex Community College in Baltimore, MD and the American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He served two years in the United States Air Force (Strategic Air Command) as a medic.

Edwin F. Hale, Sr. began his business career in 1968 as a clerk with Atco Trailer Rentals. By 1975 he had resigned from his position to pursue various industrial and commercial real estate ventures, including industrial warehouse operations in Baltimore and co-ownership and operation of industrial waterfront properties along the East Coast. In 1991 Hale was elected chairman of Baltimore Bancorp, a major commercial bank in the Baltimore/Washington region with assets of $3.5 billion. In January 1995, Hale purchased controlling interest in 1st Mariner Bancorp.

1st Mariner Bank now has locations throughout Baltimore, Harford, Talbot, Worchester, and Anne Arundel Counties and Baltimore City. Under Edwin F. Hale, Sr.'s management, 1st Mariner Bank has become the fastest growing community bank in Maryland. In just over eight years, the bank has grown to hold more than $1 billion in assets.

In addition to his successes with the bank, Edwin F. Hale, Sr. is the President and CEO of Hale Properties, LLC, which specializes in commercial real estate, development, leasing, property management, and tenant representation. Hale Properties, LLC is a developer, owner, and manager of quality real estate on the East Coast and has been in business since 1978. The initial purpose of the company was to manage the commercial real estate holdings of Mr. Hale.  As business grew, the company expanded into property development, culminating with the management of the construction of a 17-story office building in Canton, taking unused property and transforming it into profitable real estate that suits the needs of today's businesses.

Additionally, Mr. Hale also owns the Baltimore Blast Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) soccer team. The Blast has won three of the last four MISL championships, the most recent being the 2005-2006 season.

Aside from his business ventures, Mr. Hale is an active member of many humanitarian groups, including the Living Classrooms Foundation, the National Historic Seaport and the Lady Maryland Foundation. He is Chairman of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA), a nonprofit organization specializing in bringing people to Baltimore through promotion of conventions and leisure visits.