Media Contact: Imany Dye, Communications & Marketing Coordinator Iadye@mdnonprofit.org | (443) 238 2336
Maryland Nonprofits is pleased to announce our newly elected board members and officers for 2023:
Walter Simmons of Employ Prince George’s as Chair,
Will Pass of Park Heights Renaissance, Inc as Vice Chair,
Cheryl Thomas, CPA of Thomas & Associates as Treasurer, and
Katy McGuire of The Arc Baltimore as Secretary.
Joining the board for three-year terms beginning in 2023 are:
Nona Carroll of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education,
Ernesto Lopez of Hospice of Washington County,
Tywanna Taylor of The Family League of Baltimore and
Zosia Zaks of Zaks Autism Consulting
“Maryland Nonprofits is a bold organization, and the only statewide institution in the state that advocates for policy and offers programs that support nonprofits in every county in Maryland,” said incoming Chair Walter Simmons. “I am honored to serve as the new Chair and look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to launch the new Maryland Nonprofits strategic plan this year.”
Chair Walter Simmons is the founding President & CEO of Employ Prince George’s. Over the past 10 years, Walter has held various workforce development positions within local government, state government, the private sector, and nonprofit industries. Geographically, Walter’s career has spanned the east coast, including stops in South Carolina and the District of Columbia. In 2016, Walter began his career in Prince George’s County and later that year, at the age of 28, he became Maryland’s youngest Local Workforce Development Board Director, and one of the youngest in the United States. Walter is a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant.
Vice Chair Will Pass is Chief Financial Officer at Park Heights Renaissance, Inc. and a partner at PittPass Development Group. In his former positions as Chief Financial & Operating Officer at Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI), Will was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization as well as the processing and providing all financial data associated with the organization.
Treasurer Cheryl Thomas, CPA is the founder and owner of Thomas & Associates, a minority, woman-owned management consulting firm, that specializes in providing strategic planning, financial/accounting services, and business management solutions to for-profit and non-profit clients. Cheryl has worked extensively with nonprofit organizations in the DC-MD-VA metropolitan area since 2006 and is a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant.
Secretary Katy McGuire is Chief Advancement Officer for The Arc Baltimore. Over the past 30+ years she has worked in development, communications, government relations and volunteerism for organizations addressing disability services/rights, poverty, and nonprofit sector issues in Baltimore, Raleigh and Miami. Katy chairs the Maryland Nonprofits Policy Council and is a member of the Maryland Association of Resources for Families & Youth (MARFY), an Maryland Nonprofits integrated program.
“A small group of dedicated leaders truly can achieve great things. We are proud to be led by our new board members and officers. Together, we will take on continuing advancing our vision for a more equitable and sustainable nonprofit sector across the state of Maryland”, said Maryland Nonprofits President & CEO Heather Iliff.
Nona Carroll serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, a nonprofit coalition of leading employers that have made a long-term commitment to support education reform and improve students’ achievement in Maryland. Prior to joining the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education in 2011, Nona was promoted to Diversity and Inclusion Consultant at T. Rowe Price Associates.
Ernesto Lopez is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience. Currently, he serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Hospice of Washington County in Maryland; a community-based, nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization. Ernesto is vice-chair for the Maryland Hospice and Palliative Care Network of Maryland, a board member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Palliative Care Council and actively engaged with the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation.
Tywanna Taylor is Chief Operating Office of The Family League of Baltimore and has overall operational and administrative responsibility for all Family League support functions including the Impact and People & Culture units. Prior to joining Family League as its Senior Director for Grants and Contracts, Tywanna worked as a public servant for Baltimore City and the State of Maryland. Tywanna is a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant and a Standards for Excellence Council member.
For twenty years, Zosia Zaks has counseled and supported hundreds of autistic teenagers and adults and those with related conditions to live and work in their communities and to reach their personal goals. He now consults with schools, companies, and community organizations, providing training and assisting entities with developing practices and procedures for full inclusion of neurodivergent and other disabled people. Zosia will join the board beginning June 1, 2023.
Veronica Cool (Cool & Associates, LLC) and Erica Joseph (Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore) will serve on the Executive Committee at-large for 2023. Erica Joseph, Katy McGuire and Cheryl Thomas, CPA were re-elected for second terms running from 2023 to the end of 2025.
We are grateful for the years of service of Natasha M. Cavenaugh, JD, Kimberly Corbin, and Violet Apple who termed off the board.
“It has been a privilege to serve as the Maryland Nonprofits Board Chair,” reflects outgoing Chair Kimberly Corbin. “As the new board officer and members enter 2023, I know the future of Maryland Nonprofits is bright because of the brilliance of its leaders and because the people supporting their work are talented, dedicated, and ready to take bold steps to improve the quality of life in our state.”
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About Maryland Nonprofits
For 30 years, Maryland Nonprofits has worked to promote a thriving and effective nonprofit sector in Maryland and nationally through our Standards for Excellence® Institute. With our 1,600+ members, we coordinate advocacy with nonprofit leaders to advance equity and public policy that supports vibrant community organizations and civil society. Maryland Nonprofits’ capacity-building services include the state’s largest nonprofit consulting group, training, an annual conference, and accreditation through the Standards for Excellence program. Maryland Nonprofits is the home of the Maryland Association of Resources for Families & Youth (MARFY), Maryland Latinos Unidos, and the Charge Up Collaborative. Maryland Nonprofits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan organization with a mission to strengthen organizations and networks for greater quality of life and equity.