montgomery moving forward 2020 virtual symposium
DAY 2: November 12 | 1-2:30 p.m.
There’s No “I” in ECE:
What Role do Partnerships Play?
NOV. 12 AGENDA
MMF’s 2020 Virtual Symposium is a three-part event, taking place on November 5, 12 and 19.
For details about November 5, including a video of the session, visit the Day 1 page. To learn about what’s coming up on November 19, visit the Day 3 page.
Submit a Question for the Nov. 12 Session of the MMF Symposium
VIDEO OF NOVEMBER 12 SESSION
SESSION RESOURCES
Video about the ECE Toolkit for Employers
Explore the ECE Toolkit for Employers – a new web-based resource for employers & parents in Montgomery County
Download the ECE Toolkit Guide – a two-page overview of the Toolkit that includes a poster with ECE information for parents
Employers, Childcare, & Returning to Work in COVID-19 (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, August 2020)
Employers CAN Make a Difference in ECE & Principles of a Business-Friendly ECE Environment
MMF Action Guide: How Everyone in the Community Can Contribute to ECE
More resources and background can be found on the MMF ECE page
MODERATORS
Mike Knapp is the CEO and Founder of SkillSmart, Inc. a social impact technology company that is transforming the markets in which it works by creating tools and services to build strong communities and clear paths to economic success. He served two terms on the County Council of Montgomery County, MD, worked as a biotech executive and Congressional staff member. Mike is actively engaged in the community and serves as Chair of the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the Board of Advisors of the Universities at Shady Grove, Leadership Group member of Montgomery Moving Forward, and a member of the board of the Healthcare Initiative Foundation and Identity, Inc.
Mike Knapp
Chief Executive Officer
Skillsmart, Inc.
Tricia Swanson currently serves as the Vice President, Government Relations for the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. In this role, Tricia advocates at the local and state level for additional investments in economic development, transportation and infrastructure, and workforce development. Prior to joining the Chamber, Tricia served as the Legislative Aide to Montgomery County Public Schools and advocated on behalf of students, teachers, and the broader MCPS community. Tricia also worked for then-Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Senators Astle and Kasemeyer, and Delegate Ariana Kelly. She lives in Rockville with her pug, Bentley.
Tricia Swanson
Vice President, Government Relations
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
Crystal Townsend is the President & CEO of the Healthcare Initiative Foundation, which supports organizations that offer solutions to improve the capacity, availability and the delivery of quality health and wellness services for Montgomery County residents. The Foundation has distributed over $84 million since inception particularly focused on the most vulnerable in our community. Townsend currently serves on the Leadership Montgomery Board, Regional Primary Coalition, Montgomery Women Board, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers Board, Montgomery Moving Forward Leadership Team, Children’s Opportunity Fund Leadership Team, and the BlackRock Center for the Arts Board. Prior board service includes Suburban Hospital Community Benefit Advisory Board, County Executive Transition Team, Nonprofit Montgomery FIRM Advisory Committee, Committee for Montgomery Board, United Way of NCA, Friends of Wells Robertson House, Inc., and Montgomery County Social Services Board.
Preceding her work with the Foundation, Townsend was the City of Gaithersburg’s Community Services Director overseeing and coordinating health and human services for City residents. Prior to her service with the city, she served as the Family Support Services Administrator for Family Services, Inc. managing early intervention and home visiting programs. Earlier in her career, she was the Healthy Families Frederick Program Manager, Legislative Director for the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania, and the Domestic Violence Shelter Manager for Heartly House. Townsend attained her Bachelor of Arts from Hood College in Law and Society and holds a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University from the International Public Service and Development Program.
Crystal Townsend
President & CEO
Healthcare Initiative Foundation
PANEL: THE BUSINESS CASE FOR EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
Marilyn Balcombe is the President /CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce. Marilyn is actively involved in land use planning, transportation and economic development. Her primary focus is bringing jobs to the Upcounty area of Montgomery County. Marilyn Balcombe is currently on the Board of FutureLink and a Past Chair of the Committee for Montgomery. Marilyn is also on the Leadership Group of Montgomery Moving Forward. Prior to being at the Chamber, Marilyn was with BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown as the Executive Director during the construction and the first year of operations. She was also on staff at the Upcounty Regional Services Center as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Germantown community. Prior to her work in the community, Dr. Balcombe was an Organizational Psychologist with the U.S. Department of Energy. She holds a Ph.D. is Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida, and a Bachelors degree in Accounting also from the University of Florida.
Marilyn Balcombe
CEO
Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce
Kevin Beverly is the former President and CEO of Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. in Silver Spring, MD (2016- 2019) and Executive Officer of DLH Corporation NASDAQ:DLHC (2019-2020). He joined SSS in 2003 and served as Vice President of Business Development and Executive Vice President and President of the company. His strength and experience in leadership, strategy, operations, project management, and sales and marketing greatly contributed to the company’s growth and success. Before joining Social & Scientific Systems, Kevin served in increasingly responsible leadership, strategy and management and sales positions at Abt Associates, BAE Systems Corporation, Computer Sciences Corporation, PSI International, the National Library of Medicine and the World Health Organization. Kevin joined the CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. (CFMI) Board in January 2016. He was also elected to the CareFirst, Inc. (CFI) Board in December 2019. Kevin serves as a Vice Chair on the Executive Committee of the Board of Advisors for the University of Shady Grove (USG). He has served on the Board of the Professional Services Council (PSC) and chaired the annual conference. He chairs the Board of CollegeTracks, and is the former chair for the Community Foundation of Montgomery County, Maryland. He serves as an advisor to Children’s Opportunity Fund in Montgomery County, Maryland at the pleasure of the County Executive.
Kevin is very active in community activities including the founding of the Mildred Beverly Memorial Family Fund, which provides college scholarships for underprivileged youth in Dorchester County, MD. Kevin is a 2017 inductee into the Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame and a 2019 recipient of the World Trade Center Institute’s International Business Leadership Award. He holds an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in library science and information services, both from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Kevin Beverly
Economic Development Advocate
Robert Buchanan is a third-generation builder/developer involved in office, retail, industrial, residential, and large mixed-use planned communities. He is a Principal of Buchanan Partners, a full-service real estate development company. Mr. Buchanan is also President of the 2030 Group, an association of Washington metropolitan area business leaders focused on regional long-term decision-making and solutions. From 2015 – 2019 Bob Buchanan was the first Chair of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. In November 2018, Bob was honored with the Urban Land Institute’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. ULI Washington established the Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize a leader from the Washington real estate community whose life exemplifies the mission of ULI and who, in addition to a lifetime of commitment to real estate, has given back to the community through demonstrated civic, charitable and philanthropic endeavors.
In 2017 and for several years now, in recognition of his work, Mr. Buchanan has been included in the Power 100 List of the region’s most influential business leaders. He was also selected as the 2017 Regional Leader Honoree by Leadership Fairfax Northern Virginia Leadership Awards. In addition to these awards, Mr. Buchanan received the 2015 Arts Patron of the Year Award, Montgomery County’s prestigious County Executive’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities and the 2015 Signatures of Loudoun Vision in Design Excellence Award. Mr. Buchanan has a B.A. Degree from Yale University.
Bob Buchanan
Partner
Buchanan Partners
Michelle Martineau Green joined Montgomery Child Care Association, Inc. in February 2012 as its Executive Director. She served as the Chair of Montgomery County’s Early Childhood Coordinating Council (ECCC) for two terms and also served as the Chair for the County’s Commission on Child Care in 2013-2014. Ms. Green developed her understanding of the importance of early care and education and her passion for making a difference for young children during her tenure as the Chief Operating Officer for ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, a national nonprofit dedicated to the health and development of children and families. She was also the Publisher and business executive for the Zero To Three Journal and Press, the organization’s commercial book and journal publishing function. Ms. Green started her career at Marriott Corporation and was a Senior Vice President, corporate officer and member of executive staff at HMSHost, a former operating division of Marriott. She is a graduate from Bentley University and a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
FACILITATOR
Michelle Green
Executive Director
Montgomery Child Care Association
PANEL: MAKING IT HAPPEN WITH CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
JoAnn K. Barnes has served Montgomery County residents through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for over thirty years. She joined the Department as the Finance Officer. She holds a B.S. degree in Accounting, Masters of Human Services and was a Maryland licensed CPA until 2017. As Finance Officer, Ms. Barnes provided oversight to Montgomery County’s transition from Food Stamps to Electronic Benefit Transaction cards and managed the issuance of public assistance benefits and Child Care Subsidies. Today as Chief of Children, Youth and Family Services, she oversees Early Childhood Services, Child Welfare Services Child and Adolescent Services, Eligibility programs, and Positive Youth Development. The work in Children, Youth and Family Services is very dynamic, responding to the many issues that affect children from birth to 24 years old and meeting the basic needs of low income families.
JoAnn Barnes
Chief, Children, Youth and Family Services
Montgomery County DHHS
Christina Peusch is the Executive Director of the Maryland State Child Care Association, a non- profit membership and advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of licensed child care and learning programs in Maryland since 1984. MSCCA is a state affiliate of the National Child Care Association. Christina has over 15 years of experience working in non-profit early childhood and child care programs. She serves as the Co-Chair of the Office of Child Care Advisory Council, serves as Governor appointee member of the State of Maryland Early Childhood Advisory Council and as a Commissioner on the Lead Poison and Prevention Commission. She is also an active Maryland Family Engagement Coalition member.
Christina Peusch
Executive Director
Maryland State Child Care Association
Bill Wiechmann serves as Vice President and Regional Counsel of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States Inc., managing the delivery of legal and business services across the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. markets. His extensive experience includes broad-based representation of fully integrated health systems, professional practice groups, and insurance companies with a focus on the development of strategic arrangements, growth and market expansion, and ongoing operational and care delivery issues. Wiechmann also has a national role providing tax exemption, regulatory, and business counsel across the Kaiser Permanente enterprise. Before joining Kaiser Permanente in 2000, Wiechmann was in private practice in Washington D.C.
Wiechmann has a passion for serving others and works closely with the Kaiser Permanente Community Health Program. He is currently a member of Montgomery Moving Forward and previously chaired the Board of Directors of Central City Concern, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to eliminating homelessness through the integration of affordable housing, clinical services, and job training. Wiechmann holds a Masters of Law in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., a Juris Doctorate from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Lansing, Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He also completed the Advanced Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
William Wiechmann
Vice President and Regional Counsel
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals / Health Plan
Anna Hargrave came to the Greater Washington Community Foundation in 2006, drawn to its mission to build thriving communities by providing leadership on pressing issues, inspiring local giving, promoting civic engagement, and guiding strategic philanthropy. In 2015, she was named Executive Director of The Community Foundation’s local office in Montgomery County. Through the generosity of hundreds of donors and partners across the region, The Community Foundation has given nearly $1.3 billion since 1973, making it the region’s largest local funder. Ms. Hargrave works one-on-one with individuals who use their giving funds at The Community Foundation to support their favorite causes here and around the world. To make giving easy and deeply rewarding, Ms. Hargrave helps donors articulate and pursue their charitable goals, find high-impact nonprofits, and identify opportunities to deepen their impact by pooling resources for the greater good of our local communities.
Ms. Hargrave also oversees The Community Foundation’s strategic grantmaking initiatives focused on Montgomery County. This work brings together donors and key partners to learn about the challenges facing our neighbors and provide grants to organizations making a difference. Last year alone, these efforts provided $1.1 million to support: safety-net services addressing basic needs, such as food and housing; workforce development programs equipping adults with resources and credentials needed to secure gainful employment; and educational opportunities empowering children and youth to discover their talents, succeed in school, and gain skills they will need to thrive into adulthood.
Prior to The Community Foundation, Ms. Hargrave worked at the Office of the Montgomery County Executive, Montgomery Youth Works, and the Jewish Social Service Agency. Her community service includes the advisory committee of the Beckner Advancement Fund, steering committee of the KUUMBA Players Community Theatre, and Board of Directors for Leadership Montgomery. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College.
FACILITATOR
Anna Hargrave
Executive Director
Greater Washington Community Foundation – Montgomery County
ECE INTERLUDE
Rosalba Bonilla-Acosta oversees CentroNia’s growing operations in Maryland, stewarding the organization’s high-quality, comprehensive Early Childhood Education services to respond to the needs of low-income families Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. As a young girl, she moved from El Salvador to the U.S. following the passing of her father. In the U.S., she was thrust into the role of caretaker and translator for her family. As a young immigrant with experience caring for her sister and father, as well as managing her father’s business while in El Salvador, Rosalba dedicated herself from a young age to advocating for immigrant and disability rights. Through CentroNia, she remains a passionate advocate for immigrant families and children with special needs, as well as a compassionate provider of inclusive, bilingual services in a multicultural environment.
Rosalba Bonilla-Acosta
Maryland Director
CentroNia
Amanda Puerto Thorne is the Director of Teaching and Learning at KID Museum, where she oversees content and pedagogy across the museum’s education programs. She has special expertise in technology integration for early learners, as well as teaching robotics and coding. Amanda’s previous experience includes work at the Center for Innovation in Early Learning at the Smithsonian, the US Botanic Garden, and DevTech Research Group. She holds a bachelor’s in Child Development from Tufts University, and an MAT in Museum Education from The George Washington University.
Amanda Puerto Thorne
Director, Teaching and Learning
KID Museum
Rosalba and Amanda will lead an activity demonstrating how team building and partnerships are fundamental skills taught to children from birth to age 5.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS!
