Jennifer Van Kirk, Bright Minds Foundation’s Executive Director, has joined Leadership Howard County’s Premier Class of 2023.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with and learn from so many outstanding business and civic leaders in Howard County through this program,” said Jennifer Van Kirk. “Deepening our relationships and gaining a better understanding of the community in which we operate will help Bright Minds most effectively respond to current and evolving student educational needs.”
Below is included from Leadership Howard County news: LHC announces Leadership Premier class of 2023:
Leadership Howard County, which seeks to empower leaders to strengthen and transform the community, accepted 41 professionals from Howard County businesses and nonprofits into the Leadership Premier program’s class of 2023. Leadership Premier is an exploration of the Howard County community, during which participants meet with Howard County businesses and local leaders and learn about issues in the county.
The members of the class of 2023 are:
Adam Ababiya, Sequoia Senior Care LLC
Arifa Ahmed
Ciera Barnes, National Security Agency
India Bascombe, CliftonLarsenAllen
David Beares, 39 Minute Workout
Amah Binde, Howard County Department of Public Works
Jennifer Blondo, Key Process Partners
Lakey Boyd, Columbia Association
Jasmine Brewer, MakingChange, Inc.
Heather Chapman, United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.
James Clark, State Farm Insurance
Katie Dean, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
Alicyn DelZoppo, Northrop Realty
Theresa Forget, Johns Hopkins Health System
Rashida George, The Howard Hughes Corporation
Shané Gooding, Imiivo Photo Studios, LLC
Michael Gough, APL Federal Credit Union
Kia Hodge, Enterprise Community Partners
Nay Keppler, The Howard County Public Library System
Andrew Masters, Columbia Housing Center
Claire Matheny, Kittamaqundi Community Church
Cheryl Mattis, Howard County Department of Community Resources & Services
Christopher Miles, Shore United Bank
Megan Myers, Howard Community College
Elizabeth Ndungu, Anegada Delights Caribbean Cuisine
Maria Cristina Oviedo, Dragon Digital Radio/Howard Community College
Russell Pangburn, Sandy Spring Bank
Jimmy Patel, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Rakesh Pillai, W.R. Grace
Tracy Pugh, Emergent BioSolutions
Ryan Rager, M&T Bank
Deborah Rivkin, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Regina Sanderoff, BGE
Vera Simmons, Blossoms of Hope
David Smith, LightGrid, LLC
Alexander Sutherland, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Marche Taylor Templeton, BGE
Robert Tirocchi, Harkins Builders, Inc.
Jennifer Van Kirk, Bright Minds Foundation
Felicia West, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Jason Whong, Whong Community Media, LLC – The Business Monthly
The Leadership Premier program was launched in 1985 to develop capable, well-informed individuals committed to devoting their time and resources for community improvement. The program addresses countywide issues in monthly, daylong seminars where paticipants meet with established leaders in business, government and community services.
Since its inception, more than 1,450 individuals have graduated from Leadership Premier and now lead nonprofit boards and civic organizations serving Howard County.
About Bright Minds Foundation
Bright Minds Foundation is the Howard County public schools education foundation. We work to ensure each child in Howard County has access to the education, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed at school and in life. We do this by bringing together community support for programs and initiatives that increase education access, equity, and innovation. Bright Minds programs respond to the urgent and ongoing needs of children in four areas: digital inclusion, literacy & kindergarten readiness, college access, and teacher support & classroom innovation. To learn more and contribute, please visit brightmindsfoundation.org/donate.
