2021 WGC Advisory Board
Barb Van Winkle
Chair is President of Nancy Adams Personnel in Columbia, where her company has been for over 40 years. Her business specializes in providing top-notch candidates to all size companies for Administrative, Customer Service, Accounting and Office Support positions, both permanent and temporary. Her company has helped many clients hire long time permanent employees, and her candidates stay an average of over 6 years in their permanent jobs. She has a BA degree in Sociology from Goucher College and served for 8 years on the Goucher Board of Trustees. She participated for over 20 years in area triathlons, now she loves golfing, practicing yoga and walking with her wife Joan. They both love spending time with their young granddaughters and grandson! Barb has served on many nonprofit boards including the Community Foundation of Howard County for 9 years, and she continues to serve on the HCCEF board, where she served as Chair for 2 terms, and is now current Chair of the annual Silas Craft Collegian Dinner. She loves the Women’s Giving Circle and she is very proud to be Chair! Barb has been a strong supporter of WGC since its inception in 2002!
Kim Agnor
Treasurer and Chair, Governance Committee is an accountant with Kimberly A. Agnor, CPA, LLC, where she specializes in accounting work and software for small and medium sized businesses. Kim has been previously employed with Fisher Ring LLC as an accounting manager and business tax preparer, and as an assistant controller with St. John Properties and Questar Builders. Kim earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and an Accounting Certificate from UMBC. She became licensed in MD as a CPA in 1993 and is a member of the American Association of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In addition to serving as Treasurer of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County advisory board, Kim was the previous Chair for the WGC Youth Development Committee. She also currently serves on the Fundraising and Finance Committee for The Veterans Foundation of Howard County. She has served on the Grants Committee of the Community Foundation of Howard County, on the Board of Directors of HC Drug Free and on the Board of Directors of the Clarksville Elementary School PTA. Kim has lived in Howard County since 1978. She currently lives in Clarksville with her husband Jeff and her two children, Rachel and Michael. She enjoys golf, running, cooking and reading when she has the chance.
Jillianne Crescenzi
has previously worked for nonprofits with at-risk and special needs children. Since moving to Howard County four years ago, she works as a Children’s Instructor at Howard County Library System. There, she initiated the monthly Girl Power Club for tween girls where she plans classes that include both STEM activities and opportunities to give back to the community. She also teaches musical theatre classes in Columbia for preschoolers. Jillianne joined the Circle in 2016.
Christine Meket
has worked in the Environmental Industry for 28 years and with Republic Services for the last 16 years. She is currently the Sales Manager for the Baltimore/DC Metropolitan Area, managing 23 sales professionals, representing more than 12,000 commercial customers. Prior to working for Republic Services, Christine was the Mid-Atlantic Community and Government Affairs Manager for Waste Management and Wheelabrator, working with multiple non-profit, environmental and community organizations and serving on the Boards of Directors for the Bucks County, Pa Chamber of Commerce, the Peekskill, NY Chamber of Commerce, South Baltimore Learning Center, Save Our Streams and on multiple committees and projects supporting specific community initiatives. Christine graduated from John Carrol University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Masters in Marketing and Public Relations from Villanova University. Christine has lived in Columbia since 2005 and became involved with the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County in 2016, serving on the Donor Development Committee and in 2017, she joined the Advisory Board.
Mary Thompson
Chair, Events Committee is the founder of ReFrame Financial Planning, a fee-only Financial Planning and Advisory firm in Howard County, where she helps individuals build financial and purpose-driven transition plans for retirement. Mary specializes in guiding clients through the next chapter of their lives by balancing their financial and personal goals in a way that’s aligned with their values, passions and purpose. Mary also worked for 10 years for FAI Wealth Management in Columbia, MD where she was a Senior Advisor and Partner working with clients to develop and implement investment and financial planning strategies. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with minors in Business and Computer Science from the University at Albany, SUNY. She holds the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM certification.
Lynne C. Schaefer
has served as Vice President for Administration and Finance at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) since 2005. In her role as chief business officer at UMBC, she is responsible for financial management, budget, reporting and control for annual operations of nearly $500 million. She previously served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and as Budget Director and Vice President for Administrative Services at Wayne State University in Detroit. She has been named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, and one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Metropolitan Detroit.
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Jennifer Bodensiek
Vice Chair is president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Central Maryland. By connecting education and business communities, Junior Achievement reaches more than 47,000 young people, annually, with hands-on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs. In 2014, with a significant multi-year investment from the Women’s Giving Circle, JA launched JA Rising Women. She received her B.S. degree in marketing education from Virginia Tech and resides in Ellicott City with her husband Ed and their two sons.
Melissa Curtin
Chair, Membership & Development Committee is the owner of Melissa Curtin Coaching and Consulting, and is a talented and accomplished professional with over 25 years of corporate and nonprofit leadership experience, including personal leadership and organizational development with nonprofit and philanthropy professionals and organizations through individual and team coaching, strategic planning, and nonprofit management consulting. Previously, Melissa served as the President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County where she led the revitalization of the foundation, the largest institutional nonprofit funder in the county with a mission to promote, increase, and distribute philanthropy. She also served as the President & CEO of the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence. is the owner of Melissa Curtin Coaching + Consulting, and is a talented and accomplished professional with over 25 years of corporate and nonprofit leadership experience, including personal leadership and organizational development with nonprofit and philanthropy professionals and organizations through individual and team coaching, strategic planning, and nonprofit management consulting. Previously, Melissa served as the President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County where she led the revitalization of the foundation, the largest institutional nonprofit funder in the county with a mission to promote, increase, and distribute philanthropy. She also served as the President & CEO of the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence. Melissa has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver.
Lee Draminski
Secretary was raised in Howard County, MD and graduated from Mt. Hebron High School. She began her career as an intern at The Rouse Company, and then went on to work at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce in several different capacities. For the past 27 years, she has actively worked in the local, regional and national association world, working for Homebuilders Association of Maryland (now MBIA), Howard County Dental Association, Retail Packaging Association, and more. Lee switched industries and currently manages Partnerships for Vectorworks, Inc. She is a graduate of Shippensburg University where she was a four-year swimmer. She lives in Howard County with her husband and three children.
Mireille Grangenois
Community Foundation Liaison, *Ex Officio is formerly the Publisher of the Chronicle of Philanthropy and The Chronicle of Higher Education, serves on the board of Verité, a global advocate for fair labor, and the Community Foundation of Howard County. On the latter, she is chair of a new committee focused on equity, racial justice, diversity and inclusion. A journalist with an undergraduate degree from New York University, Mireille spent much of her career in business-side leadership roles at preeminent news organizations, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post, and The Baltimore Sun. Mireille and her husband Steve Holmes have two adult daughters and a granddaughter, and divide their time between their home in Columbia, MD and Bethany Beach, DE.
Hina Naseem
Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is currently a Career Research and Development Teacher for the Early College Program for Cybersecurity at Howard County Public Schools. Prior to her current appointment, Hina was the Regional Director at Junior Achievement of Central Maryland where she maintained and strengthened school district, corporate, and community partnerships to engage students to maximize their potential in the areas of workforce development, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Student advocacy and providing and preparing students for career opportunities has always been central to Hina’s ambition. Most notably, her design and implementation of JA Rising Women, an entrepreneurial program for high school girls, brought local to international attention to the program’s goals, outcomes and focus
on women-centered support initiatives. Additionally, she co-organized Women in Engineering with the Howard County Public School System. 
April Force Pardoe
is the director of the Interior Design, Membership & Editorial departments at Tobi Fairley, Inc. Prior to her position with Tobi Fairley, she owned April Force Pardoe Interiors, an award-winning residential design studio in Howard County. She is a past board member of the Maryland SPCA. April joined the WGC board in 2018 and has Co-chaired the Development Committee, Co-chaired the YDC, worked with the YWGC on a feminine product drive, and is now on the Grants Committee. She has a B.A. degree in Mass Communications from Towson University and an M.A. degree in Publication Design from The University of Baltimore. She lives in Elkridge with her husband, two teenage daughters and her chocolate lab, Roxy.
Nette' Stokes
founded and currently works at JustLiving Advocacy, Inc. as the Executive & Community Engagement Director. She has a heart for all people, especially for women heading up their households alone as single parents. She believes in giving and creating opportunities for those who have a strong personal desire to lift themselves out of impoverished circumstances. Nette has strategic and executive management experience combined with a solid vision for operations and providing a creative approach to organization operations, marketing and development and community outreach. She worked for 15 years at IBM and 10 years in the government at the US Department of State and the Department of Justice as a Senior Program and Project Manager.
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Alison Canning
Immediate Past Chair, Vice Chair, Grants Committee has worked in financial services for more than 15 years. Alison has lived in Howard County most of her life, and is a graduate of Howard High School. Involved with the Circle since 2011, Alison has served as the Chair of the Donor Development Committee, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Advisory Board from 2016-2018. Alison lives in Silver Spring with her husband Michael and their two children, Lillian and Thomas.
Dr. Maxine Clark
began her career almost 30 years ago, specializing in the correction of spaced and crowded teeth, and also jaw malformations and dysfunctions. She credits her success to her parents: Her father, a railroad engineer, and her mother, a construction pioneer, always stressed the importance of higher education. A U.S. Army veteran and recipient of several awards, Dr. Clark mentors young adults in dentistry and serves on the advisory boards for Maryland State Medicaid and Women’s Giving Circle in Howard County.
Candace Dodson-Reed
Chair, Grants Committee is an experienced executive with a 20 plus year successful career in the public, education, and nonprofit sectors. Skilled in media relations, grassroots organizing, government relations, crisis communications, inclusion and equity work, public policy and community/public affairs, Candace currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Executive Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). In 2012, Candace founded the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County and the twentyfivefortyfive Giving Circle at the Community Foundation of Howard County. Candace also co-hosts a podcast—Elevate Maryland. In 2020, she was named a Maryland Top 100 Woman by The Daily Record. Candace is the very proud mother of a college student.
Alice Giles
is in the business of information as a Technical Specialist at the Howard County Public School system. In her professional career she curates the limitless supply of information available online to help customers find the accurate information they need, provides instruction on existing technological tools, and designs new means for accessing and sharing information. In her volunteer career, she works to increase access to local government and share information and increase dialogue with the community.
Barbara Peart
is retired from state service in 2008 after 25 years. Her last position with the state was as the Assistant Director for Planning, Quality and Support Operations for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. Barbara holds a B.S. degree in Business Management from Johns Hopkins University. As top business class graduate, she was honored with the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key Award. She is also an accomplished pianist, actively involved in community activities, and has received numerous recognition throughout her career. Barbara was selected the first Chair of the Governor’s Quality Council, and has participated in many statewide committees throughout her state career. She also served on the Columbia Housing Corporation Board (Chair, 2 years) and served as a Howard County Housing Commissioner (Vice Chair, 2 years).
Judy Smith
Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is the Managing Partner of On Point Consulting, where she partners with businesses and nonprofit organizations to prepare them for the impact of digital transformation on their business strategy, operations, and development. She is a dynamic, results-driven leader who is able to create and actualize a vision using sound strategy development and execution, and strong program execution skills. She is an inspirational leader who actively practices principled leadership while at the same time focusing on the financial levers of the business. Judy holds an MBA from the University of Baltimore, MS in Computer Science from the Johns Hopkins University, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University. She completed the Wharton School of Business Executive Leadership Program.
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz
Executive Director, *Ex Officio is a philanthropic leader whose professional career, volunteer efforts, and activism have been focused on women’s issues, human rights, and social change through philanthropy. She is co-author of the award-winning book Women & Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World, has written articles on women’s giving, and is active with national giving circle groups. She began her career working for an international human rights organization in Washington, DC, and has served as Director of the Baltimore Giving Project, Communications Director at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers (now Maryland Philanthropy Network).
She is active in the community and has served on numerous Boards of Directors including the Community Foundation of Howard County, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, Hope Works, Sobar, Our Maryland, and the Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System, and is involved in gun violence prevention efforts. She has a BA in Russian History from the University of Maryland and has lived in Howard County for almost 30 years. She and her husband Howard have four children ranging in age from 27 – 13 and a newborn granddaughter. |
WGC Advisory Board 2021
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Executive Committee
Officers: Barb Van Winkle, Chair Jennifer Bodensiek, Vice Chair Kim Agnor, Treasurer and Governance Committee Chair Lee Draminski, Secretary Alison Canning, Immediate Past Chair Melissa Curtin, Membership & Development Committee Chair Candace Dodson-Reed, Grants Committee Chair Hina Naseem, DEI Committee Co-Chair Judy Smith, DEI Committee Co-Chair Mary Thompson, Events Committee Chair Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Executive Director *Ex Officio |
Advisory Board Members
Maxine Clark Jillianne Crescenzi Alice Giles Mireille Grangenois, Community Foundation Liaison Christine Meket April Force Pardoe Barbara Peart Lynne C. Schaefer Nette' Stokes |
WGC Advisory Board 2001 - Present
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Kim Agnor, 2015-Present
Dee Athey, 2015-2018 Diana Bailey, 2009-2019 Kathy Barnett, 2011-2015 Lauren Barr, 2006-2007, Youth on Board Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, 2002-2010, Past Chair, Executive Director Elizabeth Bobo, 2003-2007 Jennifer Bodensiek, 2017-Present Kathryn Brod, 2011 Maggie Brown, 2002-2004 Megan Bruno, 2009-2015, Past Chair Yolanda Bruno, 2002-2008, Past Chair Danelle Buchman, 2015-2017 Sue Buswell, 2008-2010 Alison Canning, 2010 – Present, Immediate Past Chair Dr. Maxine Clark, 2019 – Present Alison Curry, 2011-2012, YWGC Jillianne Crescenzi, 2017-Present Melissa Curtin, 2020-Present Candace Dodson-Reed, 2021-Present Colleen D’Agrosa, 2008-2018 Jackie Dawson, 2009-2011, Youth on Board Bita Dayhoff, 2011-2012 Lee Draminski, 2019-Present Maura Dunnigan, 2008-2010 Julie Factor, 2011-2013 Kim Flyr, 2008-2010 Beverley Francis, 2009-2010 Penny Friedberg, 2008-2013 Lori Fuchs, 2005-2010 Alice Giles, 2019-Present Mickey Gomez, 2013–2015 Mireille Grangenois, 2021-Present Pamela Gruver, 2013 Cindy Hankin, 2011-2015 Beth Sandbower Harbinson, 2002-2007 Dorothy V. Harris, 2002-2007, Past Chair Norma Hill, 2009-2010 Elizabeth Horowitz, 2002-2004 Kirsten Jacobson, 2007-2008, Youth on Board Trent Kittleman, 2008-2012 Beverly Koren, 2006-2010 Rae Lapine, 2003-2007 Barbara K. Lawson, 2002-2007 Jean West Lewis, 2008-2010 |
Cathy Lickteig, 2002-2004
Cindy Lifson, 2013 – 2015 Carole MacPhee, 2009-2013 Malynda Madzel, 2003-2005 Missy Mattey, 2005-2010 Jane Vance McCauley, 2002-2004 Christine Meket, 2018-Present Darlene Miller, 2002-2003 Jean F. Moon, 2002-2008, Past Chair Pam Sorota Mowery, 2006-2009 Shelly Mulitz, 2002-2003 Hina Naseem, 2019-Present Lynne Nemeth, 2003-2006 Barbara Nicklas, 2008-2013 Linda Odum, 2002-2008, Past Chair Courtney Odum-Duncan, 2009-2011 Mary Patton, 2003-2006 April Force Pardoe, 2018-Present Barbara Peart, 2011-Present Kimberly Prescott, 2019-2020 April Renee Randall, 2015-2016 Laurie Remer, 2005-2007 Migsie Richlin, 2002-2006 Susan Rosenbaum, 2008-2009 Joanne Saltzberg, 2002-2004, 2006-2008 Lynne C. Schaefer, 2021-Present Mary Ann Scully, 2004-2008 Joan Webb Scornaienchi, 2011-2013 Kathleen Sheedy, 2013–2016 Arlene Sheff, 2002-2007 Caroline Sherman, 2008-2014 Mary Kay Sigaty, 2003-2007 Beth Singleton, 2009-2011 Judy Smith, 2020-Present Robin Steele, 2003-2007 Nette' Stokes, 2021-Present Sabina Taj, 2011-2012 Cynthia Taliano, 2006-2015, Past Chair Betty Thacker, 2003-2005 Mary Thompson, 2020-Present Karen Titus, 2017-2019 Liz Watson, 2008-2010, Youth on Board Barb Van Winkle, 2011-Present, Current Chair 2019 Alexis Wales, 2013 – 2016, YWGC Kira Westbrook, Youth on Board Courtney Workman, 2013-2017 |
WGC Founders
Founding Donors:
In 2001, the following 16 founding members of the WGC proudly began a year-long journey – from conceptualization to implementation – to develop, launch, nurture and sustain the WGC.
In 2001, the following 16 founding members of the WGC proudly began a year-long journey – from conceptualization to implementation – to develop, launch, nurture and sustain the WGC.
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Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz
Maggie J. Brown Yolanda Bruno Beth Sandbower Harbinson Dorothy V. Harris H. Elizabeth Horowitz Barbara K. Lawson Cathy Lickteig |
Jane Vance McCauley
Darlene Miller Jean F. Moon Shelley Mulitz Linda Odum Migsie Richlin Joanne Maria Saltzberg Arlene Sheff |
"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving.."
