top of page

Our Leadership

image_edited_edited_edited.png

PRESIDENT

Lynne Harris

Vice President of the Montgomery County Board of Education

Lynne Harris is an at-large member and Vice President of the Montgomery County Board of Education.  Her professional life has included careers in nursing, law, public health and teaching Medical Science at Thomas Edison HS of Technology.  Lynne holds a Nursing degree from The University of Tulsa, a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Master of Health Science from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Lynne chairs the BOE’s Fiscal Management committee, represents the BOE on the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, and formerly served on the Montgomery County Commission on Children and Youth.  She chairs the Mentor Advisory Board of Communities United Against Hate/Youth Creating Change.  Lynne also served 8 years on the Montgomery County Council of PTAs Board of Directors, including 3 years as Vice President for Advocacy, and 3 years as President.

image_edited_edited.png

VICE PRESIDENT

Sonya Hall Turner

Vice President for Contracts at Turning Point Global Solutions

Sonya Hall Turner has over 30 years of legal experience and has worked both for and with in-house corporations and at a law firm.  She currently is the Vice President, Contracts with Turning Point Global Solutions, L.L.C. in Rockville, Maryland, where she manages inception to close-out of the company’s, Federal and State government, and commercial contracts, as well as reporting and pricing.  Sonya holds a B.A. from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a M.S. and MBA from University of Maryland, Global Campus, and a Paralegal Certificate from Philadelphia Institute for Paralegal Training.  She is a certified Interior Decorator, a member of PVAC-Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., PVS-NCNW, Kingdom Fellowship AME, and Board Member of PVAC Fund, Inc. where she serves on the Scholarship Committee.

image_edited_edited.png

SECRETARY

Nancy Scull

Coordinator of the Montgomery County Family Self-Sufficiency Program (retired)

Nancy Scull was Coordinator of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program at the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC), Montgomery County’s public housing agency, for 22 years until 2015 when she retired.  Nancy created a Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia FSS Coordinators’ Roundtable Group for information-sharing, client and program advocacy.  Partnering with the annual Capitol Hill Legislative Day of NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Organizations), Nancy led up to 50 advocacy teams of FSS staff and FSS clients to tell their stories at annual meetings on Capitol Hill with Representatives’ and Senators’ low-income subsidized housing and welfare legislative staff from most states.  In 2014, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett awarded her the Roscoe Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award. She holds a B.A. in French and Secondary Education from American University, M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from University of Hawaii and a Master of Science in French and Linguistics from Georgetown University.

image_edited.jpg

TREASURER

Tommy Tavenner

Founder of Tavenner Financial

Thomas “Tommy” Tavenner, Board Treasurer, CFP®, AIF® is the Founder and Executive Officer for Tavenner Financial, Inc. Tommy received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis on Management Studies from the University of Maryland (UMUC). He has been in the securities and insurance business since 1996. His clients include both Corporate Retirement Plans as well as individuals who rely on him for Financial Planning, Wealth Management and individual insurance needs. Tommy is currently writing his first financial book, and is active in his home state of Maryland in developing financial literacy programs through the Maryland school system.  He is co-founder, with his wife Michelle, of the nonprofit In Honor of Her, Inc. (www.inhonorofher.org), an organization that fosters education for the prevention of domestic violence. 

1516316370137_edited_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Beverly Coleman

Director of the Montgomery College Educational Opportunity Center

Beverly Coleman has served as the Director of Montgomery College TRIO Educational Opportunity since July 2014.  Prior to coming to Montgomery College, she worked for the Community College of Baltimore County, Goucher College and Penn State University.  She has dedicated the last 25 years of her career to assisting low-income, first-generation (college), and underrepresented individuals in the pursuit of secondary education and post-secondary education and training opportunities.  Beverly’s commitment to empowering others has resulted in the development of the Montgomery College Single Parent Conference, and work with the Baltimore County Black Teachers Alliance Pipeline to Prosperity.  Beverly is a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Drum Major for Justice” award from the Frederick Douglas Society of West Chester University.  She is a graduate of West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master’s of Science in Administration.

Picture1_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Sandra Edmonds Crewe

Dean of the Howard University School of Social Work

Sandra Edmonds Crewe, MSW, Ph.D., ACSW, is dean and professor at the Howard University School of Social Work. She has dedicated her career and life to enhancing the well-being of African Americans through research, scholarship, and public advocacy. Dr Crewe holds her BSW and MSW degrees from the Catholic University National Catholic School of Social Service and her Ph.D. in Social Work from Howard University. She currently serves on the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust and has held leadership positions in public and assisted housing in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, Md.  Dr. Crewe has expertise and publications in caregiving, aging, social isolation, and community engagement and is a National Association of Social Work (NASW) Pioneer. 

audreytu[13340]_edited_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Audrey June

News Data Manager at the Chronicle of Higher Education

Audrey Williams June is a veteran journalist who has written about higher education for more than two decades.  An award-winning reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, she explores and analyzes data to uncover higher-education trends and insights.  Prior to arriving at The Chronicle, she worked as a business reporter for The Charlotte Observer and as an environmental reporter for The Macon Telegraph in Georgia.  She is an early literacy advocate who taught early literacy skills to preschoolers for a decade as a Fairfax County Public Library volunteer.  Audrey has also served on the board of Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, which provides free books to elementary and middle school children.  She is a graduate of Florida A&M University, where she earned a B.S. in journalism.

Rev_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Kasey Kaseman

Montgomery County Executive's Interfaith Liaison (retired)

Rev. “Kasey” Kaseman has degrees from Westmar College, Andover Newton Theological School and Yale Divinity School.  He has been engaged in ecumenical and interfaith work, a college admissions counselor, a mentor, and incorporator and director of nonprofits that impacted public education, anti-poverty programs, civil rights, affordable housing and health care.  His experience includes marketing and fundraising.  He has served as a pastor, executive director, corporate vice president and public official in Montgomery County since 1979.

JLW Photo_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Kia Booker Konde

Community Planning & Development Specialist at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Kia Booker Konde has committed her life to helping improve the lives of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. She is employed with the US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in Community Development policy. She earned an MBA in Economic Development from Eastern University and a BA in Telecommunications from Penn State University. She is an Advocate and Fundraiser for The Arthritis Foundation, a proud member of the Junior League of Washington, and new Board Member of The Bernie Scholarship Awards Program. She chairs both the Legislative and Bylaws Committees in her Federally Employed Women (FEW) Chapter.

Profile Picture_edited_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Rishi Nixon

Student Trustee of Montgomery College

Rishi Nixon is a lifelong Montgomery County resident. He was appointed by Governor Moore to serve as the student member of the Board of Trustees of Montgomery College, where he is pursuing an associate degree in mathematics. Rishi has held various roles in public service in Montgomery County, including as a subcommittee chair for Montgomery County's federal Community Block Grant evaluation committee, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Commission on Children and Youth, and as a Youth Advisor to Montgomery County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles. He currently serves as a member of and Secretary of the Montgomery County Board of Social Services, and — as a professional storyteller of seven years — Vice Chair-Elect of the National Storytelling Network, a national academic-professional performing arts association.

1602789608735_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Silvio Renzi

CEO of Previse Solutions

Silvio Renzi is founder and CEO of Previse Solutions, a software company in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  He has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur building and managing businesses.  Silvio is dedicated to service, holds various positions within his community and volunteers for various charities including The Bernie Scholarship Awards Program and Ride Allegheny, an organization raising over $500k per year for Operation Second Chance.  Silvio holds an MBA from Seton Hall University and a BSBA from Boston University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

IMG_1164_edited_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Whitney Williams

OB/GYN Medical Assistant

Whitney Williams is a daughter, sister, friend, and mentor to others. Ms. Williams was a former Bernie Scholarship Awards Program recipient during the 2017-2019 academic school year. She was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland by way of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ms. Williams obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at Morgan State University. She aspires to become a healthcare professional in the near future to represent multiracial group, to limit health disparities in low-income communities, and to pour into individuals who seek guidance in oneself. 

wims01_edited_edited.png

DIRECTOR

Greg Wims

Maryland State Delegate (D-Montgomery)

Greg Wims is a 5th generation resident of Montgomery County, Maryland.  He has volunteered with many nonprofits over the years and has over 48,000 volunteer hours.  He is the founder for the Victims’ Rights Foundation.  He is currently a state delegate for Maryland's 39th legislative district.  He was formerly Director of the Up-County Regional Services Center, and  VP for Government Affairs at Bold Concepts, Inc., for 20 years.  Greg is the Past President, State of Maryland NAACP and Past Governor, Rotary International, Central Maryland and Washington, D.C.  He has received over 100 awards including Leadership Montgomery’s Leader of the Year Award.  He is most proud of receiving the “Key to the City” from the City of Gaithersburg, where he was born and raised.  Greg is married and has three children and two grandkids.

bottom of page