Board

Board of Trustees

  • Christa Beverly, Co-Founder & First Lady of Prince George’s County | Bio
  • Monty Cooper, Chair | Bio
  • Cecilia Jones, Vice Chair | Bio
  • Ellen B. Hall, Secretary | Bio
  • Kathy Baker | Bio
  • Patricia Arzuaga | Bio
  • Alex Baker | Bio
  • Danielle Basilio | Bio
  • Roderick O’Savio
  • Danielle Harris | Bio
  • Joan Harris | Bio
  • Stratton Nash | Bio
  • Malitta Seamon | Bio
  • Lotus Seng | Bio
  • Charles Reilly | Bio

Advisory Board

  • Chris Lawson, Advisory Board Chair

We are currently forming an Advisory Board for Prince George’s Path to Greatness.

The Advisory Board will consist of community leaders who meet quarterly to advise the Board of Directors. We seek individuals with an interest and dedication to uplift and serve the community of Prince George’s County, and will tap these members for their ideas and advice.  We want a culturally rich and diverse board that represents the wide range of socioeconomic status and geographic areas that make Prince George’s County unique.

The responsibilities of Advisory Board members are to:

  • Attend at least two meetings per year, each held on a weekday from 8:00 am to 9:45 am
  • Contribute expertise and thinking to the current and future work of P2G
  • Be willing to serve for possible appointments to Board Committees and to accept four to five telephone calls each year from staff seeking advice
  • Be supportive in fundraising efforts of P2G
  • Allow P2G to publish your name as a member of the Advisory Board

In return, P2G promises:

  • A continental breakfast at quarterly meetings that start and end on time
  • An opportunity to share in the experience of uplifting our community
  • An expressed appreciation of your time and commitment

Advisory Board positions are limited and filling fast, but there are still spots available.  Please express any interest in serving on the Path to Greatness Advisory Board to:

Chris Lawson (clawson@insuraty.com) by September 24, 2011.

BIO’S

Kathy Baker

A native Washingtonian, Kathy Baker has a solid family history of community service and political involvement. As a child, her parents exposed her to a first-hand view of the grassroots architecture of D.C.’s Home Rule struggle and victory. She has participated in voter registration drives as well as volunteered with the United Planning Organization during their annual coat drives and their monthly Share Program. Kathy continues to dedicate her adult life to volunteering and looking for new opportunities to serve her community.

Kathy has experience in all aspects of financial forecasting, resource allocation, cash management, accounting and control. She has over 24 years of experience in accounting operations. Currently, Ms. Baker is the Accounting Manager at Fulbright & Jaworski, a Washington DC law firm. One of her many accomplishments while at Fulbright has been cutting administrative expenses, reductions that have increased the firm’s Washington office profits by 10%.

Ms. Baker holds a Master of Business Administration degree in International Business from Trinity University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Accounting from Trinity University.

Kathy has lived in Prince George’s County for over 19 years. She resides in Upper Marlboro, with her two children, Kayla and Kevin. Kathy has served as treasurer on the Home and School Association at her children’s school spearheading and assisting with fundraisers, flea markets, cleaning/painting and other projects as needed. As a lifelong learner, Kathy enjoys taking self-improvement classes and is an avid reader.

Michelle Haywood

Founding Director for Prince George’s Path to Greatness, Michelle has long been passionate about the need for citizens to contribute in order to create a thriving community. Politically active in Prince George’s County for a decade, she volunteered time and service to put the county on the path to greatness. Michelle started a career in entertainment public relations working under Abe Pollin’s organization, The Centre Group, as Public Relations Coordinator for the Baltimore Arena. Soon after a successful career launch, she traded Public Relations for full time parenthood, homeschooling her two children through grade school.

She worked in both a strategic management and marketing capacity to assist with the building of her family business, Insuraty, Inc., an employee benefits firm operated by her husband, Chris Lawson.

Today, Michelle is an accessories designer and CEO of her own company Divagifts, Inc. parent company of Honeysuckle by Michelle, an online accessories and gift boutique. She designs and manufactures scarves and other accessories for men and women and has enjoyed fulfilling her commitment to donate 20% of proceeds to charity. Philanthropy, focused on local communities and tragedy stricken areas around the world is a driving force for both her business and P2G.

Haywood holds a BA in Marketing from The University of the District of Columbia and an MA in Public Communication from The American University.

Christa Beverly

Co-Founder & First Lady of Prince George’s County

Over the span of three decades serving in legislative, judicial, private and public positions, Christa L. Beverly has been a trail blazer and a tireless advocate for justice and education. Born into a military family in Sussen, Germany in 1960, Christa vigorously pursued her education and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in Journalism and Political Science from Howard University. Christa went on to study at the Marshall Wythe School of Law at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and was awarded her Juris Doctorate.

After finishing law school, Christa went on to work in Richmond, Virginia as an Assistant Director for the Virginia Coalition on Jails and Prisons. Driven by her dedication to justice (and to ending the death penalty), Christa worked to provide assistance to death row inmates and their attorneys during the trial and appellate process. While in Virginia, Christa also served as a law clerk for a private firm in Kilmarnock.

After relocating to the Washington DC area, Christa took her career to the national level, serving as the Senior Congressional Fellow for the United States House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee and Subcommittee on Criminal Justice. In 1988, she became Assistant Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of the National Capital area. Her responsibilities included pursuing the legislative agenda for local ACLU affiliates, as well as participating in roundtable discussions on civil liberties and other topics of concern.

In 1990, Christa brought her senior level management skills and experience to the position of Senior Legislative Assistant to Congressman William Gray, Majority Whip to the United States House of Representatives. She was a key advisor to the Congressman on housing and community development, business, commerce, labor, substance abuse and the education of disadvantaged students. Christa’s legislative career continued to progress when she was recruited to be the Senior Legislative Assistant for Congressman Louis Stokes. For several years, she served as an advisor on foreign affairs, taxes, business and commerce, telecommunications and trade issues.

From 1992 to 1996, Christa continued her service as the Director of Government Affairs for the United Negro College Fund, where she advocated for increased federal funding for underprivileged students. In 1999, she continued her fight for education as a Government Relations Specialist Consultant for Bowie State University.

In 2001, Christa brought her expertise and commitment to public service to the non-profit sector. As Special Assistant to the Executive Director for the People’s Involvement Corporation, she ran the Community Outreach Office and Neighborhood Development Office. In 2002, Christa became the Associate Director of Federal Relations for the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, where she advocated on behalf of 118 black colleges and universities. From 2005 to 2006, Christa continued her support for higher education as Director of Government Affairs for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.

Throughout her career, Christa has worked tirelessly to ensure that people have access to education. She continues that work as a volunteer for in her community. For several years, Christa has served on the Landover Educational Athletic Recreational Non-profit (LEARN) as an active member of the scholarship committee. The Foundation supports students in the Washington Redskins’ stadium impact area of Prince George’s County by providing scholarships and academic achievement awards. Christa is also a member of the Visual and Performing Arts Parent Boosters for Suitland High School and continues to be involved in community service activities with her sisters in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Christa, whose career in public service has been both passionate and distinguished, counts her family as her proudest accomplishment. She is the mother of three beautiful children, and the wife and best-friend of Prince George’s County’s new County Executive. As a full time mom, advocate, volunteer, and loving wife, Christa is a dedicated member of the Prince George’s County community.

Harmon L. (Monty) Cooper

“I love the people here and our potential for greatness.”

Harmon L. (Monty) Cooper, a lawyer by trade, has been active in a number of charitable organizations that serve Prince George’s County and the DC Metro area. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Bowie State University Foundation, which provides resources to support the activities and mission of Bowie State University, the oldest Historically Black College/University in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. He serves as a board member and legislative-committee chairperson for the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce. He serves as a board member of the Healthy Babies Project, Inc., an organization that connects high-risk, underserved pregnant D.C. women and their families to health care, social services, and educational opportunities. He serves as a board member of the Prince George’s County Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He has also served as a board member and secretary of the Woodmore South Homeowners Association (HOA) and continues to write for the HOA’s newsletter as a member of the Newsletter Committee.

Monty has also been active in a number of political and policy organizations, including serving as a member of the Young Lawyers for Obama National Finance Committee during the 2008 Democratic primaries. He was also a member of the Obama for America’s Energy & Environment Working Group, Air Quality Subgroup.

As a professional, Monty Cooper is an associate with Wallace King Domike & Reiskin, PLLC, a commercial litigation firm in Washington, D.C., specializing in environmental and product-liability litigation. In addition to his law practice, he provides pro bono legal services as a guardian ad litem for children in the D.C. Superior Court.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Monty received his Master of Public Policy and law degree from the College of William and Mary.

Monty lives in Mitchellville, MD with his wife, Angeleen, and daughters, Mischa and Nora.

Cecilia R. Jones

“It is the people of Prince George’s County that drew me, and keep me firmly rooted in this remarkable community. With its richness of natural resources and historical treasures, and its ever burgeoning business and shopping destinations to boot, Prince George’s County is at the center of my spiritual, recreational and family life.“

Cecilia R. Jones, a partner at Press, Potter & Dozier, received her Juris Doctor in 1991 from the University of Texas, Austin. Prior to joining Press, Potter & Dozier, Ms. Jones was a founding partner of Eubanks & Jones, LLP where she focused on civil litigation, government procurement and business law and represented family-owned, closely-held and non-profit businesses in governance, tax planning, property management and succession planning.

Before forming Eubanks & Jones, Ms. Jones represented the United States Department of Commerce in bid protests and contract appeals litigation. Ms. Jones is a former Revenue Agent with the Internal Revenue Service and is frequently featured on Montgomery County Public Television as a guest speaker on estate and tax planning.

Ms. Jones represented the United States Government in bid protests and contract appeals litigation involving millions of dollars in construction, technology acquisition and research & development contracts. She provided legal support for a start-up medical center that now serves over 1000 patients monthly. She also coordinated legal work and outside counsel for $8 million first mortgage corporate bond issuance and performed legal work and provided legal opinion letters for $4.2 million general obligation corporate bond issuance.

Ms. Jones was awarded her Juris Doctorate by the University of Texas, Austin in 1991 and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting, from the University of Oklahoma in 1987.

Ellen B. Hall

“My husband and I have lived in Prince George’s County for 22 years. Initially we moved here for his job, but we wound up buying a house and remaining in the County because we loved the area and the people.”

Ellen Hall has been a resident of Prince George’s County for the past 22 years. She is the founder of Gloves for the Homeless, a group that has distributed 100 bags of gloves, socks, blankets, toiletries and food to homeless residents of Washington, DC, on Christmas Day, for the past 15 years. Ellen spent several years as a volunteer at Terrific Inc., a service care provider for children living in crisis in Washington, DC and for the past few years she has sponsored a child in Haiti, through Life Connection Mission, an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities to impoverished children in Montrouis, Haiti.

Ellen has worked in the hospitality industry for the past 25 years. She was a Pastry Chef for 15 years, and then transitioned into Restaurant Management and Catering Sales & Event Planning. She spent the last 5 years as the Director of Membership and Marketing for several local area city/country clubs.

Ellen holds degrees in Pastry Arts from Johnson & Wales University, Fashion Buying and Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology and Art & Advertising Design from New York City Technical College.

Patricia Arzuaga

“Prince George’s County is a vibrant and culturally diverse community county with so many great opportunities for me and my family.  Here are a few of my favorite things: barbecues with my friends and neighbors in Bowie, rowing on the Patuxent, theater at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Latino summer festivals in Langley Park, dinner at National Harbor, being just a train ride away from the Nation’s capital and a stone’s throw from the Chesapeake Bay.”

Patricia Arzuaga is a health care attorney currently serving as Senior Counsel in the Legal Division advising Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., a Maryland-based nonprofit health maintenance organization.

Patricia received her law degree at Harvard University, and her Bachelor of Arts degree at Yale University. She has practiced law for nearly 20 years, holding positions in the federal government as well as the public non-profit sector and the private sector. She is also an active member of the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association and the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Patricia currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Latin American Youth Center, D.C. / Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers, and chairs the Board’s Maryland Committee. Previously she served on the Board of Trustees of Casa de Maryland, an immigrant rights nonprofit organization, and on the Archdiocese of Washington’s Board of Trustees for the Catholic Youth Organization. She recently received the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs 2010 Civil Right Champion Award in recognition of her work with LAYC and Casa in the Latino and immigrant community.

Alex Baker

Alex Baker is currently employed by Anne Arundel County Public Schools as a Transportation Specialist, where he manages the area of Special Needs Transportation. Previously, he worked in the Prince George’s Public School system in Pupil Transportation.

For numerous years, Alex has served as a block captain on the Tall Oak Crossing HOA.

Alex is a native of Philadelphia, PA. He is married to Valeria Baker, and has two children; Kyle (19) and Kendall (13). Alex has lived in Prince George’s County for over 20 years. He loves the county and wants do his part to promote its true greatness.

Danielle Basilio

“Prince George’s County epitomizes diversity – geographic, educational, cultural, and social. I am honored to be affiliated with a county that embraces diversity and utilizes resources to “elevate” the community.”

Danielle Basilio has resided in Maryland for 15 years. Educating her 3 children and

providing a supportive environment for them has been her primary focus during those

formative years. During the span of those 15 years, active involvement with community schools, social groups and humanitarian organizations has absorbed her time and energy.

Danielle organizes efforts every year to distribute food and clothing to those displaced on the streets of Washington, D.C and Baltimore. She is honored to expand her personal obligation of social responsibility as well as expanding the number of lives she impacts through involvement with Path to Greatness.

Danielle Harris

Danielle has worked within the Insurance Industry for the past 22 years. Currently, she is an Assistant Risk Manager for Bechtel Corporation.

She has been a resident of Prince George’s County for over 17 years, and currently resides in Bowie with her two teenage children, Taryn (16) and Hilton (14).

Danielle had been an active participant on the PTSA’s of each of their schools and volunteers whenever possible. Helping to providing quality education has been a key focus since moving to the County in 1994.

Danielle attended Boston University and graduated with a B.A. in Marketing and later received her Master’s Degree in Management from UMUC.

Joan Harris

“Special friends, family ties and loads of natural beauty – these are some of the reasons that Prince George’s County is great to me.”

Joan Harris is currently Director of Operations at NASCSP. As a membership organization, NASCSP supports and advocates for state administrators of two federal programs, both of which – the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) – address low-income need.

With a Masters in business, she has worked with both nonprofits and for-profits during her long career. For six years, prior to NASCSP, Joan managed Meridian Title Group, a settlement company she co-founded. Before that, she had served in various capacities within the public and private sectors – as an SBA loan office; as an economic development specialist for a national organization; and as a commercial credit analyst for a major regional bank.

Joan’s volunteer work reflects her love of the fine arts. Service has included seats on the boards of ACTCo, the African Continuum Theater Coalition, and Frederick Douglas Gardens, Inc. She spent three years working on the Art Committee of the annual Georgetown Day School Auction, a significant contributor to this major fund raising activity.

Stratton Nash

Stratton is currently Vice President, Business Development with Regeneration Capital, Greenbelt Maryland.

Stratton’s current public service experience includes;

The First Tee of Prince Georges County – The First Tee is a national youth development program dedicated to providing young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf .

Sewickley Community Center – The Sewickley Community Center (SCC), located in Sewickley, PA seeks to develop the lives of the area youth while enhancing the lives of individuals and families.

Unity Center of Light – New Church Building Committee.

Previously, Stratton was involved with Housing Initiative Partnership as the Vice Chair, MentorNet as the Founder & President, Friends of Rushern Baker as a volunteer, and Various Bowie Sports Programs as a volunteer.

Stratton brings experience in strategic B2B marketing and development and years of charitable service experience to Path to Greatness.

Malitta Seamon

“I stay in Prince George’s because of its diversity, beauty, and balanced mix of urban and suburban living.  Prince George’s is a progressive county with a wealth of potential.”

Malitta Nicholson Seamon is the founder and Executive Officer of Save the Community Foundation, a not for profit organization that sponsors various grassroots programs and events to improve our Nation’s communities. Over the past five years, Malitta has served as Chair for charitable events to raise funds and awareness for worthwhile causes designed to address challenges that threaten and afflict our local, national, and global communities.

Last year, Save the Community Foundation was a co-sponsor and Malitta served as event Chair for an awareness and fundraising event that supported New Directions, Inc.—a licensed, nonprofit organization that provides an array of services to homeless veterans who suffer from co-occurring disorders including substance abuse, mental illness, and post-traumatic stress disorder. New Directions, founded by formerly homeless veterans, has provided food, shelter, support, and rehabilitation to clients since 1992. The agency provides services to more than 800 veterans each year through its outreach program and at five different residential treatment centers. The fundraising event raised $10,000 in support of New Directions, Inc.

During 2009, Malitta led a committee in raising funds and awareness for the issue of homeless women and children in and around the Baltimore City area. My Sister’s Place, a day program for homeless women and their children, provides shower and laundry facilities, case management, life skills workshops, and three meals each day. More than $12,000 in funds were raised to help provide the resources and direct services that clients of My Sister’s Place need to begin the transition back to residential stability and self-sufficiency.

In 2008, Malitta chaired the fundraising committee for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) by raising money to cover the costs to provide one volunteer per child to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom and other settings. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system, or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives. More than $10,000 in funds were raised to support this cause.

Malitta launched the fundraising and awareness campaigns of Save the Community Foundation in 2006 by helping to support Malaria No More—an organization dedicated to advocacy, public support, and long-term political commitments to end the malaria blight in Africa. Although malaria kills more children in Africa than any other single

disease—one child every 45 seconds—it is preventable and treatable. Through charitable

events and contributions, the committee raised more than $25,000 in the 2 years the charity was supported. All donations went to the purchase of more than 4,500 mosquito nets for families in Africa, helping up to three family members per net.

While Malitta has worked to raise funds for organizations, she believes strongly that promoting awareness is the key. Her goal is to engage individuals and move communities into action. Malitta has also served on the Board of Love, Hallie, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and promoting youth philanthropy, served as a reviewer of grant applications for the United Way, worked with youth participants of a local Boys and Girls Club, and served as a volunteer for several community and church initiatives.

As Chief Executive Officer and owner of Seamon Corporation, Malitta has built an organization with a 21-year history of delivering effective information management solutions in support of national and global health, safety, and human service programs and initiatives.

Malitta and her family have resided in Prince George’s County for the past 24 years.

Dr. Lotus Seng

“We have famous landmarks, and well-known cultural attractions and the quality of life has attracted a talented and diverse labor force.  In Prince George’s County you’ll find everything you need and deserve.  Today Prince George’s County is a thriving commercial center for residents and tourists alike, featuring our National Harbor, specialty shops, pubs, fine dining, and entertainment.  We are proud of our successful urban renewal and redevelopment. We have professional teams in each of the five major U.S. professional sports. We even held the National PGA Tour in Bowie. What’s not to love about Prince George’s County?”

Dr. Seng is a Humanitarian, an Agent of Change, a Strategic Social Entrepreneur, a recognized leader and policymaker on corporate and institutional levels. For causes she supports, she raised over 156 million dollars over the last 8 years.

Dr. Seng works with The Bethune-DuBois Institute founded by C. DeLores Tucker, whereas she spearheads fundraising efforts for BDI who has been a champion and voice for our youth. She believes every student is entitled to a quality education and a chance to succeed in life. Realizing “it takes a village” to make this happen. She reaches out to our community to participate as sponsors for several exciting programs such as Textbook Scholarship Awards and Honors Program. To date, BDI has contributed $500 — textbook scholarships to more than 350 college-bound high school graduates since 2007.

Dr. Seng was the co-founder of the Media Explorations Institute, a Kenyan based non profit serving the less privileged but young, talented and aspiring children for more than 7 years. One of the most successful programs fostered by MEI is the Valentine’s day and clothing program reaching over 500 kids in orphanages, providing toys, books, time and love to those who need this the most.

For over two years Dr. Seng has served as the VP Of Development to The Pearl Coalition, facilitating cultural offerings designed to educate visitors on the array of racial, social, economic factors, contributions of the people and places involved in the Pearl escape, and the inner workings of the Underground Railroad.

Dr. Seng was instrumental in the establishment of the South African Youth Fund, an African government initiative set up to address the challenges of unemployment, lack of skills and capacity faced by South Africa’s youth.

Dr. Seng has co-developed a model of cultural competency for (minority clinicians serving minority AIDS/HIV patients. This model has been implemented in South Africa, Kenya and in the US, with proven-results for the improvement of patient-clinician intercultural-communication, use and prescription of drugs, early-on diagnoses of HIV/AIDS and prevention education.

Dr. Seng resides in Maryland with her daughter actress and singer LenteTresor. She obtained her Masters in Cultural Competency, and Integrity and Ethics, and Ph.D in Business Management from UvA, The Netherlands.

Charles Reilly

“Our county is blessed with bountiful natural resources–rivers & open spaces– that bring us good health and peaceful living. I defend that for my family and all Prince Georgians.”

A resident of Prince George’s since 1993, Charles has long served as a volunteer in environmental and community improvement areas. Most recently, he has served as Chair of Sierra Club’s Prince George’s group (until 2011) and as Vice-President of the Patuxent River Civic Association (current).

He and his wife, Nipapon, have two children who attend(ed) our public schools. Charles’ commitment to positive change through empowering people was shaped by his 30-year efforts in humanitarian assistance in developing nations, notably Southeast Asia. He has focused on grassroots organizational development by disabled people, documentation and teaching of endangered sign languages, and early education outreach to isolated families with disabled children. Along these lines, he is now engaged as technical consultant for a World Bank-funded project in Vietnam.

Professionally, Charles is a senior research scientist (doctorate in Education Policy) and associate director of the Gallaudet Research Institute at Gallaudet University, where he conducts studies of young children’s development and oversees two grant-giving funds. Also, he teaches a master’s course in “project design & implementation” to ensure that humanitarian efforts are informed by deep thought about people’s conditions, desired outcomes, and tools of change.