Kathleen Overholt

Kathleen Overholt is an active member of her community and a 4-H volunteer. The 4-H movement is an organization which focuses on youth development. It’s members encourage and support local youth through hands on educational experiences.

In addition to her 12 years of service as a 4-H, she helps coordinate the “Baby Bonanza” an event aimed towards serving families in need of infant clothing, food, diapers and toys. The event is scheduled after Thanksgiving to help ease any financial burdens which tend to fall around the holiday season.

Sherri Anne Green

Sherri is the Director of Business Development at LM&O Advertising in Arlington, VA. She was nominated for her work with the DC Ad Club in Washington, D.C. by Carol Montoya, President of Potomac Management Resources, the DC Ad Club’s association management company. Carol was eager to share her thoughts about Sherri, “Sherri has served on our board for six years and was recently elected to a third year as president, a testament to how much we value her leadership.”

Serving on a nonprofit board is hard and dedicated work, but most board members find it overwhelmingly fulfilling. We asked Sherri to share with us the advice she would give to those looking to serve on a board. She replied, “You’ve got to find an organization that you really believe in, and beyond that, you have to start volunteering. It is extremely important for nonprofit boards to have people who are willing to get the work done, and who have time to contribute to get the work done. Having a proven track record of enthusiasm and willingness to help, as well as leadership on a committee or with an event or program, shows how you can contribute in a more senior/larger leadership role with the organization.”

George Brymer

Brymer’s leadership philosophy on board service involves drawing out the talents of each and every board member. He believes that this not only attracts good board members, but helps to retain them.

Serving as the board president, Brymer used his experience and expertise as a former banker to assist the Audit & Finance Committee. In addition he has used his marketing expertise to help rebrand the agency.

“I think that my legacy will be that I always challenged the status quo, that I always challenged other board members to take a second look at long-standing assumptions,” Brymer said. “It’s very easy for boards to fall into group think. It’s therefore critical that someone says, ‘Okay, but we haven’t thought of this, or what if we did it this way?’ I don’t always have the most popular idea, but it is always a second idea for people to think about.

“A lot of times, after a meeting, other board members will come up to me and say, ‘You said exactly what I was thinking, but I didn’t want to say it or I felt uncomfortable saying it.’ So, sometimes you just have to be a devil’s advocate. And that would be my advice to aspiring board members.”

Ethelbert Miller

Ethelbert was nominated for his work with the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in Washington, D.C. He has served on the IPS board for 18 years, 10 as chairman. His contribution to the organization runs deep, even offering his own 60th birthday party as a fundraising opportunity.

“I believe each board member has something to offer and it is my responsibility to ensure IPS continues to grow and remains a vital part of the community,” Ethelbert said. “As we approach our 50th anniversary as an organization, I am excited to acknowledge those who helped us achieve so much and celebrate the young leaders who will help us move forward.”

For those wishing to serve on nonprofit boards, Ethelbert said: “Be ready to make a commitment. Understand time management and, most importantly, do not accept a position if you are unsure of your commitment. Ask yourself, ‘When I step down, what did I do?’ And be willing to lead the organization if necessary.”

Risa Vetri Ferman

As her county's District Attorney, Risa saw how painful it was for child abuse victims to be continually interviewed by various law and police representatives. She founded Mission Kids in 2009, which provides comprehensive team response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting to achieve justice for these young victims. Mission Kids is a child-friendly, Child Advocacy Center for the investigation of child abuse cases and a place of healing for abused children and their family members.

Sandy Puc’

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep trains, educates, and mobilizes professional photographers to provide beautiful portraits to families facing the untimely death of an infant. Sandy knows that remembrance photography serve as an important step in the family’s healing process by honoring the child’s legacy. Photographs are one of the most precious and tangible mementos that a parent can have, showing the love and bond that was given and shared with their baby. These portraits will last for generations, and will honor and remember a tiny life that is forever loved and cherished.

Catherine Meek

School on Wheels strives to enhance educational opportunities for homeless children from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Catherine’s goal is to shrink the gaps in their education and provide them with the highest level of education possible. The School of Wheels program serves as a consistent support system to homeless students at a time of great stress and fear. School on Wheels brings the message to these students that they are cared about and important.

Olivia Stinson

PEN Pals Book Club & Support Group for Children of Incarcerated Parents ("PEN Pals Book Club") was the brainchild of Olivia Stinson at the age of 14 years old. Olivia saw the need to embrace a special population while bringing together a church, a community and a city. The mission PEN Pals is to combat illiteracy among children of incarcerated parents and to provide mentors who offer them both encouragement and support on a regular basis.

Lorraine Kerwood

NextStep Recycling works closely with local schools to help children and their parent, guardian, or sibling, learn how to use technology in a classroom-based setting. Lorraine applied her own experience with Asperger’s to others and discovered that for people who fall on the autism spectrum, the computer was very friendly and a great communication tool. She has turned a small, garage-based nonprofit into an internationally recognized organization that provides people with job and social skills training, refurbishes computers and recycles electronic waste.