LEADERSHIP BIOGRAPHIES

Board of Directors

Susan Decker, President

Sue brings a board range of expertise, including strategic planning, budgeting, and finance operations and analysis, from her career in the telecommunications industry. Prior to working in the private sector, she was an economist at several Federal agencies and taught economics at Montgomery College. Sue has served on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board and the Montgomery County Consumer Protection Advisory Committee. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in economics from the University of Maryland, and is a 2014 graduate of Senior Leadership Montgomery. Sue has lived in the Silver Spring area since 1982.

Connie Raab, Vice President

Connie's career in health communications includes 26 years at the National Institutes of Health with a focus on chronic disease and 12 years directing public health communications at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She earned an MPH and a certificate in gerontology from the University of Maryland School of Public Health and a BA in English literature from Carleton University. Connie served as secretary and chaired the safety committee of Woodside Park Civic Association, and was a board member of Safe Silver Spring. She joined Holy Cross Hospital's Patient Family Advisory Council in 2019. She continues to be involved in qualitative health research at the University of Maryland and in program evaluation at Shattuck and Associates. Connie joined the Village in 2013. She volunteers for errands and rides, leads the Stitchers for Good group, and edits the Village Vibe. She and her husband, Gordie, have lived in Silver Spring since 1985.

Katherine Anderson, Treasurer

Katherine has over 35 years of management experience, including 20 years as Vice President of Finance and Administration at Inter-American Dialogue and Chief Financial Officer at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Throughout her career, Katherine has helped growing organizations create systems, policies and processes that support organizations' missions and employees' well-being. She earned an MBA from Temple University and an MSW from Ohio State University. Katherine has volunteered since joining the Village in 2016 by helping others members with technology challenges, supporting the development of the Village's website and database, and assisting other Villages with implementing supporting technologies. Most recently, she has guided the development of the Village's Support Teams concept that provides enhanced services to members experiencing short- or intermediate-term crises. Katherine and her husband, Joe, have lived in Silver Spring since 1993.

Beverly Lunsford, Secretary

Beverly is a retired nurse, most recently serving as assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Nursing and as director of the university's Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities where she conducted collaborative research and education to improve health care for older adults. She advocated for the integration of humanities and creative arts in healthcare to teach a more person-centered approach to care. She has a PhD in nursing from the Catholic University of America. A member since 2019, Beverly serves on the program committee and is active in several walking, gaming and restaurant night groups. She also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, gardening, and writing.

Sara Daines

Sara is retired from a career focused on housing and community development. Most recently, she served as the City of Takoma Park's Housing and Community Development Director. Previously, she served in a similar capacity in Faribault, MN and as a subject matter expert in local and state affairs, housing, and community development for The Cloudburst Group. She earned master's degree in historic and economic geography from the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree in urban and regional studies from Minnesota State University. She also earned a certified public manager designation from George Washington University's Institute for Regional Excellence.

Cheryl Gardner

Cheryl's career was capped with more than 25 years as a consultant in the areas of organizational research and program evaluation, organizational culture change, and diversity. Prior to that, she spent two decades in corporate management, including as Vice President of a consulting/systems-integration firm. She also served as an adjunct professor at George Washington University and Georgetown University. Cheryl has served on the Alumnae Association Board of Smith College and on the advisory board of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the latter in support of expanding the number of persons of color in science careers. She earned a DBA from George Washington University, an MBA from the University of Southern California, and bachelor's degree in economics from Smith College. Cheryl has lived in Silver Spring since 1976 and joined the Village in 2018.

Laurie Ekstrand

Since retiring from the Government Accountability Office in 2006, Laurie has taught social research methods worldwide for USAID and the World Bank, and designed evaluations for many public and private organizations. She was recently appointed to the Montgomery County Police Advisory Commission. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, and a master's and a PhD from Florida State University. She has been a member of the Village since 2016.

Carolyn Lauer

Carolyn is retired from a career working for the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to develop trade unions in Asia and Eastern Europe. She also served as the fund administrator for the SEIU Health and Welfare Fund. A member since 2016, she participates in many Village groups and was a key organizer of the book group established in partnership with Montgomery County Libraries. She has a master's degree in labor studies from Rutgers University. Aside from her work with the Village, Carolyn is also volunteers to raise puppies that will eventually become service dogs.

Gail McDonald

Gail is a board-certified physician and surgeon of obstetrics and gynecology. As a women's health provider for more than twenty years, she has a history of involvement in advancing healthy living through direct care, outreach, organizing and education. She continues to network with providers, faith communities and social organizations to enhance health awareness. Gail earned an M.D. from Howard University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Virginia. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League and an associate member of Jack & Jill of America. Gail grew up in the Wheaton/Glenmont area and now lives with her family in North Bethesda.

Beverly Moss

Beverly has more than 30 years of experience working with management teams across a broad spectrum of Fortune 200  corporations and Federal agencies, including positions as the manager of the employee service center and director of operations at Fannie Mae. As an independent management consultant, she provided executive coaching, leadership development, strategic planning, DEI development, and process analysis for clients such as AARP, L'Oréal, Nike, Habitat For Humanity, Hilton Hotels, the Federal Reserve, and numerous Federal agencies. Beverly was a founding member of Kemp Mill Village and served on its board until it was incorporated into Silver Spring Village. She currently serves as a member of the Village's program committee. She has lived in Silver Spring twice—once in the 1970s and now since 2001.

Joseph Reinhard

Joe is a career civil servant, having spent the last ten years working in the Department of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on a wide array of security topics including counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and East Asia and Europe international affairs. He has served in several leadership positions and was recognized with the Excellence in Leadership award and the Secretary of Defense's Global War on Terrorism medal. Joe serves on the Montgomery County Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs and has volunteered with other area nonprofits. He first volunteered with the Village during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic coordinating food donations and deliveries from Village members to support unhoused individuals in Silver Spring. He has lived in Silver Spring since 2018.

Darren Vieira

Darren is special counsel in the Security and Exchange Commission's Division of Trading and Markets where he works on broker-dealer status and compliance issues, exchange-traded products, and securities-based swaps. Previously, he was an associate in the securities enforcement and regulatory counseling practice of O'Melveny & Myers LLP. Darren earned a J.D. from Georgetown University and bachelor's degree in economics and finance from Bentley University. He has been an active Village volunteer and member, and previously served as Treasurer.

Jacqueline Wallen

Jacqie is an Associate Professor Emerita in the University of Maryland School of Public Health and is in private psychotherapy practice. Her research and teaching have focused on quality, equity and evaluation in health care for women, minorities, and elders, particularly in the area of behavioral health care. She earned a PhD in human development from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in social work from The Catholic University of America. She maintains an LSCW in the state of Maryland. Jacqie is active in her church, where she coordinates a ministry aimed at supporting older members plan for aging-related needs and facilitating the development of projects related to housing, transportation and other issues of concern to older adults. Jacqie is a founder of Silver Spring Village and served previous terms as a director and Secretary.

Staff

Douglas Gaddis, Executive Director

Doug became the Village's first full-time executive director in September 2019, bringing more than three decades of nonprofit experience to the role, including 19 years as resource development director for a $25 million organization in Montgomery County. Prior to that he served as the chief development officer for Interfaith Works, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and the Higher Achievement Program, and as a fundraising consultant. He served as moderator, moderator-elect and nominating chair of Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ. Doug has also participated in numerous community groups including the Montgomery County Corrections Workforce Advisory Committee, the Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families Children's Agenda Committee, and Montgomery County's All-America City/National Civic League delegation. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Washington Area Villages Exchange. For two years, he hosted a weekly interview show featuring nonprofit organizations and their leaders on WMAL-FM. Doug completed all requirements except the thesis for a master's degree in nonprofit arts administration from The American University, and earned a bachelor's degree in vocal performance with a minor in Germanic languages and literature from the University of Kentucky. He also holds a G.G. from the Gemological Institute of America and a Level III Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. Doug and his husband, Gary, live in Kensington.

Vanessa Ripps, Director of Volunteer Services

Vanessa has served as the Village's Director of Volunteer Services since 2015. Prior experience includes more than twenty years with nonprofit organizations as a fundraiser, community builder, in-home caregiver/companion, and as Director of Volunteers and Resources and at the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. She earned an MSW from Columbia University. Vanessa chairs the Vital Living Network, a voluntary group of professionals and others with an interest in successful aging. Vanessa is responsible for the Village's volunteer recruitment, screening, training and evaluation strategies.

Brooke Kenny, Operations Manager

Brooke comes to the Village with more than a decade of experience working in non-profit senior services. Most recently she served as the executive director of a small non-profit that offered social day programs for men in the early stages of memory loss. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in creative writing from The Johns Hopkins University. When she's not helping with the daily operations of the Village, she is spending time with her husband and two young children.