CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS



Advisory Board Officers 2009-2010


Bill R. Strassberger -  Chair
Marva Deskins, Esq. - Vice Chair
Anthony Ramirez - Secretary
Eric G. Luedtke - Parliamentarian






The Current Board Members are as follows:

The 18-member Board is appointed by the County Executive and approved by the County Council.

 

Redball Bullet Vanessa E. Ali Redball Bullet   Allan Mulligan
Redball Bullet Thomas J. Aylward III  Redball Bullet   Alfredda H. Payne, PhD.
Redball Bullet Kim Bobola, Ph.D. Redball Bullet   Anthony Ramirez - Secretary
Redball Bullet Amjad M.Chaudhry Redball Bullet   Bill R. Strassberger - Chair
Redball Bullet Marva R. Deskins, Esq.  Vice Chair Redball Bullet   Odessa Shannon
Redball Bullet G. Stanley Doore Redball Bullet   Saschane M. Stephenson
Redball Bullet   David M. Kochanski, Esq. Redball Bullet  Benoy Thomas
Redball Bullet   Peter Myo Khin Redball Bullet ***Vacant***
Redball Bullet   Eric G. Luedtke - Parliamentarian Redball Bullet   ***Vacant***

Biographies of Current Board Members

1. Vanessa E. Ali is owner and founder of All-U-Need Personnel (AUNP), an innovative quality oriented business focused on delivering a wide range of staffing services to government and private sector agencies.  Since founding the company in 1995, Ms. Ali has led the company through a period of uninterrupted growth, with annual revenues in millions of dollars.  Ms. Ali brings more than 20 years of successful business and corporate experience to her role as CEO to All-U-Need Personnel.

Ms. Ali is committed to creating growth opportunities as the company expanded into Information Technology staffing Services.  In 2005, she was honored as the "Women in Business: Champion of the Year Award" from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and as "Fifty Influential Minorities In Business Award" from the Minority Business & Professional Network.  She will be honored on September 12, 2008 as "25 Powerful Minority Women In Business" award at the Mayflower hotel in Washington , DC , where Congressman Eleanor Holmes Norton is the confirmed guest speaker.

Ms. Ali is a popular speaker on issues related to small business, having developed and taught numerous workshops and seminars with topics like "How To Succeed As A Women In Business" Ms. Ali is married and resides in Burtonsville , Maryland .

 

 

2. Thomas J. Aylward III  obtained a Bachelor's of Architecture degree from the University of Maryland in 1980. He is a registered architect and has designed several retail and commercial buildings in the Montgomery County . His firm completed projects in the Washington Metropolitan area over the last 24 years which include approximately 15 million square feet of commercial space. His professional affiliations include The American Institute of Architects , BOCA International and he serves on the University of Maryland , School of Architecture 's Leaders Committee.

Tom started his architectural career with Cass & Pinnell in Washington , DC , moving to The Benham Group and then Rounds VanDuzer before partnering with Glen Stephens as Stephens Aylward & Associates. A few years ago he took a position with Jackson-Shaw Company in their Maryland Office as Vice President for Development. Today he is managing the reclamation and re-development of a 115 acre open pit mine along with other commercial development.

Tom moved to Burtonsville in 1993 with his wife and three daughters where they continue to make their home. Even during his 'out of town years' his parents continued to reside in Olney, giving him an almost unbroken connection with the County. His record of civic participation includes: Rebuilding Together Montgomery, Burtonsville Day, The Knights of Columbus, Shepherd's Table, Burtonsville Athletic Association and other local community events. In his free time he enjoys travel, biking and sailing.

 

3. Kim Bobola , Ph.D. resides in Burtonsville, and is employed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) as the Coordinator of Comprehensive Planning. At MSDE, Dr. Bobola oversees the development and review of school system master plans.

Ms. Bobola earned a Ph.D. at the University of Maryland in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. At the National Reading Conference, she was the recipient of the 2002 National Student Outstanding Research Award in Literacy for her research in children's reading comprehension. Dr. Bobola has been a classroom teacher, an elementary school principal (Westover Elementary School in Montgomery County ), and a central office administrator. She has been recognized in Who's Who Outstanding Young Women of America; Who's Who Outstanding Teachers of America; and was a select participant of the National Principals' Leadership Academy and the Washington Post 's Vincent E. Reed Principals Leadership Institute. Ms. Bobola belongs to Resurrection Catholic Church in Burtonsville where she has been a choir member for eighteen years. She is also a member of the women's community vocal group, Voix de Femme. A member of the Colesville Strawberry Festival for nine years, Ms. Bobola has served as chair of the festival for five of those years.

Dr. Bobola has been appointed to a second three-year term on the East County Citizens Advisory Board, and re-elected to serve as the chair for a second year. Dr. Bobola has also served as chair of Senator Rona Kramer's scholarship committee the past six years.
Her hobbies include cycling and running. This October, she plans to participate in the Seagull Century Ride in Salisbury Maryland for the fifth time.


4. Amjad M. Chaudhry - lives in Silver Spring with his wife and three children. He immigrated to USA in 1980. In 1998 he retired from US Army. During his tenure in the US Army, he was assigned to Georgia , New Jersey , Germany , Italy and Washington DC . Since 1999, he has been working for National Institute of Health (NIH). Currently, he serves as the Deputy Animal Program Director for National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).He is a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Agriculture University of Pakistan. Has also completed Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and holds a Masters of Public Health ( MPH ) at and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS).He volunteers time to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at Bait-ur-Rehman Mosque in Silver Spring . The Mosque holds many programs during a year for all ages. This Mosque holds many programs such as blood drive, health clinic, food drive and many interfaith programs - Annual Convention, Open House and that are open to the public.

 

 

 


5. Marva R. Deskins, Esq. is an associate at Goodwin | Procter LLP where she is a member of the firm's commercial litigation department. Her practice includes the litigation and defense of labor and employment and complex class actions. Ms. Deskins is co-chair of Goodwin | Procter's Associate's Diversity Committee in the D.C. office, and was recognized for her pro bono work in the May 2007 issue of the Washington Lawyer magazine.

Ms. Deskins received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1999 and a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in 2004. While in law school, Ms. Deskins was on the Executive Board of the Howard Social Justice Law Review and served as a research assistant to two distinguished Howard Law professors in the publication of law review articles. Following law school, Ms. Deskins served as a law clerk to the Honorable John Garrett Penn of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia .

In her spare time, Ms. Deskins enjoys tennis and is an avid Scrabble player. She is also the mother of one young child.

 

 

 

6.

G. Stanley Doore and his wife Jane had two children go through the Montgomery County Public School  system as well as grandchildren too.  Stan has been and is actively involved in the Calverton Citizens Association (CCA).  He was President of the Galway PTA and a football coach for the Calverton Recreation Council.  He continues as a CCA Board member and Transportation Chair of the association.  He also is a member of state transportation groups.

Doore's profession is and has been a meteorologist and information systems person with the NOAA National Weather Service, the United States Air Force, and the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research.  He sat on several federal information standards committees and chaired one.  Stan also managed cutting edge projects, national and international, in communication, computer, environmental and education systems.

Stan's undergraduate work in math and physics at Ohio Wesleyan University , and graduate work in meteorology at New York University with the USAF and a Master's in Technology of Management from The American University (TAU) have helped him to implement practical solutions to real problems here and abroad.  He was a adjunct lecturer at TAU.

Stan Doore is retired.  However, he continues to be involved with many activities in transportation, environment, education and civic affairs as an advisor and consultant.   He's still an active member of the Rotary Club of Rockville, the American Meteorological Society and several local organizations, including Montgomery Community Television where he was Vice President and a television producer.  He is still a member of the MCT Strategic Planning and Technical committees.  He also is a member of the MC Agriculture Center's Archive Committee where he produced four half-hour TV programs for the Ag Center; they are now in the Library of Congress.  He is the presenter of weekly programs on Cable Channel 21 titled The Heritage Hour which are produced by The Heritage Foundation.  Recently, Stan was reappointed to a second term on the ECCAB.

 

 


7.  David M. Kochanski, Esq. is a commercial lawyer who concentrates his practice on real estate transactions. These transactions focus on structuring and implementing the acquisition, development, financing and disposition of real estate including apartment complexes, undeveloped land, finished lots, office buildings and shopping centers. He represents national and local homebuilders, developers and other real estate owners and operators as well as structures sophisticated like kind exchanges and other tax deferred real estate transactions.

Mr. Kochanski was Chair of the Maryland State Bar Real Property, Planning and Zoning Section, and the Firm's Real Estate Department, has chaired the Montgomery County Bar Real Estate Section and is an active participant in the District of Columbia Bar Real Estate Section.  He is the Firm's Opinions Shareholder and a member of the steering committee for the Maryland State Bar Association Opinion Project.  He regularly lectures on various continuing legal education topics for numerous organizations, has been an Instructor at Montgomery College , an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland , University College and is on the Legal Professionalism Faculty for the Maryland State Bar Association. He has published in the Maryland Bar Journal and lectures extensively on like kind exchanges. He often testifies as an expert witness and serves as a Chair for Maryland Peer Review Panels.

In more than thirty-five years of practice Mr. Kochanski has advised clients in a wide range of business matters including real estate finance for lenders and borrowers, industrial, residential, retail and mixed use developments, condominium projects, construction and architect agreements, real estate litigation, workouts, title and survey matters. He serves as a Trustee and Advisory Board Member of the Maryland Institute for the Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers and has chaired their programs in Homebuilding, Like Kind Exchanges and panels for the Advanced Real Property Institute.  He is also a regular faculty member for Lorman Education Services, National Business Institute and Half Moon Seminars.

 

8. Peter Myo Khin - retired since 2006 after 35 years of Federal Service with the US Postal Service. Peter was a career executive with the Postal Service (USPS) as the manager, Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) where he was responsible for spearheading the efforts to enhance the security of information systems across the enterprise. Peter responsibilities included the Information Security Assurance program, which was formally established in 2000 as the central office for implementing security planning, processes and technologies to enhance and maintain security throughout the Postal-wide enterprise. 
Prior to his position as CISO, Peter was manager, Secure Electronic Messaging in the Corporate Business Development organization. In this position, Peter developed and launched two first-ever Internet-based electronic commerce products and services in the form of the Electronic Postmark � and a secure electronic messaging service called PosteCS, a joint venture with Canada Post and LaPoste of France. Peter also served as the acting Assistant Treasurer and Program Manager for Payment Technologies in the Corporate Treasury organization where he was the recipient of the Silver and Bronze Alexander Hamilton awards from the Treasury and Risk Management magazine for his development and implementation of the Uniform Allowance Purchase Card and for the development of Payment Technologies Policy Team, a process enhancement initiative to manage the creation of electronic payment systems within the USPS.
Peter holds a B.A. in Information Systems and a M.S. in Technology Management from the University of Maryland . Since his retirement, Peter has spent his time renovating his basement, his deceased parents home, as well as more importantly being grand-daddy day-care for two of his 4 grand-children. Peter is also vice-chair for the District 14 Democratic precinct in which he resides.

 

9. Eric G. Luedtke is a teacher at A. Mar io Loiederman Middle School in Silver Spring and a Burtonsville resident. He has served as a leader in a number of community organizations, including the Montgomery County Education Association, the Montgomery County Sierra Club, the Montgomery County Democratic Party, and the District 14 Democratic Club."

 

 

 





 

 


10. Allan Mulligan holds MA (Sociology) Duquesne University , Pittsburgh , PA and BA (Philosophy and Theology) - St. Michael Seminary, Union City , NJ . He is the owner of Independence House Publishers, a small business specializing in producing booklets and CD's regarding the historic events of the foundation of our country. ( http://www.DeclarationUSA.com )

Mr. Mulligan worked as a Contract Supervisor of Data Collectors in the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legislative Aide to Maryland State Delegates. Served for twenty-five years in various program and administrative positions with the Social Security Administration

 

 

Mr. Mulligan is the producer and host of many public access TV programs, including Mulligan's Stew Pot ("A potpouri of ideas and personalities". Not edibles.), and Senior Moments, displaying the great talents and activities of our seniors.



11. Alfredda Hunt Payne, Ph.D better known as "Fredda", recently retired from the National Association of Social Workers after having served for more than 20 years. Currently, she is a consultant with People to People Student Ambassadors Programs, which was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to foster peace among nations through global friendships and understanding. Fredda has traveled to all continents (with the exception of Antarctica ), visiting many countries and experiencing numerous cultures first-hand. She has trained hundreds of teachers and influenced thousands of students who participate with PTP.

Fredda earned her doctorate in Urban Higher Education, a master's in Management and Supervision, and a master's in Library and Information Science. Her passion is international travel, training teachers and students, reading, walking, bowling, and roller skating. She is married to Michael Payne; mother of three adult children, Allena Johnson, Michael II, and Cameron; and the proud grandmother of four grandchildren, Michael III , Mariana, and Kallie Payne, and Mikah Johnson.

 

12. Anthony Ramirez is a Senior Program Manager with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, a non-profit public health research center based in Calverton , Maryland . Mr. Ramirez currently manages a program to evaluate a comprehensive impaired driving and traffic safety program in New Mexico and is a survey manager on the National Roadside Survey project. Mr. Ramirez previously provided training and technical assistance to States and communities on issues related to alcohol prevention policy. He oversaw a Rural Communities Initiative, a pilot alcohol prevention program implemented in 25 communities located in 7 states. He also oversaw an impaired driving pilot project implemented in three Latino communities.

Prior to joining PIRE in 2001, Mr. Ramirez has coordinated community organizing, policy development and media advocacy activities for the Border Project to Reduce Underage and Binge Drinking in the San Diego/Tijuana, Mexico border community and for a community-based prevention project in Downtown Los Angeles. Mr. Ramirez holds degrees from the University of California , Los Angeles (BAs in Political Science and Chicano/a Studies) and the University of California , San Diego (MA in Latin American Studies). He and his wife Rebecca have two daughters, Isabella and Liliana.

 

 

13. Bill R. Strassberger is the public affairs officer for the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State. He has worked for the Federal government for more than 27 years at agencies such as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In his position, he is responsible for clarifying U.S. policy towards sub-Saharan Africa to the media and conducting outreach programs on Africa .

Bill served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon for four years, and began his Federal government career at the Peace Corps headquarters after his volunteer service. He served in the U.S. Army after graduating Bowie High School . He has a Bachelors' degree in Government from the University of Maryland and a Masters' degree in International Education from the American University .

Bill is a native Marylander, lives in the Tanglewood section of East Montgomery County with his wife, Agnes, a nurse at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and their son, James, an 11th grade student at Paint Branch High School.




 

14. Odessa Shannon - information to follow...



 
15. Saschane M. Stephenson - information to follow....


 
16. Benoy Thomas holds a masters degree in Social Work ( MSW ). Professionally, h e h as been employed as a Program Manager , for t h e Government of District of Columbia - C h ild and Family Services Agency. His area of focus has been c h ild abuse, c h ild neglect, foster care and adoption. Mr. T h omas h olds t h e h ig h est social work license in t h e District of Columbia and t h e State of Maryland .

Mr. T h omas and family h ave lived in t h e eastern part of Montgomery County over six years. In addition to t h e East County Citizens Advisory Board, Mr. T h omas is serving as a board member of St. Mary's Cat h olic Sc h ool , Landover Hills, Indian American Forum for Political Education, Federation of Indian Associations and Travelnet Inc. He previously served as t h e president of two major Sout h Asian Cultural Organizations in t h e National Capital Area. He is t h e recipient of Exemplary Employee Award (2005) from t h e Government of District of Columbia, Maryland Governor's Citation for Community Services (2004) Montgomery County Executive's Citation for Community Services (2005).