Ken Oldham is an energetic, experienced and passionate executive with an extensive background in non-profit management, strategic planning, and community engagement. He possesses a comprehensive knowledge of nonprofit business practices, fundraising and leadership development. Ken has been President & CEO of United Way of Frederick County (UWFC) since August 2016. He is responsible for the developing the organization’s long-range vision and developing the business strategy to advance the organization’s objectives. He and his small but capable team have developed and advanced strategies to support ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in the focus areas of health, education and financial stability. ALICE are those who are working but unable to afford a basic cost of living – they are among the most vulnerable to job losses, food insecurity, homelessness and sickness. United Way team accomplishments include developing the Prosperity Center’s Pathway to Financial Stability, a key strategic initiative to support ALICE families; nearly doubling charitable gifts through the Unity Campaign, a multi-community fundraising campaign bringing new resources to ALICE households (Frederick County, MD and Berkeley County, WV); and springing to action in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to bring immediate and long-term relief to ALICE households in crisis. In May of 2021, Oldham and the UWFC team were named 8th District Hero of the Week by U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md) for their work assisting families with the federal Child Tax Credit. Before UWFC, for nearly 15 years, Ken was the President of National Philharmonic at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD. He transformed the organization from a $450,000 community orchestra into $2 million regional performance ensemble consisting of a professional orchestra and chorus. Ken is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and committed to the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Code of Ethical Standards. He serves on several boards of directors including chair of Frederick County Coalition for the Homeless and is President Emeritus of Frostburg State University Foundation. Ken earned a Bachelor of Arts from Frostburg State University where, in recognition of professional excellence, he received the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award. Ken grew up in Taneytown, MD, but has lived in Frederick County since 2005. He resides near the Potomac River with his wife Melissa and his two sons Landon and Breeze.

William M. Honablew, Jr. is Baltimore City's Office of Information Technology (BCIT's) Community Impact Manager. In his role, he is responsible for helping to ensure that the City develops and maintains relationships with community leaders and communities whose input has traditionally been deprioritized. He has also worked with many organizations in the greater Baltimore region on data informed planning, leadership development, and community engagement. He has trained thousands of people throughout the country on various topics, including financial management, strategic planning, marketing, effective communication, advocacy, the legislative process, etc. He has worked with educational, government, non-for-profit, and for-profit organizations to help them move to the next level. Email: William.Honablew@BaltimoreCity.gov

Molly Sherman is the Executive Director of the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council (CTIC), a nonprofit teaching digital skills in central Maryland. She provides individual appointments and classroom instruction to learners; builds and maintains relevant, localized curriculum; activates revenue pathways for sustaining services and community expertise; and recruits digital equity advocates across sectors and among neighbors. Molly's work and reflection center on how people construct relationships and navigate trust with one another and technology. Email: molly@carrolltechcouncil.org

Ronnie is a highly accomplished professional with a commitment to enhancing connectivity and digital equity. With a decade-long career spanning both the private and public sectors, Ronnie has been a driving force in Diversity & Equity initiatives. In 2019, he transitioned to the Office of Rural Broadband as a Program Manager, dedicated to ensuring that all Maryland residents have access to reliable high-speed internet. In his current role as Director of the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband, Ronnie played a pivotal role in facilitating over $300 million in grants to address broadband gaps and close the digital divide. His leadership has been instrumental in implementing Digital Equity initiatives at a broad scale, resulting in more than 140,000 households gaining access to affordability measures, devices, or skills training. Ronnie's unwavering commitment to bridging the digital divide has left an indelible mark on Maryland's efforts to create a more connected and equitable future. Email: Ronnie.hammond@maryland.gov

Dr. Jessica A. Stansbury is the Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence at the Bank of America Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, and Technology (CELTT) and founding Director of the Center for AI Learning and Community-Engaged Innovation (CAILI) at the University of Baltimore. She holds a doctorate in Instructional Technology and a master's degree in Experimental Psychology. Prior to joining the University of Baltimore, she worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins University in the substance use field before serving Towson University in a variety of leadership and faculty roles, including full-time Psychology faculty, adjunct faculty in Instructional Technology, Virtual Learning Consultant, Program Director for the Northeastern Maryland Psychology Program, and founder of the Teaching and Gaming (TAG) Lab. Dr. Stansbury is passionate about the scholarship of teaching and learning and has presented and published extensively on innovative pedagogy, video gaming in higher education, and emerging technologies. Her work, featured in The Washington Post and The Chronicle of Higher Education, focuses on AI readiness as a form of digital literacy and champions a human-first approach to AI. Through her leadership at the University of Baltimore, she is committed to helping educators and community leaders leverage AI to expand opportunity, strengthen teaching and learning, and foster meaningful human connection.

Accomplished regional director with experience in overseeing and managing government affairs and relationships to shape and influence government policies impacting an organization. Background in strategic planning, government relations, public policy, lobbying and legislative analysis. Exemplary communication, interpersonal and leadership skills. Chris works for Comcast as the Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs. Previously as the Regional Director of AT&T, Christopher advanced AT&T’s legislative, regulatory, and external affairs agenda in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Christopher also worked for the Maryland state government where he served as Policy and Legislative Director to Governor Larry Hogan, and most recently as Chief of Staff for the Maryland Department of Information Technology.

Cory McCray was elected to represent the 45th Legislative District in the Maryland State Senate in 2018 after serving in the House of Delegates for one term. Since that time, he has been named a legislator to watch by the Daily Record and Maryland Matters and was nominated by his peers to serve as First Vice Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party. His approach to public service is rooted in a profound commitment to hearing the concerns of his constituents and finding practical solutions. When his constituents asked for better jobs, Cory passed the ACTION and POWER Apprenticeship Acts, which expands funding for apprenticeships that lead to family supporting careers. When asked for greater investment in our public schools, he passed legislation that scores school construction funding to prevent lawmakers from cutting Baltimore out of the education resources it deserves. When his neighbors demanded to be heard in Annapolis, he amplified their voices with legislation that restored voting rights for more than 40,000 Marylanders. When Governor Hogan vetoed the voting rights bill shortly after its passage, he organized a coalition of legislators from across the state to overturn the governor’s veto. During his tenure in the Maryland General Assembly, Cory has spearheaded the successful passage of over sixty pieces of legislation to bring greater resources and equity to Baltimore City and the State of Maryland. Among them, he is particularly proud of his work to raise the minimum wage, increase transportation funding, reduce pollutants in our air and waterways, secure additional snap benefits for families, and provide greater access to public libraries.

Vishnupriya Desai currently serves as the Digital Equity Program Manager for the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB). She is highly driven and committed to serving the digital needs of Marylanders. She has professional background in Computer Science & Engineering and Management of Aging Services from UMBC. Prior to OSB, Vishnu was a Program Manager with UME Marylanders Online, where she oversaw the launch of the call center helpline and other Digital Inclusion initiatives across the state. In Baltimore County, Vishnu served as Digital Inclusion Coordinator where she helped close the digital divide by serving the technology needs of older adults. With great enthusiasm, she looks forward to expanding digital equity to Maryland. Email: Vishnupriya.desai@maryland.gov

Founder & Principal Consultant, Chefalo Consulting Shenandoah Chefalo is an author, speaker, and trauma-informed leadership and implementation consultant with more than 20 years of experience supporting public agencies and organizations. Her work focuses on helping organizations move beyond trauma-informed awareness and into practical implementation through leadership development, organizational culture change, workforce wellbeing, community engagement, and systems change. Through Chefalo Consulting, Shenandoah works with government agencies and other people-serving systems to translate trauma-informed and human-centered principles into the everyday practices, policies, relationships, and organizational conditions that shape how people experience services and institutions.

Assistant Secretary, Division of Just Communities Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Cat Goughnour leads Maryland DHCD’s Division of Just Communities, a statewide initiative grounded in spatial justice and created to address the legacies of racialized displacement, disinvestment, exclusionary policy, and structural inequality that have shaped Maryland’s built environment. Through Just Communities, she works to shift resources and decision-making toward communities most affected by these conditions and to develop trauma-informed, equity-driven tools for locally rooted development. Before joining DHCD, Cat worked as a human rights consultant specializing in systems change, people-centered placemaking, and economic mobility. Her background spans community economic development, public health, design thinking, racial wealth equity, and multi-stakeholder technical assistance. She holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Charlotte Davis has over 20 years of professional experience in government, advocacy and political consulting. She spent over ten years working within the Maryland General Assembly, most recently serving as the Chief of Staff for a Committee Chair. She has experience in non-profit management, managing a small organization dedicated to educating and advocating on behalf of Montgomery County, Maryland. In the fall of 2012, Charlotte was part of the successful campaign to change Frederick County’s form of government from Commissioner to Charter. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director for the Rural Maryland Council, an independent state agency that seeks to improve the quality of life while preserving the cultural heritage of Maryland’s rural communities. Charlotte holds a BA in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland and a MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in Middletown, Maryland with her husband and two sons. charlotte.davis@maryland.gov

Erin Snell, PhD, MPA, is the Executive Director and a founding board member of Charting Careers. She brings experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and public policy to her work with scholars, families, and community partners. Erin earned her PhD in Education Policy and Leadership Studies and her Master of Public Administration from Indiana University Bloomington. She began her career as a classroom teacher and later worked in teacher development with KIPP and Teach For America. She also served as Chief of Staff to Maryland Delegate Alice Cain and has consulted with nonprofits and schools on curriculum, evaluation, and strategic planning. Erin serves on the advisory board of the Anne Arundel County Nonprofit Center. Her community leadership has been recognized with the Junior League Leadership Award, the Drum Major Award, and the Michelle Obama Award from the Caucus of African American Leaders. Erin lives in Annapolis with her husband, three children, and a small menagerie of pets. She enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling, and practicing mindfulness.

Kayla Life builds artificial intelligence for the people the technology industry builds last. She is the founder of RebrandLand AI, where she designs AI tools and platforms for schools, nonprofits, and businesses. She is also the founder and executive director of the Rebrand Institute of Tech Equity, a nonprofit built on one conviction: anyone can innovate, given the right chair and the right chance. Through RITE, she has trained educators statewide for the Georgia Department of Education and led AI training for staff at the CDC. Her work has been recognized and supported by Google, the Watson Institute, and Camelback Ventures. Kayla has been building since long before AI made it fashionable — code, design, video, apps — and she still writes the tools herself, because technology should be built by the people closest to the problem it solves. A Spelman College alumna with master's degrees from Alfred University and Arizona State, she is the author of The Series of the Misunderstood.

Drew uses research, analysis, and storytelling to help policymakers and the public understand issues in the broadband and digital equity space. He helps lead Benton Institute for Broadband Society's federal and state advocacy and directs the Broadband State Education Project, which supports community-driven advocacy for state and regional broadband policies that advance universal, affordable, and reliable broadband service and broadband adoption. Previously, Drew worked as the State Broadband Policy Advisor for Common Sense Media, and as a Broadband Legislative Fellow for Senator Tina Smith. He received a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University. Email1: dgarner@benton.org

Born in Montgomery County, Maryland, August 19, 1984. Attended Linganore High School, Frederick, Maryland; Frederick Community College, A.A. (general studies), 2008; Hood College, B.A. (political science & history), 2013. Frederick County Coordinator, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, 2012. Vice-Chair, Frederick County Democratic State Central Committee, 2013-14. Chair, Board of Directors, The Frederick Center, Inc., 2015-21. Chair, Golden Mile Alliance Design Committee, 2017-19. Chair, Board of Directors, Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership, 2017-21. Legislative Director, Moms Demand Action, Frederick County, 2018-19. Community Leader of the Year, Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce, 2022. Married.

Jake Varn is an associate manager with Pew’s broadband access initiative. He provides technical assistance to state broadband offices through Pew’s broadband education and training initiative. Before joining Pew, Varn served as a policy analyst for the National Governors Association and for the Bipartisan Policy Center. Varn holds a bachelor’s degree in history and international relations from the University of Iowa.

Director of Broadband and Digital Equity | City of Baltimore Executive leading citywide infrastructure, multi-million-dollar federal grants (ARPA/NTIA), and cross-agency digital equity initiatives. Trusted advisor to Cabinet leadership on policy, procurement, and public-private partnerships.

Cheryl DeBerry has served as the Broadband & Energy Manager for Garrett County Government’s Department of Technology & Communications since 2021. In this role, she has led efforts to expand broadband access across rural Garrett County through innovative partnerships, creative financing strategies, and pioneering project design. Her broadband initiatives include developing rural infrastructure with the goal of reaching all unserved addresses and advancing digital inclusion. This includes promoting affordable broadband access, distributing devices to low-income residents, and enabling digital learning opportunities—all with the goal of achieving digital equity countywide. With nearly 20 years of experience in Garrett County Economic Development focusing on agriculture, forestry and energy, Cheryl was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland by the Maryland Daily Record in 2023. Email: cdeberry@garrettcountymd.gov

Mitsuko Herrera is Director of Montgomery Connects, Montgomery County’s award-winning digital equity program and also lead XR Montgomery, the County’s new Extended Reality (XR) initiative to deploy Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) throughout Montgomery County. XR Montgomery is leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for speech-to-text recognition, database queries, avatar speech, and language translation. Mitsuko serves as NATOA’s representative on the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC). CAC has been tasked by the FCC to present recommendations about how to prevent unwanted or malicious AI robocalls and texts, and how AI can be used to support communications for people with disabilities. Ms. Herrera also provides policy, planning and special project support to Montgomery County’s Chief Broadband Officer and Chief Information Officer, supports MoCoNet, the County’s 100 Mbps residential broadband program, and is the County’s point person for broadband and technology grants planning and development as well as digital equity corporate philanthropy, public private partnerships (P3), and business engagement. She served as an advisor to the Maryland Taskforce on Rural Broadband and as a member of the Maryland Telecommunications Tax Reform Commission, and is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and the University of California at San Diego.

Josh Bokee is the founder and executive director of Connect for Broadband, a nonprofit advancing broadband access and digital opportunity in Maryland. He works with community, nonprofit and agency partners to expand access to affordable internet, connected devices, and digital skills training. His background spans public service, community planning, and broadband policy. Email: jbokee@gmail.com

David Gurzick, Ph.D., is Professor of Management Science and Director of Graduate Business Programs at Hood College, and CTO at Devis, where he has guided federal work for clients including the U.S. Department of State and the CDC. Across a career spanning software, academia, and government, his research focuses on artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and data-trust models: how people and communities can share data and expand digital opportunity. A child of the Internet who grew up on AOL and programmed his way through dot com, he holds a Ph.D. from UMBC, is a graduate of Harvard's business analytics program, and is pursuing his MBA at MIT's Sloan School of Management. Email: gurzick@hood.edu