The Horizon Foundation Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of its officers and four new members. The Horizon Foundation is the largest independent health philanthropy in Maryland and focuses on working to improve the health and wellness of people who live or work in Howard County, Md. Since 1998, the Foundation has invested nearly $50 million in more than 250 community programs serving the local community.
The Board officers are:
Gregory O. Olaniran, Chair
Partner, Mitchell Silberberg and Knupp LLP
Mr. Olaniran is a member of the Litigation and Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Groups at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp. He is a member of the law firm’s Governing Board and co-chair of its Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He also serves as a board member of the Alpha Foundation of Howard County and previously served as vice chair on Horizon’s Board of Trustees.
Jeanne Kennedy, Vice Chair
Vice President and Corporate Treasurer for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
At CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Ms. Kennedy is tasked with the portfolio management, strategic financial planning and risk management for the organization’s Maryland and Washington, D.C. affiliates. She previously chaired the Horizon Board’s Investment Committee.
Janet Currie, Treasurer
Senior Vice President, Bank of America
Ms. Currie has served as an executive in the banking sector for more than 20 years and currently oversees corporate social responsibility initiatives in the greater Maryland area. She is a graduate of Leadership Howard County, and she serves on multiple boards in her community. Ms. Currie, a Howard County resident, served as the treasurer of Horizon’s Board of Trustees during the previous two-year term.
Robin Steele, Secretary
Business Manager, BRIDGES Consulting, Inc.
Ms. Steele has more than 25 years of experience in government contracting and has been involved with many boards and organizations serving the Howard County community. She was inducted into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Ms. Steele served as the secretary of Horizon’s Board of Trustees during the previous two-year term.
The new trustees are:
Sharon A. Hoover, Trustee
Associate Professor and Co-Director, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Center for School Mental Health
Dr. Hoover is a licensed clinical psychologist. As Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health, she works to advance school mental health practice, research, training and policy at national, state and local levels. She is an Ellicott City resident.
Lisa M. Pearson, Trustee
Director of Behavioral Health, Chase Brexton Health Care
Ms. Pearson has extensive experience in the field of psychology. Before starting her tenure as director of behavioral health at Chase Brexton in 2016, she served as the director of operations at the organization, which provides health care services to 10,000 residents annually.
Celián Valero-Colón, Trustee
Co-Owner and Physician, One World Healthcare
At One World Healthcare in Columbia, Md., Dr. Valero-Colón serves a diverse demographic. She is bilingual (English and Spanish) and she has been practicing hospital medicine for more than 15 years.
David Wolf, Trustee
Senior Investment Advisor, M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust
At M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust, Mr. Wolf manages the individual portfolios of high net worth clients. He is a Woodstock, Md. resident, and he has worked in the banking industry for more than 20 years. Mr. Wolf has been on Horizon’s Investment Committee since 2017.
“We are excited about our trustees and the impact that they will have on the health of our community, especially as we expand our work in mental health and racial equity in health,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation. “They bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives that will help us to move the needle on pressing health issues and make Howard County a place where everyone has the opportunity to live a long, healthy life.”
The officers began their two-year terms on Jan. 1, 2019. The new trustees will serve a four-year term that starts in January 2019 and ends in December 2022.
