Mdlclaw.org

MDLC Board Member Brief Biographies

Libby Arcia joined the MDLC Board in 2013. She currently works in grants and
special projects with Family Health Centers of Baltimore in Cherry Hill. Ms. Arcia
holds a Masters of Arts in Business from Notre Dame University in Maryland.
Her previous positions include Executive Director of Centro de la Comunidad,
and Operations Manager at Johns Hopkins Medicine International. “I have been
inspired by the accomplishments of MDLC and am honored to serve as a Board
member. I have seen family life transformed by disability and understand the
value of inclusion and integration. This motivates me to work toward helping
others achieve their dreams.”
Kelly Bagby joined the MDLC Board in 2013. She is an attorney on the Health
Team at AARP Foundation Litigation where she represents older people
throughout around the country in civil rights cases. She is a graduate of
University of Baltimore Law School and Franklin and Marshall College. Ms.
Bagby’s first job as a lawyer was at MDLC in 1994 and she has worked on
disability rights issues ever since. She was the Legal Director at University Legal
Services, the Protection & Advocacy program for the District of Columbia for
seven years and then worked for the United States Health and Human Services’
Office of Counsel to the Inspector General focusing on quality of care issues in
nursing facilities. Ms. Bagby is a person with a disability and lives in Queen
Anne’s County. . “I am very proud to be a member of the MDLC Board so I can
support the work that MDLC’s staff does every day to enhance the lives of people
with disabilities – especially those who live on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”
Ken Capone is a recognized leader in Maryland’s self-advocacy movement. He
coordinates the advocacy and public policy initiatives of People on the Go and is
a valued member of the Developmental Disabilities Coalition. Mr. Capone is or
was active on such advisory bodies as the Maryland Commission on Disabilities
and the Waiting List Advisory Committee. He studied Computer Programming at
Johns Hopkins University, completed the Partners in Policymaking program,
served as a Legislative Intern with the Maryland Senate, and worked as an “Ask
Me” interviewer for The Arc of Maryland and Developmental Disabilities
Administration. Mr. Capone was practically destined to become an advocate as
his family was determined to ensure that he was fully included. “Working with
MDLC’s phenomenal advocates to advance the rights of people with disabilities
as a member of the Board is deeply meaningful to me. What you do for yourself
dies when you die, but what you do for others lives on after you are gone."
1500 Union Ave., Ste. 2000, Baltimore, MD 21211 Brian DeWitt joined the MDLC Board in 2007, and currently serves as both the
Board President and Fundraising Committee Chairperson. Mr. DeWitt is a Vice
President at Whiting-Turner Contracting Company who holds a Bachelor of
Science in Civil Engineering and a Professional Masters of Construction. He is
the father of a child who sustained a traumatic brain injury and has personally
experienced the challenges parents face in obtaining appropriate services for
their children who have disabilities. “I am extremely honored to be part of MDLC.
My daughter’s disabilities have motivated me to do whatever I can to make the
world a better place for not only my daughter, but for all others with disabilities."
Daniel Erchick joined the MDLC Board in 2013, and is a Research Associate
and faculty member at the International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he also completed his Master of
Public Health. Previous to this position, Mr.Erchick lived in Sierra Leone, working
with local disability advocates to improve and expand special education services.
He is passionate about the epidemiology of disability and infectious disease, and
global efforts to increase access to basic health interventions that save lives and
prevent disability. “As a person with a disability (I was born without a left arm) I
am committed to addressing the barriers that exclude persons with disabilities
from the fullest participation in society. MDLC is a strong advocate for disability
rights, and I am honored to be able to support their mission.”
Vicki B. Finkelstein, Director of Real Estate and Senior Real Estate Counsel at
W.R. Grace & Co., who manages their global real estate portfolio, has been a
real estate lawyer throughout her nearly 30-year career. Ms. Finkelstein is the
MDLC Board Vice-President. She has also worked for The Rouse Company and
was partner at Frank, Bernstein, Conaway & Goldman. Ms. Finkelstein
graduated summa cum laude from the Univ. of Pennsylvania and also received
her J.D. from Penn. She was a founding member and President of Friends of
Tourette Syndrome Research, Inc. “Having raised a child with Tourette
Syndrome, I am acutely aware of the challenges that parents of a child with a
disability face. Obtaining necessary accommodations is often difficult and
frustrating. My commitment to MDLC stems from our shared passion for
ensuring that people with disabilities can access the supports they need to
achieve their full potential.”
Kim Fusco joined the MDLC Board in 2013. She is a manager in the Audit,
Accounting, and Consulting Department at Ellin & Tucker in Baltimore. Ms.
Fusco is a leader in the firm’s Not-for-Profit Services Group and chairperson of
the Not-for-Profit area of the firm’s Technical Standards Committee. She also
chairs the firm’s Giving Back Committee which organizes firm-wide volunteer
events in the Baltimore community. Ms. Fusco lives in Halethorpe with her
husband. “I have several family members that have struggled with mental health
disabilities, and I am honored to serve an organization that does so much to
advocate for individuals with all types of disabilities.”
John Halaby is a Vice President of T. Rowe Price Group and T. Rowe Price
Investment Services, where he manages a national accounts team. Mr. Halaby
earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University where he met his
wife, Jessy. They reside in Reisterstown with their two children. "I am very
honored to serve on the board of MDLC as I have experienced, through my own
family members’ struggles, the institutional barriers that individuals with
psychiatric disabilities face as they strive to be accepted by the larger
community."
Chris Jeffries is a George Washington University Law School alumnus and an
Associate at the Baltimore office of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP. He has
served a judicial clerkship at the Baltimore City Circuit Court and worked for D.C.
law firms. Mr. Jeffries has a keen interest in disability rights and other social
justice concerns. He has engaged in development work in Africa studying the
impact of HIV/AIDS on various populations. “MDLC is the leader in bringing
about substantial and lasting change for people with disabilities. This
organization is successfully moving our communities toward greater inclusion of
people with disabilities and I am glad to be a part of that work.”
Howard Libit joined the MDLC Board in 2009 and currently serves as the
Nominations Committee Chairperson. Mr. Libit is the Chief Operating Officer of
Kearney O’Doherty Public Affairs, where he consults with a variety of clients on
communications and strategy. For 15 years, until April 2009, he worked as a
reporter and editor at The Baltimore Sun. In his most recent position at the
newspaper, he was Assistant Managing Editor for News, overseeing the paper’s
city, suburban, state, national, foreign, business and investigative news
coverage. A graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Political Science,
Mr. Libit lives in Rodgers Forge with his wife and two young children. “When I
first started out as a reporter at The Sun covering education in Howard and
Baltimore Counties, I spent a lot of time writing about issues involving special
education. I saw first-hand how important it is for people with disabilities to have
advocates, and I am excited to have the opportunity to help MDLC with that
mission.”
Thomas Lingan is a partner with the law firm Venable LLP where he co-chairs
the Environmental Practice group and concentrates on environmental
compliance counseling and litigation. He is a frequent author and lecturer on a
wide array of environmental issues. Mr. Lingan’s service on MDLC’s Board
enables him to pursue his strong passion for social justice and human rights
issues. “I greatly admire MDLC’s accomplishments in the disability rights arena
and will do whatever I can as a Board member to help MDLC continue to improve
the lives of people with disabilities.”
Vicki Mills has been advocating with and for people with developmental
disabilities (DD) in Maryland for many years, beginning with helping residents of
the Great Oaks Developmental Center find their way to freedom in the
community and continuing with similar efforts regarding the Rosewood Center.
Ms. Mills is the Co-Chair of People on the Go, the statewide self-advocacy group
of people with DD. She also serves on The Arc Maryland’s board and has
served on the Maryland DD Council where she chaired the Cross-Cutting Issues
Committee. Ms. Mills is a strong proponent of Employment First policies and of
including people with disabilities in the community and in the workforce. “I am
honored to serve on the MDLC Board. It gives me advocacy tools I can use to
help develop new leaders in the DD community who will become empowered and
inform MDLC’s work.”
Dr. Alicia Morgan-Cooper is a pediatrician in private solo practice. She is a
native Baltimorean who received her Bachelor of Science degree from American
University and her medical degree from The Pennsylvania State College of
Medicine. Dr. Morgan-Cooper completed her residency training at The Children's
Hospital at Sinai. Upon completion of residency, she entered private practice
where she has treated many children with various disabilities. Having this
experience brings an awareness of disability issues to her role as a Board
member. "I see my patients encounter needless barriers and I am motivated to
be part of MDLC because of the inroads the organization has made for disability
rights."
Robert Stovall joined the MDLC Board in 2010 and currently serves as the
Board Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairperson. Mr. Stovall is the Chief
Operating Officer of ClearView Consulting, a management consulting firm based
in Owings Mills. For 20 years, Mr. Stovall has worked with companies to develop
and strengthen their financial operations and policies. He is a Baltimore native
who earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Baltimore,
and lives in Hunt Valley with his wife, Alicia. “The advocacy work that MDLC
does in the disability rights arena is unparalleled. I continue to be blown away by
the success stories and victories that MDLC continues to achieve on behalf of
people with disabilities. I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors, and am
excited to have the opportunity to help MDLC with this important work.”
Tony Wright is the Chairperson of MDLC’s Protection & Advocacy for Individuals
with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council and as such is also a valued
member of the MDLC Board of Directors. Mr. Wright has served as Executive
Director of On Our Own, Inc. Wellness & Recovery Center since 2001. He has
expanded the organization to include 7 consumer-run behavioral health self-help
services throughout Baltimore City and County. He has augmented the On Our
Own mission and vision to serve as a model for peer-operated centers
nationwide. Mr. Wright is also an artist and is currently pursuing an MSW.
“MDLC plays a critical role in advocating for people with mental health disabilities
and ensuring that their legal and human rights are respected. I greatly
appreciate the opportunity to bring my experience to MDLC’s PAIMI Council and
Board, and to help the organization achieve its essential goals.”

Source: http://www.mdlclaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Board-Member-Bios-Feb-2014.pdf