2009 Board of Directors
Betsy Pursell
Board Chair
Betsy Pursell joined the board in 2006. She is Vice President for Public Education and Outreach at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization. Immediately prior to joining HRC, Betsy was the Executive Director at a D.C. educational organization with a nationally-recognized bullying prevention program. A career educator and administrator prior to a career shift to the non-profit sector, Betsy served as Upper School Director at the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, MD for ten years and was a teacher, coach and Director of Admissions at Thayer Academy (near Boston, MA) for eight years. She is a member of the program committee of the board for a D.C. public charter school and serves on the finance and stewardship committees at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Northwest D.C.. Betsy holds a B.A. from Colgate University, an Ed.M. from Harvard University and a C.A.S. in Organizational Leadership from Teachers' College, Columbia University. Betsy lives in Silver Spring, MD with her partner and their twin daughters.
Mike Schwartz
Vice Chair
Mike joined the board in 2004 and chairs the program committee. Early in his career, Mike served on the staff for various members of the US House of Representatives which was followed by 14 years at Freddie Mac in Government Relations and then nine years in Community Relations. As Director of Community Relations, he managing Freddie Mac's corporate philanthropy funding and volunteer programs and under his leadership, Freddie Mac's philanthropic program was recognized as the largest philanthropic funder in the Washington metropolitan area for four of those nine years. He created Freddie Mac's Hoops for the Homeless which has raised to date over 3 million dollars for homeless shelter providers in VA, MD and the District and directed a project that built 51 homes on the Mall in two weeks and transported to Louisiana and Mississippi for use by Habitat for Humanity as part of the response to Hurricane Katrina. Mike also sits on the Board of Greater DC Cares and the Board of the Washington Regional Area Grantmakers. He holds an MPA from the Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a BA from the University of Arkansas.
Stacey Long
Secretary
Stacey Long joined the SMYAL Board in 2009. She serves on the Program Committee. Originally from Queens, New York, Stacey Long is a public policy professional who is adept in strategic planning, community building and collaboration. She has over 15 years of experience addressing social and economic justice issues in nonprofit and government sectors. She is currently the director of advocacy & community development at Bread for the City, a local multifaceted nonprofit which focuses on the needs of low-income D.C. residents. Before moving to D.C., Stacey lived in Chicago, IL and was the Women's Program Director for Howard Brown Health Center, the area's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organization. Prior to that she lived in Madison, WI and as the head of Wisconsin's first Office of Women's Health, launched a $3.5 million women's health campaign. Stacey is active in numerous civic and community groups including serving as the vice-chair for the DC Commission for Women; steering committee member of the DC Women's Agenda; and a board member of SMYAL (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League). She has an A.B. in Africana Studies from Vassar College, a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a Nonprofit Management Executive certificate from the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute.
Richard Van Berkel
Treasurer
Richard joined the Board in 2007 and serves as SMYAL's Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He comes to SMYAL with a varied career in purchasing, facilities, budgeting, administration, and internal controls. Richard previously worked for the International Finance Corporation, the private lending arm of the World Bank Group, whose mission is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people's lives. He has served as an officer in a local purchasing association and was elected to their national board of directors. During this time he presented seminars and workshops as well as organized leadership conferences. Richard has also been an adjunct teacher for George Mason University and volunteers with his alumni club. He hails from Miami, Florida, and made Washington, DC his home for the past 30 years until his retirement earlier in 2009. Richard has a BBA in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA in Procurement and Contracting from George Washington University, and is a lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager. He and his partner Bruce Karp, of Hackensack, NJ, were married in 2007 and make Milton, DE their haven at the shore with Junior, their Scottie.
Nadia Adly
Nadia joined the board in 2009. She serves on the Finance Committee. Nadia began her career in the financial services industry in 1983 as a Sales Assistant for four Financial Advisors at Merrill Lynch. Over her twenty six year career, she served her client base as a trusted Financial Advisor for fifteen years before entering into management at Morgan Stanley. Nadia's first management assignment in May 2000, was to establish a presence for the firm in the growing Reston marketplace. After three years, she was promoted to Complex Manager covering Alexandria and Reston, before being promoted to Area manager in 2003, overseeing almost all of the branches in Virginia and West Virginia with 167 Financial Advisors. In June 2007, Nadia joined Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo Advisors) as a Regional Brokerage Manager with the Wealth Brokerage Services group. In addition to numerous registrations with FINRA and the State Corporation Commission for Insurance, she holds a Masters of Business Administration/Finance degree from George Washington University. Nadia serves on the Wachovia Volunteers Board. She lives in Herndon Virginia with her partner and their two golden doodles.
Frederic Bates
Fred Bates joined the board in 2008. He serves on the building and grounds and the development committees. Born in Rochester, New York, Fred was raised in St Louis and graduated from St Louis University with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting. A former Tax Specialist for KPMG and Major Account Manager for Eastman Kodak Company, Fred moved to Washington DC in 1996 to establish his own Real Estate Company as a Realtor and to develop residential projects in the city. Fred is also a founding member of the Friends of the 10th Street Park, a small neighborhood park near the Convention Center. Fred and his partner Hernan currently reside in Washington.
Susan Butler
Susan joined the board in 2008. She serves on the Program and Development Committees. Susan has been involved with philanthropic activities as trustee and as grant maker. In 1977 she became the first director of the Best Products Foundation, a corporate foundation. Over her 15 years as director, she guided the giving program from $200,000 to over $1 million. The Foundation funding projects included women's rights, reproductive rights, voter registration, pre-collegiate education, several university scholarship programs, as well as support of museums, theaters, and dance companies. As Chair of the Board of The Studio Theatre, she helped that institution raise $13 million to expand its performance and conservatory spaces and most recently completed a capital campaign to provide housing for The Theatre's apprentices and out of town actors, directors and designers. She also serves on the Art Committee of the Phillips Collection and participates in a Giving Circle at the Washington Area Women's Foundation. In the past, she was President of the Washington Project for the Arts, and served on the Board of Overseers of the Corcoran Museum, the Board of Trustees of Washington and Lee University, Lowell School Board and on committees for Holton Arms School, Council on Foundations, National Network of Grantmakers, Georgetown Day School, and the ACLU in Houston.
John Clisham
John Clisham joined the board in 2009. He serves on the Program Committee. An employee of Arlington Public Schools, since 1991, John has worked as a Counselor, Director of Counseling and now serves as the College and Career Counselor at Wakefield High School. He is the Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) and Young Democrat's faculty Co-sponsor. John was instrumental in bringing HIV/AIDS Education workshops to Wakefield students via Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry in the early 1990's; the program continues to provide HIV/AIDS education to students in their P.E. classes. Politically, John actively volunteers for the Arlington Democratic Party and for numerous local gay/lesbian/straight candidates. John lives with his partner of 22 years, Barry Parsons, and their three adopted children; Nathan 23, Nicholas 8, Will 3 and dog Wiley in Chevy Chase, DC. Born in NE. Penna. John graduated from Penn State University in 1986 with a B.A. in Political Science. After working as an Admission Counselor at King's College, PA John earned his M.A.Ed . & HD., in School Counseling from George Washington University, 1991. While at G.W., John interned with the Whitman Walker Clinic and Arlington Public Schools. An avid Penn State football fan, John spends his fall weekends in Happy Valley with his family and friends. If all goes as planned John will complete his first triathlon in the summer of 2010.
Paul Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich joined the board in 2009. He serves on the Buildings and Grounds, Development and Finance Committees. Paul is the Director, Legislative Affairs for Schering-Plough Corporation, a global innovation-driven, science-based health care company with leading prescription pharmaceutical, animal health and consumer health care products where he has worked for over 20 years. Paul has lectured on corporate grassroots and political involvement to national audiences including the Public Affairs Council. Prior to joining Schering-Plough, Paul worked on Capitol Hill and the British Parliament. Paul is a graduate of The American University in Washington, DC where he graduated with University Honors and holds a B.A. in political science. He resides in Washington, D.C. where he is Secretary/Treasurer of his Homeowners Association and has volunteered for Friends of 10th Street Park.
Robin Katcher
Robin Katcher joined the board in 2009. She serves on the Program Committee. Robin is the Deputy Director and Senior Consultant at the Management Assistance Group (MAG), a national organization that strengthens visionary organizations that work to create a just world. Robin joined MAG in 1999 and provides organization development consulting services to nonprofit organizations in areas such as board development, strategic planning, and managing and structuring staff. She also coaches leaders and has led customized capacity-building programs for networks of organizations. Groups that she has assisted include: the American Civil Liberties Union, Hope House, Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues, Equality Maryland, Equal Justice USA, Citizen Action Wisconsin, Alliance for Children and Families, and Land Trust Alliance. She is Lead Author of the MAG publications Boards Matter and Advancing Your Cause Through the People You Manage. Before joining MAG, Robin held a variety of leadership positions across a range of social justice issues, including Legislative Director at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and Trainer in a Gill Foundation program providing board development and fundraising workshops for LGBTQ community organizations. She has served as a Founding Board Member for Jews United for Justice, Board Member of Bet Mishpachah (a synagogue serving the LGBTQ community), volunteer sex health educator for Whitman-Walker Clinic, and community ally of HERE Local 27, the DC parking lot attendants union.
Jeffrey Nelson
Jeffrey joined the Board in 2006. He serves on the Development Committee and chairs the ad hoc Marketing Committee. Jeffrey is the Executive Director - Corporate Communications for Verizon Wireless, a position to which he was appointed in 2000. On the HQ staff in Bedminster, New Jersey, he is responsible for Verizon Wireless' national positioning and reputation, and directs communications of the company's public policy initiatives at the federal and state levels. Prior to joining Verizon Wireless, Nelson was Director of Communications at CTIA-The Wireless Association, the Washington, D.C.-based trade group for the wireless industry, and held senior legislative, communications and crisis management capacities on Capitol Hill and in the private sector. He served on the senior staffs of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (OR) and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX), has managed Congressional races and represented diverse public affairs clients, from organized labor to the plastics industry, advocated for inclusion of gays in the military, and promoted minority participation in the health care professions. A native of Rockford, Illinois, Nelson is a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee. A former board member of the D.C. Hotline crisis center, he lives in Washington, DC and New Jersey.
Todd Peterson
Todd joined the board in 2000, but began his service to SMYAL as a program volunteer in 1999. He serves on the Governance Committee and has previously served in a variety of leadership positions including Secretary, Vice Chair and Chair. Todd graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer and Information Science and has worked for 10 years in the Information Technology field as a consultant for Northrop Grumman and Accenture. Currently he is the Senior Manager of Technology at Equal Justice Works, providers of the nation's leading public interest law fellowship program. An active volunteer in the LGBT community, Todd has served as lead for the LGBT employee resource group in Accenture's Washington, DC office and is a Regional Council Member of the local chapter of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates.
Heather Scott
Heather Scott joined the board in 2008 and chairs the Development Committee. She is currently the director, community foundation services at the Council on Foundations. In her position, she is responsible for managing the national activities of the Community Foundations Leadership Team and the internal operations and support services related to their effective leadership of the community foundation field. Prior to moving to the Washington, DC area in 2000, Heather worked in San Diego's foundation field for over eight years at the Alliance Healthcare Foundation and The San Diego Foundation. She received her B.A. in communications from the University of California, San Diego and received her certification in the meeting planning industry as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
Ellen Sudow
Ellen Sudow joined the SMYAL Board in 2004. She chairs the Governance Committee and serves on the Development Committee. Retired from two decades as a family mediator, she previously practiced employment, communications, amateur athletics and consumer bankruptcy law; taught at Antioch School of Law; worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ellen has extensive experience working with nonprofits. She was a founder and currently chairs the Board of the Fred Taylor Scholarship Fund for economically disadvantaged youth participating in programs of For Love of Children (FLOC); is a Board member of the Rocking Moon Foundation; Chaired the Board of Trustees of The Lowell School; and was a Board member of The Family Support Center in Maryland.