Meet the Speakers
Kathleen Baldwin
President and CEO
Travelers Aid International
Kathleen Baldwin began serving as the president of Travelers Aid International on Feb. 11, 2019.
She formerly served as president of the Travelers Aid Society of San Diego, a position she held for 18 years. Kathleen was a member of the TAI Board of Directors for the last 13 years, holding the positions of chair of the Professional Council and board treasurer before resigning to take on her current leadership role.
Kathleen has led four organizations in her long nonprofit management career and also has served on numerous nonprofit and foundation boards.
She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California and an MBA from Pepperdine University, and has participated in several leadership fellowships in the San Diego area.
Brooksi Bottari
Co-Founder
Conscious Corporations
Brooksi Bottari is a licensed mental health counselor and a certified trauma professional with over a decade of specialized experience serving veterans, first responders, and individuals impacted by profound trauma. A U.S. Army veteran and survivor of military sexual trauma (MST), she brings deep empathy and unique insight to her work.
She holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Seton Hall University and is certified as a Compassion Fatigue trainer and Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT) practitioner. Brooksi co-founded Conscious Corporations, where she designs and delivers trauma-informed programs for veteran services organizations and healthcare institutions, focusing on compassion fatigue and team resilience in high-stress, trauma-exposed environments.
Her practice centers on EMDR, somatic processing, parts work, and nervous system regulation. Brooksi works across a wide range of issues—trauma, PTSD, compassion fatigue, LGBTQ+ identity and relationships, and burnout—and offers a trauma-informed, nonjudgmental approach emphasizing empowerment, inclusion, and healing.
Jan Brunner
Principal
BlueWater Strategies, LLC
Jan Brunner is a veteran bipartisan policy strategist and legal expert currently serving as Principal at BlueWater Strategies, LLC. In this role, she brings a collaborative, cross-party approach to policy matters, informed by years of experience advising both Democratic and Republican U.S. senators.
Previously, Jan led the infrastructure team for Senator John Barrasso (R‑WY) on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where she played a pivotal role in drafting key federal infrastructure legislation—especially concerning surface transportation and water infrastructure—in close coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA.
Her deep expertise in energy and environmental policy is rooted in service as Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R‑WV) on EPW and Energy & Natural Resources issues. She also served as Senior Counsel for Fossil Energy under Senator Mary Landrieu (D‑LA), and advised Senator Joe Manchin (I‑WV) on amendments to landmark legislation including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, and the General Mining Act of 1872.
Jan’s distinguished career also includes roles as Senior Energy Policy Advisor at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., where she advised on energy-related crises and international sanctions. Additionally, she worked as counsel to Senator Dick Durbin (D‑IL), was a budget analyst at the U.S. Treasury Department, and practiced law with a focus on pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and trade regulation.
A native of West Virginia, Jan holds a B.A. in Political Science (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.; an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Leeds (UK) as a Fulbright Scholar; and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. She is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.
Jan also contributes to Travelers Aid International in her capacity as a Board Member, reflecting her commitment to civic and humanitarian service.
Dr.Tamina Chowdury
Director of Advocacy and Campaign Strategy
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Tamina Chowdhury currently serves as the Director of Advocacy and Campaign Strategy at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a leading nonprofit committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the U.S.
In this role, she leads national policy initiatives and strategic campaigns to drive systemic solutions and equitable change. From June 2025, she has brought more than a decade of experience to the position, strengthening her leadership in advocacy, coalition-building, and grassroots organizing.
Previously, Tamina served as California State Policy Manager for the BlueGreen Alliance, where she championed labor-environment initiatives advancing clean transportation, climate resilience, and pro-worker policies. Her career also includes roles with the Human Rights Campaign and the New York State Senate.
Tamina holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Cambridge, and advanced degrees from the University of Warwick and Sewanee: The University of the South. She also completed a study year at the London School of Economics. Her educational and professional journeys underscore her dedication to policy strategy rooted in equity, dignity, and justice.
Sharon Cichy
Chief Strategy Officer
Main Street Connect
Sharon Cichy serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Main Street Connect, where she leads the organization’s development efforts, strategic partnerships, and innovative programming. Armed with a master’s degree in early childhood special education, Sharon spent more than a decade working as an educator before embracing entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership.
In her current role, Sharon is the driving force behind fundraising initiatives, creative collaborations, and impactful advocacy efforts. She is the visionary behind signature programs like Conversations Matter and Bake with Sharon, designed to foster inclusive community dialogue and engagement. Her work extends across local and national networks to advance accessible and affordable housing for people with disabilities
Scott Elmore
Vice President-Communications and Marketing
Airports Council International – NA
Chair, Board of Directors
Travelers Aid International
Scott Elmore joined the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) in May 2014 as vice president of communications and marketing. In this role, he is responsible for executing public relations efforts to advance legislative priorities and promote ACI-NA initiatives.
Prior to joining ACI-NA, Elmore was senior director of communications and marketing for the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), where he was responsible for developing and executing the association’s media relations and marketing efforts.
Elmore has also served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as a spokesman for Ambassador Susan C. Schwab on international trade and foreign policy issues.
Elmore is on the Board of Directors for Travelers Aid International and has led community outreach efforts with local businesses and organizations, including the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
Elmore earned his Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Central Florida and his Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
John Ishu
Director
Travelers Aid Chicago
John is the Director of Travelers Aid Chicago at O’Hare International Airport. He has been with the program for 25 years. He is responsible for not only the daily operation of the program, he also maintains and expands partnerships within the airport community including but not limited to US Customs/Border Protection, Chicago Police Department, Transportation Security Administration, over 40 airlines that serve O’Hare, and Chicago Department of Aviation.
A graduate of The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, previous to Travelers Aid Chicago, John has 9 years experience with other non-profits including an advocacy program for quality childcare and as Program Manager for a teen drop-in center.
John is a two-time nominee of O’Hare’s Wings of Vision Award and is a graduate of the Inaugural Class of US Customs/Border Protection Field Office’s Partnership Academy. Under John’s leadership, Travelers Aid Chicago at O’Hare has grown from a small office of 2 full-time staff and 40 volunteers to a considerably large office with 15 Social Service and Volunteer Coordination staff, as well as over 120 of the most loyal, dedicated, and consistently trained airport volunteers on the planet at 7 information desks throughout O’Hare.
Olga Khazan
American Writer and Journalist
Staff Writer
The Atlantic
Olga Khazan is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic, where she covers health, gender, science, and social policy. Her reporting has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes.
She is the author of Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World (2020), which examines how outsiders turn differences into strengths, and Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change (2025), a personal and scientific exploration into whether people can truly change who they are.
Khazan holds a degree in political science from American University and a master’s in journalism from USC’s Annenberg School. Her work has earned honors from the National Headliner Awards, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and other leading journalism organizations.
Peter Lauten
Director of Partnerships
Travelers Aid International
Peter Lauten currently serves as the Director of Partnerships at Travelers Aid International (TAI), where he cultivates relationships and develops innovative travel-related assistance programs across the organization’s regional sites.
Peter began his career at TAI as Volunteer Coordinator at Washington Dulles International Airport in April 2017. He was promoted to Program Manager at the same location in September 2018, where he directed both volunteer teams and staff, notably leading the Dulles Travelers Aid program to win the 2019 “Tower of Dulles” award for outstanding community service. Peter holds a B.A. in Political Science and Government from Tulane University
Graham Maclean
Assistant Program Manager
Travelers Aid, Dulles International Airport
I’m a native of Scotland and arrived in America in 1997 with my then girlfriend. and now wife, Karen. We have 3 incredible daughters who have either just graduated college or soon to do so. The money saved when that is complete, will be life-changing!
Most of my working life has been as a Soccer Director of Coaching for youth soccer clubs including in New Orleans, LA, Roanoke, VA, and Haymarket, VA. In addition, in 2018, I opened a successful small family café which taught me so much about running a business, exceptional customer service, and time management! Unfortunately, when your best staff leaves to go to college (daughters!), the family business isn’t as much fun when it’s just two and you both work full time!
In 2023, the position of volunteer coordinator became open at Travelers Aid, and I gladly took on the challenge. I have since been promoted to Assistant Program Manager which has been a lot of fun – every day is sunshine at Dulles, until it isn’t, and then we have Travelers Aid to come to the rescue! I love working with Travelers Aid and at the airport – I get to interact with truly interesting and wonderful people, while the position encourages me to be creative and fun.
Kathleen M. McGuinness, CDP, CMP, EOL, CHSS
President
KMM Consulting
At the helm of KMM Consulting, our mission is to empower seniors through informed Aging in Place strategies, leveraging my certification in dementia care and expertise in elder advocacy. Our team identifies and addresses the unique challenges facing older adults, ensuring their needs are heard at the county level and beyond.
With a wealth of experience in new business development and marketing communications, we at KMM Consulting bring a collaborative approach to healthcare advocacy. We’re dedicated to creating impactful business strategies, fostering growth, and nurturing relationships, all while managing events and branding with a focus on making a difference in the lives of our clients.
Tony Medina
Volunteer Manager
Travelers Aid Chicago
Tony Medina joined the Travelers Aid family in November 2013 as a Social Service Supervisor and has been at the reigns of Travelers Aid Chicago’s Volunteer Program since October 2015.
A native of the Greater Chicago Land area-and the smoothest man in the galaxy, his illustrious non-profit career spans over 15 years. A surprisingly good dancer for a man his size, Tony has forged a deep connection with the Immigrant and Refugee community in Chicago. Through these connections he enjoys exploring other cultures via food, film and music. Travelers Aid Chicago, Volunteerism and O’Hare International Airport is a natural fit for his intellectual, professional and personal interests.
Tara Owens
Executive Director
Main Street Connect
Tara Owens brings to Main Street Connect a robust background in accounting, education, and community engagement. She earned her B.S. in Accounting from Towson University and an MBA from Loyola College. Professionally, she has served as an auditor at KPMG, accounting supervisor at COPT, and later as a financial specialist for Montgomery County Public Schools—additionally supporting special education classrooms.
Beyond her career in finance and education, Tara owned and operated a Jazzercise studio for more than 13 years, blending her love of dance and fitness with a strong sense of community. Her commitment to Main Street is deeply personal, inspired by her son Kade’s autism diagnosis at age three, which ignited her lifelong dedication to the disability and special needs community.
Main Street Connect is a pioneering nonprofit and inclusive housing community in Rockville, Maryland, created to expand opportunities for adults with disabilities through affordable housing, dynamic programming, and a vibrant, supportive membership model. In her role as Executive Director, Tara leads this mission to foster belonging, independence, and lifelong connections.
Donna Paramore
CEO
Travelers Aid New Orleans
Donna Paramore has been leading the Travelers Aid Society of Greater New Orleans as Chief Executive Officer since July 2020, guiding one of the region’s longest-standing nonprofits in its mission to end homelessness. Her nearly two decades of experience in fundraising and leadership across social service organizations—including Clover New Orleans, Girl Scouts of Louisiana East, and KIPP New Orleans—equip her with a deep understanding of community needs and nonprofit impact.
Under her leadership, the organization has significantly scaled its outreach operations, growing from a smaller team to a robust 40-member staff. This includes establishing the largest outreach team of its kind in Louisiana to support vulnerable individuals directly where they are.
Donna emphasizes person-centered, compassionate support—meeting clients on the streets, guiding them into permanent supportive housing, and continuing to assist them with stability and self-sufficiency. Her leadership has garnered recognition in the community, with Travelers Aid being honored with the “Program of the Year” award by UNITY of Greater New Orleans. Donna also serves on the boards of Healthcare for the Homeless and Crescent City Community Court, further extending her commitment to advocacy and systemic solutions.
John E. “Jack” Potter
President and CEO
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
John E. “Jack” Potter has served as President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority since 2011, overseeing the operations of Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airports.
Before joining the Airports Authority, Potter served as the 72nd Postmaster General of the United States and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service, becoming the second longest-serving postmaster general in history. During his tenure, he led the Postal Service through a period of significant transformation, including the development of the USPS Transformation Plan and key reforms that shaped the organization’s modern operations.
Potter began his career with the Postal Service in 1978 and advanced through leadership roles focused on automation and operations before being appointed Postmaster General in 2001.
Periann Pulliam
CEO
Upward Transitions
Periann is the Chief Executive Officer of Upward Transitions, a 99-year-old social services organization in Oklahoma City. In FY23, under her leadership, the staff of 12 provided direct assistance to 3,956 individuals in 2,615 households, meeting critical needs such as housing, transportation, and legal document retrieval for identification.
She previously served as Chief Operations Officer for four years and as Director of the Travelers Aid Volunteer Program for six years at Upward Transitions. A project-oriented professional with more than 35 years of experience in business operations, development, training, marketing, and administration, she has built a career defined by versatility and impact.
Her professional journey began as Operations Coordinator for a local photofinishing company, where she managed six lab and studio locations. She later held a similar role in store operations and training for a national portrait studio franchise with 250 locations. She then transitioned into new roles as a scheduling coordinator for a computer training company and as a partner in residential real estate sales. For eight years, she worked full-time in real estate marketing and sales, and she continues to maintain her broker’s license, offering real estate advice and referrals to clients.
Marcy Roke
President and CEO
Travelers Aid San Diego
President and CEO Marcy Roke has worked for Travelers Aid Society of San Diego for 18 years. In her role, she collaborates with community partners to further Travelers Aid’s mission, creates responsive programs to fill unmet needs in the region, and works to secure the organization’s position in the fabric of San Diego’s social service space. Marcy engages with staff, board members, clients, vendors, and partners in order to serve the agency’s thousands of clients.
In her prior capacity as Director of Development and Communications, it was her responsibility to improve the agency’s outreach, marketing, and fundraising efforts. She previously worked in the fields of advertising and marketing for 16 years, focusing on publishing, editing, graphic design, and project management.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Susan Sanow, CVA
Senior Manager, Volunteer Management Education
Volunteer Fairfax
Susan Sanow, CVA, joined Volunteer Fairfax in July 2011 following two years of service as a board member; she developed and currently oversees the BoardLink Northern Virginia program and leads all of Volunteer Fairfax’s educational. Her work includes facilitating webinars, roundtables, book clubs, and managing the local Points of Light Civic Circle Cohort.
Before Volunteer Fairfax, Susan spent over two decades (1988–2010) as Deputy Director at the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, where she managed membership, communications, nonprofit outreach, and education. During that time, she founded the Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management (now the AIM Award) and the Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman EXCEL Nonprofit Leadership Award
.An accomplished trainer and facilitator, Susan regularly speaks on topics such as board development, nonprofit management, and volunteer engagement at local, statewide, and national. She earned her B.S. in Consumer‑Community Services from Michigan State University, became a Certified Volunteer Administrator in 2020, and has served on the board of the Northern Virginia Association of Volunteer Administrators (NVAVA) since 2021.
In 2022, Susan was honored with the Impact Award from AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement) in the Exemplary Leader category—recognizing her dedication to mentoring, advocacy, and advancing volunteer engagement practices. This accolade included a professional development grant to support her ongoing contributions to the field.
Adrianna Yemhatpe
Program Manager
Travelers Aid San Diego
Adrianna Yemhatpe has been with Travelers Aid Society of San Diego for nine years, now serving as the Director of Social Services. In her role, she assists in creating and implementing programs that serve San Diego’s most vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with disabilities, unhoused individuals, and individuals fleeing domestic violence. In her time with TASD, she has created numerous relationships with local nonprofits and medical facilities to best support the 1,800 active clients currently enrolled to receive transportation assistance.
Adrianna is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz with a BA in Sociology and Black Studies.
As a San Diego native, she is happy to be back raising her two sons in the community in which she was raised.
