Meet Our Board of Directors

Tricia Katebini, CPA, MBA
President

​As a Senior Manager at GRF CPAs & Advisors, and a rising star in the firm, Tricia has worked in public accounting for nearly 14 years. As a seasoned professional, she brings her knowledge of technical accounting and tax topics to support LARS with its operations and future endeavors. With her strong background in nonprofit industry, she also breathes the mission and values at the very heart of LARS, bringing her passion into giving back to the community in which she lives.

Kerry Pannell, PhD, CFRM
Vice President

Kerry has worked in higher education for more than 20 years as an economics professor and college administrator. In 2019, she moved to Maryland when she began working for an association of colleges headquartered in Washington, D.C. Kerry has extensive experience with strategic planning, assessment, and evaluation in nonprofit contexts. She has a strong commitment to supporting low-income families and individuals in the community, and is thrilled to be working with talented LARS staff and board members to provide assistance to those in need. Kerry and her husband live in Laurel with their dogs Boomer, Cooper, and Gus.

Dot Brownlie, RN
Secretary

As a member of Laurel Presbyterian Church for the last 38 years, Dot has supported LARS from its beginning. She is a retired Critical Care Registered Nurse. Caring for critically ill patients and their families made Dot acutely aware not only of their physical needs but also their economic and social needs after discharge. She is proud to be part of an organization that helps to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in the Laurel community where she lives.

Rick Askins, MBA
Treasurer

Rick retired from the U.S. Senate in 2018 after 32 years as a Senior IT Manager. He has a MBA degree and earned a Project Management Professional certification. Rick volunteers with the SHARE Food Network, making deliveries of fresh produce and pantry essentials to LARS food for over 25 years. He has been involved in the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s Church for over 30 years.

Deborah Harris, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CCDP/AP

Deborah is a retired government human resources executive with 30 years of HR, Diversity, and Civil Rights experience. She is passionate about community service and social issues and serves as a lay chaplain at a local hospital and a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal denomination. Deborah is a contract mediator, HR/DEI Consultant, and an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She holds SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications, is a Cornell University Certified Diversity Advanced Practitioner, CCDP/AP, and a Leadership Coach. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Public Administration. She is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary.

Donna Koczaja, ​MS, RH(AHG)

Donna is Principal Professional Staff at the Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory in North Laurel, where she has been employed as a mechanical engineer for the past 24 years.  In 2008 she reawakened her love of plants and the natural world that she held as a child by becoming a Master Gardener. This became a stepping stone to pursuing another outside passion earning a Master of Science in Herbal Medicine from the Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2014. In addition to her work at JHU/APL she now practices as a Registered Clinical Herbalist in the Laurel area. A long time resident of Laurel, Donna has been a strong supporter of the local community through her Master Gardener Volunteer work as well as through her clinical work. She has long supported LARS and its mission to help low-income residents achieve stability and self-sufficiency and is excited to take on a larger role in the organization by lending her professional skills and talents as a member of the Board of Directors.

Larry Krieger

Larry has served on the LARS Board for over 20 years representing Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church. At his church, he was chairman of the parish council for many years, treasurer of a men’s group, and a writer for a quarterly newsletter. He currently volunteers with the SHARE Food Program. Larry has been a Laurel area resident for 44 years, and strongly believes in LARS' mission. He is retired from the Social Security Administration where he processed claims, answered congressional, public, and White House inquiries for the head of the agency, and managed a team of inquiries specialists. 

Akeembra Lawrence

Akeembra is a fundraising professional who has spent most of her career in higher education. Her knowledge and skills as seasoned fundraiser help support LARS’ strategic goals. Akeembra became involved with LARS through her work at Business Volunteers Maryland where she helped to strengthen the community by making strategic connections between people, businesses and nonprofits. Akeembra is deeply committed to helping homeless and low-income individuals achieve stability, and she is proud to serve an organization that provides clients with a clear path to self-sufficiency. Akeembra earned her bachelor’s degree from Christopher Newport University and she is pursuing a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management. Akeembra is a proud “Army brat” and the wife of an Army veteran and she has been blessed to travel the world. In her free time Akeembra still enjoys traveling with her husband and two small children, reading, and all things fashion.  

Kellian Tonetti

Kellian is a High School Special Education teacher in AACPS with 10 years of experience in the teaching field. She is also a licensed foster parent in Anne Arundel County. She became aware of the mission of LARS through her parish St. Nicholas. She has volunteered at St. Nicholas with outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness and other faith communities. She is excited to be part of the Board and continue finding solutions for her community and utilize her data management and analysis skills along with her abilities to organize.