LAUREL ADVOCACY & REFERRAL SERVICES, INC.
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  • Home
  • About
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • History
    • Impact
    • Advocacy
    • In The News
    • Contact
    • Join Our Team
  • Services
    • Emergency Services >
      • Financial Assistance
      • Food Pantry
      • Homeless Services
      • Seasonal Programs >
        • School Supplies
        • Holiday Program
    • Permanent Supportive Housing
    • Self-Sufficiency Program
    • Resources
    • En Español
  • Events
    • Turkey Trot
    • Do More 24
  • Volunteer
    • Current Opportunities
    • Holiday Program
    • Year End Giving
  • Donate
  • COVID-19
Meet Our Board of Directors

Kevin Glasper, Ph.D.
​President

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Kevin is a Business Manager for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and has over 25 years of public service experience. He is also an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) teaching business and leadership courses. Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Prairie View A&M University, a Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science and Public Administration and Policy Studies from Howard University. Kevin is very involved in the Prince George’s County Community as a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Epsilon Lambda Alumni Chapter and the Prince George’s County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Kevin is passionate about bridging the gap and coalescing resources to assist those in need and considers it an honor to serve as a member of LARS’ Board of Directors. He is excited to be able to contribute his analytical, interpersonal, leadership, and business skills and experience to the board. 

Jeannette Robertson
Vice President 

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Jeannette is a change agent and inspirational people leader. Her 15+ years of experience range from HR Business Partner to Global Merchandising Executive. Jeannette brings passion, curiosity, and a strong track record of success. She leans into difficult challenges and ventures where others are unwilling to go; as a result, Jeannette has been responsible for generating multi-billion dollars of revenue through the development of product lines for some of the most recognizable brands in the world. Jeannette is also a connector. Her success is tied to her ability to build lasting relationships with vendors, partners, cross-functional colleagues, and her team. This approach has positioned Jeannette as a mentor, coach and strategic partner who collaborates with others to establish trust, solve problems, and impact organizational culture. Currently, Jeanette serves as the Senior Director of Global Merchandising at Under Armour, Inc. She is also the Executive Sponsor for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion taskforce for her business unit and serves as the Committee Career Co-Lead for Women in Leadership Employee Resource Group at Under Armour. She is extremely excited to bring her experience and passion to serve the mission of LARS. Serving the community is an important aspect of her family’s values and their natural connection to LARS is an amazing match in her appointment to the Board.

Dot Brownlie, RN
Secretary

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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.

Kellian Tonetti
Treasurer

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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. 

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

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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.

James Hill

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James Hill has worked for 20 years in the field of communications and digital communications. Currently, he is the Director of Communications at Nonprofit VOTE and has worked previously with TVOne, BET, and the Washington Post. He received his master’s in communications from Georgetown University and his BA in journalism from Hampton University. Originally from Philadelphia, James has lived in Texas, New Jersey, Virginia, D.C. and now resides in Maryland.

Donna Koczaja, ​MS, RH(AHG)

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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

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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. 

Bruce Sartwell

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Bruce received a B.S. degree in Physics and an M.S. degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Maryland.  He is a former Naval officer and Vietnam War veteran and worked for more than 25 years at the Naval Research Laboratory in DC as a supervisor and program manager, with the last ten years involving organizing teams and setting up meetings around the country to effect the transfer of advanced materials technologies to military aircraft.  During that time he was also elected to the Board of Directors and later elected President of AVS, a 5000-member science and technology society.  For 17 years he was editor of an international scientific journal.  For the last six years of his career, he worked as a program manager for two Defense Department initiatives that awarded grants and contracts to address environmental issues at DOD facilities.  Subsequent to retiring in 2013, he has worked in several volunteer positions, including treasurer of a Boy Scout troop, representing Atholton High School on the PTA Council of Howard County, and as President of the Warfield’s Range Community Association (an HOA) from 2013-2019.  Bruce brings to LARS a passion for working with people to accomplish goals and hopes to contribute to the continued outstanding success of LARS in supporting our community.
 
OUR OFFICE:
311 Laurel Ave
Laurel, MD 20707


CLIENT SERVICE HOURS:
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Monday: 9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. & 5:00p.m. - 7:30p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m.
Friday: 9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m.

DONATION DROP OFF HOURS:
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Monday: 9:30a.m. - 1:30p.m. & 5:00p.m. - 7:00p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30a.m. - 1:30p.m.
Friday: 9:30a.m. - 1:30p.m.
Please drive around to the back parking lot and ring the back doorbell and someone will assist you. Please do not leave donations outside or on the front porch. If you have any questions, please call Bethany Kerley at 301-776-0042 Ext 38 or send an e-mail.


CONTACT US:
Phone: 301.776.0442
Fax: 301.604.7076
Site Last Updated  •  August 7, 2022