Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County has a group of compassionate and dedicated individuals on our side who are willing to do whatever it takes to help change children’s lives for the better.
Board of Directors
Staff
Heritage Membership
The Heritage Membership is an honorary membership that is bestowed upon any past board member, Big or Little who has contributed significantly to the good of the agency.
Justin Anderson
Tom Breidenstein
Verna Brown
Ty Hemmis
Laura Horning
Ralph Mauriello
JoAnn Plum
Elaine Rose
Alice Sencindiver
David St. Clair
Board of Directors Bios
Jim Zuna, Board President
Jim has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County since 2011. He is a member of the board of directors, and has served in a number of officer positions, including terms as vice president and president of the board of directors. He was previously recognized as the 2011 Board Member of the Year. For the last twelve years, Jim has served as emcee for Bowl For Kids’ Sake, and frequently participate in the various activities and fundraisers held by BBBS. He is an attorney who works in cases related to child welfare. When not working or serving with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jim regularly performs in theatrical productions with The Potomac Playmakers and Authentic Community Theatre, and can be seen playing guitar at area open mic nights.
Jim’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“I firmly believe in the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the benefits that one-on-one mentoring that our children receive.”
Kent Grove, First President of Development – Bio coming soon.
Ladetra Robinson, Second Vice President of Programming – Bio coming soon.
Sheri Stephens, Treasurer – Bio coming soon.
June Cleary, Secretary
June began her journey with Big Brothers Big Sisters in May 2020 as an employee, where she quickly became a passionate advocate for the organization’s mission. While working with the organization, she also completed her Master’s degree in Social Work, demonstrating her commitment to both professional development and community service.
A lifelong resident of Washington County, June is a licensed social worker with a focus on mental health services with adults, children and families. She currently supervises a psychiatric rehabilitation program (PRP) department, where she supports the growth of both staff and clients.
As the eldest of eight children, June has long embraced the role of mentor. Her personal and professional experiences fuel her dedication to uplifting and empowering youth. Now serving on the Board of Directors, June brings her insight, compassion, and lived experience to help contribute to the impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
June’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
‘”As a social worker, I see the lasting impact that early relationships and support systems have on a person’s mental health and sense of self-worth. Mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters have the opportunity to play a crucial role in strengthening that foundation by providing youth with consistent, caring relationships that help shape a healthier, more hopeful future.”
Kathy Curtin, Big Sister
Kathy always had an interest in becoming involved with the agency, but felt she was too old! She became a Big Sister in her 50s, and she’s so glad she did! She was matched when her little sister was seven years old. Kathy was invited to join the board of directors several years later. She is a retired social worker and enjoyed working w/ families.
Kathy’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“I am so proud to be a part of BBBS and share my passion for our mission.”
Dr. Mary Hendrickson, Big Sister
Mary has been a board member since 2016, currently serving as chair of the board Development Committee. She was previously the secretary and president of the board. In addition, she is a Big Sister. Mary’s profession is educator. She has been the director of Behavioral and Social Science Division at Hagerstown Community College since 2014. Before that, she worked as an administrator and faculty member at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA for 26 years and she was a faculty member at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Mary earned a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and an M.A and B.S. from Minnesota State University (Mankato). She is a member of and secretary for the Washington County Commission for Women. Awards include Outstanding Service to the College (Wilson College), Sears Roebuck Award for Outstanding Teaching, and various grants for research. Mary has spoken at several conferences and published articles. She was selected for a travel award to Amman, Jordan by the U.S. State Department and by Wilson College for travel to Japan, China, and South Korea. Mary’s family consists of her husband Robert, her daughter Erica, her husband Jon, as well as her pups and kitty.
Mary’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission celebrates the power of mentorship. As a teacher and administrator, I have witnessed the impact on students who blossomed from the mentorship of faculty and staff. Young people look to adults for love, support, and guidance. Good mentors help them to mature, grow in confidence, and become resilient as they face life’s challenges. The bond of acceptance and friendship between a Little Sister or Brother and a Big Brother or Sister can be an invaluable resource that benefits both parties.”
Trina Johnson
Trina has served on the board of directors for more than 20 years and has been actively involved with group events and fundraisers. She was a Big Sister for two young ladies and was part of the Site-Based Mentoring Program for two young boys.
Trina has been the director/teacher of a childcare center for 39 years and has had the pleasure of having two generations of children in my care over these years.
Watching little children learn and grow has been a loving achievement for her. Being nurtured and cared for is so vital to children and she enjoys being their caregiver.
Trina enjoys spending time with her family for holidays and special occasions or to just be there for each other.
Trina’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“Since caring for children is in my nature, I am happy to be a part of such a wonderful mentoring organization who impacts the children in this community in such a positive way.”
Brooke Kerbs
Brooke’s passion for the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters began in 2000 when she was in college and got matched with the affiliate in Chattanooga, TN through her undergraduate internship. Within a few weeks of seeing the impact of 1:1 mentoring, she knew the mission of BBBS was something special. She went on to work for BBBS in Frederick County, MD for several years and then joined the community here in Washington County by serving as a Big in 2007. Brooke has been on the board of directors since 2013. During this time, she has had the privilege of serving in many capacities including president, 1st vice president, 2nd vice president, and secretary. Playing a small role in the governance of the agency is important to her, but she would have to say her favorite part is helping with activities where Bigs and Littles can have fun together. Brooke has had the honor of working in her job as a social worker at the Washington County Mental Health Authority for the last 19 years. In 2020, she was given the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County’s Champion of Youth award. This was especially meaningful to her because working to make life better for youth through her job and volunteer roles is a key value by which she lives. Brooke was raised in Washington County and this community holds a special place in her heart, so it was extra special to receive an award for doing what she loves in the place she loves. She and her husband have two wonderful children of their own and, in her spare time, she enjoys spending time exploring the foods, sights, and activities of Washington County and the surrounding area.
Brooke’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me” is a famous quote by Fred Rogers. I think one of the best things about my involvement with the agency has been the inspiration I feel while spending time with the heroes of our community!”
Corey Linthicum
Corey is a new BBBS Board Member. He is a 2002 graduate of Linganore High School, in Frederick County, MD. He started his working career as an owner of a landscape company. After exhausting himself for years, he transitioned into working for Rentals Unlimited in Hagerstown, MD. Corey serviced equipment, delivered equipment and eventually ended up in the outside sales position. It was an amazing company to work for and engrained him into the Washington County Community. He was always interested in real estate from an investment standpoint and became licensed in 2005 simply to do his own transactions. After a timely phone call from a great friend and now business partner, it was decided that Corey would try his hand in the real estate industry full-time. He really didn’t know what that meant at the time or have much of a clue for what he was signing up for. He jumped in the deep end and started making the transition. Though not easy, Corey was able to scrape by and absorb as much knowledge as possible from my now business partner, Mike Deming. Then in 2022, they decided it was time to make yet another leap and open our own brokerage. They were able to acquire an old service station on Northern Ave. and make it our own. And AEK Real Estate was born. Corey has been married for 16 years to his wife, Amanda. They have one daughter named Emma. She is the “E” in AEK!
Corey’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County is important to me because I truly believe that the children of this community deserve every opportunity to succeed and this is my chance to give back to that cause. I am honored to be a part of this organization and look forward to applying my skills to help the team.”
Laura Oates
Laura has been on the board of directors with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County since 2017. She enjoys serving on the Programming Committee and planning and executing fun events and activities for our Bigs and Littles. Laura also designs the logos and materials for our events, as well as designs the marketing materials, website, and other publications for the agency. If you attend any of our events, you will usually see Laura behind the camera snapping pictures.
Laura graduated from Washington County Technical High School with a concentration in visual communications. Then she went on to graduate from Shepherd University with a degree in graphic design. She founded Laura Oates Design in 2007, a graphic design company working with local and national clients.
She was married in 2001 to my husband Doug, and we have 3 teenage boys.
Laura’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“I feel Big Brother Big Sisters of Washington County truly is an agency that can make a big impact on our local youth and in turn on our local community. I like that 100% of the funds raised stay right here in Washington County. It is so amazing interacting with the Littles and seeing all their smiling faces when we participate in fun activities and share experiences together that they might not otherwise be able to participate in.”
Gary Weaver
Gary grew up in the early 1950s in what he calls “the projects” in Hagerstown’s West End. He was the only child in a single-parent family. His mother worked full-time to support them. They lived in Westview Homes, a subsidized housing community, which is now Gateway Crossing. While there were men in the family, Ms. Weaver did not consider any of them companionable with Gary. With great foresight, she recognized the need for an adult male role model in his life. Therefore, in 1962, when Gary was nine-years-old, she contacted Big Brothers to request a Big Brother for him.
Gary’s first Big Brother was Sterling Dorsey with whom he was matched until 1967. Gary notes that Mr. Dorsey gave him his foundation and taught him how to make good choices. Following his match with Mr. Dorsey, Gary was matched with Big Brother, Carl Davis, who had moved to Hagerstown with his family to work at Fairchild Industries. Gary was welcomed into the Davis family and it revealed to him what a family was like. Unfortunately, Mr. Davis and his family had to move to Georgia in 1968 following the closure of Fairchild Industries.
Gary’s final Big Brother was Donald Haynes with whom he was matched from 1968-1971. Gary describes Mr. Haynes as a very positive person with a wonderful outlook on life. He notes that Mr. Haynes is the person who directed his life and will direct his future. He and Mr. Haynes became very close friends. So close that when Mr. Haynes was considering proposing marriage to his companion, he asked Gary for permission in doing so. This made quite an impression on Gary. Mr. Haynes was Gary’s best man at his wedding.
Having a Big Brother had changed Gary’s life and he wanted to help the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County, MD, Inc. (BBBS) progress. In 1972, at the young age of 19-years-old, he applied to serve as a Big Brother. He would go on to mentor three Little Brothers between 1972 and 1984. Gary’s service did not end there. He joined the BBBS Board of Directors in 1990. He served as the President of the Board of Directors in 1995 and 1996 and, again, in 2005 and 2006. Gary’s great passion for the work of BBBS has significantly helped the work of BBBS progress. He has always readily and openly shared the story of his life and his life-changing experience as a Little Brother. The power and impact of this message is immeasurable.
While Gary is currently a member of the BBBS Board of Directors, he has also been given the lifelong, honorary designation of Heritage Member. This honorary designation formally recognizes Gary’s contribution to the work of BBBS.
Staff Bios
Tom Kline, Chief Executive Officer
Tom has been the chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County since December of 2012. He works collaboratively with our board of directors, staff and volunteer mentors (Bigs) to ensure the agency has the financial and human resources it needs to fulfill its mission. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Shippensburg University, where he graduated with honors. Tom originally thought he wanted to be a school counselor, but learned public administration and nonprofit management are where he can best make an impact. Following this path, Tom later received a Graduate Nonprofit Management Certificate from Arizona State University. He is a graduate of the XXII class of Leadership Washington County. His proudest achievement was being named the 2006 recipient of the Family Partnership Award by the Maryland Coalition of Families. His human services career has been founded on the principle of recognizing the strengths in others and fostering synergistic relationships. Tom has been married to my wife Pamela since 1995. They have two sons, Nathan and Aaron, a daughter-in-law Hannah, and grandsons named Easton & Lincoln. He believes wholeheartedly families are forever.
Tom’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County is important to me because I believe in the power of human connection and know it is the catalyst for our development and progression. We have all had special relationships in our lives that have helped shape who we have become. Having the opportunity to facilitate these relationships for some of the kids in our community has been such a blessing for me both professionally and personally.”
Karla Baker, Director of Programs
Karla has been a match support specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County since December of 2022. She also helps with our matching and enrollment as needed. Her main duties include building relationships with and keeping in contact with our Bigs, our Littles, and their parents/guardians. She is there to ensure that things are progressing smoothly and to facilitate and guide them when issues arise. Karla enjoys keeping all our participants informed about upcoming activities at Big Brothers Big Sisters and in the surrounding area.
Karla graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Over the years, she has worked as a foster child and family counselor for the Department of Children & Families, a case manager for the severely mentally ill, a special education paraprofessional and a substitute teacher for WCPS. She spent 10 years as a preschool director and teacher in Hagerstown and Middletown. Her proudest working achievement was having my preschool named as the Best in the Tristate Area in 2020.
Karla has been happily married to her husband, Jim, since 1996. They have three grown children. Drew is an officer in the Air Force, Kyra just completed her Master’s Degree in Psychology, and Chase attends WVU’s Business School. They are a military family and have lived in Michigan, Texas (twice), Florida, Spain, Hawaii and Maryland.
Karla’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission speaks to my heart because I truly believe there is untapped potential in every child and that we are all here to help each other succeed in life.”
Maddy Hill, Enrollment & Matching Coordinator
Maddy began working at Big Brothers Big Sisters in August of 2025. She serves as the first point of contact for prospective volunteers, children and youth, and parents/guardians, guiding them through the enrollment process from start to finish. She is also responsible for forming Big/Little matches and facilitating match introduction meetings. Maddy also serves as a mentor at the Boys & Girls Club as part of the Little Leadership Academy.
Maddy graduated from college in Nashville, TN in May 2025 with a BFA in Interior Design. While design was her initial passion, she developed a strong interest in Social Work during her time in college and declared it as a minor midway through her studies. As a native of Washington County, she finds her work especially rewarding, as it allows her to give back to the community in which she was raised.
In addition to her role at Big Brothers Big Sisters, Maddy also does freelance design work, allowing her to continue pursuing both of her passions.
Outside of work, Maddy is a music enthusiast and lover of the arts. She enjoys attending concerts across all genres, is an avid vinyl record collector, and is a big fan of the Washington Commanders.
Jenn Cleary, Match Support Specialist
Jenn has been with Big Brothers Big Sisters since August 2025. After spending 25 years as a homeschooling mom, she decided to follow her passion for helping others and returned to school to complete her social work degree. Jenn will graduate in May 2026 and plans to begin her master’s program shortly after.
Jenn and her husband of 28 years have eight amazing children, including BBBS board member June Cleary. When she’s not working or studying, Jenn enjoys spending time with her family, knitting, and getting outside to enjoy nature.
Beth Elliott, Match Support Specialist
Beth Elliott has been a proud Big with BBBS since spring of 2023, and joined the organization as a Match Support Specialist in summer of 2025. She is very enthusiastic about the important work that BBBS does in her local community and hometown region, and can attest to the direct positive impact through her years as an active Big.
Beth grew up in Middletown, MD as the middle child of three sisters. She has a degree in environmental biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and is also passionate about local and national environmental causes. Before working for BBBS, she worked in the clean energy industry and spent over two years managing residential solar programs in Puerto Rico for the US Department of Energy. Beth has devoted her career to doing good, whether is be delivering clean energy solutions to underrepresented communities, or bettering lives for families here at home.
When she isn’t at work or spending time with her Little, you can find Beth hiking, camping, or running with her dog. She has spent several phases of life living in her camper and traveling across the country to work on farms and learn more about sustainable agriculture, and she strives to read at least 30 books every year. Her lifelong dream is to build a homestead, farm, and animal rescue of her own to share with her sisters, parents, and friends.
Wendy Tucker, Match Support Specialist
Wendy started working as a Match Support Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County in the fall of 2025. Wendy has worked in Washington County for many years working in both social support and child and adolescent programs. Through these roles she has served families in Washington County in various ways that include education, daycare and case management. Wendy believes in encouragement reinforcement that centers around child positivity. She has a strong background in constructive conflict resolution and loves to see children; adolescents & families thrive while reaching their full potential.
Wendy started her education with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Recently she went back to school and received a Master of Science in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology. She has two children who are both pursuing careers that help others and she is very proud of them. In addition, she has several cats and considers them to be a big part of her family. She credits her children with teaching her so many things and values their opinions and credits them with their support when she returned to school.
Wendy loves how Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission centers around building lifelong meaningful relationships through mentorship. It serves as a strong bond that celebrates the potential of every child.
Angela Yamashita, Coordinator of Group Mentoring Programs
Angela has been the program coordinator for the Little Leadership Academy Group Mentoring Program (LLAGMP) since 2022. In this role, she works closely with our community partners, Girls Inc. of Washington County and the Boys & Girls Club, to deliver our youth leadership curriculum to the Littles in their afterschool programs. Her responsibilities encompass everything from recruiting and training to matching, as well as the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the LLAGMP program.
After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems, Angela made the decision to pause her career to care for her son, who has a physical disability. Driven by her desire to be a helper in my community, she began volunteering at Girls Inc. of Washington County in approximately 2012. Since then, she has been actively involved in various capabilities, including dance & fitness instruction, literacy programs, and mentoring initiatives, all aimed at supporting the youth in our community. Currently, Angela is also serving as the vice-chair on the Washington County Diversity & Inclusion Committee, advocating for policies that foster inclusion for all residents of our county.
As an immigrant and an English as a second language learner, Angela is very proud to be the first member of her family to attend college on a full-ride scholarship and graduate with honors. At home, she is a wife to her supportive and patient husband, Brandon; and a tired mom to four wonderful kids, Ethan (in college), Olivia (in high school), Adelyn (in middle school), & Ryden (in pre-k).
Angela’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County is important to me because I’m blessed to have great mentors throughout my life. I also proudly consider myself a graduate of the “School of Mr. Rogers.” As he famously said, “All of us, at some time or another, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connect us as neighbors—in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.” The mission of BBBS aligns with my belief that we are all interconnected, and we all possess the ability to love and contribute through our unique talents and gifts. Witnessing the positive impact of our LLAGMP program on both mentors and mentees has been incredibly rewarding and affirming for me personally.”
Sarah Banks, Little Leadership Academy Group Mentoring Program Facilitator – Boys & Girls Club
Sarah has been a proud member of the BBBS Washington County team since 2019, providing health and life-skills content to Littles, resource referrals to families as needed, and by supporting BBBS agency events. She has been a co-facilitator of the agency’s site-based Little Leadership Academy Group Mentoring Program since the program’s launch in 2021.
Having lived and worked in Washington County for nearly 20 years, Sarah has a sharp awareness of the diverse needs and strengths of Hagerstown and its residents. After nearly a decade in business and retail management, she chose to pursue a more meaningful path in the human services field. She has served families in Washington County in many capacities in the area of family support. Sarah has a strong background in the areas of positive parenting, early childhood development, leadership, adult case management, life-skills, and family self-sufficiency. She is currently a family support worker for Bester Community of Hope, a San Mar Initiative, working directly with families and children in the South End of Hagerstown.
Sarah has extensive experience supporting families and parents in Washington County in the area of personal and familial goal-work. She is formally trained in evidenced-based positive parenting curricula, including the Chicago Parent Program and Triple P for both children and teens, in addition to extensive training in the core competencies of prevention-focused child welfare, and is certified in Mental Health First Aid. She seeks to build capacity, cultivate resilience, and strengthen connections within families and within the community.
Sarah is a proud aunt to human baby Sean and a cat mom to Cobweb, a snotty and sneezy spooky boy.
Sarah’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“I believe strongly in the BBBS core values, and will always seek to ignite the power and promise of youth by meeting children and their families where they are, celebrating the beauty and the value of diverse perspectives and strengths, and by taking every opportunity to protect the magic and whimsy of childhood for Washington County kids.”
DeAnn Morrison, Little Leadership Academy Group Mentoring Program Facilitator – Boys & Girls Club – Bio coming soon.
Cara Herchenrother, Little Leadership Academy Group Mentoring Program Facilitator – Girls Inc.
Cara began volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2022 as a Big Sister before joining the Little Leadership Academy group mentoring program at Girls Inc. in 2024. Cara adored the program and came on board the following year as the group’s facilitator. As facilitator, Cara combines the missions of Big Brothers Big Sisters and Girls Inc. in a program that utilizes mentorship to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. The Little Leadership Academy works with mentors to nurture the skills each Little has within her to become a leader for herself and her community.
Cara is a Richmond native from an artistic family who often used their creative talents to build unique community projects. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and owns an illustrated paper goods brand, Phoebe & June, with her husband, Jeremy. Lending a hand has been Cara’s way of finding community since moving to Washington County – whether that’s caring for animals at the humane society, fostering kittens and puppies, volunteering in women’s healthcare, or mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Cara’s reflection on the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:
“The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters has shown me the power in helping a girl challenge her internal voice that says ‘I can’t’. As mentors, we get to be a new voice saying ‘you can’ until that belief becomes her own. Teaching the kids to wonder what’s possible instead of what’s in the way requires me to do the same. It’s a tough skill that I value deeply and love to share.”
Janet Slack, Bookkeeper
Janet has been the bookkeeper of Big Brothers Sisters of Washington County since July of 2012. She work closely with the chief executive officer monitoring the financial ins and outs of the agency. She has been involved with BBBS since 2004, first as a Big Sister and then a board member, eventually becoming an employee. Janet has been matched with her current little sister for about 5 years. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Towson State in 1979. She obtained her CPA certification in 1981. Janet’s 30+ years with Citicorp as an accountant ended in 2010, allowing her to retire at an early age. She loves working part-time and enjoys the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of establishing relationships that last for years to come. Janet has one beautiful daughter and three loving and fun granddaughters. Her significant other George has an additional seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild that also provide much love and fun. They spend lots of time attending kids sporting events, concerts and recitals. Enjoying life the best they can!