Board & Staff

Chairperson
VP, Sustainability and Social Impact of Signet Jewelers

Matthew (Matt) Swibel became Vice President, Sustainability and Social Impact of Signet Jewelers in October 2023. He also serves as Executive Director of Signet Love Inspires Foundation.

Matt brings interdisciplinary expertise as a top executive in communications, sustainability and risk management, in addition to corporate governance leadership as a Board member at for-profit and non-profit organizations. He has redesigned business risk assessments and established multiyear strategies with balanced scorecards to provide assurance to Fortune 50 CEO and Board of Directors on matters related to compliance, risk management and environmental, social and governance topics

Matt most recently served as VP, Enterprise Communications and Social Impact at Lockheed Martin, and earlier led the company's Enterprise Risk and Sustainability function. Under his tenure, Lockheed Martin became the first U.S. company in its industry added to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, launched the largest vocational scholarship program for upskilling in the U.S., and increased philanthropic and corporate giving by 50%.

Prior to Lockheed Martin, he spent almost a decade as a business journalist. As Associate Editor at Forbes, he was recognized by the Overseas Press Club for his reporting from abroad, co-edited the World Billionaires issue and traveled with the U.S. Secretary of State.

Matt received his B.A. from American University (DC) and MBA from the University of Maryland. He taught as an adjunct professional lecturer at the American University School of Communication from 2005 to 2008.

Matt also serves as a Central Area Vice President for the Montgomery County Council of PTAs. He resides in Montgomery County, Maryland, where his children attend public high school.

Vice-Chairperson
Montgomery County Board of Education

Brenda Wolff has been an integral member of the Montgomery County Board of Education since her election in 2018, and she was re-elected to a second four-year term in November 2022. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated strong leadership, serving as president for two years and vice president for one. As president, she led the district through the challenging period of reopening schools after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before her time on the Board, Ms. Wolff had an extensive career in public service. She worked for the U.S. Department of Education for 27 years in various roles, including Chief Regional Attorney in the Boston Office for Civil Rights and Deputy Director of the Philadelphia Office for Civil Rights. She also served as the Director of the National Institute of Educational Governance, Finance, Policymaking, and Management, and retired as the Program Manager for the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Ms. Wolff is actively involved in several organizations, including serving on the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) Legislative Committee, previously holding the position of vice-chair, and as the current treasurer of MABE's Board of Directors. She was named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women in 2022 and received the SHAPE Distinguished Advocate for Healthful Living award in 2021.

She holds a degree in mathematics from Smith College and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School. Ms. Wolff is married with two grown children and continues to contribute her leadership and experience to the MCPS community.

Treasurer
Principal, GRF CPAs & Advisors

Leslie Zeid is a principal with outsourced accounting advisory services with GRF CPAs & Advisors. She has over 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, with a strong focus on outsourced accounting and advisory services for diverse organizations. Throughout her career, she has guided clients through complex financial reporting, compliance, and operational challenges, working with federal grant recipients, associations, corporate foundations, religious organizations, and nonprofit schools. Leslie has also provided outsourced accounting for government contractors.

Leslie is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional and holds advanced knowledge of various accounting software platforms. She has led teams to success, consistently delivering high-quality, auditable financial reports and helping clients achieve financial stability and operational excellence.

Leslie received a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from Florida International University and an MBA from the University of Maryland Smith School of Business. She sits on the Greater Washington Society of CPA's Non-Profit Basics Task Force. Leslie and her husband Marc reside in Montgomery County.

Superintendent,
Montgomery County Public Schools

Dr. Thomas W. Taylor is superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, where he oversees 211 schools with more than 160,000 students and 25,000 staff. He began his tenure on July 1, 2024.
Dr. Taylor has more than 25 years of experience as an educator, with more than 12 years in district level leadership and six years as a superintendent. Prior to MCPS, he served as superintendent in Stafford County Public Schools in Virginia where he was named Virginia Region III Superintendent of the Year in 2024, honoring the student-focused work he led.

During his tenure in Stafford County, Dr. Taylor implemented various noteworthy initiatives including the development of specialty centers focused on in-demand career opportunities and expanded work-based learning career credentialing. Dr. Taylor led the work to offer a comprehensive approach to student learning, effective teaching methods, top-notch curriculum, active engagement, fair assessment, high standards, and tailored support for all students. He also secured a partnership with the Jed Foundation to address student mental health.

Prior to his service in Stafford, Dr. Taylor was Deputy Superintendent in Chesterfield County, the Region III Superintendent of the Year (2016) in Middlesex County, and UVA's Alumni Outstanding Principal (2012) in Charlottesville City.

Dr. Taylor serves on numerous community boards including the College Board's Superintendent Advisory Council.

Dr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Wesleyan University, a Master's in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Education Policy from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business.

He and his wife, Sue, are the proud parents of five children.

Executive Director

Kristen is the executive director of the MCPS Educational Foundation. Kristen has nearly 20 years as an educator. She began her career in education as a middle school special education teacher in Hawai'i. Since then she has worked as an administrator at the central office level and state education agency level in multiple states from Washington (state) to the Washington DC area. She has also worked in the education nonprofit sector at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

In addition to her teaching experience in preschool through high school, Kristen has also served on graduate level teaching teams with Dr. Thomas Hehir (Implementing Inclusive Education), Drs. Elizabeth City and Jal Mehta (Thinking Strategically about Education Reform), and Dr. Richard Elmore (Leaders of Learning), as well as an adjunct professor with Seattle University, teaching certification courses for educators seeking a special education endorsement. Kristen is an experienced public speaker, speaking at the National Association of Education Foundations and EdTalks at Harvard Graduate School of Education

Kristen received a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College, a Master's in Special Education from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Kristen also has a certificate in Diversity and Disability from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and completed her superintendent's certification at Washington State University, maintaining active teaching and administrator's licenses. She also has earned a Certificate in Education Foundation Leadership from the National Association of Education Foundations.

Managing Director,
ProShares Advisors, LLC

Steve Cohen joined ProShares in 2002 and has played a large role in helping to shape the firm's product, distribution, and marketing efforts. Steve has worn many hats and is the point person for the firm's major Strategic Relationships. In that role, he is also responsible for the firm's Capital Markets and National Accounts teams.

Prior to joining ProShares, Steve served as head of Marketing at Folio Investing, and before that at the mutual fund company, Calvert. He also worked with several large agencies in the advertising business for 15 years, including Saatchi & Saatchi and Bozell Worldwide, where he ran the Merrill Lynch account.

Steve earned a B.S. in Marketing and Management Information Systems from the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia. Steve is married and has three children, all of whom have gone through the MCPS education system. He is also the chair and a member of the Foundation's Finance Committee.

General Counsel, Augment Infrastructure and Atlantica Ventures

Biography forthcoming

President
NAACP, Montgomery County

Linda Plummer (GRI) serves as president of the NAACP Montgomery County Branch, where she previously served as branch secretary, 1st vice president, and membership chair. She has also served as the NAACP Maryland State Youth and College Division Advisor.

Linda holds a BS degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus (College Park, Maryland). She is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery and has been recognized with the County's Human Rights Award, the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, and the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award.

An NAACP Golden Heritage Member since 2009, Linda continues to dedicate her leadership and advocacy to advancing equity and justice in Montgomery County and beyond.

CEO, Story Tapestries

Arianna Ross is an Executive in Communication, Non-Profit Leadership, Visioning, and Community Improvement. An expert in arts, education, responsibility integration, and storytelling, she is a sought-after leader, speaker, and agent of change as Chief Executive Officer of Story Tapestries. Arianna helped reach over 4 million individuals, improving their circumstances and ability to communicate effectively. For 30 years Arianna has reached people where they are at: corporations, nonprofits, school districts.

She has worked across the world including in the US, India, Brazil and Ireland.

Arianna resides in Poolesville and has two children currently attending MCPS.

"Only when you are willing to hear someone else's story, will your story gain ears of acknowledgement". There is no challenge that communication cannot solve. -Arianna Ross

National Vice President, Local Government
UnitedHealth Group

Landis Rush is the National Vice President, Local Government at UnitedHealth Group.In this role, Landis identifies, builds and executes strategies to support PLS sales goals and objectives, including growth, retention, and profitability of PS&LT business.

Landis brings a unique perspective to UnitedHealth Group with more than 25 years of experience in business development, sales, policy, and lobbying. He has an extensive history working directly with local, state, and federal government official, including procurement and third-party administrators.

Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group in 2018, Landis was the National Vice President, State and Local Government, Public Sector, and Labor, Aetna. In this role, he was responsible for managing a national network of C-level public sector and labor relationships with a focus on growth and retention of public sector clients, including cities, counties, schools, and states.

Before joining Aetna in 2015, Landis was a federal lobbyist for the National Association of Counties (NACo), Large Urban County Caucus, and Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. In this role, Landis was responsible for lobbying Congress on behalf of our nation's 3069 counties on important policy issues impacting local government. Landis has previously held positions as a state and federal lobbyist with the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), Caduceus Occupational Medicine, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). In these roles, he was responsible for managing a national public-sector network to help drive membership, growth, retention, and revenue.

Landis' broad public sector experience working with local, state, and federal appointed and elected officials, and prominent national organizations, such as, the National Association of Counties (NACo), International City and County Management Association (ICMA), American Teachers Federation (ATF), National School Boards Association (NSBA), National League of Cities (NLC), National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), National Governors Association (NGA), National Forum of Black Public Administrator (NFBPA), State and Local Government Benefits Association (SALGBA), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) will be extremely valuable in our efforts to provide a balance healthcare and health insurance expertise to our board of directors.

Landis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and a Master of Public Administration from Strayer University. Landis currently resides in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Founder & CEO of Public Spend Forum

Raj Sharma is a serial entrepreneur, policy strategist, and ecosystem builder committed to advancing equitable opportunity, innovation, and operational excellence. He is the Founder and CEO of Public Spend Forum, where he leads initiatives that map market ecosystems, track workforce and capital flows, and accelerate innovation. Previously, Raj founded Censeo Consulting Group, a nationally recognized operations strategy firm cited in Harvard Business Review and Wall Street Journal for its award-winning culture.

Raj's background strongly aligns with the MCPS Foundation's mission to fund innovative programs that expand opportunities for students. He brings expertise in:

• Strategy & systems thinking: Designing transparent, outcome-oriented programs that connect public, private, and academic sectors.

• Innovation & scaling: Helping pilot programs grow into large-scale, sustainable impact.

• Equity & opportunity: Ensuring resources and programs reach diverse and underserved communities.

• Accountability & measurement: Establishing frameworks to track outcomes and ensure lasting results.

He has served as a Visiting Fellow on the Economic Policy Team at the Center for American Progress. Raj has delivered a TEDx focused on inspiring and developing talent, his work has been featured in Governing, The Wall Street Journal, Supply Chain Management Review and other publications.

Community Member

Rebecca Smondrowski was first elected to the Board of Education in 2012 served three terms. While on the BOE, she was the Chair of the BOE's Committee on Special Populations and a member of the Policy Management Committee.

Prior to joining the BOE, Rebecca served as the Legislative Aide for Senator Roger Manno. She has served on the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) Board of Directors, including positions as the Vice President for Legislation, Vice President for Programs, Chair of the Curriculum Committee, Quince Orchard Cluster Coordinator, and MCCPTA's representative to the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) K-12 Mathematics Joint Task Force.

Rebecca also served as a Commissioner for the City of Gaithersburg Ethics Commission and on the Board of Trustees for Future Link.

Rebecca is married with two children, an MCPS graduate and one currently attending the Montgomery County Public Schools.