MEET KAREN

Karen is a nationally respected nonprofit executive, education leader, and strategic advisor whose career has been defined by a singular purpose: creating pathways to opportunity and empowering individuals and organizations to achieve lasting impact. For more than two decades, she has built innovative partnerships that strengthen communities, expand educational access, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

A graduate of Duke University with a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, Karen has held executive leadership roles across higher education, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Judge Alexander Williams Center for Education, Justice & Ethics at the University of Maryland, where she cultivates partnerships that advance civic engagement, educational opportunity, and ethical leadership. Previously, she held leadership positions with the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, led the Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust, and helped shape nationally recognized initiatives supporting high-achieving and first-generation students. She has also served as a consultant for Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is a sought-after speaker for the College Board and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

An accomplished civic leader, Karen has served on numerous local and national boards, including Executive Alliance, Friends School of Baltimore, DukeEngage, Invest in Girls, the Baltimore Museum of Art, Meals on Wheels,and GBC Leadership Board . She is an active member of The Links, Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, where she continues her lifelong commitment to mentoring young people and advancing educational excellence. Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including The Daily Record's Top 100 Women ,Innovator of the Year  and  Baltimore Business Journal jDiversity Leader awards.

Karen's greatest passion is helping others discover their potential. Whether serving on a board, mentoring an emerging leader, or guiding a nonprofit through transformational change, she believes that meaningful leadership is grounded in service, integrity, and the conviction that investing in people creates stronger communities for generations to come.

MEET SHELLY

Shelly is President of Holmatro North America, a Glen Burnie-based manufacturer of life-saving rescue equipment used by first responders, law enforcement, and military professionals. She leads the North American business with responsibility for its people, strategy, operations, commercial growth, and financial performance. Since joining Holmatro in 2023, Shelly has strengthened the organization’s culture, expanded its market presence, improved operational performance, and helped position the business for its next phase of growth as part of Sentorum, a joint venture co-owned by 3M and Bain Capital.

A chemical engineer and business leader, Shelly has built her career leading teams through growth, transformation, and change across the refining, chemicals, materials, manufacturing, and public-safety industries. Her experience includes leadership roles with ExxonMobil, Arconic, and W. R. Grace. Her professional passion is growing mission-driven, customer-focused businesses while building high-performing teams that win, learn, and enjoy working together. Her leadership ethos is to “do extraordinary things, with extraordinary people, from a foundation of integrity.”

Shelly is committed to advancing women’s representation, leadership, and access to opportunity. Her community and board service includes the United Way of Central Maryland, where she served as chair of the Anne Arundel County Advisory Board; the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association; the University of Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Women of Impact initiative; St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church and School, and Anne Arundel Women Giving Together. She was named one of The Daily Record’s 2025 Maryland Top 100 Women. Shelly earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, summa cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame and her MBA as valedictorian from Texas A&M University.

Shelly and her husband, Scott, live in Millersville with their daughters, Liberty and Moxie. Together, the Elliott family supports organizations that strengthen families and expand opportunities for women and children. Shelly is deeply honored to be recognized as a Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Distinguished Leader and hopes her daughters grow up knowing that leadership begins with character, grit, and service.

MEET JILL

Jill is the President of Peak Partners and a former attorney with more than 30 years of experience advising organizations on strategic growth, personnel placements, and mergers and acquisitions. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation as a trusted business advisor, helping organizations identify growth opportunities, solve complex business challenges, and build high-performing leadership teams.

Jill began her career with CMG Health, where she served as Chief Legal Counsel and Corporate Development Officer. As a member of the executive leadership team, she helped guide the company's growth from a $20 million regional healthcare organization to a $120 million national enterprise and played a significant role in its successful sale. Those experiences shaped her passion for facilitating business transactions and helping organizations navigate periods of growth and transformation. Jill has also led over 30 Merger and Acquisition transactions throughout her career as General Counsel at other healthcare private equity backed companies.

She later founded Peak Strategy Advisors, providing merger and acquisition consulting and strategic business advisory services. In 2021, the firm expanded through the acquisition of Professional Personnel Services, forming Peak Partners, a full-service talent and business advisory firm. Today, Jill oversees the firm's three divisions—Peak Placements, Peak Staffing, and Peak Strategy Advisors—serving organizations ranging from entrepreneurial businesses to large, established companies. Peak Partners specializes in recruiting next level leadership growth and creating strong back office shared services departments across technology, legal, finance, human resources, operations, marketing, and other critical business functions.

Beyond her professional career, Jill is deeply committed to leadership development and community service. She has been an officer for a regional healthcare company’s Board of Directors, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, provided pro bono legal services to the House of Ruth and a clemency project supporting abused incarcerated women, and offered small business consulting services through The Associated Jewish Charities.

A passionate advocate for advancing women in leadership, Jill currently serves as Co-Chair of the Women on Boards Committee for Executive Alliance, where she has helped develop programming that prepares women for corporate board service. She is also an active mentor to emerging leaders, helping professionals build the confidence, skills, and networks needed to advance their careers.

MEET RANA

Rana is a seasoned financial services professional with more than 28 years of experience in banking and commercial finance. Throughout her career, she has developed deep expertise in relationship management, business development, commercial lending, portfolio management, cash flow analysis, and treasury management solutions.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Rana is deeply committed to community service and leadership. She serves on the American Red Cross National Mission Impact & Inclusion Advisory Council for the 2026 term. In this role, she helps advise the Red Cross Board of Governors, President and CEO, and Chief Diversity Officer on strategic initiatives.

A dedicated advocate for civic engagement and economic empowerment, Rana is actively involved in the Asian American community and supports numerous interfaith initiatives throughout the region. She is frequently invited to share her expertise as a speaker, panelist, and business seminar leader, offering insights on banking, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and community development. Through her work, she is particularly passionate about fostering economic opportunity, strengthening businesses, and supporting the continued growth and success of the Asian community.

Originally from New England and a longtime resident of Maryland, Rana combines professional excellence with a genuine passion for community connection. She is known for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to service, and ability to bring people together to create meaningful impact both inside and outside the banking industry.

MEET ELLEN

Ellen Shiery is a Wealth Management Advisor with Murray, McGehrin & Shiery at Merrill. For more than 20 years, she has worked with individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations, helping them navigate important financial decisions and use their resources in ways that reflect what matters most to them.

Ellen is active in nonprofit and civic organizations throughout Maryland. She currently serves as President of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, President of the Merrill Women’s Exchange Greater Maryland Chapter, Vice Chair of United Way of Central Maryland’s Anne Arundel RUN Board, and a member of the Anne Arundel Community College Foundation Board of Directors. Much of her volunteer work has centered on creating opportunities for women and girls through philanthropy, education, and leadership development.

Over the years, Ellen has been involved with organizations including Executive Alliance, Impact100 Greater Chesapeake, Junior League of Annapolis, Leadership Anne Arundel, and the Rotary Club of Annapolis. She also served as an adjunct professor at Anne Arundel Community College, where she taught personal finance.

Among these experiences, her time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with Anne Arundel County CASA was especially meaningful. She credits her work advocating for a child in foster care with changing the course of her own life and career. Ellen is a frequent speaker and moderator who enjoys helping audiences engage with topics related to financial literacy, philanthropy, and leadership.

Her service has been recognized through honors including The Daily Record’s Maryland’s Top 100 Women, the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County’s Emerging Philanthropist of the Year, and Bank of America’s Global Volunteer Award.

Ellen and her husband, Andrew, live in Edgewater with their two rescue cats, Sausage and Bacon. She remains convinced that retirement planning, philanthropy, and stand-up comedy have more in common than most people realize.