Denise Rollins, PhD.
Chairperson
Dr. Denise Rollins wears multiple hats: business partner in the Gary L. Rollins Funeral Home; executive director of the nonprofit Whole Heart Grief & Life Resource Center; diversity, equity and inclusion consultant for several local organizations; adjunct professor at Frederick Community College; and a speaker and trainer specializing in life, loss, leadership, and legacy. Each role maximizes her education (bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park, master’s in Thanatology from Hood College, and a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern University) and experience (25 years at a Fortune 100 company with leadership roles in Accounting, HR, Diversity, Training, Sales, and Consulting, along with 10 years as an Executive Director). Denise champions awareness, access and accountability. Denise and her husband, Gary, are natives of Frederick, MD, who spend most of their timing spoiling Tyson and Apollo, their two lovable mutts.
Tammie Workman
Trustee
Tammie has served in varied capacities as a career educator – teacher, assistant principal, principal, and most recently, as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for Atlanta Public Schools. Tammie holds a BA and MA in Education from the University of Kentucky, as well as her Ed Leadership Certification from Northern Arizona University. She has worked in suburban to large urban districts serving diverse student populations. Tammie has supervised numerous enhancements to special education, discipline processes, registration and enrollment, and extended day programming. She firmly believes that robust, targeted and connected systems of support can be a game changer for communities. Tammie also loves volunteering and supporting the good work of non-profits and organizations in Frederick.
Christopher J. Artis
Christopher Artis is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, with a major in Chemistry and minor in Biology. After graduation, he did some post-graduate work at Howard University and went on to work as a Research Chemist. After a few years in the lab, Christopher transitioned into education and worked for Prince George’s County Public Schools. When an opportunity in the Federal Government arose for him to work in the technology field full-time, Christopher began working as an Information Technology Specialist and has been in that position for over 21 years. Christopher is married and is the father of two daughters, Kai and Kendall and one son, Christopher II. He is also a licensed real estate agent, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a cheer dad, avid golfer and movie aficionado.
April Lee
April Lee is Co-Owner of Lee Building Maintenance located in Frederick, Maryland and has served as President since 2015. April has 15 years of nonprofit experience beginning as a program director working with under served youth in Kansas City, Missouri. April was responsible for the training and management of 30 resident teaching artists, over a dozen satellite sites and more than 300 students. April went on to direct the Elmwood branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City which hosted a minimum of 100 youth daily. She helped the club diversify by recruiting in untapped communities and was able to successfully incorporate formal arts training. In 2012, she relocated to her husband Jason Lee’s hometown. Since becoming a resident of Frederick, she has served on the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Delaplaine Arts Center.
Gayon Sampson
Currently, Gayon serves as Senior Advisor to the Mayor of the City of Frederick. Prior to joining the City of Frederick, Gayon served as community outreach advisor in the Office of Government and Community Affairs at Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, he was employed as a policy associate at the Greater Baltimore Committee, Capitol Hill and for the Maryland General Assembly. As an 8th generation native of Frederick County, Gayon is very active in the community. He serves on the boards of AARCH and WYPR Broadcasting. Gayon earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Towson University and his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Maryland, College Park School of Public Policy.
Melissa Sines
Melissa Sines is a Co-Founder of Colmena Consulting, a nonprofit and philanthropic consulting firm incorporated for the public benefit and organized as a worker co-op. Prior to co-founding Colmena Consulting, Melissa worked as the Programs and Knowledge Director at PEAK Grantmaking, where she led their learning strategy and programming centered around equitable grantmaking practices. Before joining PEAK, she was the Director of Education & Accreditation at Maryland Nonprofits and the Standards for Excellence Institute, where she supported nonprofits of all types and sizes to implement better governance and management practices. Throughout her career and her work as a volunteer and organizer in her own community, she has touched every part of nonprofit governance and management structure and processes: as a founder, as a funder, as a board member, a committee member, a programs professional, an event planner, an operations and financial professional, a database administrator, a fundraiser, and a volunteer manager.
Dr. Eric Louérs-Phillips
Eric Louérs-Phillips, DOL, a native Washingtonian, began his teaching career in 1998 with Montgomery County Public Schools (MD). After five years, he transitioned to Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS), where he taught fifth through seventh grades across various subjects. Since 2011, Eric has held several leadership roles within FCPS, including assistant principal, Elementary Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, and Supervisor of Accelerating Achievement & Equity (PreK-12).
Currently, Eric serves as the Associate Superintendent of Public Affairs for FCPS. His community involvement extends beyond his professional role, as he actively participates in his faith-based community, the United Way of Frederick County’s board, and the Hood College Board of Associates. He is also a distinguished alum of the 2023 Leadership Frederick County (LFC) cohort and serves on the LFC Council.
Dr. Louérs-Phillips earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Morgan State University in 1994. He furthered his education with two master’s degrees—one in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on adult education (2009) and another in Administration and Supervision (2010). In 2019, he completed his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Hood College, where he also served as an adjunct professor in the Education Department.
A resident of Frederick County since the late 90s, Eric is dedicated to making a positive impact in his community and field.
Leslie Barnes-Keating
Leslie Barnes-Keating serves as the Frederick County Government Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, appointed by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater. Leslie’s employment history with Frederick County Government has spanned nearly three decades. She’s held many positions including the Deputy Director of the Citizens Services Division and Director of the Office for Children and Families and Frederick County Local Management Board. Throughout her career, Leslie has led and participated in countless grants programs, projects and committees charged with creating strategies to meet the needs of vulnerable seniors, children, youth and families in Frederick County.
As a licensed Realtor® in partnership with her husband Jim, Leslie is the co-owner of Keating Group of Keller Williams Realty Centre real estate team. Regular, in-person community service with Frederick’s non-profits is a pillar of the Keating Group business model.
Leslie holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College. Leslie was born and raised in Frederick, MD and continues to reside here with her husband.