Leadership - The Children's Guild
Leadership - The Children's Guild

Leadership

Executive Leadership

Jenny Livelli, M. Ed

Jenny Livelli, M. Ed

President and CEO

An unwavering advocate for children, Jenny applies her visionary leadership and business acumen to build The Children’s Guild’s capacity to positively impact the children and families it serves.

With her considerable expertise in administration, special education, continuous quality improvement and behavioral health, she is uniquely positioned to lead the organization in building a culture that engages students, fosters achievement and meets the needs of every learner.

Prior to being named CEO in March 2021, Jenny served as chief operating officer of the organization. She has also served as director of continuous quality improvement. Learn more…

Elizabeth Garcia, LCSW-C, MSSA, MNO

Elizabeth Garcia, LCSW-C, MSSA, MNO

Chief Program Officer

Ensuring the highest quality of clinical care in behavioral health, residential and treatment foster care programs is the focus of Elizabeth’s work as Interim Chief of Children’s and Community Services.

She joined The Children’s Guild in 2011 and previously served as Director of Behavioral Health Services. Her leadership has overseen the growth of the Expanded School Based Mental Health Services to six counties and 90 schools.

Prior to joining The Children’s Guild, Elizabeth was Division Director for Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau in Cleveland.

She is an LCSW-C with more than 25 years of experience providing direct practice clinical services as well as managing behavioral health and out-of-home care for children and families. Elizabeth currently serves on the Board of The Behavioral Health Association of Maryland. Learn more…

Hughes Johnson

Hughes Johnson

Chief Administrative Officer

In addition to his leadership role as Chief of Staff, Hughes fills the vacant position as Interim Chief of Educational Services. Mr. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in therapy. He has been a classroom teacher and most recently oversaw compliance for schools across three states. Hughes’ 30-year career has focused on serving at-risk youth and children with intellectual disabilities.   He brings this experience in education, training, and compliance, as well a clear focus on developing and measuring quality systems, to the new strategic plan and vision set forth by The Children’s Guild Board of Directors and CEO Jenny Livelli, emphasizing effective, efficient, and quality operations across all Guild service areas. Hughes’s expertise positively impacts The Children’s Guild operations as Chief of Staff as he focuses on creating and supporting quality operations across the entire organization, and provides steady leadership as The Guild completes a thoughtful search for a new CES.

Learn more…

Holly Webb

Holly Webb

Chief Human Resources Officer

Holly Webb is a Human Resources leader with over 20 years of experience in driving organizational success through strategic HR initiatives. As the Chief Human Resources Officer at The Children’s Guild, Holly leverages her expertise to foster high-performance teams, enhance employee engagement, and maximize organizational efficiency.

Throughout her career, Holly has held key HR leadership positions as worldwide companies. Her accomplishments include designing and implementing service-oriented HR functions, creating metrics-driven processes, and leading workforce planning and development efforts that have resulted in significant cost savings and improved organizational performance.

Holly holds an MBA from the University of Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.  Learn more…

Ronesha Estep

Ronesha Estep

Vice President of Program Operations

Ronesha’s mission is to create and manage safe spaces where students and staff can learn and grow. Her expertise in educational operations, problem solving and project management support her in that work.

She serves as the school’s liaison to The Children’s Guild on matters related to facilities, school operations, maintenance, technology, human resources, budget and finance. Ronesha draws on eight years of experience in managing operations and data for educational facilities and 15 years of experience in advocating and working directly with underserved populations. 

She is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council, which is committed to developing a diverse staff, leadership, and board with characteristics that reflect the rich diversity of those families and children served by The Children’s Guild.  Learn more…

Josh Sutherland

Josh Sutherland

Vice President of Finance

Josh Sutherland brings over 25 years of experience in public accounting and industry. Josh worked with several international, national, and regional accounting firms with a focus on assurance and consulting engagements for non-profits prior to joining industry in 2017 as the CFO of The Children’s Guild. Josh later accepted the role of CFO for House of Ruth Maryland in February 2020 and helped lead that Organization through the COVID pandemic and other strategic initiatives. During his tenure as a CFO, Josh developed strategic, operational, and financial expertise related to federal, state, and local governmental grants, fundraising and events, internal controls, board leadership, financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, and other areas that impact nonprofits of all sizes, including oversight of facility and IT teams. Josh has advanced the use of technology within the non-profits he served, including financial, banking, payroll, and procurement systems. Learn more

Kelly Schwalbert

Kelly Schwalbert

Vice President Chief of Staff

Kelly loves to share why the work she is doing changes lives. For nearly two decades, she has been an advocate for underserved populations, working to bring awareness and support to programs and projects that positively impact their lives.  

In her leadership role, Kelly connects partners with the important work being done at The Children’s Guild and helps them see how they can play an active role in changing the life of a child. She also works with the Board of Directors to advance the mission of The Children’s Guild.  

Kelly has spent a significant portion of her career advocating in both the non-profit and government sectors to leverage support for programs that meet the needs of children and families in the U.S. and abroad. Learn more…

Managing Directors

Suzanne Brown

Suzanne Brown

Managing Director of Finance

Dawn RobertsMark

Dawn RobertsMark

Managing Director of Program Operations

Jillian Szczepaniak-Gillece, LCSW-C

Jillian Szczepaniak-Gillece, LCSW-C

Managing Director, Behavioral Health Services

Jamie Wilson, LCSW-C

Jamie Wilson, LCSW-C

Managing Director of Human Resources & Employee Engagement

Core Leadership Team

Lisa Anderson

Lisa Anderson

Program Manager of the Community Collaborative

Chanei Clemons, M.Ed

Chanei Clemons, M.Ed

Principal, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School

Shaneia Crum

Shaneia Crum

Manager Of School Operations

Bryan C. Daniels

Bryan C. Daniels

Director of Learning and Development

Desiree Davis

Desiree Davis

Principal, The Children’s Guild School of Prince George's County

Victoria Davis

Victoria Davis

Corporate Partnerships Manager

Vesna-Grujicic

Vesna-Grujicic

Principal, The Children’s Guild – Transformation Academy

Tanna Jackson

Tanna Jackson

Director of Special Education And Quality Improvement

Kim Jacovics

Kim Jacovics

Principal, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie

Shae Johnson

Shae Johnson

Principal, Monarch Academy Annapolis

Gregory Jordan

Gregory Jordan

Talent Acquisition Manager

Sue-Ann Lenoir

Sue-Ann Lenoir

IT Helpdesk Manager

Josh Levy

Josh Levy

Director of Information Technology

April Murphy

April Murphy

Principal, Monarch Global Academy Laurel

Sean Ruark

Sean Ruark

Manager of Organizational Compliance & Process Improvement

Krissie Taylor

Krissie Taylor

Director, Monarch Preschool College Park

LaToya Tyson, MSW

LaToya Tyson, MSW

Director of Organizational Compliance

Paula Waller

Paula Waller

Director of Treatment Foster Care

Orlando Whittington

Orlando Whittington

Human Resources Data Analyst

Joy Zollinger, MSW, LCSW-C

Joy Zollinger, MSW, LCSW-C

Director of Behavioral Health Services