Kim Watson is the retired Vice President for Corporate Philanthropy and Partnerships at PEPCO. Her primary responsibility was the strategic development of corporate partnerships and relationships through the development of signature programs that highlighted the corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Kim has over 30 years of experience in customer service, government relations, and stakeholder development and engagement.

She currently serves on the board of the YWCA-NCA. Kim also serves on the Board of the American Diabetes Association of Greater Washington and is Board Emeritus of Leadership Greater Washington and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship of Greater Washington (NFTE). Kim is a former member of The Conference Board Philanthropy II Council; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center and the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

Kim received her M.B.A. from Georgetown University (IEMBA) with a concentration in International Business. She holds an M.A. degree with concentrations in public administration and international relations from Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she also completed doctoral studies. Additionally, she received a B.A. in political science from McMaster University in Canada. She completed the MIT-Harvard University Program on Negotiation in Boston, MA, and the Harvard Business School Program on Corporate Social Responsibility on Creating Social and Business value in 2012.

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, in the 15th largest school system in the nation. 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.

Dr. Taylor led the development of the Stafford County School system’s Strategic Plan, provided draft legislation for consideration in Richmond, and standardized school practices that define expectations for student achievement and efficiency.

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.

Kristen Wong Callisto, Ed.L.D.
Executive Director
MCPS Educational Foundation

Steve B. Cohen, MBA
ProShares Advisors, LLC

Steve Cohen is the chair of the Foundation Finance Committee.

Steve Cohen joined ProShares in 2002. In his current role as Managing Director and Head of Strategy, he is responsible for product development, product management, investment strategies, and branding. Steve previously led the marketing team and played a large role in helping shape the firm’s corporate strategy and product development efforts.

Prior to joining ProShares, Steve served as Vice President 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. He earned a bachelor’s degree 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.

Melvyn Leshinsky, MBA, J.D.
Aronson LLC (Retired)

Melvyn (Mel) Leshinsky is a retired senior partner of Aronson LLC, a certified public accounting firm, located in Rockville, MD, which he joined in 1971 and retired from in 2010.

During his tenure, Aronson LLC enjoyed unprecedented growth and received many professional and community acknowledgments. Aronson’s client base is made up of construction, real estate, government contracting, nonprofit, technology, and private industry companies located in Greater Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Mel received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Long Island University in 1964, his Master of Business Administration, specializing in Taxation, from Pace College in 1966 and his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in 1969.

Mel is a member of the Board of the Institute for Community Initiatives. He is also a co-founder of the Chesapeake Center for Youth Development in Baltimore.

Linda Plummer,
NAACP, Montgomery County Branch

Linda Plummer is president of the NAACP Montgomery County Branch, and previously held the offices of branch secretary, 1st vice president, and membership chair. She has also served as the NAACP Maryland State Youth and College Adviser. Linda is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery. She has received the County's Human Rights and MLK Humanitarian Awards and has been an NAACP Golden Heritage Member since 2009.

Arlandis Rush,
United HealthGroup

Landis Rush is the National Vice President, State and Local Government, Advocacy and Education, Public Sector Labor &Trust at United HealthGroup. In this role, Landis identifies, builds and executes strategies to support PLS&T sales goals and objectives, including growth and retention.

Landis has more than 23 years of experience in 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 United HealthGroup 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.
Prior to 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 Masters of Public Administration from Strayer University. Landis is based in Washington, DC.

Girado Smith, President,
Educational Systems Federal Credit Union

Girado Smith has over 24 years of leadership experience with Educational Systems Federal Credit Union.  In January 2023, he became the President/CEO after serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2004. During his tenure, he has led the Credit Union’s financial operations and strategic direction, which has resulted in surpassing the milestone of $1 billion in assets. He is committed to serving the education community by offering customized solutions and excellence in member service.

In his role as President/ CEO giving back to the education community is a priority.  He helped the Credit Union form the Support Education Foundation, Inc. in 2017 as a way for employees and members to contribute to charitable giving programs that benefit students and school employees. Girado served as the first Chair of the Board of Directors of the Support Education Foundation.

Girado received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a focus on accounting from Mansfield University. He holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

Rebecca Smondrowski,
Montgomery County Board of Education

Rebecca Smondrowski was first elected to the Board of Education in 2012 and was just re-elected to her third term in 2020. She is 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 was re-appointed as a Commissioner for the City of Gaithersburg Ethics Commission in January 2015. She also serves 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.