Our Board & Staff

Michelle Adams brings over 20 years of expertise in marketing and project management, with a proven track record of driving growth and success in the nonprofit sector. She has played a pivotal role in developing strategies for membership expansion and fundraising, consistently delivering results that align with the unique needs of her clients. Michelle’s collaborative approach and customized project management solutions have empowered organizations to streamline campaign workflows and achieve their goals efficiently.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Michelle is deeply passionate about personal growth and self-discovery, a theme she explores in her upcoming book focused on helping individuals recognize the power of purpose and peace.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys family time, traveling and listening to music.

Steve Badt has more than 22-years in non-profit management and project operations experience. He joined Impact Capital Strategies in 2016 and is the Senior Operations Manager who leads operational management and client support.

Prior to joining Impact Capital Strategies, Steve served as the Senior Director of Kitchen Operations at Miriam’s Kitchen. During his 14-year career at Miriam’s, Steve helped transform a small “soup kitchen” into an award winning operation. His efforts earned him recognition by The Washington Post, NPR, the Today Show and other top-tier media outlets.

In 2009 Steve had the honor of serving alongside First Lady Michele Obama, who volunteered at Miriam’s Kitchen in recognition of its quality programming and focus on nutrition and dignity for Washington’s most vulnerable residents.

Monica Brame is a Society of Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Project Management Professional (PMP) and International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach (ICF-ACC).

Ms. Brame has more than 20 years of project management, human resource, Federal contracting and accounting experience with multiple government agencies including Montgomery County, MD County Government, Department of Defense (Army), Department of Education; Department of Agriculture; Internal Revenue Service; and several inter-agencies of Health and Human Services agencies such as Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).

Ms. Brame has volunteered for more than 25 years with the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA) and served in multiple past leadership roles including Eastern Region Representative on the National Board of Directors; Eastern Region Vice President; Eastern Region Student Conference Chairperson and President of the NABA Metropolitan Washington, DC Chapter.

In addition, she serves as a board member of Project Giveback DC providing Thanksgiving meals to over 5000 families in the DMV area annually, a founding member of the giving circle, Bridges Beyond 17 which has provided over $70k to organizations supporting girls in the DC, MD, VA area since 2017.

Ms. Brame also volunteers with Seneca Community Church, Soroptimist International and other community organizations. Ms. Brame has also been a foster mother for over four years, providing a safe and loving home to multiple children.

Lou Cardenas grew up in Northern Virginia, though he spent much time in Colombia, where the majority of his family still resides.   He graduated from Georgetown University, and has enjoyed a 30 year successful career in real estate in the DC area and Miami.

After 25 years in commercial real estate, he made the switch several years ago to residential and is currently Vice President at Compass, and serves realty clients throughout DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

He has always believed in giving back to his community and has served as President of the Board of Sitar Arts Center, a local after school and summer arts program serving inner city children. He also supports several animal rescue organizations in DC and Costa Rica. 

Frances Christmon is a health care industry expert and business executive/consultant with over 30 years of service to more than 70 hospitals, physician groups, health plans and other healthcare entities. She is founder and Principal of Frances D. Christmon LLC, a business consulting firm that facilitates ethical financial performance and strategic operational evolution for health care organizations.

Frances served as Vice President of Strategic Financial and Operational Information for the HSC Health Care in Washington DC between 2007 and 2016. There she supported extensive research into the healthcare needs and solutions for children with special needs.

Frances is a consistent supporter of several charities including The Boys and Girls Club, Food for Friends, Jack and Jill Foundation, and The House of Ruth. She served on the Board of Directors of Positive Options, Referrals & Alternatives, Inc. (PORA); a non-profit agency in Springfield, Illinois that helps transition women out of prostitution and to develop healthy, positive lifestyles. Frances is a past president of the DC chapter of Health Care Financial Management Association (HFMA).

She received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Economics from Tougaloo College, in Jackson, Mississippi and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare from Howard University.

Jason Copelas, CPA serves as Director of Equities at Strategic Investment Group. Prior to joining Strategic, he served as Director of Investments at the Inova Health System Investment Office, which he launched with two colleagues.

He has also worked at Cambridge Associates as an Investment Director, at NERA Economic Consulting, and interned in the Investment Offices of both Williams College and Princeton University.

Jason holds an M.B.A. from Yale University and a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Williams College. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Washington, D.C.

Christine P. Davie is a Prosci and PMP-certified Manager in the Federal Human Capital Practice of Deloitte Consulting. At Deloitte, she leads her clients in the areas of change management, business transformation, and strategic communication. Christine attended the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and earned her Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.

Today, Christine continues to support the wellness and professional success of others through her involvement in several organizations. In addition to proudly serving as a Board Member of House of Ruth DC, Christine is an active NYU alumna, and continues to champion for one of her favorite organizations, The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

Outside of her professional work, Christine is active in her church as a member of the worship team, and engages in other vocal and arts-related activities.

Andrea Harnett was installed as a Magistrate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in January 1985 and retired from the bench in 2014. Judge Harnett graduated from Northwestern University and from Columbia Law School after being named a Harlan Fiske Scholar. Following law school, Judge Harnett worked as an Assistant United States Attorney for 11 years in D.C., prosecuting criminal cases.

While serving as a Magistrate Judge, she worked in the Criminal, Family, and Civil Divisions, and the Domestic Violence Unit of the Superior Court. She was one of the founders of the unique and innovative Domestic Violence Unit and developed an expertise in the civil and criminal responses to domestic violence. In 2004, she helped to organize the court’s Domestic Violence Arraignment Court. She has spoken to many groups and attended many conferences in this field, as a student and as a faculty member.

Andrea now does mediating for DC Superior Court and volunteers at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and at Suited for Change in DC.

Judge Harnett is married to Ben Fisherow, a retired environmental lawyer, and has two sons and two granddaughters. They love to travel.

Mikael E. LaRoche is Vice President of Sales and Business Development with the Serengeti Building Group. Currently, he serves as President of the Mu Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, he manages his two companies, Uneek Greek & his personal design practice through mrlaroche.com.

Heidi McIntosh is the COO of the National Association of Social Workers, representing the interests of 800.000 social workers across the country.  Prior to this position Heidi was appointed by the Governor of Connecticut to oversee the child welfare system which included juvenile justice and behavioral health.

As a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama Administration, she provided national leadership for the administration of child welfare, overseeing comprehensive state and jurisdictional programs totaling $8 billion for vulnerable children and families.

Heidi also served as CEO of First Place for Youth; a California organization that works with transition-age foster youth.  Heidi is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.  Julie Shroyer nominated Ms. McIntosh for the House of Ruth board.

Andrew Miller is Deputy General Counsel, Retail Banking & Retail Lending, for The PNC Financial Services Group, one of the largest super-regional banking organizations in the United States. He and his team provide legal support to PNC’s retail banking, lending and branch operations.

Before joining PNC, Andy was Senior Counsel on the Financial Services Committee of the House of Representatives, where he worked on major pieces of financial legislation during the 111th Congress (2009-10), including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. He also has worked as an attorney for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Fannie Mae.

Andy has a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Economics from Villanova University. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and four children.

Dan Morris is an Emmy award-winning producer, writer and journalist. Since 2008, he has led Morris Media LLC, working with clients that include PBS NewsHour, American Cancer Society, National Park Trust and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

He spent nearly 20 years at ABC News, primarily with Nightline. He’s also worked at NPR, PBS and CBS News. In recent years he’s produced multiple video projects for House of Ruth, including The War & Treaty  and Stories of Hope. He has won the House of Ruth Distinguished Service Award, the RFK Journalism Award for Coverage of the Disadvantaged and five Emmy Awards.

He majored in English at the University of Michigan and lives in Alexandria with his wife. They travel frequently to visit their three children and four grandchildren on both coasts.

Tony Taylor serves as Director Solutions and Partnerships for AARP Foundation in Washington, DC. He’s been with AARP Foundation since 2021. He has spent his career working in public service, serving as an appointee with the DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and supporting the development and growth of public charter schools in Washington, DC.

He has a degree in Psychology from American University and a Masters in Public Administration from American University.

Gale Thompson is a leadership and team coach. She enjoys working with all types of professionals who wish to bring more of themselves to their work and life. She believes that cultivating an inner experience of leadership will lead the way from success to fulfillment.

Before becoming an executive coach, Gale had a 25+ year career in management consulting/business development with Accenture and APM, with a focus in healthcare, life sciences, and information technology. Most recently, she focused on convening global cross-organizational and multi-disciplinary teams to craft, sell, and execute healthcare information technology solutions in the U.S. as well as Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Gale has dual-degrees from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA) and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (MA with a concentration in Middle Eastern Affairs). She also received a Fulbright Grant award for study of the Egyptian banking sector.

Upon moving to Washington, D.C., several years ago, she opted to pursue leadership coach training at Georgetown’s Center for Transformational Leadership and is an experienced ICF (International Coach Federation) certified ACC Coach. She has also supported board and committee development for Women’s Way in Philadelphia and is currently spearheading outreach and partnering activities for several not-for-profits on a voluntary basis.

She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband while their daughter is currently attending college in California.

Martha Rebour is the Executive Director, USA for Living Goods. In this role, she leads Business Development, Advocacy, and Communications team globally and heading up the U.S. team.

Most recently, she was the Executive Director of Shot@Life at the United Nations Foundation, where she supported the delivery of more than 100 million life-saving vaccines to children worldwide and grew Shot@Life’s volunteer network from 200 to over 3,000 advocates.

Martha is bilingual (French and English), with a master’s degree in French Language.

Helena Valentine and her late husband, Fred, have been donors of the House of Ruth since 2007, as well as longtime, significant influencers in Washington, DC.  Mr. Valentine’s Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Mrs. Valentine’s role with the Alpha Wives are resolute volunteers at Madison. The couple championed an $850,000 donation from Clark Corporation of Clark Construction where Fred was a Vice President.

Mr. Valentine was a retired Major League Ballplayer with the Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles. With a long history of serving youth and families, Mrs. Valentine, a member of the historical Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, is an asset to the House of Ruth Board. Her social work background has lent her expertise to Catholic Charities, Howard University’s Center for Sickle Cell Disease, Columbia Senior Citizen’s Center, and Southeast Neighborhood House.

Mrs. Valentine’s social activism and volunteer history has been recognized with several awards and appointments focused on programs that empower families. She has leveraged her membership on community boards and vital contacts with city officials, community leaders and corporate stakeholders as an influential benefit to support the House of Ruth’s mission.

Joanne Wilson is the Vice President of Advancement Operations at Humane World for Animals (formerly The Humane Society of the United States), where she leads teams that support the organization’s fundraising and donor support departments.

She is a graduate of American University, and was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago where she attended Holy Name Convent Secondary.  She currently resides in the Maryland suburbs with her teenaged children, two bunnies, and myriad creatures who call her backyard their home.