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President and CEO
United Way of Central Maryland
President and CEO
Maryland Nonprofits
CEO
Baltimore Gas & Electric
Executive Director
Maryland Latinos Unidos
Nonprofits of all sizes and interests have had to pivot to embrace new technologies, adjust to changes in funding and still maintain their focus. We learn from some who have succeeded.
Sponsored by:
Panelist bios:
Franklyn Baker
Franklyn Baker is a cross-functional senior executive with more than 27 years of diverse expertise in nonprofit organizations. As president and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland since 2016, Franklyn shepherds all aspects of the strategic plan and direction of the $32 million nonprofit and its 131 staff members. Prior to this role, he served as principal deputy and chief operating officer at Greenpeace USA and as chief operating officer with Volunteers of America Chesapeake.
Franklyn earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Howard University and a master’s degree of nonprofit administration in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. He serves on and has chaired many nonprofit boards including Baltimore’s Promise, My Brother’s Keeper Baltimore, Parks & People Foundation, Maryland Access to Justice Commission, and Unity Healthcare. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Leadership in Diversity Award from the Greater Baltimore Committee.
Heather Iliff
Heather Iliff is president and CEO of Maryland Nonprofits, responsible for advancing the organization’s vision to create a highly effective, ethical and accountable nonprofit sector that drives change through collective action and advocacy. She previously served as vice president of Maryland Nonprofits and director of the Maryland Nonprofits Consulting Group. She is an experienced facilitator, trainer and manager with international, national and local nonprofit organizations. Heather served a four-year term as an elected member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education. Previously, she was deputy director of Alliance for Nonprofit Management and assistant director of the Institute for Educational Policy at Open Society Institute – Budapest. Heather holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from The American University and a master’s in political science from the Central European University (University of the State of New York).
Carim Khouzami
BGE CEO Carim Khouzami oversees all aspects of BGE’s operations and its commitment to advancing the company’s inclusive culture. He is a member of BGE’s Board of Directors and the executive committee of BGE’s parent company, Exelon. His career in the energy sector started with Constellation Energy, which was acquired by Exelon in 2012.
Khouzami serves on the boards of directors for Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Bridges Baltimore, Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore and Roland Park Baseball League.
Khouzami earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and communications studies from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University.
Gabriela Lemus
Dr. Gabriela Lemus is a passionate advocate for social justice whose career spans more than 20 years in senior strategic leadership roles in congressional and government affairs, nonprofit management, policy advocacy and community/civic engagement.
She joined Maryland Latinos Unidos (MLU) as the founding executive director in 2020 after launching – Revolution Strategy US — a management and communications strategy consultancy, where she advised clients on best practices for building multiracial coalitions and advocacy campaigns, advancing public policy and civic engagement. She is also a senior staff member of Maryland Nonprofits.
Gabriela has a Ph.D from the University of Miami, where she studied international political economy and political theory, and wrote her dissertation on the drug war and the U.S.-Mexico border and its implications for bilateral relations.
