Jean Silver-Isenstadt
President

Jean (M.D., Ph.D.) is a writer, nature-lover, and social historian whose work has focused on patient-centered health reform.  Jean served as the founding Executive Director of the National Physicians Alliance (now Doctors for America) and has fifteen years’ leadership experience in the non-profit sector.  She is the author of Shameless: The Visionary Life of Mary Gove Nichols (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002).  Raised in Columbia, Maryland, Jean is a grateful beneficiary of open-space neighborhoods, open-space schools, and developer James Rouse’s bold commitment to racial, religious, and socioeconomic integration.

MONICA LEWIS
​VICE PRESIDENT

Monica has been a health educator and certified fitness instructor for over twenty years.  She has a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science and a Master’s degree in Nutrition. She previously worked in the county promoting healthy environments in areas facing health disparities; advocating for community gardens and increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables and environments for physical activity.  She has a deep love of sustainable food systems and environmental wellness while partnering with a farm.  She continues to foster the same passion and desire with partnering with CEI. She currently works at HCC as an adjunct and MLT clinical coordinator.

Chelsea clark
​secretary

Chelsea has been the Community of Families in Nature "Seedlings" leader since 2015.  She has her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development with a focus in Child Life, has worked as a Child Life Specialist, and has extensive knowledge of developmentally appropriate activities for young children, ways to help caregivers promote healthy development, and maintaining a safe space during exploration.​

PATRICK CURTIS
TREASURER

Patrick is a certified public accountant who specializes in providing audit, consulting, and advisory services to government contractors, nonprofit organizations and closely held businesses of varying sizes. He has been in the accounting profession since 1999. Patrick is the engagement partner for audits and reviews of nonprofits, government contractors and other closely held businesses. ​

Tonya Aikens

Tonya is President and CEO of Howard County Library System, a nationally recognized Five Star Library for delivering excellence in public education for all ages. She is keenly focused on building the collective leadership of the organization, its partners, the community, and customers to provide equitable, high-quality educational opportunities for all. Tonya served as part of the Leadership Howard County community impact project team supporting CEI’s purchase of Freetown Farm in 2019.

AKIL COLE

Akil is a committed youth mentor, student advocate, and entrepreneur with experience in leadership development and student life optimization. He is a student at Georgetown University and is pursuing degrees in Environmental Studies and Justice and Peace Studies. As host and producer of CEI's podcast, Community Blooms, Akil highlights positive environmental, health, and educational work. He also founded Your Better Four, a life skills development service for high-school students. Listen to Akil's Community Blooms podcast. 

MARGO DUESTERHAUS

Margo is President and co-owner of Triple TeQ, a small business that focuses on integrating people, processes and technology to create successful projects and organizations. She has degrees in Computer Science, Astronomy and Organizational Learning and has worked with organizations such as NASA and NOAA. She is a founder of Transition Howard, which focuses on creating locally sustainable and resilient communities. She is on the Advisory Board for the Earth Forum of Howard County. 

JAMES HANDLEY

James is an attorney who practices employment law and civil litigation. Prior to becoming a lawyer James served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Cavalry Officer with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. James, originally from the suburbs of Chicago, moved to Maryland when he was eight and grew up in Salisbury on Maryland's Eastern Shore. James was a part of the Leadership Howard County community impact project team supporting CEI in the spring of 2020. James and his family live in Ellicott City.

ERICA JONES

Erica is a Chef, Farmer, and Master Gardener with a passion for growing local food and preparing healthy and delicious meals with the bounty. She is a teacher in our award-winning Nourishing Gardens program and leads the way in our use of regenerative agriculture principles at Freetown Farm. She’s an advocate for edible schoolyard gardens and on a mission to transform public school lunch programs so that every student has fresh, locally grown food on their lunch trays every day. Grow with her on Instagram@Edesiagurl”

LEAH MILLER

Leah has twenty years of experience in sustainability and environmental education program management. She has a BA in Political Science and Organismal Biology from Yale and is a LEED Green Associate. She currently serves as the Energy Manager for Howard County. Previously, she worked as the Sustainability Program Manager for Montgomery County and the Clean Water Program Director for the Izaak Walton League of America. Her family enjoys participating in CEI's Families in Nature events.

GARY PILARCHIK

Gary started his YouTube channel, The Rusted Garden, in 2011 as a way to enjoy himself and teach others about gardening. He has since grown his following to more than 638,000 subscribers. His belief is that a garden wants to give, vegetables want to grow, and everyone can have a successful garden. Gary is also a clinical mental health therapist who worked for Johns Hopkins for the last 15 years, before retiring in 2020. He sees vegetable gardening as a global practice that brings people together across cultures and geographical boundaries. ​​​

Jason VanKirk

Jason is a Vice President with Elm Street Development. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Commissioner on the Patuxent River Commission, a member of the Leadership Howard County class of 2019, where he served on CEI’s project team to purchase and protect our farm property, and is the Vice Chair of Finance for the Boy Scouts of America National Pike District. ​

Jason Zhao

Jason has a B.Sc. in civil engineering and a M.Sc. in computer science.  He has twenty years of experience in civil and environmental engineering,  technology application, and public policy enactment and implementation. He believes community engagement on environmental issues not only improves the environment but also promotes diversity and inclusion for all. He participates in various activities at Freetown Farm with his entire family.