Board of Directors

Jim is a native New Englander that moved to the Maryland countryside in 2006 along with his wife, Shannon, and their black lab, Zora. He is a Navy veteran, having spent five years in the submarine force on USS San Juan (SSN-751). Jim has spent the past fifteen years as a business strategy and acquisitions professional, working in management roles in the energy and industrial manufacturing fields. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife have been active with Hero Dogs since its inception, and were the first puppy sitters for the organization. Being puppy sitters turned into being puppy raisers for Theodore Roosevelt. Jim, Shannon, and their kids continue to sporadically puppy sit, and enthusiastically support Hero Dogs and its mission.

Blair is a financial executive with over 18 years of experience serving state and local government transportation agencies in the areas of roadway tolling and public transit. For the first half of his career he worked for the IBM Corporation in various marketing and financial management positions. Blair holds an MBA from the Hagan School of Business, Iona College, NY and a bachelor of science in Biology from Trinity College, CT. He has three grown children, two sons and a daughter; and one grandson. His younger son is a U.S. Navy Lt. and P-3 Orion aircraft pilot. Blair coached youth baseball and softball, and served 13 years as a youth travel and high school ice hockey coach. Throughout his professional life, Blair has lived in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia and now resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland with his miniature schnauzer, Linus. As a lifelong dog lover and owner, Blair is eager and enthusiastic about his new role serving Hero Dogs, Inc.

Randi was born in NYC and as an adult has lived in NJ, Orlando, Roanoke, VA and now Maryland. She has served in Financial Management positions the majority of her professional career. She earned an MBA and is a licensed Certified Management Accountant (CMA). She recently received her Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) license. Randi has experience in several types of accounting, including non-profit accounting. Randi grew up with dogs and has always been owned by rescues and dogs just short of becoming rescues. Her current owners are Lexi, a retired Havana Silk dog, and Layla, a rescued beagle/bassett mix. She looks forward to working with Hero Dogs and supporting the mission!

Ken retired in April, 2018 after 35 years with IBM, Aspen Systems Corporation, Lockheed Martin and Posterity Group where he held Chief Information Officer, Chief Security Officer, and Chief Technology Officer positions providing information technology strategy, planning, implementation, and operations to U.S. defense and civilian agencies. Ken holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Binghamton University in NY.

Following retirement, Ken researched volunteer opportunities with organizations that offered services to address veteran homelessness, suicide prevention and education. He found that Hero Dogs’ mission to help improve the quality of life of veterans and first responders through placement and support of service dogs positively contributes to all issues veterans face.

Tara is Director of Business Development for Terra Alpha Investments, leading the firm’s marketing strategy and overseeing investor relations. She has worked in business development roles across the financial services industry since 2011. Most recently, she was Director of Business Development for MTN Capital Partners in New York City, where she was responsible for sourcing and evaluating middle-market private equity opportunities.

Prior to MTN, Tara worked for Tradeweb Markets, first in its Institutional Market Data Division, and later joining its Retail Product Team. She holds a BA in English and American Literature from Middlebury College.

Tara is a recent DC transplant, a dog lover, and a grateful US civilian.

Thene grew up in Minnesota and moved East after law school to escape the bitter winters. She practiced corporate law for twenty years, retiring as a partner from Hogan & Hartson LLP in 2010. A spinal cord injury survivor, she is passionate about improving the lives of the disabled and remembers fondly how her dog Winnie provided much comfort during many months of physical and occupational therapy. She has served on the Board of Directors and as Secretary and Treasurer of MedStar National Rehabilitation Network (where she was an inpatient following her injury). Thene earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and got her BA from the University of Minnesota’s Duluth campus (a colder school there never was). She lives on a farm in Sandy Spring, Maryland with her husband George, springer spaniel Lucy and five horses.

Brian is a government affairs professional with a quarter of a century experience in federal, state, and local affairs. Prior to his roles in the 2020 presidential campaign, Brian served as the Projects Director for Joe Biden during his time as a United States Senator where he managed federal grants and appropriations.

Before joining McCarter & English as Senior Advisor, Brian spent time as the Director of the Laborers – Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, a progressive labor-management fund, where he forged economic policies that promoted growth in the construction industry in the eastern region.

A political veteran, Brian has managed more than 25 political campaigns, including national experience in the Iowa Caucus process, and has held several positions of considerable leadership in the Democratic Party, including acting as a home state chair for Biden for President.

Brian has a successful track record in communications, business development, regulatory affairs, and labor negotiations and demonstrates acumen for leading innovative market share strategies.

An advocate for diversity and inclusion, Brian is a lifetime member of the NAACP. He is also the recipient of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists’ Person of the Year Award, the Organization of Minority Women’s Martin Luther King Annual Award, and The King Center’s MLK Man of the Year Award.

Brian is committed to public service and currently serves as Chair of the US Military Academy Nomination Commission for Delaware’s lone member of Congress, Lisa Blunt-Rochester. He serves on the board of ambassadors for CHARLIE MIKE ™️ in partnership with Pivotal Moments.

In addition to the military service related boards Brian serves on, as a first generation Irish-American, he is actively involved in numerous organizations connected to Ireland. He is a co – Chair of the 2022 Ireland Funds National Gala in Washington DC, a member of the St. Patrick’s Society, founder and President of Ancient Order of Hibernians, Rev. James F. Trainor Division, and a member of the Delaware Commission on Irish Heritage and Culture. He served as the 2020 chair of the annual Catholic Charities dinner, which raises funds for programs to assist those most in need.

D’Ann is a Texas native that found her way to Maryland in 2017. She has a degree from The University of Texas at Austin in Communication Studies, with an emphasis on Human Relations. D’Ann is a residential real estate broker licensed in DC, MD and VA and loves giving back to the community in her free time. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for BvB Dallas and Blondes vs Brunettes DC tackling Alzheimer’s Disease. The daughter of a retired Fort Hood firefighter and granddaughter of a Navy vet, she has been involved with other Veteran Service organizations, serving as an NHL Ambassador for the United Heroes League, volunteering with Team RWB and giving back to the Homes for Heroes program through her real estate business. She and her husband Andrew were puppy raisers for Hero Dogs Monty and live in Rockville.

Linda is a Principal Professional Staff Analyst at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland. She has more than 30 years of experience in defense analysis. She joined JHU/APL in January 1998 and has held a number of leadership positions in technical and program management. A native of New Jersey, she is a retired Naval Officer and has been a volunteer with Hero Dogs, Inc. since its inception. Phipps earned two bachelor’s degrees in Marine Biology and English Literature from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park NJ and a master’s degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. She resides in Waldorf, Maryland with her husband Carl and two Black Lab mix rescue dogs, Duchess and Jester.