SEEC's staff is comprised of more than 150 individuals who have devoted their careers to enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. Direct support personnel provide hands-on assistance and supports to individuals served in SEEC's Vocational Services and Community Living programs. Management staff oversee the work of each department ensuring that programs reflect the needs, desires, and aspirations of each individual we serve. An administrative team consisting of the directors of each department manages the daily operations of the agency and report quarterly to SEEC's Board of Directors. Our volunteer Quality Assurance Committee ensures supports and services are of the highest caliber.
SEEC’s Administrative Team
Executive Director
Karen J. Lee
Karen began her work in the disability field in 1983 and became the Executive Director of SEEC in 1990. Under her leadership, SEEC received the “Innovative Agency Award” from the Maryland Association of Community Services for People with Developmental Disabilities, and in 2004, 2007, and 210, a prestigious 3-year accreditation from CARF International for excellence in program services. Karen is a stalwart advocate for people with developmental disabilities serving in leadership positions in many advocacy groups, including the Maryland Association of Community Services for People with Developmental Disabilities where she has served as a Board member for many years. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board, and is a past president of InterACC/DD, a coalition of service providers in Montgomery County. She is a current member of the Maryland Community Learning Services and Maryland Employment First.
In 1999, Karen received the “Leadership Award” from the Maryland Chapter of the American Association on Mental Retardation. She holds a Masters of Education-Special Education, Transition and Secondary Education from University of Maryland and a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Elmhurst College, IL. She is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Montgomery. Karen reports to a volunteer Board of Directors and directs the agency’s operations, policies and procedures to ensure that programs and services meet the unique needs, desires, and aspirations of each individual SEEC serves.
Executive Assistant
Karen Bond
Ms. Bond has worked for SEEC in several capacities since 1995, including receptionist, office manager, and since 1997, as Executive Assistant working directly with the Executive Director and the SEEC Board of Directors as a member of the agency’s Administrative Team. She is responsible for handling a variety of situations and administrative tasks related to clerical and administrative functions of the SEEC office, including the handling of confidential and time sensitive matters, with creativity, experience, and sound judgment. Ms. Bond’s previous work experience includes public school teaching, facilities management, security, and executive assistant for Ethan Allen and Marriott. She has an Associate Arts degree from Prince George’s Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland. She is certified to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
Community Living Director/Family Support Services Director
Franstine Wallace-Barnes
Franstine joined the SEEC staff in February 1998 after years of holding a variety of professional positions in the disability community. For six years she worked at the District of Columbia ARC, initially as a court-appointed monitor of services to individuals entering the community after the forced closing of the Forest Haven Institution, and then in the position of Assistant Director of Residential. Prior to her work at the ARC, Franstine was a behavior specialist serving adults with developmental disabilities. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Morgan State University, and is actively involved in several disability groups, including ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources), MACS (Maryland Association of Community Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities), and the Family Support Services Network of Montgomery County. Franstine directs services for 30 SEEC consumers in more than 18 homes throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s County. Under her leadership, SEEC’s Community Living department received a rare “Exemplary” status by CARF when SEEC was accredited in the Fall of 2004. Franstine also directs, SEEC’s Family Support Services program that has served more than 300 families of children with developmental disabilities since its inception in 1999.
Chief Financial Officer
Bonny Roy
In 2001, Bonny joined SEEC as Comptroller, benefiting SEEC with 20 years of experience in finance, accounting and administration for profit and non-profit organizations. Bonny oversees all the financial details for the agency, serves on the agency’s finance committee and also oversees the functions of SEEC’s Human Resource Department. For two years prior to joining SEEC, she was a professor at Howard University School of Business. Bonny holds a Masters in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Sociology, and an undergraduate degree in Economics. Bonny is an active member of the Chief Financial Officers group of the Maryland Association of Community Services for People with Developmental Disabilities (MACS). She is also active in her community in fundraising, cultural, and charitable activities.
Director of Communications and Development
Cathy Dirksen
Cathy is responsible for agency public communications, including content on SEEC’s website, social media sites, and newsletters as well as mass communications to staff and families of individuals receiving SEEC supports. Through grants, special events, giving campaigns, and other fundraising activities, Cathy generates revenues to support the agency’s administrative operations and expand the quality of supports offered to SEEC participants. Cathy has more than 30 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, primarily in the fields of communications and fundraising. As the parent of a son with autism, she has been involved in the local disability community as a volunteer and as a professional. Prior to joining SEEC in 2002, she worked for the Mighty Special Music Makers (now called InterPlay), the Autism Society of America, and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council (Family Networks). As a volunteer she served on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Chapter of the Autism Society and KEEN, a recreational program for children with developmental disabilities. She also served as a parent mentor for the Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers program. As the founder of STEP Seminars, Inc., Cathy co-produced a workshop video “Using Visual and Behavioral Cues in the Home: Teaching Functional Life Skills to Children with Autism and Related Disorders” which has been sold nationwide and abroad. Cathy holds a B.S. degree from the University of Maryland.
Vocational and Day Supports Director
Steve Blanks
Steve joined the SEEC staff in 1999. He directs a staff of over 50 employment and support professionals who facilitate community-based employment and inclusion for approximately 130 men and women. He is also the primary administrator of SEEC’s participation in NIH Project SEARCH, an internship program for transitioning youth in partnership with the National Institutes for Health and Ivymount School. Steve has a unique interest in this field, as his eldest brother has a developmental disability and is successfully living and working in the community in Kansas City, Missouri. His personal experience and volunteer work with individuals with developmental disabilities lead to his decision to join the SEEC staff after a working in the for-profit sector as a business consultant for Fortune 500 companies on a range of strategic and organizational issues. Steve holds a Masters of Engineering, Economics and Management from University of Oxford, England. He is an active member of APSE (Association of Persons with Supported Employment).
Steve has made presentations at various industry conferences including the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) Transitioning Youth Conference, TASH International Conference, Maryland Association of Community Services, and Project SEARCH Conference. . Steve also jointly led a webinar on Organizational Change for VCU’s Regional Rehabilitation and Training Center in May 2007. In addition, Steve has consulted with other Maryland agencies on organizational change and community-based services.
Director of Resources
Greg Gamble
Greg began his career as a banker after graduating from Shepherd University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Education and graduate work in Commercial Banking. He began working for SEEC in August of 2004 after leaving his position as Administrator of Workforce Development for Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley. He has been a vocational counselor for Western Maryland Consortium and has worked for a behavioral health services organization providing residential housing and a mental health clinic to individuals with behavioral and emotional disorders. Greg was also the Director of Valley College of Technology, which offers an Associates Degree in Business Administration and several certificate programs to individuals that have been displaced from their employment or unemployed. He has previously directed the operation of SEEC’s medical recreational day program that served adults with developmental disabilities. He presently serves at the Resource Director and supervises the program supports including Case Management, Behavior Management, Quality Assurance, Transportation and Training Coordination.
SEEC's Board of Directors
SEEC’s Board of Directors consists of volunteers from the community, family members of people receiving SEEC services, and at least one individual receiving SEEC supports. The Board meets quarterly to provide oversight for our agency operations.
President — Lennie Gladstone
President-Elect — Arlene McCrehan
Secretary — Joe Autry
Past President -- Alex Ratnofsky
Treasurer — Keith Jennings
Directors —
Lisa Aronoff
Richard Barsky
Gary Donaldson
Bernie Doyle
Debra Goren
Sharon Jackson
Leslie Kaplan
Rob Kunec
Karen Migdail
Bruce Romer
Tom Schaufelberger
Brandee Van Eekelen
Executive Director — Karen J. Lee
For information on joining SEEC’s Board of Directors, contact Karen Lee, SEEC’s Executive Director at (301) 576-9000.
