Circle Leadership
Dynamic leadership teams have empowered and supported our work. Shelley Goldseker and Pam Corckran’s visionary leadership inspired the creation of the Circle while Ann Allston Boyce and Lenel Srochi-Meyerhoff nurtured its’ early development. Working through the BWGC’s many committees, succeeding Co-chairs have overseen many changes and accomplishments. Anne Donahue and Lynn Sassin led an expansion of the Circle, and Pat Joseph and Beth Lebow established the Circle’s presence on the Web. Subsequently, Ellen Bernard and Christie Coe oversaw a streamlining of Circle operations while Gail Shawe and Kimberly Warren expanded our reach through creative new programs and social media. Peggy Schapiro and Penny Wald’s leadership, the Circle began a two-year grant program, implemented an online grant management system, and launched a new Education subcommittee focused on advocacy. Jodi Dunn and Vivian Manekin led the largest Circle membership and giving, along with the implementation of a new website and membership system. Together, Susannah Bergmann and Dawna Cobb focused on stewardship among members and advancing the Circle's use of technology, which came in handy when COVID-19 kept the Circle from meeting in-person. They led a hike in Roland Park, incorporated social time before committee meetings, instituted Zoom meetings, laid the groundwork for the Circle to begin reflecting on its approach to diversity, equity and inclusion, and crafted a video tribute in lieu of the 2020 May Full Circle meetings. The Circle grows in depth and breadth as we carry out our mission through our committees.
Our current officers, elected for a two-year term in May 2020, are:
- Circle Co-Chairs: Martha Cukor and Susan Perl
- Treasurer: Bonnie Stainman
- Assistant Treasurer: Jillian Pinkard
- Secretary: Kelly Chew
- Archivist: Georgia King
Circle Co-Chairs
Martha Cukor has been a Circle member since 2010. She was a grant reader, team leader, member of the Visioning Committee, Assistant Treasurer, and Treasurer. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Columbia University Teachers' College (M.A.ED.) and University of Maryland School of Law. Martha has lived in Baltimore all of her life except for college and a 10-year detour to Brooklyn, NY. She taught elementary school in Brooklyn and then once back in Baltimore attended law school and practiced law for over 20 years. She has been a volunteer at the Brown Memorial Tutoring Program and Genesis Jobs, as well as Chair of Alumnae Annual Giving and a Trustee of the Bryn Mawr School. Martha and her husband are enjoying retirement, getting to spend more time with their son, who is an attorney living in Brooklyn, New York.
Susan Perl joined the Circle in 2006, first serving as a grant reader, then team leader, secretary, archivist, and a member of the post-grants committee. During the last two years she has served as Co-chair of the Communications Committee where she assisted in managing all Circle event invitations and communications, its messaging plan, publishing the quarterly newsletter ourselves, along with the creation of the Year in Review. A graduate of the University of Maryland as a Registered Nurse with a MS in Nursing Education, Susan has worked in the nursing education field for many years. She was born in Southern Maryland and has made Baltimore her home with her husband Ed since 1974. She has four sons, three daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. She enjoys playing duplicate bridge, hiking, tennis and golfing.
TREASURER
Bonnie Stainman joined the Circle in 2013 and served as a reader and team leader on the Grants Committee. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University, she also received her MBA in Health Care Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Originally from Philadelphia, she moved to Baltimore in 1976, where she spent a long career at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. Bonnie held several roles in Finance, as well as serving as a Clinical Department Administrator. In retirement, Bonnie is a tutor for Reading Partners, enjoys traveling and swimming. She and her husband Stuart, parents of two grown children, live in Towson.
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Jillian Pinkard has been a Circle member since 2018. She has been a grant reader and team leader. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Jillian played collegiate volleyball and graduated from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA, and lived in Baltimore since 2004. Jillian started her development career at Johns Hopkins University and is currently the Campaign Director at St. Paul's School for Boys. She and her husband Wally served as weekend mentors and coaches for the Bridges program for several years. They have two daughters, a pit bull, and live in Mt. Washington.
SECRETARY
Kelly Chew joined the Circle in 2009 and has served as a reader and team leader on the Grants Committee, member of the Visioning Committee, and on the online grant management implementation team, grants governance work group, and the information technology work group. She currently serves on the Steering Committee as the Archivist. A graduate of University of Delaware, she also received her MBA from Loyola University Maryland. Her business career includes positions at T.Rowe Price, Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland and J.P. Morgan as a financial analyst. Kelly moved to Baltimore in 1996. She has served on the Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Improvement Association board. She has two daughters and enjoys reading and the beach.
ARCHIVIST
Georgia King joined the Circle in 2013 and has served on the Strategic Planning and Membership Committees, Co-chaired Circle Works, and is a grant reader. She spent her 42-year career in the Baltimore City Public School System, with the first 20 years as a teacher, curriculum writer, and instructional supervisor. the second half of her careers was Director of TWIGS and Outreach Programs at the Baltimore School for the Arts, where she gained experience in the non-profit sector of education. In retirement, she continues to do volunteer work at BSA and enjoys reading.