Ande Kolp is the Executive Director of The Arc Maryland. Her career includes over 25 years of experience supporting people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their families. Her most recent position was the Executive Director for Compass, Inc., a private non-profit organization specializing in Residential and Employment Services for people with co-occurring Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions living in Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard, and Charles Counties.
Prior to her engagement with Compass, Inc., Ande served in different administrative capacities for three Arc Chapter agencies in Maryland over a period of 13 years (Prince George’s County, Howard County, and Montgomery County).
Her experience also includes service on the Boards of Directors for The Maryland Association of Community Services and The Association of Community Services of Howard County. She is the current chairperson for the Howard County Commission on Disability Issues and has been an active member of InterACC- Montgomery, and the Prince George’s Provider Network. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa and a Master’s Degree in Special Education with a Concentration in Severe Disabilities from The Johns Hopkins University.
Ande lives in Ellicott City, MD with her husband and three children. She enjoys playing the guitar, singing and acting in her spare time.
Tonia Ferguson, Esq. is the Director of Public Policy and Special Initiatives for The Arc Maryland. She brings nearly a decade of experience advocating for individuals with disabilities and their families. Prior to joining The Arc Maryland, she served as Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Autism Society of America and was on the board of The Arc Baltimore. As a professional in the field as well as as a parent of a child with Down syndrome and autism, the mission and values of The Arc are near and dear to her heart. Her expertise encompasses system change, building partnerships, and advocating and influencing policy at the local, state and federal level.
Lisa Chandler King is the Director of Administrative Services for The Arc Maryland. She is the executive liaison and works with the Executive Committee, Board Members, and other leaders throughout Maryland. Lisa also handles the internal operation of the office organizing office procedures, as well as, organizational effectiveness and efficiency, supervising administrative staff, handle budgetary matters and accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and Human Resources.
Prior to joining us, Lisa was the Administrative Manager at the Baltimore Jewish Council for over nine years. Her experience stretches from Government & Community Relations to Israel Awareness & Advocacy to Holocaust Remembrance. In her spare time, Lisa is a mother of three and enjoys spending time with her family out on the Bay.
Shannon McGovern is the Administrative and Communications Assistant for The Arc Maryland. Shannon will usually be the voice you hear when calling The Arc Maryland. She also writes The Arc Maryland’s monthly e-newsletter, as well as maintaining the content on our social media pages. As a recent graduate of St. John’s College in Annapolis with a BA in the Liberal Arts, she studied everything from the Ancient Greek philosophers to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Shannon has a background in the theatre, having worked backstage for both her college and for the Annapolis Shakespeare Company. In her free time, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family and playing games with her friends.