Meet our leadership

Joe Callahan, Executive Director, joined the Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County Public Schools in June 2004. Prior to this, Joe served as the  Chief of Staff of the award-winning E.L. Haynes Public Charter School since 2016. He has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, fundraising, nonprofit management, and youth development. From 2010 – 2016, Joe served as the founding Executive Director of 826DC, where he expanded the organization to serve more than 5,000 students per year, and won the 2014 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Mayor’s Art Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education.

Before 826DC, Joe taught writing at two DC-area universities, and worked in development for a transatlantic public policy organization and a renowned art museum. Joe received his BA from The George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs, his MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and a Masters in Leadership from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Joe is a proud AACPS parent, and lives in Arnold, MD, with his wife and two children.

Leathia Fletcher, Development Support Specialist, joined Anne Arundel County Public Schools in 1995. Since then, Leathia has had the opportunity to work in various departments, giving her the opportunity to network with colleagues and gain a deep understanding and familiarity with AACPS programs and offices. She has leveraged this critical skill in her work researching funding opportunities to benefit students, teachers, and staff.

For nearly 30 years, Leathia has faced multiple opportunities and challenges with AACP through which she continuously demonstrated her problem-solving and organizational abilities. A great team player and leader, Leathia is always willing to go above and beyond to support her passion for helping others.

In her free time, Leathia enjoys reading, teaching Sunday School and the ministries she oversees at her church, Kingdom Hope Ministry in Gambrills, MD. Leathia enjoys working with the community to assist in various programs that help to alleviate food insecurity and financial burdens. She is a graduate of Strayer University and lives in Odenton, Maryland with her husband of 26 years and her grandson.

Dominic Powell is the Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships for Educational Systems Federal Credit Union. He is responsible for driving organizational growth by developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with the leadership at community colleges, universities, school systems, and education-related organizations served by the Credit Union, as well as exploring new market areas, identifying new opportunities to Support Education and increase brand awareness. Additionally, he manages the Credit Union’s community relations and oversees the Business Development Team that visits your place of work or school to take care of your financial needs.

A proud AACPS parent, Dominic’s passion for supporting education aligns very well with the mission and vision of The Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Due to the nature of his profession, he also has a strong partnership with several of the schools and key leaders across the county along with other organizations that support the future of education community in Maryland.

Jeanette Ortiz is the Director of Government Affairs at University of Maryland, Baltimore. For nearly 20 years, her legal career has centered on legislative and policy work as well as regulatory, budgetary and procurement matters. Her professional experience includes leadership positions in both the executive and legislative branches of Maryland State government. Ms. Ortiz has collaborated with diverse stakeholders, drafted legislation and regulations, provided legal advice on complex matters, staffed legislative committees and developed statewide policy in numerous areas of law, including K-12 public education, higher education, and economic development. Jeanette previously worked as Legislative Counsel to the Maryland General Assembly, Policy Director for then Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, and Legislative and Policy Counsel for Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

In her role as Deputy Director for Maryland Government Affairs, Jeanette advocates on behalf of Johns Hopkins University & Medicine before the Maryland General Assembly, Maryland Governor, Executive Branch agencies, and statewide policy makers on all legislative, regulatory and policy issues which impact the enterprise. Her portfolio includes higher education, pre-k-12 education, labor and employment, and legal matters.

In addition to being a respected public policy and government affairs expert, Ms. Ortiz serves on several boards and is a member of several associations.

Jeanette received her juris doctor from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a bachelor of arts from The George Washington University.

Aaron Weedy is Chief Financial Officer at Ledo Pizza, a 125-unit casual pizza concept with locations in 7 east coast states plus the District of Columbia. Aaron has more than 25 years of experience in financial strategy, business development, capital growth, for mid-size organizations within franchise hospitality and restaurant space. He has been with Ledo for 20+ years, joining the company in 2002. His current responsibilities include financial control, supply chain management and corporate strategy. Before joining Ledo Aaron worked in distribution and financial services. In addition, Aaron is Chair of the IFMA (International Food Manufacturers Association) Restaurant Leadership Council a Board Member at CORE Gives and a Board Member at the Restaurant Association of Maryland. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Towson University and resides in Annapolis, Maryland. He is a proud AACPS parent (Annapolis High School and Bates Middle School).

Edward P. (Ned) Carey has over 35 years of aviation experience in airport leadership and management, including planning, development, and implementation of aviation projects. Carey is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives. Carey retired in 2023 as Chief for the Division of Airport Technology and Innovation for the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA). This position is responsible for the management, oversight, procurement, budgeting, and strategic planning for the following offices: Communications Systems, Technology Project Management, Infrastructure Services, Enterprise Services, and Information Services.

He began work at the MAA in 1984 as an aviation planner in the Office of Planning and Engineering and managed the MAA’s aviation planning group from 1989 to 1995. From 1995 through 1999, he served as Senior Aviation Planner for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, where he was involved in the planning and development of a $2 billion capital program for both Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. In 1999, he returned to the MAA as Director of Aviation Noise and Abatement. From 2000 to 2002 he served as Chief of Staff for the MAA, and from 2002 to 2005 he was the Director of Technology. From 2005 to 2009 he served as the Deputy Executive Director for Technology & Community Affairs overseeing technology, noise abatement, community affairs, real estate and the operation of Martin State Airport and served as the Chief Administrative Officer from 2009 to 2019.

In addition to his aviation career, Carey served as a Member of House of Delegates representing District 31A from January 14, 2015, to January 11, 2023.

Ms. Louise DeJesu is a lifelong advocate for public education and dedicated service to the children and families of Anne Arundel County. Over her forty-seven years with Anne Arundel Public Schools, she served in various roles, including classroom teacher, resource teacher, assistant principal, and principal, supporting multiple communities. She also collaborated with colleagues as President of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals and was appointed by the Governor to the Professional Standards Teacher Education Board at the Maryland State Department of Education.

In retirement, Louise has remained active in nonprofit organizations, including Shepherd’s House Outreach, Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry at St. Mary’s Parish, Toys for Tots, BeKind, and the Salvation Army in Glen Burnie. She looks forward to continuing her efforts to support students, staff, and families in Anne Arundel County.

Edward (Ed) Evans serves as the Executive Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Cordish Gaming Group, the gaming division of The Cordish Companies. In this role, Evans is responsible for leading community development, sustainability and engaging Team Members and local and regional stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives that align with the company’s goals and values.

Under his leadership, Cordish Gaming Group has strengthened its relationships in the communities it serves, including a $12 million donation to the Severn Center in Maryland which included a state-of-the-art Boys & Girls Club, gymnasium, teen club and senior activity center, and a $750,000 donation to the Murphy Recreation Center in South Philadelphia. He sits on the board for Workforce Development for Anne Arundel County, Rise & Shine, Planning Advisory Board Anne Arundel County, Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, and volunteers for the New Songs Community Learning Center and Men-for-Meade, Hungry Hands and C.A.R.E., an animal non-profit.

Before he transitioned to his current role, Evans served as Director of Culinary Operations at Cordish Gaming’s flagship property, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, where he oversaw culinary operations with a particular focus on expanding food and beverage offerings and enhancing quality. As part of this effort, he helped lead departmental efforts to develop stronger relations with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), and other minority-owned vendors.

Prior to joining The Cordish Companies and Live! in 2015, Evans’ extensive culinary experience included Corporate Executive Chef for Thompson Hospitality, where he oversaw a team of more than 40 chefs and sous chefs in over 26 business units, Corporate Director of Food and Beverage with LTD Hospitality Group, and Executive Chef at restaurants including Red Sage, Papa Razzi, and Gordon Biersch Breweries. He used his culinary know-how to inspire the next generation of chefs through the Live! Culinary Academy, a cooking school he launched in-house designed to develop team members’ expertise and cooking skills. He uses many of these same lessons in his community service outreach to mentor and inspire through his lectures, keynote speeches and guest cooking appearances. He has an affinity towards mentoring underprivileged youth and lives to serve as a role model for future generations.

Evans is a graduate of Baltimore International College. He was named one of the 25 People to Watch in 2024 by Global Gaming Business, one of the premier industry publications, and named a Black History Hero in 2021 by the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association. He has been featured as a guest on TV shows ranging from local morning news to the hit Food Network series Chopped. He currently resides in Anne Arundel County with his wife and three children.

A local business owner with deep experience in nonprofit management and literacy education, Laura Iversen is the owner of Watermark Journey, Inc., a leader in the regional hospitality industry that offers private yacht charters, water taxi service, historical walking tours, ghost tours, and a variety of public cruise options and special events. Prior to this, Laura served as the Executive Director of Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR), which provides one-on-one support to AACPS first and second-grade students striving to achieve grade-level reading. Her love of literacy education was developed when she worked as a consultant for Scholastic Book Fairs, and then later in community development with Barnes & Noble, Inc.

A deep commitment to the community, Laura also serves on the Maryland Tourism Coalition’s Legislative Committee, and the Long-Range Planning Committee at Historic Annapolis.

Mark currently serves as President and CEO of the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. He joined the Chamber in July 2018 and is providing great leadership and vision as the Chamber continues to generate more members and develop strong relationships.

Prior to this, Mark served as President of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce for 12 years and was responsible for the management of a business trade organization with more than 1,200 members. He led the Chamber in providing a wide range of business counseling and marketing programs for its members while maintaining a very active role in economic development projects and government relations. 

Prior to the New Castle County Chamber, Mark owned and operated his own consulting company, MAK Associates, for ten years. The firm specialized in government relations, real estate development, and project management. He coordinated the planning and development of numerous business expansion projects for various clients including Mike’s Famous Harley Davidson and facilities for Christiana Care. He also had numerous lobbying clients with a special focus on tax policy, gaming, hospitality, food service, affordable housing, and economic development. 

Mark was the co-founder and COO of an internet start-up company, FamousRadio.com, which specialized in creating custom radio stations for in-store and online broadcasting. Mark raised more than $2 million from private investors and financial institutions. He also led business development activities with Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States. 

Mark holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Economic Education and Entrepreneurship, both from the University of Delaware. When not working, Mark enjoys playing golf, riding mountain bikes, visiting historic homes (Monticello is his favorite), following baseball and attending games. He is a “retired” runner due to a knee injury, but has substituted cycling for running.

Don Rau is a government services professional with more than twenty years of experience in state, local, and federal government affairs. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff for Maryland State Senator Michael A. Jackson (D27-Calvert, Charles, and Prince George’s Counties) and he has previously served as a legislative staffer for Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Senator James ‘Ed’ DeGrange, Sr., Senator Delores G. Kelley, and the Maryland House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee.  Additionally, he has acted as a registered Maryland State Lobbyist for the Artemis Group LLC (2008-2010), as a fundraising consultant for the Mellinger Group LLC (2010-2011), and a campaign staffer for numerous state and local campaign operations.

In addition to his service to the Anne Arundel County Education Foundation, he is a Board Member of both the Anne Arundel County Public Library Foundation and the Senior Dog Sanctuary of Maryland. He is an alumnus of Granite Baptist School (Glen Burnie, Maryland), Anne Arundel Community College (Arnold, Maryland), and the University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland). He and his wife (Charity) reside in Severn with their Pomeranian (Oreo).  

Andy is a driven and motivated Christian man with a deep passion for living out the life Jesus has placed before him – using the skills, knowledge, and life lessons learned as a teenage professional athlete to serve the youth in his community. Upon graduating from Towson University, he immediately founded The Complete Player (TCP) Charity, an Anne Arundel County-based nonprofit. Since August 2015, Andy has grown and transformed TCP Charity from a baseball organization into a youth development and mentoring organization that serves over 250 northern Anne Arundel County youth per year through in-school mentoring, after-school programs, and summer camps.

Andy grew up in Bowie, MD, where he resided until 2016, when he moved to Anne Arundel County. After attending St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., Andy spent five years in the Baltimore Orioles organization as a Pitcher. When his career ended in 2009, Andy continued his education at Anne Arundel Community College, where he attained an associate’s degree before transferring to Towson University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Andy spent his time coaching baseball for the PAL Astros during college before starting TCP teams for middle and high school-age players. Andy finished his coaching career in 2020 at Bishop McNamara High School. 

Outside of work, Andy enjoys hitting the gym, reading, traveling, and spending time with his wife, Leanna. 

Brian Walter is Executive Vice President at M&T Bank, joining the bank in 1990 upon graduation from Penn State’s MBA program. Brian serves as the head of the Bank’s commercial banking activities in Maryland. In addition, as Regional President, he has overall responsibility for all of the Bank’s business and community activities in the market.

Brian is a graduate of M&T’s Leadership Development Program (through Columbia University), has served as a mentor for the Bank’s Senior Leadership Development Program, and is a former member of M&T Bank’s Diversity Council.

Brian is a 2001 graduate of Leadership Howard County, a 2013 graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel, and a 2014 graduate of Leadership Maryland. In 2010, the National Pike District of the Boy Scouts honored Brian with its “Good Scout Award” in recognition of his community service.

Brian has served in leadership roles with numerous community organizations, currently serving with the following organizations:

• Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center – Board of Directors
• The Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County- Board of Directors, Treasurer
• BWI Business Partnership – Board of Directors, Executive Committee
• Downtown Partnership of Baltimore – Board of Directors, Executive Committee
• Cal Ripken Sr Foundation – Board of Directors