Mr. Chip Lankert, Lead Talent Recruiter, FEMA

Chip Lankert is the Lead Talent Recruiter with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where in develops relationships with FEMA staff sections and people in career transition to find the best fit for both. He has also worked in the Office of the Chief Security Officer at FEMA where he served as the Staff Assistant to the Personnel Security Division Director and served as a Public Trust Clearance adjudicator determining eligibility for fitness and suitability of Federal employees and government contractors during steady state and disaster operations.

Chip is a former Military Policeman and Counterintelligence Specialist with the United States Marine Corps where he conducted counterterrorism evaluation, executive protection and both physical and personnel security. He also recruited police informants, counterintelligence specialists and counterintelligence sources. Chip is also a former Counterintelligence Agent, Counterdrug Intelligence Analyst, and Recruiter with the Virginia Army National Guard. His experience includes security and intelligence support to the Immigration & Naturalization Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington-Baltimore HIDTA, and Virginia State Police. As a counterdrug supervisor, he recruited personnel for the counterdrug program. As a Recruiting and Retention Manager, he received numerous awards for exceeding both the recruiting and retention missions and was the top Retention Manager in the State of Virginia for two consecutive years.

Chip served in a volunteer position as a training instructor for new members of an international business referral organization for the Greater Richmond Area. He conducted two classes monthly for eight to thirty-five business owners and salesmen and substituting as an instructor for veteran members on various business topics.

Chip received his Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies from Excelsior College and his Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Katherine Metres Akbar is the founder and president of YES Career Coaching & Resume Writing Services, one of Washington metro’s two top-rated career success companies. Providing job search services and workshops, she and her team have helped over 4500 people perfect their resumes, master networking, get interviews, and receive offers.

The world’s only Interview Aikido TM coach, Ms. Akbar has been a featured as a speaker by the Foreign Service Institute, Channel 7 News, and many others. She previously served as a U.S. diplomat and executive director of a civil rights non-profit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia
University, and certificates from Toastmasters and the National Speakers Association.

YES Career Coaching & Resume Writing Services
https://www.yeswriting.com/

Marc Miller is the founder of Career Pivot, which helps those in the 2nd half of Life design careers they can grow into for the next 30 years.

Marc authored the book Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life, published in September 2019. He is also the podcast host of the award-winning Repurpose Your Career Podcast.

Marc is a recovering engineer, a multipotentiality, and a professional career changer, as he has made six career pivots over the last 40+ years.

Marc and his wife, Lotus, became ex-pats in June 2018 when they moved to Ajijic, Mexico.

You can learn more about Marc, Career Pivot, the Repurpose Your Career podcast, and their journey to becoming ex-pats by visiting the Careerpivot.com

Katherine Ponds has a diverse background that encompasses leadership roles in for-profit, non-profit, and public sector organizations.

With over 20 years in the career and talent management sector, Ms. Ponds currently serves as Executive Vice President for Meridian Resources Inc., a career and talent management consulting firm, where she oversees product development, marketing, and relationship management. In addition to her professional career, Ms. Ponds currently serves as a volunteer Community Ambassador and Speaker’s Bureau representative for AARP. In this capacity, she represents AARP at various community events where she frequently speaks on a variety of topics including, caregiving, job search and career development for individuals 50 years of age and older. The insights and expertise Ms. Ponds brings to AARP reflect not only her extensive knowledge and expertise associated with talent and career management, but also her personal experience as a volunteer board member for a variety of non-profit organizations.

Contact: Katherine Ponds, Keponds.kp@gmail.com

Gary Petito joined NEW Solutions in 2022 as a USDA/REE Recruiter & Program Specialist. He has over 15+ years of recruiting, workforce development, career services, team leadership, partner support and technical account management for corporations and state and local government agencies. Gary is also a Veteran who served on active duty with the Texas Army National Guard for six years as a Recruiter and Logistics Specialist. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University-Killeen (formerly the University of Central Texas). Gary enjoys connecting people with opportunities and providing exceptional customer service. He lives in South Texas with his family and their adopted dog. When not at work, Gary enjoys walking/hiking, cycling, DIY home projects, and being with his family. He also enjoys participating in virtual walking and cycling events that support military and animal charities, and he and his wife are supporters of the local Humane Society.

Contact Information: Senior Recruiter/Program Specialist | USDA REE Program | National Experienced Workforce Solutions

We believe in the power of experience | www.NEWsolutions.org

Your LinkedIN Driving Instructor, is a LinkedIn trainer, communications strategist, and workforce educator who teaches adults 45 and older how to harness the power of LinkedIn for job searches, career transitions, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship.

As the Owner, CEO, and Lead Trainer at Of A Certain Vintage Workforce Education, LLC, Dr. Barnes provides LinkedIn training in partnership with public library systems in Maryland and New York, workforce and business development organizations throughout metropolitan Washington DC, and graduate school and alumni programs throughout the United States.

Barnes also partners with the Jewish Council for the Aging to provide LinkedIn training and facilitate the Career Gateway program, a career development course for 50+ jobseekers, and with the Nonprofit Village of Montgomery County to teach nonprofit leaders to use LinkedIn for effective donor research and management and board member recruitment and engagement.

Dr. Barnes is a member of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. She is a graduate of the Senior Leadership Montgomery Class of 2018, Yale College, Stanford Law School, and the Ohio State University where she earned a doctorate in the history of U.S. foreign policy.

Email Dr. Barnes at elisse@vintageworkforce.com or schedule a complimentary 20-minute intro phone call at https://calendly.com/elisse-wright

Mark Rasch is a lawyer and computer security and privacy expert and a lawyer in Bethesda, Maryland and a Professor of Cyberlaw and Cyber-crime at George Washington University School of Law.

Rasch’s career spans more than 25 years of corporate and government cybersecurity, computer privacy, regulatory compliance, computer forensics and incident response.

He is trained as a lawyer and was the Chief Security Evangelist for Verizon Enterprise Solutions (VES). He is recognized author of hundreds security- and privacy-related articles. He has taught courses in cybersecurity, law, policy and technology at various colleges and Universities including the University of Maryland, George Mason University, Georgetown University, and the American University School of law and was active with the American Bar Association’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Committees and the Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference.

Earlier in his career, Rasch was with the U.S. Department of Justice where he led the department’s efforts to investigate and prosecute cyber and high-technology crime, starting the computer crime unit within the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, efforts which eventually led to the creation of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division. He was responsible for various high-profile computer crime prosecutions, including Kevin Mitnick, Kevin Poulsen and Robert Tappan Morris.

Mark is a frequent commentator in the media on issues related to information security, appearing on BBC, CBC, Fox News, CNN, NBC News, ABC News, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and many other outlets. Mark is the author of hundreds of articles about the Internet, Internet privacy, the role of social media, the threats to privacy from things like Internet of Things, government surveillance, data breaches, data breach investigations, espionage and sabotage on the Internet, Russian election hacking, and the role of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in protecting privacy and civil liberties.

He also speaks and writes about issues like cyberbullying, revenge porn, phishing attacks, catfishing, and how to protect children online.

Shira Lotzar, with Purposeful Hire, is a seasoned career coach, small business coach, and recruiter passionate about helping people do what they love!

Through her dynamic career branding process, she helps job seekers and small business owners discover their career passions and showcase their professional superpowers through compelling LinkedIn profiles, standout resumes and websites, pinpoint networking, and memorable interviews.

She also co-founded a community service program, BoomerWorks.org, helping 50+ professionals’ re-career into self-employment.

Her passion is best captured in her tagline: For every hire, there is a higher purpose.

Contact Information: Purposeful Hire, shira@purposefulhire.com, 703-508-9573

Maura Connelly has been with FlexProfessionals for ten years, serving as their Recruiting Manager. Working on the candidate side of the staffing company, Maura sources, interviews, and assists with placing candidates in flexible jobs.

She is a professional resume reader and reviewer with years of experience in the art of assisting jobnseekers with creating strong, effective resumes.

Before joining FlexProfessionals, Maura was a Contract Recruiter and Human Resources Manager at the American Chemistry Council. She worked closely with hiring managers, recruited for open positions, screened candidates, managed the on-boarding process, and oversaw employee relations. In addition, Maura was a Senior Human Resources Consultant for US Airways, where, in addition to general HR responsibilities, she conducted numerous discrimination and harassment investigations and provided related training and support to business unit partners. Maura started her HR career working for Manor HealthCare Corporation and the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital. In addition, she volunteers with the JCA and a local food bank.

She has a BA in Psychology from Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, MD. Maura lives in Vienna, VA, with her husband and two daughters.

Ann L. Poritzky is a creative and energetic CPRW*-certified résumé writer, job coach, marketer, and digital strategist.

She has an MBA in marketing and extensive experience in business, government, and nonprofit organizations in communications, and developing, deploying, and improving websites and digital products.

Ann helps clients create impressive résumés and career documents that get them noticed.

She also teaches them how to interview like a pro. She recently led successful workshops on “Tackling Tough Interview Questions” and “5 Tips for Résumé Success.”

In addition, Ann serves as a résumé reviewer for the Jewish Council on Aging (JCA) Gateway program.

*Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW)

Contact:

Ann Poritzky
aporitzky@gmail.com

Debbie Grace Fletcher, SCSEP Case Manager, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Public Assistance and Employment Services (PAES).

Debbie Fletcher is a Certified Workforce Development Professional. She has been providing employment services to Northern Virginia residents for over nine years through the Department of Family Services. Including Bridges to Success Program and Energy Assistance Program. She currently works with mature job seekers returning to the workforce by developing training opportunities and providing career guidance. Her greatest passion is to empathize with clients, listening, encouraging, and helping them to look for strategies to satisfy their needs.