Meet the Board
Sally Buckman
President
Sally Buckman serves as the Manager of Lerman Senter, PLLC, a small law firm that specializes in communications and technology law, where she has worked as an attorney for over 35 years. Sally works with media companies of all sizes, providing advice about regulatory compliance and business and operational matters. Sally’s interest in communications law and the media industry stems from her undergraduate major in economics with a focus on regulated industries and her work in journalism, which included serving as Editor-In-Chief of her college newspaper.
Sally graduated from Wellesley College and New York University School of Law. She has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Federal Communications Bar Association and an officer of the DC Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television. Sally lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband, Robert Shaw. They have two children—Stephanie, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two dogs, and Gregory, an ILO self-advocate who lives in an apartment in Bethesda and loves to hang out with other Bethesda self-advocates.
Arthur Axelson
Treasurer
Arthur Axelson is a recently retired Senior Associate General Counsel in the Single Family Real Estate group in Freddie Mac’s Legal Division.
He primarily served as regulatory counsel, analyzing and interpreting state and federal legislative and regulatory requirements that affect the mortgage industry. He also works with the Mission, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs group on affordable lending and new regulatory developments.
Specifically, Arthur provided regulatory advice on LAS, affordable lending initiatives and other single family programs and issues, and supports litigation involving federal and state regulatory issues. He also assists single family in contracting with various vendors that provide further functionality to LAS.
Prior to joining Freddie Mac in 2015, Arthur was in private practice for over 30 years at various major law firms focused on state and federal regulatory compliance in financial services. Arthur represented Freddie Mac as outside counsel for approximately 20 years.
Arthur holds a B.A. cum laude from Franklin and Marshall College and a J.D. from Villanova University.
Mary Lawrence Phillips
Secretary
Mary Lawrence Phillips is a native of Kensington, Maryland. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) in the state of Maryland and manages a permanent supportive housing program.
She earned her Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore with a specialization in Health Care and has a BA from the University of Maryland.
She has over 25 years working with families and individuals as an agent of support and guidance. She is a strong supporter of housing rights for people with disabilities. Mary has one daughter who has a Developmental Disability and a second daughter with a chronic health disease. She is well versed with different types of subsidized housing programs, policy and landlord tenant regulations.
Mary has three thriving children, ages 25, 24 and 19. She is passionate about serving others and volunteers in her free time at medical clinics in areas of the country which do not have access to medical care.
Julia Alexis
Member at Large
Julia’s innovative career spans more than 25 years in health and aging with management experience in business and a deep knowledge of health policy, the health care delivery system and philanthropy.
Currently, Julia serves as Vice President, Strategic Initiatives at AARP’s Public Policy Institute where she oversees the development and management of its strategic programs and operations and generates millions of dollars in program revenue. She works closely with major foundations, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and coalitions to create and deliver impact and results in complex and diverse environments. Julia leads, integrates and manages high profile initiatives that cut across a number of issue areas as she collaborates with her AARP colleagues and their teams.
Julia graduated with honors in international economics and finance from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Renee L. Pietrangelo, PhD
Member at Large
Dr. Renee Pietrangelo served as chief executive officer of the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) in Alexandria, Virginia from 1999-2014. ANCOR is a national, nonprofit association representing providers of supports and services to people with disabilities.
She has played a key role in creating and implementing a national campaign, sponsored by ANCOR and endorsed by seven national disability organizations, to address workforce issues regarding recruiting and retention of direct support professionals who support people with disabilities.
Ms. Pietrangelo has overseen a national workforce research initiative in support of the campaign’s objectives and is recognized as a national spokesperson on the issue. In that capacity she has worked with numerous federal and state leaders in crafting initiatives to address workforce shortages. In 2004 she was awarded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services distinguished “Secretary’s Highest Recognition Award” by then Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Ms. Pietrangelo has over 35 years’ experience as a nonprofit association executive, with established expertise in the areas of leadership competencies and development, and education and training. Her previous association executive positions were in the fields of medical technology and financial services. Ms. Pietrangelo has been integrally involved in quantitative and qualitative national research on leadership competencies. She earned her PhD in philosophy at Georgetown University, with an emphasis on ethics and human values
Patricia Ritter, Ph.D.
Member At Large
Dr. Pat Ritter is the Executive Director of TLC–The Treatment and Learning Centers in Rockville, MD, whose mission is to improve lives and expand possibilities for individuals with disabilities throughout the lifespan. During her time at TLC, she has held various positions within the organization. She is a speech-language pathologist who began her tenure at TLC as the Director of Outpatient Speech and served as the Assistant Executive Director for 18 years before being appointed Executive Director in 2009.
During her tenure at TLC, Dr. Ritter has served as a vital member of the leadership decision-making team. Her key achievements at the organization include the development of the philosophy and model for The Katherine Thomas School (KTS), a special education school which she started in 1995. Dr. Ritter established therapeutic groups for children with sensory processing and autistic spectrum disorders and developed highly regarded early childhood programs based on development models for early intervention. Over her career at TLC, Dr. Ritter has been an innovator for many programs that meet the evolving needs of the community.
Dr. Ritter is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She was honored by the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) with its Inspiring Dreams, Changing Lives Award. She was recognized with a “Women Making History Award” by the Montgomery County Commission for Women. She currently is a member of the MANSEF Board of Directors and served as president from 2013 to 2015. She is a graduate of the Leadership Montgomery Class of 2008. She has been on numerous professional and community boards and a strong advocate for individuals with disabilities to be fully included in the community.
Arthur Ginsberg
Member At Large
Arthur Ginsberg has served as CEO, COO, and Executive Director of several prominent hospital, behavioral and health care systems and organizations. These include Community Residences – a non-profit supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs; DC Coalition of Disability Service Providers in Washington, DC; Keystone Human Services – community-based services in the areas of intellectual disabilities, autism, mental health, and early intervention; St. John’s Community Services – integrating people with developmental disabilities into the community of their choice; and, National Children’s Center – providing comprehensive and innovative services to children and adults with developmental disabilities.
His community and professional leadership positions have included Board positions at Virginia Network of Private Providers, Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland, District of Columbia Commission on Persons with Disabilities, ANCOR, DC Coalition of Disability Service Providers, American College of Healthcare Executives (Regent), Maryland Works, and Leadership Greater Washington.
Mr. Ginsberg holds a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from Xavier University, serves as Adjunct Faculty at GWU School of Public Health and Health Services; and is a Preceptor at Arizona State University, Tulane University and GW University.