Mariann Bernlohr »
Director of Affiliate Support
As director of the affiliate support team, Mariann provides strategic and programmatic support to affiliates, particularly in the areas of certification and resource development. Mariann joined Horizons National after being the Executive Director of Horizons at St. Richard's Episcopal School in Indianapolis, IN for almost 4 years. Mariann developed and managed educational and community programming with AmeriCorps, YMCAs, and the Indiana Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for ten years prior to joining Horizons. She has a B.S. in Public Affairs and Nonprofit Management from Indiana University and a M.A. in Teaching with an emphasis on urban education from Hamline University.
Phaedrel (Faye) Bowman »
Director of Information Systems
Faye manages the data tools used by Horizons affiliates, including the student database, and is responsible for analyzing and reporting program data. She also provides technical support for the National office. Faye holds a B.A. from Boston University and an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
Deana Darling »
Director of Program Support and Innovation
Deana provides programmatic support to affiliates in the areas of professional development, curricular design, instructional resources, and assessment. While an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Inclusive Childhood Education at Nazareth College, she became involved with Horizons and summer learning, serving as the Executive Director of the Horizons at Nazareth program. Her work with various national, state, and local initiatives reflects her commitment to student-centered learning, urban education, and strengthening the teaching profession. Deana taught at the elementary level for six years in the Rochester City School District. She holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester and an M.S. in elementary education from Nazareth College.
Steve Ehrman »
Director of Quality Assurance
Steve, who comes to Horizons National after serving as Director of Programs at Horizons Greater Washington, helps Horizons use data to drive performance and provide on-going support and resources to our network. Steve's STEAM and Makerspace programming has brought considerable attention in DC and prior to his time at Horizons Greater Washington, he spent seven years as Special Educator in Baltimore Public Schools -- and as an Aquatics leader for Headfirst Summer Camps. Steve has drawn on his programmatic experience to present at field conferences, and has been involved in out of school time system building efforts both in DC and at the state level (MD). He received his B.A. from The University of Toledo and Certificate in Secondary Special Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife and two children.
Kate Hurlock »
Director of Expansion
Kate helps bring Horizons to new communities. Previously, she supported Horizons National’s CEO in the areas of communications, planning, and project management. Her professional experience includes news production for ABC World News Tonight, and logistics/production with NBC Networks during coverage of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Most recently, she was a principal of a successful small business. Kate holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and is a certified teacher.
Cam Hutchins »
Senior Writer
Cam supports the Horizons National team, writing and editing a wide range of communications. His professional experience encompasses digital, print, direct, promotional, and editorial writing on both the agency (Ogilvy, Publicis, Y&R) and client (Citibank) sides. Cam holds a B.A. in American Studies from Amherst College and earned his M.A. at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lisa Kennedy »
Corporate Counsel & Director of Grant Development
Lisa is responsible for working with Corporate and Foundation partners to develop support for Horizons National, Horizons affiliates, and Horizons’ expansion efforts. Prior to joining Horizons, Lisa held several fundraising roles, most recently as Director of Development and Alumni Relations at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Lisa is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, where she also received her law degree and served as managing editor of the St. Thomas Law Journal.
Kelly Mattox »
Senior Director of Innovation & Digital Strategy
Kelly is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of all marketing strategies, communications, and public relations activities for Horizons National. She oversees all external and internal communications, including managing the Horizons National website and producing marketing and fundraising resources for affiliates. Kelly received a B.A. in Communications from Jacksonville University.
Katie Nazar »
Vice President, Finance & Operations
Katie leads finance, data, and continuous improvement efforts at Horizons National. Having led domestic program evaluation and technology initiatives for Save the Children for over a decade, and Knowledge Management activities for Teach for America’s national office, Katie has extensive systems-building experience that supports both programmatic and operational excellence. Katie holds a B.A. from Fairfield University and an MBA from Sacred Heart University.
Jose Oromi »
Executive Vice President
Leading strategic initiatives and expansion efforts at Horizons National, Jose brings several years of experience in global and domestic operations and programming, having worked with Save the Children and AmeriCorps, in addition to extensive teaching and community support services. Prior to joining Horizons National, he was the Executive Director of a highly successful Horizons Affiliate for five years. Jose holds a B.A. from the University of Florida.
Nicole Penniman »
Director of Development Operations
Nicole manages all development operations for Horizons National and is the Salesforce database administrator for the organization. She also provides support in the areas of finance and Human Resources. Nicole has an extensive background in both business and the not-for-profit field working with various constituents. Nicole earned a B.A. in Business with a double minor in Sociology/Anthropology and Music from Manhattanville College and a Masters of Business Administration, concentrating in Human Resources, from Fairfield University.
Elizabeth Reed »
Operations Manager
Elizabeth is a hands-on team member and responsible for affiliate onboarding, collection and reporting of data, and annual affiliate based projects. In addition to coordinating work with affiliate board members, she is the liaison between the Horizons National Affiliate Committee and the Horizons National staff. Elizabeth received a B.S. in Communication Disorders with a minor concentration in Spanish from the University of New Hampshire.
Paula Romano »
Senior Vice President, Business Development
As head of Horizons National’s development team, Paula is responsible for expanding existing resources and building new revenue opportunities through foundations, corporations, and individuals. Her deep experience in sales and marketing includes launching and building successful e-commerce sites and magazines such as Vogue, InStyle, Sports Illustrated Women, and Entertainment Weekly. Paula earned her B.A. in Economics and Journalism from Manhattanville College (where she was valedictorian and class president), and she attended the MBA Finance program at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Dara Rose »
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Programs
Working primarily with our Affiliate Services and Data Systems teams, Dara focuses on organization-wide alignment, efficiency, and impact. Before joining Horizons National, she managed and developed strategy for after school, summer learning, and community-school partnership investments for over a decade at The Wallace Foundation. Prior to that, Dara spent over 15 years as a youth worker, program coordinator, and manager at several New York City-based non-profits, including the Partnership for Afterschool Education and Citizens Committee for NYC – both of which offer professional development, peer learning, small grants, and other resources to service providers and grassroots groups. Dara earned an M.A. in Public Administration at New York University’s Wagner School and a B.A. in Sociology and Latin American / Caribbean Studies at SUNY Binghamton.
Christina Sielert »
Administrative Assistant
Christina assists with the day-to-day office operations of Horizons National and provides administrative support for the Development Team. She has a long history of non-profit involvement, and most recently worked on the staff of a local AmeriCorps program. Christina received her B.A. in English from the University of Connecticut with a minor concentration in Women’s Studies.
Lorna Smith »
Chief Executive Officer
Lorna joined Horizons National in 2004 and became CEO in 2007. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from 13 sites to more than 50 in 18 states. By developing a strong organizational identity, financial stability, and systems that foster program innovation, she has helped Horizons National become a vital resource for its diverse network of locally-managed programs. Lorna’s vision for continued expansion of the Horizons network across the country is driven by her commitment to social justice. Her professional experience combines market research expertise with extensive client service in several industries, and she has co-owned two businesses, both of which experienced substantial growth and earned excellent reputations under her management. Lorna holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, an M.B.A. from Cornell University, and completed a fellowship at Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders. She is a founding board member for the National Network of Schools in Partnership, an organization comprised of public-private partners who share a common goal of expanding educational opportunities for all young people, and is also a member of the NationSwell council, a national network of professionals who are passionate about service.
Morgan Smith »
Resource Manager
Morgan provides administrative and scheduling support for the CEO, staff, and board of directors of Horizons National. She oversees day-to-day office operations, assists the CEO with calendar management, and facilitates communication as the liaison between the board and staff members. Morgan was a senior level corporate event and project manager until 2005, when she followed her heart into the field of educational access and the nonprofit sector. She holds a B.A. in Behavioral Science with a concentration in Leadership and Human Development from Lesley University, and is a longtime certified Election Moderator for the State of Connecticut.
Valeria G. Wells »
Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Valeria leads the overall Marketing Communications and Brand Strategy at Horizons National, the affiliated network and our growing enterprise. With extensive fund development expertise, she is integral to delivering creative resources that collectively support fund development, define organizational brand, and fulfill marketing strategy. She has led affiliate organization efforts domestically and internationally in Brand Strategy, Marketing Communications, and Fund Development for INROADS, Inc., and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Valeria earned a B.S. at Illinois Institute of Technology with concentrations in Marketing and Finance. She recently served as Board Chair of the Urban League of Southwestern Connecticut (ULSC), and currently serves as board member with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in Fairfield County, Connecticut.