Amy L. Brooks, Chief Executive Officer

Amy is the Founder and CEO of RCM. She has an extensive background in Healthcare Administration. Amy enjoys empowering people to live their lives to the fullest and is most interested in being an active advocate for self-advocacy.

Amy sits on many boards around the city including, ANCOR, Shared Horizons, APSE, and The DC Coalition. 

Amy’s other passions in life are taking care of animals, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Danielle M. Darby, Chief Operating Officer

Danielle is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is the Chief Operating Officer at RCM of Washington. She began her career as a Direct Support Professional in 1996 and quickly realized her passion for working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Danielle has been with RCM of Washington since its inception in 1998 and served in a variety of roles throughout the organization before becoming the COO in 2003.  In her role as COO, she has been an integral part of the growth of the organization.

She formally served as the President for The DC Coalition of Disability Service Providers and is a current board member. She is also a member of the DDS Advisory Committee and serves on a variety of other committees throughout the District of Columbia. 

Outside of work, Danielle enjoys traveling, Ohio State football, spending time with her dog, Macey, and cooking for friends and family. 

Susan Brooks, Chief Innovation Officer

 Susan is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and is the Chief Innovations Officer at RCM of Washington. Prior to taking on this role Susan served as the Operations Manager for 5 years.

Growing up with a sister who had Cerebral Palsy, she found her passion for supporting and advocating for people with disabilities early in life.  

 Susan is actively involved with the Coalition of Disability Service Providers, the ANCOR Leadership Academy and the Person-Centered Thinking Community of Practice. She currently sits on the Restrictions Control Review Committee (RCRC) at the Department on Disability Services and Special Olympics DC Family Engagement Committee.  

 In her spare time Susan enjoys traveling the world, checking out new restaurants throughout the District and spending time with friends and family.

Kathleen Bjerknes, Chief Financial Officer

Kathleen received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University of Maryland University College (UMUC). She has over 20 years of financial and management experience. While earning her degrees part time she worked full time in a variety of financial positions. In 1997 she became the Vice President of Finance for an insurance brokerage company providing business insurance to human service organizations. This company expanded its service offerings to Financial Consulting and for the last 10 years she has headed up this division; working with agencies in the Washington metropolitan area that provide services to those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Kathleen’s focus is targeted financial review and oversight providing value-added services that support sustainability and growth. She also serves as the Treasurer of the DC Coalition of Disability Service Providers.

Kathleen grew up in Harwood, Maryland and continues to lives there with her family. She has two sons Jacob (7th grade) and Drew (4nd grade). She loves spending time with family and traveling. She is the leader of their local 4-H club and enjoys photography, gardening and scrapbooking.

Bernard Crawford, Self-Advocate

Bernard Crawford is a prominent disability rights advocate in the District of Columbia. Bernard is a current member and the former president of Project Action. He has served on multiple boards through out the District including a 9-year term for the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities. Mr. Crawford participates in several working groups, is regularly asked to speak at various conferences and is a certified trainer for the People Planning Together program. He is a member of DC’s first Next Chapter Book Club and enjoys participating in Special Olympics. In his spare time Mr. Crawford likes to go out to eat, listen to music and collect the latest in electronics.

Carl Heinlein, ARM, CPEA, CSHM, CSP, CRIS, OHST

Sr. Safety Consultant American Contractors Insurance Group, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mr. Heinlein holds a Master’s Degree in Safety & Environmental Management from West Virginia University and the ARM, CSP, CSHM, CPEA, CRIS and OHST safety and risk management certifications and designations.

Mr. Heinlein is a member of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Construction Sector. He also sits on the editorial advisory board for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Today Magazine.

He is the current Chair of the West Virginia University’s Safety and Environmental Management Graduate Program Visiting Committee. Mr. Heinlein has recently been appointed as the President of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP).

Mr. Heinlein is an active member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Associated General Contractors of America, and the National Safety Council.

Alesha Holliday, Policy and Compliance Specialist

Mrs. Alesha Holliday is currently the director of the Office of Management Policy and Compliance, located within the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Management, where she leads a team of program and management analysts responsible for NCI-wide evaluation and implementation of HHS/NIH/NCI or Federal administrative operations and policies.

During Mrs. Holliday’s 30-year career at the National Institutes of Health she has served in a number of senior leadership roles including, Branch Chief, Office of Management Analysis, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Senior Administrative Officer, Office of the Director, NIH, Office Director, National Cancer Institute, and Acting Deputy Executive Officer, NHLBI.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Holliday has served as a volunteer advocate for disabled adults in Washington, DC for over 20 years. Currently, she serves as a legal guardian and medical decision maker for disabled adults in the city. She actively participates in advocacy meetings held by the DC Supporting Families Community of Practice (SF CoP) and the Quality Trust and has worked with several charities and non-profit organizations including So Others Might Eat, Manna, IONA, and the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA to combat hunger and homelessness in the area.

Mrs. Holliday has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Trinity University in Washington, D.C. and certifications in CPR, Emergency First Aid, and Mental Health First Aid. She belongs to several professional organizations including, National Association for Professional Women (NAPW), Federally Employed Women (FEW), Toastmasters International (TI), and the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA (life member).

Laura Nuss, Disability Services Expert

Ms. Nuss is the founder and Principal of the LNuss Group. She has multi-state experience in long-term services and supports including design and management of Medicaid LTSS programs, re-balancing initiatives, VR services, Employment First initiatives, person-centered thinking, NWD design, supporting families across the lifespan, and data-driven quality assurance and performance management systems.

Ms. Nuss provides technical assistance and consulting services in Medicaid policy, LTSS systems change and inclusive employment and support strategies for federal, state and local government and private organizations. Her expertise is the result of over 30 years of private and public sector experience, most recently serving as the Director, Department on Disability Services for the District of Columbia.

Ms. Nuss has written and led the implementation of multiple 1915(c) and self-direction HCBS waiver programs in several states. She also served as the Director of Strategic Leadership for the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services and led the Operations and Fiscal Management office of the North Carolina State Developmental Disabilities Section. Ms. Nuss holds a Master’s of Science in Community Systems Planning and Development and a Bachelor’s of Science in Administration of Justice from Penn State University.

Christine Shaw, Retired Public School Educator

Christine “Kisne” Shaw is retired from over 35 years in public education. She holds Masters Degrees in Education Administration and Reading Specialist, serving in positions as a classroom teacher from grades K-12, Reading Specialist, Title I Teacher Leader, School Principal, and District Administrator of Federal Programs, directing academic intervention programs for high-poverty schools, School Improvement programs, and Title I Neglected and Delinquent programs in residential facilities for youth. She is a partner in an educational consulting business, Assessment Solutions, LLC, working to establish high-quality, universal pre-k education.

Temoer Terry, Insurance Industry Entrepreneur

Temoer Terry is a serial entrepreneur and former NCAA Div-1 Wrestling All-American. He started in the insurance business 15yrs ago and currently services numerous clients and is also a partner in two other businesses in the Logistics and Import/Export industries.

Temoer resides in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife, Paula, and enjoys traveling and coaching wrestling.