Leading with purpose. Serving with compassion
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, governance, and oversight to ensure ASCENDA Foundation fulfills its mission of empowering adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Each member brings diverse expertise and a shared commitment to building inclusive communities.
Our Board
Flor de Amelia Hoffman
Flor De Amelia Hoffman serves on the Board of Directors of ASCENDA Foundation, helping guide the organization's governance, strategic direction, and long-term vision. As Co-Founder of ASCENDA, she works closely with fellow board members to ensure ASCENDA remains mission-driven, innovative, and responsive to the evolving needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. With more than 15 years of experience serving the special needs community, Flor is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), licensed behavior analyst, and special educator. She has dedicated her career to supporting individuals from infancy through young adulthood across educational, clinical, home, and community settings while developing programs that promote independence, inclusion, and meaningful opportunities throughout life.
Flor's perspective is shaped not only by her professional experience but also by her lived experience as the mother of a daughter with significant medical and developmental needs. This combination enables her to bring both clinical expertise and the authentic voice of a family navigating disability services to the Board's decision-making process. Beyond ASCENDA, Flor is committed to advancing disability awareness and empowering families through education. She hosts the Starting with IEP podcast, provides free educational workshops that help families better understand the special education process, and collaborates with disability organizations both nationally and internationally to expand access to resources and promote inclusive communities.
As a member of the Board of Directors, Flor is committed to ensuring ASCENDA continues to grow with compassion, fiscal responsibility, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities and the families who support them.
BOARD MEMBER 
Sean Hoffman
Sean Hoffman serves on the Board of Directors of ASCENDA Foundation, where he helps guide the organization's long-term vision, governance, financial oversight, and strategic growth. As Co-Founder of ASCENDA, he is committed to ensuring the organization remains financially strong, mission-driven, and positioned to create lasting impact for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Sean earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Iowa State University and proudly served more than 22 years in the United States Air Force as an Integrated Avionics Systems Specialist. His professional background in military leadership, commercial real estate, business operations, and financial management provides valuable perspective in supporting the Board's fiduciary responsibilities and long-term planning.
As the father of five children, including a daughter with significant medical and developmental needs, Sean understands firsthand the importance of accessible services, family support, and creating opportunities that promote independence and inclusion. His lived experience continues to shape his commitment to building a stronger future for the disability community.
As a member of the Board of Directors, Sean is dedicated to responsible governance, sound financial stewardship, and ensuring ASCENDA remains a trusted organization that serves individuals with disabilities and their families for generations to come.
BOARD MEMBER
Guisela P. Lopez
Guisela is a dedicated community advocate and parent leader with a deep commitment to supporting individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. As the mother of two children with autism, she brings both personal experience and compassionate leadership to her advocacy work. She has completed the Community Advocacy Institute and the Montgomery County Police Department Citizens Academy, strengthening her knowledge of community resources, leadership, and civic engagement. Guisela has also collaborated with the Infants & Toddlers Program, helping connect families with early intervention services and support. Guisela is passionate about empowering parents who are beginning their journey of understanding autism as a disability. Through guidance, encouragement, and sharing her own experiences, she strives to help families navigate available resources, advocate for their children, and build confidence as they move forward.
BOARD MEMBER
Glenda Martinez
Owner of Xcella Insurance Group and a dedicated community leader with a passion for helping individuals and families build secure futures. Through her professional experience and commitment to service, she has developed strong relationships throughout the community and a deep appreciation for the importance of advocacy and support.
As a member of the ASCENDA Foundation Board of Directors, Glenda brings valuable business expertise, strategic insight, and a commitment to advancing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is proud to support ASCENDA's mission of fostering independence, inclusion, and community connection.
BOARD MEMBER
Mike Axe
Helps organizations turn complex work into clear systems, useful content, and practical growth plans. His background includes global content operations at Warner Bros. Discovery, creative program work with Apple, educational media production at Age of Learning, and consulting through his own company for ABA and education-focused teams. He also produces Sip & Stim, a podcast created to raise autism awareness and support families.
As a member of ASCENDA Foundation’s Board of Directors, Mike brings practical strategy, creative leadership, and a commitment to helping ASCENDA expand opportunities for independence, connection, self-advocacy, and belonging for the people and families it serves.
BOARD MEMBER
Diego Grageda
Diego Grageda is a Self-Advocate and Board Member of ASCENDA Foundation. As a young adult with autism, he brings invaluable lived experience that helps ensure the voices of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities remain at the center of the organization's mission and decision-making.
Diego is currently pursuing his education at Montgomery College. He is passionate about promoting inclusion, self-advocacy, and greater opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate fully in their schools, workplaces, and communities.
Through his role on the Board of Directors, Diego provides meaningful insight into the experiences, challenges, and aspirations of the people ASCENDA serves. His perspective helps guide programs that promote independence, employment, community engagement, and self-determination for adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Diego is committed to helping build a more inclusive future where every individual is valued, empowered, and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
BOARD MEMBER
Justin Volman
CEO of Volman HR Strategy LLC | 3rd Generation Entrepreneur| 2x Startup Founder| 4x Award-Winning HR Strategy Expert, Company Builder, Coach and Mentor, with over 1000 people hired across 7 countries in less than 10 years.
Justin specializes in taking the frustration out of attracting, hiring, and retaining talent for businesses while also taking the frustration out of the job search for job seekers.
With years of diverse HR experience across MLB teams, small to large-sized start-ups, corporate, and non-profit organizations. Justin has expertise in HR Strategy, talent acquisition, talent management, and compliance, with a passion for enhancing employee engagement and retention. Justin has a proven track record in developing innovative and cutting-edge HR strategies that improve candidate and employee experiences and increase retention and revenue.
BOARD MEMBER
Jonathan Schick
Jonathan believes in the power of effective leaders to unify movements and create community impact. He is a dynamic leadership consultant and nationally known speaker who has founded two successful nonprofits and consulted for hundreds of organizations.
As president of GOAL Consulting Group with offices in Washington and Dallas, Jonathan’s clients include the United Way, Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs, Cancer Support Community, major Independent Schools, and national associations.
The author of The Nonprofit Secret: Six Principles of Successful Board/CEO Partnerships, Jonathan earned a Masters degree in Educational Administration from Boston College, along with a Bachelors degree in Human Resources Management.
BOARD MEMBER
Edward A. Bortnick
Edward is an experienced accounting and financial professional with more than five decades of experience in public accounting, taxation, business matters, and financial valuation. As a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Valuation Analyst, and Certified in Financial Forensics, he brings extensive expertise in financial analysis, business valuation, and strategic financial matters.
Edward has served as a Principal since 1977 and has provided expert services in business disputes, tax matters, bankruptcy, and other complex financial matters. He has also held leadership roles within the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts.
As a member of ASCENDA Foundation's Board of Directors, Edward brings valuable financial expertise and strategic insight to support the organization's growth, sustainability, and mission.
BOARD MEMBER
Michelle Beiga
Michelle is the Founder and Principal of Today’s HR, providing a broad range of human resources and operational consulting services to small and midsize businesses and nonprofit organizations. Michelle partners with organizations to develop and implement human resources strategies, policies, and processes that align with organizational goals and support key business priorities. Prior to launching Today’s HR in 2014, Michelle held several senior leadership roles with responsibility for human resources and organizational leadership.
As a member of the ASCENDA Foundation Board of Directors, Michelle brings a combination of human resources expertise and business leadership, along with a deep commitment to ASCENDA’s mission. She is passionate about helping advance opportunities for individuals with disabilities to build meaningful careers, live independently, and be active members of their communities.
BOARD MEMBER
Sabrina Rosenberg-David
Sabrina brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work in the disability community. She is the author of No One Told Me This: Maryland’s Guide to a Lifetime of IDD Services and Support, a practical guide for families navigating Maryland’s DDA, DORS, and transition planning systems, and the founder of It Takes A Village – Autism Journey, a parent support group in Montgomery County.
Sabrina is also the owner of Safer At Home by Sabrina, an aging-in-place consultancy serving the DMV, where she works as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist helping families make homes safer and more accessible.
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Jennifer Judkins
Dr. Judkins brings more than 25 years of experience in education as a teacher, professor, director, and assistant superintendent. She began her career as a middle school mathematics teacher and has supervised student teachers both in her classroom and as a university supervisor. In Washington state, she served as an instructional specialist supporting small districts in mathematics, science, and technology implementation. She also spent more than a decade in educational assessment, developing high school mathematics assessments for Washington state, summative and interim mathematics assessments for more than 14 states through the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, and leading development of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, which replaced PARCC assessments in mathematics and English language arts.
Most recently, she served as Board Executive Officer for Baltimore City Public Schools, working closely with the Mayor’s Office on Board Commissioner recruitment and leading the RFP process for the search firm supporting the selection of a new CEO. She currently works with Baltimore County Public Schools in mathematics education, supporting gifted and talented students and mathematics intervention. Dr. Judkins holds master’s and doctoral degrees in education, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and superintendent administrative credentials in Washington and Maryland. Her work is guided by a belief that all students deserve access to a high-quality education, regardless of background.
BOARD MEMBERJoin Our Board
Help shape the future of ASCENDA Foundation. We welcome passionate individuals who are committed to advancing our mission and creating opportunities for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Interested in serving? Contact us to learn more about Board opportunities and the application process.
Get Involved Through Committee Service
ASCENDA Foundation committees play an essential role in supporting our programs, strengthening our organization, and expanding our impact. Committee members contribute their knowledge, experience, and passion to help move our mission forward while working alongside fellow professionals and volunteers.
Governance Committee
Supports strong organizational governance by providing oversight and strategic guidance to the Board of Directors.
Responsibilities
Board recruitment
Policy development
Compliance
Leadership development
Ideal Backgrounds
Nonprofit Leadership
Human Resources
Legal
Governance
Finance Committee
Provides financial oversight and helps ensure the Foundation's long-term sustainability.
Responsibilities
Budget planning
Financial oversight
Sustainability
Resource stewardship
Ideal Backgrounds
Accounting
Finance
Banking
Business Operations
Marketing & Development Committee
Promotes awareness, builds community relationships, and supports fundraising initiatives.
Responsibilities
Fundraising
Sponsorships
Marketing
Community outreach
Ideal Backgrounds
Grant writing
Marketing
Communications
Fundraising
Public relations
ASCENDA Preparatory Academy Founding Committee
Provides strategic guidance for the planning and development of the ASCENDA Preparatory Academy.
Responsibilities
School planning
Educational partnerships
Long-term vision
Strategic guidance
Ideal Backgrounds
Education
Special education
School leadership
Transition planning
Real estate / facilities
Interested in Serving?
We're always looking for passionate professionals and community members who want to make a difference.
Are you ready to make a lasting impact?
We're looking for passionate individuals who are committed to building inclusive communities and making a real difference in the lives of adults with IDD. We are especially interested in candidates with backgrounds in finance/accounting, information technology, real estate, and/or marketing, as these skills are crucial to our continued growth and success. Whether you have lived experience, professional expertise, or simply a deep desire to contribute, we encourage you to apply.
