OUR TEAM
Melanie Hood-Wilson, Principal Consultant
After receiving her BA in ‘93 and MSEd in ’94 from SLC, Melanie returned to her native Baltimore to teach middle school. In 2001, she was hired to lead the Single Step Program at the Community College of Baltimore County, developing new career certifications and courses for individuals with disabilities, developing training partnerships with state and local government, and supervising and coaching teachers. During her tenure, Single Step grew from eight students to over 300 due to Melanie’s expertise in program development and management. Melanie and her program were honored with five local and statewide awards between 2012 and 2016. She left CCBC in February 2019 to start her own education consulting company. Her clients include Howard County Public School System, Baltimore School for the Arts, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, and Maryland Institute College of Art.
Between 2004 and 2012, Melanie was a founder and board president of Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore, chair of the Parent and Community Advisory Board for Baltimore’s school system, and member of Baltimore’s New and Charter School Advisory Board. As part of a small team, she attended the Public Education Leadership Project at the Harvard Business School drafting recommendations for Common Core transition in Baltimore and its programming, its marketing, and outreach to the parent community. She has also served as a member of the executive committee and the Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion committee of Baltimore Clayworks where she led the committee’s work in developing a DEAI strategic plan for the organization. She currently serves on the boards of the Fund for Educational Excellence, B’more Global, The Baltimore Choral Arts Society, and the Sarah Lawrence College Alumni Association.
Experience
Professional
Owner, Principal Consultant- Melanie Hood-Wilson and Associates, Baltimore
Director of Special Populations- Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore
Feb 2001 – Feb 2019
Awards and Recognition for Melanie Hood-Wilson
Organization Award, Maryland Rehabilitation Association, 2016
Certificate of Recognition, Baltimore County Executive Ken Kamenetz, 2014
Certificate of Recognition, Senator Ben Cardin, 2014
Employee Advocate of the Year, Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities, 2014
Special Appreciation Award, ARC of Baltimore, 2013
Special Appreciation Award, Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Special Education, 2013
Special Appreciation Award, Service Coordination, Inc., 2012
Workforce Professional of the Year, Maryland Works, 2012
Award of Appreciation, Baltimore City Public Schools Office of Teaching and Learning, 2011
Education
Harvard Business School, 2012 — Continuing Education Completion Certificate
Sarah Lawrence College, 1994 — Master of Science, Education
Sarah Lawrence College, 1993 — Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Arts
Tina Streeter Smith
Tina Streeter Smith, LCSW is a trained social worker and registered nurse whose work as a nursing educator has centered on recognizing the needs and cultures of diverse populations of patients in the medical field. Tina has also provided instruction for immigrants in the nursing field in understanding and serving diverse populations in the United States, navigating cultural differences, and developing strategies to meet the needs of patients in various communities of all races and socio-economic strata. Ms. Streeter Smith is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and a graduate of Morgan State University.
Stephanie Young
A career educator and organizational leader, Stephanie has taught for multiple colleges in central Maryland and worked closely with the Maryland State Department of Education for whom she has designed curriculum, served on committees and workgroups, and designed community college courses for state certifications. Stephanie has extensive experience in human services work, having worked for more than 15 years with vulnerable populations in central Maryland.
Patricia Halle
Pat Halle is a veteran law professional, activist, and advocate who has dedicated her career to disability justice. During her 30 years for Maryland Disability Law Center, fighting for and alongside students with learning differences and disabilities and their families, Pat has earned a reputation in Baltimore for her expertise and her often sought input into issues of equity and inclusion for people of all abilities.
Fred Keene
Following service to his nation in the US Air Force, Fred Keene spent his career working towards equity through facilitating the employment of individuals with barriers to employment and to underserved populations including individuals with disabilities, individuals living on public assistance, and adjudicated youth. Fred is a master employment trainer and coach who has worked for The Community College of Baltimore County and Maryland State’s Division of Rehabilitation Services.
Margaret Breihan
Since graduating with honors from American University in 2011, Margaret has interned for the US government, including the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, and has worked for multiple disabilities nonprofits. Margaret is a licensed social worker who completed her fieldwork with Disability Support Services at The Catholic University of America.
Maya Wilson
After receiving her BA in 2021 from Sarah Lawrence College, Maya began working at The GIANT Room in New York City as their Program Coordinator. She works with children and the schools they attend to bring STEAM (STEM + Arts) after school programs to various schools throughout the city. She has also helped to write and produce several books and deliverables created by The GIANT Room. Other part-time projects include being a Contributing Writer for BuzzFeed and being Editorial Director for Arcanum.
Levi Lewis
A recent graduate of University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Levi is a filmmaker and documentarian. He works as a freelance videographer documenting the Baltimore arts scene. His work has been shown at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Morgan State University, and the Walters Art Museum, and his video“Nothing About Us Without Us” has been shown at the Maryland Arts Council’s 2024 Arts Summit.
Matt Lightner
With over 20 years of experience in IT and 15 years of recruiting, Matt brings a unique blend of technical expertise and talent acquisition skills. Matt's technical background spans web development, testing, and support, giving him a deep understanding of IT operations and the skills needed for success in the field. Known for his loyalty and operations-minded approach, Matt excels at optimizing processes and ensuring smooth team collaboration. As a team player, Matt fosters strong relationships and contributes to a positive working environment. Matt's ability to bridge the gap between technology and talent makes him a valuable asset in any organization.
Eric Peterson
Eric C. Peterson, MSOD is a recognized facilitator and educator in the leadership & culture space with over 20 years of experience in implicit bias, DEI, learning strategies, and organization development.
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Eric’s former and current clients include advertising firms, member associations, government agencies, healthcare organizations, performing arts organizations, technology firms, telecommunications companies. He has expertise in implicit bias, power dynamics, empathy, values-based leadership, and more.
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For nine years, Eric was a Senior Consultant with Cook Ross, Inc, where he consulted, coached, and led a variety of workshops with audiences that included C-suites and Boards of Directors. Prior to joining Cook Ross, Eric was the manager for diversity and inclusion at the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), the largest professional association for human resources professionals and diversity and inclusion practitioners. Before his time at SHRM, Eric was a member of the diversity team at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he managed instructional design and learning programs and worked extensively with the firm’s employee resource groups.
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While at Booz Allen, he received the firm’s prestigious Diversity Award. Eric is also the recipient of the Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award from the National Conference of Community and Justice. He has been a guest contributor for NBC Out and has been sourced as a diversity and inclusion expert by CNN, National Public Radio, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and others.
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Eric holds Master of Science in Organization Development (MSOD) from American University. He is also a dedicated film lover. In his non-work hours, he co-hosts a podcast about movies called The Rewind Project. Eric is also a novelist; his debut novel (Loyalty, Love & Vermouth) was published by Bold Strokes Books in November 2021.