Leadership

Michelle is the Chief Operating Officer for Ceca Foundation. In her role, she oversees internal operations and financial components of the organization, in partnership with Ceca’s President & Executive Director, and with heavy input on the marketing and communications activities for the organization. She focuses on a range of both high-level strategic initiatives and in-depth program work and is a core part of the team to encourage program growth and community engagement for the Ceca Award programs with healthcare partners. She comes to the nonprofit sector with nearly 20 years of experience in operations, business & nonprofit management, marketing, communications, and graphic design.

Molly serves as the Director of Partner Development for Ceca, combining her expertise in building relationships and knowledge of senior care providers to celebrate the successes of their teams. The importance of recognition is immense and an area of opportunity for health systems and senior care providers to implement. Molly assesses potential Ceca healthcare partners and works toward building a portfolio of clients whose recognition programs celebrate the exceptional work of caregivers nationwide.

Lori serves in an advisor to Ceca’s on a range of issues including marketing, fundraising and other outreach. She has extensive experience in both business and managing non-other profit organizations. She served in senior marketing positions with Lehman, Smith Barney and Online Resources.  In 2001, she founded AFTA Associates, a wildlife conservation organization to promote conservation through community enterprise.

Mr. Lawlor focuses on our Board leadership and Ceca’s financial sustainability initiative. He was recently honored as a “Top 100 Healthcare Leader” by the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare (IFAH). For 20 years prior to Ceca, he built Online Resources from concept to a successful public company (Nasdaq: ORCC; acquired 2013). The firm pioneered outsourced web-based banking and processed $100 billion per year on its patented real-time payments platform. Matt holds a BSME from University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard.

Aside from her board duties, Mrs. Lawlor ​is an active volunteer in selecting Ceca Award honorees, benefited by her experience as primary caregiver for an Alzheimer patient. She is active in community education programs and named Northern Virginia Volunteer of the Year for her work with Head Start. She was a schoolteacher and principal for 10 years. She ended her professional career as a senior marketing executive with Xerox. Rosemary holds a BA from Dumbarton College of the Holy Cross and a MS in Education from George Mason University.

Ms. Evans is the Program Director for Conway Nursing Pathway Program at Children’s National Hospital helping aspiring nurses establish rewarding careers in pediatric nursing. She was elected to Ceca’s Board in 2019, and chairs the Board Governance Committee. She was previously Chief Nursing Officer of Providence Health and served in a variety of clinical leadership positions with Children’s National, Hospital for Sick Children, Howard University, and DC General hospitals. She holds a Nursing degree from the University of West Indies, a BSN from the University of the District of Columbia, a MS from the University of Maryland, and has completed her doctoral course work.

Mr. Gordon is Founder and CEO of CC Pace, a leading information technology and software development firm based in Fairfax, VA. He was elected to Ceca’s Board in 2022, after 6 years of service as a Senior Board Advisor, and currently heads the Board Finance Committee. CC Pace provides product design and the development the Ceca Award platform (Ceca’s payments to CC Pace have been deemed insignificant by the Board and Management, and Mr. Gordon does not vote when there may be a conflict of interest). He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and serves on a host of nonprofit boards.

Mr. Grenaldo has 35 years of experience in healthcare executive leadership. He was elected to Ceca’s Board in 2021, and chairs the Board Staff Development Committee. He recently served as President of Doctors Community Hospital (Lanham, MD), which was The Joint Commission’s top performer on key quality core measures for three consecutive years. Previously, Paul served as Chief Operating Officer of Providence Hospital (Washington, DC), a 400-bed hospital with a nationally recognized prenatal care program. He holds a BS from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Miami.

Ms. O’Connell is an accomplished executive director with over 20 years of success leading social entrepreneurship initiatives and driving nonprofits growth and long-term sustainability. She has extensive experience in administration, fundraising, and program management and previously served as Executive Director at the Physician Assistant Foundation and as Vice President at Americans for Medical Progress Educational Foundation. O’Connell is currently appointed a Fulbright Specialist and served as a U.S. Diplomat in years prior. She earned an MA in Philanthropy from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Duke University, and a BA from Lipscomb University.

Nate Hamme leads Ceca’s staff and serves as President and Executive Director of Ceca Foundation. He was elected to the Board of Directors in July 2023 and serves as a non-voting member. Given his healthcare industry profile, Nate brings an important strategic perspective to the Board, along with unique software product skills and ten years of operating experience. More background on Nate can be found with our staff bios above.