Natasha Nazareth co-founded Nazareth Bonifacino Law Benefit LLC, Maryland’s first Certified B CorporationTM law firm. She has 28 years of experience as a practicing attorney with a focus on corporate & business law, employment law, and education law.
Natasha provides astute general counsel services to a variety of purpose-driven small- to mid-market businesses, independent schools and colleges, and nonprofits with an emphasis on governance, operations, contracting, business transactions, crisis/risk management, growth, and market innovation as well aligning leadership, talent, and operations for optimal performance. She excels in conflict resolution and is a senior mediator for North Carolina state government and universities.
Natasha served as General Counsel to a University of North Carolina system campus as well as the Bullis School in Potomac, MD. She taught as an Adjunct Law Professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law. In 2019 her career transition from in-house roles to private practice was highlighted in the Maryland Bar Journal.
In 2024, Natasha was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Bar Association for her significant lifetime distinction, exceptional achievement, and distinction in an exemplary way. She is viewed by her peers as epitomizing the ideals of the legal profession and of solo and small firm practitioners. Under her leadership, Nazareth Bonifacino Law received the coveted Reisman Award for Excellence in Client Service from Clio, the world’s leading provider of cloud-based legal technology. Natsha has been featured in multiple legal news outlets for her deep impact on the legal profession and personal mission to use law as a force for good in creating a more just, equitable, and regenerative economy. In 2025, she became a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a global honorary society reserved for1% of American lawyers whose careers demonstrate outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession, advancing justice and strengthening the rule of law.
Natasha has been honored as a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation in recognition for her demonstrated dedication to the welfare of her community, the administration of justice, and the objectives of the state bar. With the Maryland State Bar Association, she currently serves on the Board of Governors (Treasurer; Executive, Audit, Investment, and Budget & Finance Committees). She led the Editorial Advisory Board of the Maryland Bar Journal through its transformation into a modern print and digital magazine which reflects the wide diversity of the organization’s 19,000 members. Natasha also serves on the Maryland Access to Justice Commission, Audit Committee of the American Bar Association, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General Law Firm Advisory Council, and the Judicial Nominations Committee of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Maryland. Her past bar leadership includes the Business Law Section Council of the MSBA, the Long Range Planning Committee of the Maryland Women’s Bar Association, the Boards of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Maryland and the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, and the Attorney Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar. In 2023, Natasha was named a “Woman Making History” by the Montgomery County (MD) Commission for Women.
Natasha gladly shares her expertise and growth mindset through her publications and teaching of client workshops and continuing education credits for lawyers and HR professionals. She is the lead author of the Business Organizations Chapter of the Practice Manual for the Maryland Lawyer (Fifth Edition). In 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, she published a Strategic Perspectives feature for Wolters Kluwer “Counseling the small business owner on re-opening for business.” Natasha is a sought-after speaker on law firm innovation, including the responsible adoption of AI to expand access to legal services and improve lawyer quality of life.
Outside of the law, Natasha enjoys yoga, cooking, long walks with her family and dogs, and travel.
Natasha’s guiding principles are service, simplicity and satisfaction. Whether you hire her to explore new ventures, resolve a conflict, or optimize your operations, she will quickly build a relationship with you, listen carefully, and understand your needs.
Erin Laird
Erin Laird is a healthcare executive with more than 20 years of experience leading strategy, operations, and growth across health plans, value-based care, behavioral health, and provider organizations.
She currently serves as Director, ACA Individual at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, where she leads strategy and performance for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Individual business serving more than 170,000 members across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. In this role, she oversees product strategy, market growth, and initiatives to expand access to affordable coverage, including emerging distribution channels such as Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs).
Prior to joining CareFirst, Erin held executive and senior leadership positions at Mind 24-7, LTC ACO, Genesis HealthCare, and Cigna Healthcare, where she led initiatives spanning value-based care, Medicare Advantage, quality improvement, population health, and operational transformation.
Erin earned an Executive MBA from Loyola University Maryland and a bachelor's degree in Economics from Columbia University, where she was a Division I student-athlete.
Richard M. Volin
Principal
Volin Employment Law, PLLC
Rich Volin helps company owners protect their business through strong, compliant contracts and respectful personnel practices that reduce the risk of dispute. He also helps individual employees navigate important career choices, guiding them through new employment agreements, separation agreements, restrictive covenants, and myriad workplace rights. Rich works with clients to amicably resolve disputes whenever possible, including through informal negotiations, mediation, or arbitration. When formal proceedings are necessary, he zealously represents clients in state and federal courts in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He is a University of Michigan alumnus and received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.
Stephanie Bidle
Stephanie Bidle is an energetic speaker, award-winning coach, and leadership development consultant dedicated to helping individuals and organizations build stronger leaders, drive meaningful growth, and create lasting impact. As the founder of The Simplicity Secret, Stephanie works with leaders at every level to develop the skills, mindset, and presence needed to lead with confidence and purpose.
With a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management and certifications in SHRM-SCP and CCP, Stephanie brings deep expertise in people strategy, leadership development, and organizational growth. Her TEDx Talk, Redefining Success: The Journey to Fulfillment, challenges individuals to move beyond traditional metrics and align their life with their values, strengths, and what truly drives impact.
A recognized leader in the HR community, Stephanie has served as Past President of Frederick County SHRM, a member of the Maryland SHRM State Council, and Past Chair of the MDSHRM Conference Committee. She has been recognized as the Best Personal Development / Life Coach by Sass Magazine and is a sought-after speaker and trainer for organizations looking to develop high-performing, purpose-driven leaders.
Known for her dynamic style and practical approach, Stephanie equips leaders with actionable tools to show up more powerfully, communicate with confidence, and inspire the people around them.
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Hall
Business Development Specialist | DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority Licensed Health & Benefits Professional
Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Hall is a seasoned health and benefits professional with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals, families, and businesses navigate the ever-changing world of health insurance and employee benefits. As a Business Development Specialist with the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, Funmi is passionate about expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare while building meaningful partnerships throughout the community.
Throughout her career, Funmi has earned a reputation for delivering personalized guidance with integrity, compassion, and professionalism. She believes that health insurance is more than a policy—it's peace of mind. Her approach focuses on educating and empowering clients so they can make informed, confident decisions that protect both their health and financial well-being.
Funmi works with individuals under age 65, Medicare beneficiaries, families, entrepreneurs, and employers to develop benefit strategies tailored to their unique goals, workforce, and budget. Her expertise includes individual and employer-sponsored health insurance, Medicare, life insurance, dental and vision coverage, and ancillary benefits, including GAP and supplemental plans.
Known for her warm, relationship-driven approach, Funmi is committed to making the insurance experience approachable, understandable, and stress-free. Whether she is assisting a first-time enrollee, supporting a growing business with employee benefits, or educating community members through workshops and outreach events, her mission remains the same: to provide trusted guidance, exceptional service, and lasting solutions that help people protect what matters most.
Funmi is honored to serve her community and is dedicated to building connections that create healthier individuals, stronger families, and more resilient businesses.
Kelly Lynn Burchell
Principal, Burchell Law PLLC
Kelly Lynn Burchell is the founder and Principal of Burchell Law PLLC, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm focused on serving as a trusted legal partner to small and mid-sized businesses. Since beginning his legal practice in 2004, Kelly has built more than two decades of experience helping organizations scale strategically, mitigate risk, and address complex legal challenges before they become obstacles.
As outside general counsel, Kelly advises clients across a range of service industries on the legal issues that shape day-to-day operations and long-term growth. His practice encompasses labor and employment law, business formation and corporate structuring, LLC and corporate governance, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, tax planning and structuring, intellectual property matters, and contract negotiation.
Before founding Burchell Law PLLC, Kelly served as a partner at several Washington, D.C.-area law firms and acted as General Counsel for police labor committees. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University and is licensed to practice law in Maryland (2004), the District of Columbia (2005), Virginia (2015), and Nebraska (2024).
Wendy Jeffries
Wendy is a facilitator, coach, and strategist specializing in nonprofit board governance, capacity building, and leader support. She has 25 years of experience in education and non-profits. She is currently the CEO and Lead Consultant of Spark Solutions Consulting, helping nonprofits & charter schools thrive with actionable solutions and expert guidance that bridges the gap between planning and doing. Her superpower is turning complexity into clarity.
She has a track record of success in leading teams, designing and implementing high quality programs, implementing best practice, and facilitating organizational growth. Wendy was the founding Executive Director for nine years of TasteWise Kids, a Baltimore City non-profit teaching food literacy skills and empowering kids to build healthy eating habits. She has also led impact measurement & program development for national & international projects. Wendy is an experienced educator, including teaching in Baltimore City Public Schools, writing curriculum, and developing learning content for both youth and adult learners. Wendy is personally and professionally committed to racial equity and inclusive environments. She has experience working with diverse stakeholders in Baltimore City, nationally and internationally.
Wendy is a Licensed Consultant with the Standards for Excellence®, a nationally recognized program providing consulting services to nonprofits committed to the highest level of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations. She earned a Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting from BoardSource and was trained in the SOAR framework for leading transformative conversations. Wendy has also trained as an Interim Executive Director with the Support Center (NYC).
Melissa Gutierrez
Founder Hearts LLC
Melissa’s deeply rooted passion for volunteering spans over three decades with community service experience in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the DMV. Through volunteering, Melissa saw that people from marginalized groups experience greater difficulties when seeking employment. Enter Hearts LLC; we meet people exactly where they are by volunteering in local jails, working with non-profits and resource fairs to provide an individualized workforce development education experience that empowers participants to think big.
It doesn’t stop there, Melissa educates businesses on the benefits of fair chance hiring to bridge these two worlds together. With over 10 years of Human Resources experience, Melissa founded Hearts LLC to align her creativity and passion for giving back with the inspiration sparked by education. Melissa holds two BAs and a Masters Degree in Education from The George Washington University.
Ruvi Makuni
Stress Management Coach and Workplace Wellbeing Strategist
Ruvi Makuni is a Stress Management Coach and Workplace Wellbeing Strategist dedicated to helping organizations cultivate healthier, more resilient workplaces. With a holistic approach to employee wellbeing, she empowers professionals to recognize the early signs of stress, prevent burnout, and develop sustainable strategies that allow individuals and teams to thrive. Ruvi believes thriving workplaces are built not only on productivity, but on the wellbeing, resilience, and humanity of the people behind the work.
A unique aspect of Ruvi’s work is her use of the Stress Management Assessment, which helps individuals uncover how stress is showing up physically, mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally. This awareness creates a foundation for meaningful change, allowing employees and leaders to address stress proactively before it impacts health, engagement, retention, and overall performance.
Drawing from her expertise in stress management, corporate wellness and behavior change, Ruvi partners with individuals and organizations to create practical, approachable strategies that support resilience, balance, and a more human-centered workplace culture. Her mission is to transform the way we approach workplace wellbeing—moving beyond simply managing stress to creating environments where people can truly flourish.
Sara Evans
Founder & CEO, Sara G. Evans Career Consulting
Sara Evans is an organizational psychologist, certified leadership coach, and founder of Sara G. Evans Consulting. With more than 25 years of experience across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors, she helps leaders and organizations navigate growth, transition, and change with confidence and clarity.
Sara works with leaders exploring career transitions, executives seeking to elevate their leadership capabilities, and organizations focused on strengthening talent, communication, and organizational effectiveness. Through executive coaching, leadership development, facilitation, and consulting, she helps clients identify opportunities, build capability, and achieve meaningful results.
Known for combining strategic insight with practical guidance, Sara helps individuals and organizations move beyond immediate challenges to create lasting impact, stronger leadership, and healthier workplace cultures.
Edgar Ndjatou
Owner, Officium | HR Consultant
Originally from Cameroon and raised in New York City, Edgar Ndjatou (ja-too) is a DC-based workers' rights advocate who is passionate about creating efficient workplaces that value fair treatment, trust and open communication. In his work, Edgar specializes in assisting organizations in making competent HR decisions, strategizing innovative policies and procedures,establishing business operations that benefit both employers and workers, and navigating difficult situations through alternative dispute resolution.
Before founding Officium, Edgar practiced employment law for nine years and co-managed his own firm. As a lawyer, Edgar represented employees and employers in various sectors, and provided counsel to minimize litigation risk by ensuring compliance with federal, state and local employment laws. He leverages this knowledge and skillset to educate the public on workers' rights and leads advocacy efforts in support of employees and their wellbeing.
This diverse range of experience provides Edgar with a holistic perspective and approach that allows him to successfully serve clients in a variety of industries in the public, private and government sector, including charter schools, professional tutors, construction firms, restaurants, IT companies and other business owners.
In his free time, Edgar enjoys listening to podcasts, watching sports, and keeping up with current events in politics and beyond.
