Protecting Land to Improve Communities
Staff
Barbara Hopkins serves as Executive Director of NeighborSpace. She holds a law degree from the University of Md. School of Law, a Master of Public Management degree from the University of Md. School of Public Affairs, and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Morgan State University. She has many years experience in non-profit management, fundraising, planning and marketing. Click here to contact Barbara.
The NeighborSpace Board
Board Members: The NeighborSpace bylaws call for a board of not more than 15 members that is reflective of the county’s diversity and representative of the seven councilmanic districts. Current members include:
Robert J. Barrett, Executive Officer within the Baltimore Baltimore County Public Schools spent his early career as a commercial realtor before embarking on a career in public service. He spent eight years as a senior aide for County Executive Dutch Ruppersberger and another eight years as Director of the County Department of Recreation and Parks under the administration of County Executive Jim Smith. During Mr. Barrett’s tenure as Recreation and Parks Director, the Department acquired and developed land for recreation, parks, open space, playground and school uses valued at nearly $176 million.
Kathleen Flattery Beadell, GRI, is a graduate of Loyola College 1982 and has been a licensed Realtor since 1986. She currently is a Sales Associate with Long & Foster, Real Estate in Timonium. She has been active in realtor affairs at the regional and state levels. From 1995-2000, she was a Real Estate Columnist for the York Road Gazette Newspaper. She has also served as President of the Greater Timonium Community Council and the Yorkshire-Haverford Community Association.
Carolyn Blanchard Cook has had a distinguished career as Director of Government Relations, and, more recently, Deputy Executive Vice President, of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors (GBBR), where she has concentrated on all aspects of external relations for the last seven years. Prior to joining GBBR, Ms. Cook was an attorney with the firm of Tuma & Davis, P.A., where she was engaged in general civil litigation with a focus on family law and corporate matters. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Towson University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law.
John B. Gontrum is a Partner in the law firm of Whiteford Taylor Preston. He has represented numerous developers/builders in obtaining zoning and development approval for major and minor residential subdivisions. He currently Chairs the Franklin Square Hospital Board of Directors and has served on the boards of the Eastside Community Development Corporation, Essex-Middle River-White Marsh Chamber of Commerce, Essex Community Conservation Committee, and the Greater Kingsville Community Conservation Committee, among others.
Barry Luciani has served on numerous community-focused boards of directors, including Leadership Baltimore County, Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, Linover Community Association, North East Belair Road Community Council, and Heroes Helping Heroes, a youth development organization. Barry is a Senior Vice President of Susquehanna Bank and Treasurer of NeighborSpace.
Kathy Reiner Martin is a lifelong east Baltimore County resident who has been an active leader and advocate in church, school, community, and environmental groups for over three decades. In 2001, the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) named Kathy the Volunteer Citizen of the Year for Stream Restoration. She currently works as a senior systems analyst with the University of Maryland and serves as Secretary, Co-Chair of the Board Development Committee for NeighborSpace and Chair of the Communications and Fundraising Committee.
John Murphy has a long and distinguished career as an attorney and public servant, having served as a County Councilman from the 1st District from 1974 to 1978, a member of the Baltimore County Board of Appeals from 1980 to 1982, a member of the Planning Board from 1997 to 1998, Chairman of the County Council’s Commission to Review the Redistricting Process in 2002, and a hearing officer and Deputy Zoning Commissioner from 2003 to 2007. He practices law with his daughter, Maureen Murphy, in the firm of Murphy and Murphy in Catonsville. John is currently President of the Board.
Klaus Philipsen has worked as an architect and planner in England, Germany and the US. He is President of ArchPlan Inc., an architecture firm in downtown Baltimore specializing in community revitalization and transportation planning. Mr. Philipsen is a past member of the Baltimore County Design Review Panel and has lectured on smart growth, preservation and the nexus between land use and transportation. Klaus currently serves as NeighborSpace 1st Vice President. He lives in Catonsville.
Eric Rockel is a life-long resident of Baltimore County and a real estate professional in public service. Eric brings his experience with development in Baltimore County and his expertise in real estate to the work of NeighborSpace. Eric currently serves as Chair of the Applications Committee.
J. Kenneth Schmidt, Jr., a principal with the firm of Mahan Rykiel Associates, has over 20 years experience as a landscape architect on a wide variety of transportation related streetscape enhancements, and gateway design projects, including hiker/biker trails, corridor studies, welcome centers and parks. He is an experienced landscape architectural project manager, leading projects from Design through Construction Documents and Construction Phase Services. His strong design skills and graphic abilities are an asset in communicating ideas to clients, project constituents and the public. He is currently the office QA/QC manager and overseas all outgoing work. He has received several design awards for his work.
Theresa White serves as Chief of Staff to State Senator Robert Zirkin and as a member of the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee. Theresa is a 2004 graduate of Loch Raven High School and a 2008 graduate of Cornell University’s School of Architecture, Art and Planning, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Studies. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Real Estate Development at the University of Maryland’s Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development.
Committees: Much of the organization’s work is accomplished through committees, including:
· Applications, which reviews applications for assistance from communities and individuals interested in having NeighborSpace acquire and protect land;
· Board Development, which recruits board members and board officers;
· Communications and Fundraising, which conducts outreach and executes fundraising campaigns; and
· Stewardship, which works with local partners as caretakers of parcels preserved.
Meetings: The board and each of the committees typically hold meetings on a monthly basis.