President

Marci Brand

In 1990, Marci founded Creative Marketing Concepts, Inc., an outsource marketing department for owners, developers and managers of apartment communities. The company soon became a “go to” resource for anyone needing marketing consulting, trouble shooting, training and marketing assistance (both print and digital). In 2020, Marci and her all female team of talented marketing warriors celebrated the company’s 30th anniversary by starting a division dedicated to assisting small to mid size businesses to grow and thrive, Creative Solutions CMC.

Passionate about helping women achieve their goals, Marci was named an Emerging Leader by the SBA and was nominated for the Forbes 50 over 50, celebrating women who have taken on new challenges and new directions after the age of 50. In 2023, she was named to the Leadership Council of the National Small Business Association.

President-Elect

Audra Whitelock

Audra is a cabi Stylist. cabi is an innovative boutique fashion brand that brings style and beauty to women through personalized styling experiences. She works with women 1 to 1 or in small groups helping them find their perfect style within the cabi brand. She has a Bachelor’s from the University of Maryland, College Park in Fashion Merchandising and joined the cabi team in 2015.

She also works as Finance Manager for Frisco Tap House and Reckless Shepherd Brewing Company located in Columbia, MD. She has been a resident of Ellicott City for 17 years where she lives with her husband Keith. She has two sons, Sean who lives in Baltimore working for CMS and Chad who lives in Mountain View, CA working for Tesla. www.audrawhitelock.cabionline.com

Treasurer

Laura Betz

Laura has been helping small businesses with their bookkeeping and accounting needs for over 20 years, branching out on her own in 2016, with her remote bookkeeping business, Breakaway Bookkeeping Services.  She thoroughly enjoys helping business owners organize and understand their numbers, and ultimately, increase their profit margin.  “Bookkeeping is an area that so many business owners dislike or don’t understand so end up putting it off as long as possible or doing it incorrectly.  With my degree and experience, and desire to help business owners succeed, I genuinely love what I do.”

When not crunching numbers, Laura can be found face painting at birthday parties and festivals, singing off key to her favorite bands songs, or cheering on the Boston Bruins.

Secretary

Linda Ostovitz

Linda Ostovitz is a Principal attorney with the law firm Offit Kurman. Having recently engaged in Executive Management at the firm, Linda oversaw the capacity, skills, and financial management of 280 attorneys in 10 states and 19 offices in all areas of practice.

For 20 years before joining Offit Kurman, Linda was a partner at Silverstein & Ostovitz, a boutique firm that handled exclusively Family Law matters, and for 10 years prior, she ran her own law firm. Linda’s 43-year legal career began at the State’s Attorney’s Office for Howard County. While attending law school at The University of Baltimore, she became the first Director of a newly created Victim Witness Program. Following graduation, Linda was hired as an Assistant State’s Attorney, working mostly in the district courts. She was then promoted to Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, prosecuting serious felonies in the circuit court.

Linda is certified in divorce mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, and is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute and the Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course. She has been affiliated with the Professionalism Commission of the Court of Appeals, the Judicial Nominating Commission, the Maryland State and Howard County Bar Associations, the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association, and the Howard County Collaborative Professionals. Linda has regularly spoken to a number of professional groups, including the Maryland State Police, National Family Resiliency Center, Seminars on Divorce Options in Maryland, Financial Professionals Association, and now hosts a monthly Breakfast Bar Series providing valuable information on many legal
subject matters.

She actively engages with her community, holding the position of Immediate Past Chair of the Board of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce and serving as President of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Additionally, Linda contributes her time and expertise to various organizations, including the Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent and Respite Retreats at which she serves on the boards. Moreover, Linda is a dedicated advocate for Gilchrist Hospice, offering her steadfast support. She was formerly the president of the Business Women’s Network of Howard County (twice!)

Membership Chair

Ashlie Sowers

Ashlie is a longtime resident of Howard County and is an alumni of the Howard County Public school system. Ashlie has been in the financial field for nearly a decade, and has held various roles with increasing levels of responsibility. Ashlie sits on several boards and committees in Howard County including Making Changes, Business Woman Network Membership Committee, Howard County Academy of Finance, Silas Craft Collegians, and Woman In Leadership. Ashlie is very active in the community and church. Ashlie specializes in First Time Home Buyers and Howard County purchases and covers the Howard County M&T bank locations. In her free time Ashlie enjoys researching market trends, taking cooking classes, and traveling.

Marketing & Communications Chair

Katie Turner

Kate Turner is a marketing strategy consultant and fractional CMO based in Baltimore, Maryland. She brings nearly 20 years of experience working for top nonprofits, local healthcare companies, higher education institutions, and small businesses as a senior marketing and communications executive. With a laser focus on strategy, she helps clients stop random marketing tactics that waste time and money so they can start seeing real results. Offering a range of options to fit the needs of each client, Kate can help you manage your marketing, clear your to-do list, and connect and engage with your ideal customers.

Cohorts & Clubs Advisory Member

Jenn Gruber

Jenn Gruber, ACC, CPC, is a life coach specializing in transitions and family relationships. Jenn loves working with overwhelmed women who wish they had more time and energy to enjoy their lives and the people they love, helping them gain clarity on what they really want and need. She partners with them to create and implement realistic, achievable action plans, incorporating her expertise in communicating effectively and establishing healthy boundaries. Through her practice, Jenn Gruber Coaching, she enjoys providing one-on-one and group coaching, leading workshops and support groups, and facilitating conversations around sensitive topics. An astute listener who’s passionate about finding meaningful connection in both her personal and professional life, Jenn loves nothing more than long, leisurely, laughter-filled conversations with her husband and three young adult children – preferably over a great meal! To learn more, please visit www.jenngruber.com.

Hospitality Co-chair

Carole Suser

Carole Suser is a local publisher and market manager in Howard County. Her role includes partnering with the best businesses and services in the area, showcasing them and building their brands affinity with community. Her mission is to bring people together through a positive, relevant, family-friendly magazine. In Carole’s 30+ years as an entrepreneurial business owner she has opened new businesses from scratch and grown them to success.

Her success has been rewarded both financially and as recipient of numerous awards from contemporaries and community members. Knowing what it takes to start, nurture and grow your business is the key. Today Carole shares tips with her business partners helping them put the best marketing practices in place easily and effectively. Carole lives in Clarksville with her husband, daughter, two cats and dog Shasta. When she is not working, Carole enjoys the outdoors, taking Shasta on her doggie playdates and her role as chauffeur for her teen daughter.

Hospitality Co-chair

Kristin Jarrell

Kristin Jarrell is the owner of Moments Made Simple, an event planning, design, coordination, and creative event concierge specializing in personalized and custom experiences for business and social events.

She is based out of Ellicott City, Maryland and services the greater DMV area and beyond. Kristin is a certified Wedding and Event Planner and Designer through the Certified Wedding Planner Society. She has years of experience planning a diverse range of events including; meetings, conferences, sporting events, social events, weddings, and more. www.momentsmadesimple.com.

Member-at-Large

Alex Meeks

Alex Meeks is the owner and founder of Acorn Law, LLC, a boutique law practice dedicated to helping busy families get their affairs in order. As a former child advocate, Alex brings a family-focused attitude to estate planning and family law matters. Whether crafting the guardianship provisions in a will or hammering out the nitty-gritty details of a custody agreement, Acorn Law strives to help busy families create solid plans that put family first and keep them out of court. Alex is admitted to practice in Maryland and New York and Acorn Law has offices in both states.

Ambassador

Gaby Mace

Dr. Gabby Mace, DPT is a doctor of physical therapy and mobile physical therapist at Pioneer PT. Gabby is an avid hiker, runner, and loves outdoor activities. As an outdoor enthusiast herself, Gabby loves treating outdoor athletes and provides extensive knowledge of movement, injury prevention, individual workout/rehab plan to get her clients back to the activities they love. In addition to serving her clients as a physical therapist, Gabby is a coach and mentor to physical therapy students and has a podcast she started in grad school. Gabby currently lives in Laurel and loves all that Howard County has to offer.

Scholarship Chair

Sue Bullock

Sue Bullock is the owner of Celebrate Awards and Gifts in Ellicott City. She designs and creates recognition awards for organizations, schools, and local businesses, as well as personalized gifts for customers who want to celebrate special occasions. In 2019, Sue retired after 39 years of teaching high school in Howard County. While owning a business was never part of her plan, she is proud to stay connected with the community in a new way.

Sue has been a 4-H volunteer for nearly 30 years and presently serves on the Maryland 4-H Foundation Board of Directors.