Board, Staff and Explorer's Council

Board and Staff
Executive Staff
Carter Arnot Polakoff
She/Her/Hers
President & Chief Executive Officer , Port Discovery Children’s Museum
When Port Discovery Children’s Museum was in the planning stages, preparing to create and open the doors to Baltimore’s first destination designed specifically for children and families, Carter Arnot Polakoff was so inspired by the mission, vision and potential that Port Discovery held for the families in her hometown that she transferred from Denison University in Ohio to Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland just so that she could pursue an internship at Port Discovery and become a part of the team that helped open the doors to playful learning and magical memories.
Carter’s commitment to children and families, her passion for her community, and her eagerness to learn, grow and dream alongside colleagues and community members led her become a permanent part of the founding Port Discovery team that helped design, create, test, and present hands-on programs, exhibits and experiences that have inspired the imaginations and dreams of millions.
In 2020, this same commitment led Carter back to Port Discovery Children’s Museum to assist with fundraising, operations, and advancing the Museum after spending more than 20 years at Baltimore School for the Arts growing from a Development Associate to becoming the Foundation Director for this leading institution.
Today, Carter is proud and delighted to serve as Port Discovery’s President & CEO, a title she earned in the Fall of 2021. She’s always had a special place in her heart for Port Discovery Children’s Museum, and her passion shines through as she works to lead Port Discovery’s teams of educators, dreamers, planners, and play experts to create powerful, memorable experiences that bring communities together.
Carter believes strongly in the power of childhood memories and the impact that a day of play can have – and she wants every child and family to experience the joy, the happy memories, and the magic that can come from children and their caregivers spending time together playing, learning, dreaming and connecting with others.
Carter’s goals – of which there are many – include inspiring people near and far to benefit from the magic that play can bring to people’s lives. She also is passionate about leading Port Discovery’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, building relationships with community members to help develop programs, experiences, resources and places where community can connect through play, and inspiring staff members, partners, and donors to help fuel initiatives that will create magical memories that children and families will carry with them throughout their lives.
Carter lives in Baltimore City with her husband Sam, her teenage sons Nate and Samson, and dog Hogan. She is a graduate of Goucher College and is also a 2019 graduate of Baltimore's flagship civic engagement program, The Leadership. Carter has more than 20 years of experience planning and coordinating collaborative education and artistic programs and creating deep relationships with civic organizations and nonprofits, and is recognized as one of Baltimore’s top fundraisers, leaders and mentors. When Carter isn’t working, you’ll often find her playing at Port Discovery, enjoying time with friends and family at community events and festivals, or relaxing near a riverbank.
Board of Directors
Dennis F. Rasmussen – Chair
President –
The Rasmussen Group
Monica Brandes – Vice Chair
Senior Vice President –
Bank of America
Carim Khouzami – Vice Chair
Chief Executive Officer -
BGE
Mark Pollak, Esq. –Secretary
Partner –
Ballard Spahr, LLP
Gordon M. Stetz, Jr. – Treasurer
Retired Chief Financial Officer -
McCormick & Co., Inc.
Holly Carnevale
Partner -
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Stephen Canaras
Partner, Growth Markets - Assurance -
Ernst & Young LLP
Angela Celestin
EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer -
Carefirst
William S. Corey, Jr.
Board of Directors –
Stewart Title, GSE Systems and Fundbox
Sal Dhanani
Vice President, Corporate Strategy –
T. Rowe Price
Daniel Fulmer
Administrative Vice President - Retail Senior Sales Strategy and Planning Manager -
M&T Bank
Robert E. Gabrys, Ph.D.
Chief Educational Program Officer -
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Jeffrey Graham
Director, Commercial Finance -
Pandora Jewelry
Randy Guttman
General Partner & CFO -
JMI Equity
Kathleen S. Hardway
Partner –
Venable, LLP
Charlie Hatter
Owner -
Prime Building Advantage & Monument Sotheby's International Realty
Dana Henson
Vice President –
The Henson Development Company
Anthony V. Imbraguglio
Vice President Finance, US Consumer Products Division -
McCormick & Company
Dominique Kelly
Senior Medical Director –
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc
Matthew D. Klaiber
Principal –
Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Chad Lane
President –
Allegis Global Solutions
Clarke Langrall, Jr.
President –
Forecast Strategic Advisors
M. Gay G. Legg
Brooke Lierman
Maryland State House of Delegates
Jennifer B. Litchman, MA
Senior Vice President for External Relations
Special Assistant to the President -
University of Maryland, Baltimore
William Palmer
Executive Vice President –
Flavor & Fragrance Specialties, Inc.
Melanie Perreault
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs –
Towson University
Brice Phillips
Vice President - Business Development & Sustainability -
Phillips Foods, Inc.
Thomas S. Pilkerton III
Partner -
DLA Piper
Teresa Payne-Nunn
Vice President and Chief Member Officer -
Executive Leadership Council
Christopher S. Ripley
President & CEO –
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Shantell Roberts
Founder and Executive Director –
Touching Young Lives, Inc.
Daniel T. Russell, CPA.ABV.CFF, CVA, CFE, MSA
Partner -
HeimLantz CPAs & Advisors, LLC
Barbara Tachovsky
Morry Zolet
Executive Director -
The Zolet Lenet and Fink Group at Morgan Stanley
Chair Emeritus
Founder and Chairman –
Laureate Education, Inc.
Founder and Partner –
Sterling Partners
President’s Advisory Council
Kurt Schmoke – Chair
President –
University of Baltimore
Anirban Basu
Chairman & CEO –
Sage Policy Group
Nancy Grasmick, Ph.D
Co-Director –
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Aris Melissaratos
Former Secretary –
Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development
Janet Marie Smith
Sr. Vice President, Planning and Development -
Los Angeles Dodgers
Michele Whelley
CEO -
Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore
Staff
Rick Williams
Vice President, Finance
Kelli Coffman
Vice President of Sales & Operations
Rachel Demma
Vice President of Education and Learning Innovation
Abbi Ludwig
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
David Berman
Director of Exhibits
Sonja Cendak
Director of Development
Segrid Pearson
Creative Director
Explorer's Council
Explorer's Council Members
The Explorers Council is an auxiliary board that serves to further the mission of Port Discovery Children's Museum by engaging the next generation of patrons and volunteers to promote awareness of the Museum's service and impact in the greater Maryland area. Council members dedicate their time, resources, enthusiasm and social connections to achieve the goals of increasing public awareness, contributions and visitor attendance at Port Discovery Children's Museum. This Council provides networking opportunities for members as well as opportunities for "fun"draising. The Council allows socially responsible individuals the chance to give back to their community in a meaningful, enjoyable, and mutually beneficial way.
Elizabeth Greenblatt, Chair
Portfolio Manager – M&T Bank
Ben Ballard
Sr. Manager Investment Product Marketing
T. Rowe Price
Katie Beltz
General Manger & Owner – Snug Books LLC
Brian Bourne
Global Federal Account Director – Century Link
Christopher Burns
Associate – Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr
Zachary Bussey
Senior Account – Eureka Strategic Consulting
Stanley Carignan
Attorney – State Farm
Jessica Chernyavsky
President – Xander Government Solutions
Ciera Gallub
HorizonWALKS & Horizon on Wheels Coordinator
Horizon Day Camp
Kyle Goodwin
Director of Technology Solutions
Terrapin Pharmacy
Tim Hartnett
Client Advisor – JP Morgan Chase
Wendy LeNoir
Chief of Staff to CEO - BGE
Sean Sutherland
Director of Accounts – Kapowza
Debra Temple
Director, Human Resources and Global Talent Management
GP Strategies Corporation
Maja Tokic
Project Designer – Moseley Architects
Lea White Young
Director of Sales & Business Development
Better Business Bureau