Founder & Executive Director
Catherine T. Murphy, M.Ed., HTR
Cate is the founding visionary of TALMAR (Therapeutic Alternatives of Maryland). Educated at Johns Hopkins University and dedicated to the principle of inclusion, Cate is widely recognized for her innovations including most especially the contribution that her expertise in floriculture makes to educating, employing and engaging people of all abilities.
Cate is the recipient of numerous citations and commendations honoring her achievements a Registered Horticultural Therapist. The American Horticultural Association recently honored Cate with an international service award in recognition of significant contribution to horticultural therapy in the area of program services provided for a community.
Cate is the aunt of a young adult with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Board of Directors: Officers
C. David Ward | Chairman: Dave is Curator of Future Home Foundation, a "live-in museum" demonstrating the application of assistive technology in an aesthetic environment. Dave is a well recognized member of the Maryland Legislature's Long-Term Care Services and Support Committee where he advocates for policies and programs that empower the disabled to fully integrate into the community. Dave also serves on the Boards of Chimes of Maryland, the Maryland Commission on Disabilities (where he is immediate past Chair), the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee, and the Maryland Aging and Disability Resource Center.
Cathy Fisher | Vice President: Cathy is a Special Educator with expertise in the design, development and delivery of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Cathy teaches in the Baltimore County Public School system and serves as an Instructor in the Post Secondary Academic Learning Support Program at Baltimore County Community College.
Mary Lacey | Treasurer: Mary is an active volunteer with a background in entrepreneurship, banking and cash management. In addition to her service on TALMAR's Board, Mary oversees TALMAR's semi-annual fund-raising festivals and grants development program.
Susan Wallace | Secretary: Susan is an active volunteer leveraging her professional experience as Director of Human Resources for the Morgan Financial Group. Susan oversees TALMAR's Annual Pledge Campaign as well as recruitment for TALMAR's Board of Directors. Susan also chairs the Ways and Means Committee of the Board of the Glen Arms Garden Club.
Board of Directors: At Large
Joshua Gervais: Transition Coordinator for Saint Elizabeth's School, Josh is a well-recognized leader in the field of special education where he has pioneered programs of enriched employment and self determination for the developmentally challenged. Most recently he has extended his expertise into the Middle East at the AI Shafallah Center for Students with Special Needs. In addition to TALMAR's Board, Josh also serves on the board of the Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Education Facilities.
Lynne Hall: Strategic Development Committee, is Managing Director, Management Counsel, LLC - a professional services firm. Prior to founding Management Counsel, Lynne served as a senior executive with Fortune Top Ten domestic and intercorporations; received a Fulbright Fellowship; and authored a number of books and peer-reviewed journal articles on a variety of topics including corporate social responsibility. In addition to TALMAR's Board, Lynne also serves on the boards of EhticScan Canada, Ltd. and BoardBench, Inc.
Geraldine Klauber: Special Events Committee, is an active volunteer chairing TALMAR's popular Fall 5k Event. Geraldine, also a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, is both a certified mediator and an Administrative Law Judge with the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings.
Jennifer Pruitt: Founding Board Member, is recently retired from the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene/Division of Community Services. Jennifer administers a private company in the transportation industry; is an active volunteer at alI TALMAR special events; and regularly shares a wealth of knowledge in the field of ecology with both peers and program participants.