Community Leader | Executive Director
Megan Guzman was welcomed as the founding Community Leader in March 2020. Her journey in L'Arche began in 2007 when she joined the L'Arche Greater Washington DC community. Over the next 13 years, she served as an Assistant, Home Life Leader, Community Leader, and Training Coordinator. Megan's work with L'Arche includes leading retreats for L'Arche USA and organizing educational & fundraising events for L'Arche Solidarity. She holds dual degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education from St. Joseph's University with a minor in Faith-Justice Studies. Megan met her husband, Enrique, while both were living as Assistants in L'Arche. As a lifelong Marylander, she is proudly passing on a love for Old Bay seasoning and the beach to her two young children.
Board of Directors
Krista Davisson
Board President
Krista currently serves as General Counsel for Natelli Communities, a real estate investment and development company based in Gaithersburg, MD. Before joining Natelli, she was an attorney/principal with Miles & Stockbridge, P.C. in Frederick. In addition to L'Arche, Krista serves on the Board of Trustees for St. John’s Cemetery, Inc. and remains active with the Downtown Frederick Partnership and the Hood College Board of Associates. Krista lives in downtown Frederick with her husband, B.J. Davisson, two cats and a Dalmatian.
Mary Malone
Secretary
Mary joined the board in July 2020. Mary recently retired having served 38 years with Frederick County Public Schools in Frederick, Maryland. Her last assignment was Principal of Rock Creek School. Rock Creek is a special education day program for students ages 3-21, who have significant cognitive disabilities. Mary enjoys traveling, biking, quilting and reading.
Dr. Emil Berendt
Member
Emil is an Associate Professor of Economics in the Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business at Mount St. Mary's University. As a parent of a child with disabilities, he understands the need for support for people with disabilities and is proud to serve on the board of L'Arche Frederick.
Pam Zusi
Member
Pam has been involved with L'Arche since 2010 as a member of the planning committee. She retired in 2010 from her 30 year career in fundraising for three educational institutions.
Bill Derbyshire
Member
Bill has been involved with L'Arche Frederick since 2008 as a member of the planning committee. He is a LCSW and a retired School Social Worker for Frederick County Public Schools. He spent the last 15 years with Rock Creek School, providing social work services to individuals with severe intellectual and physical disabilities and their families. He lives with his wife, Myra, and has two adult children and two grandchildren.
Pat O'Connor
Treasurer
Pat has been a Board member since 2016 and served as Board chair from 2016 to 2019. She has worked fpr many corporate and non-profit enterprises in finance and accounting over her 40 year career. Her brother, Kevin, who has a genetic condition called Xia-Gibbs syndrome, is her inspiration for being deeply involved with L'Arche Frederick for the past seven years.
Jose Rector
Vice President
Jose has worked for Moyer and Sons Moving and Storage, Inc for 35 years, most recently as General Manager. He is an Executive Committee member of the Maryland Motor Truck Association-MD Movers Council. Jose has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 17 years, serving in many capacities including Grand Knight for 5 years. He is currently district warden and chapter president for the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton council. As a parent of a daughter with disabilities, Jose believes L'Arche to be an exceptional model in people with and without disabilities forming bonds of long-lasting friendship and love.
Bobby Esposito
Member
Bobby has been a long-term volunteer and friend of L'Arche Frederick prior to joining the board in 2020. He is employed as a personal assistant for his brother, also a L'Arche friend and volunteer, and facilitates community-based activities and transportation. Bobby is very involved with his church community of St. Ignatius of Loyola as a greeter, cross-bearer, usher, and assistant with the Vacation Bible Camp program. Bobby has been a steadfast volunteer in preparing, advertising, and co-leading L'Arche events.
Tyler Bussard
Member
Tyler is a recent graduate of Mount St. Mary's University, and currently works as an audit associate at RSM US LLP. He first encountered L'Arche as a freshman through his involvement in Best Buds, a student organization that partners with L'Arche for their various social events. Tyler first joined the board as the Youth Advisory Member and has since become a member at large of L'Arche Frederick's board.