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
Bill Derbyshire
Board President
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.
Krista Davisson
Secretary
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
Member
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.
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.
Jeanne Kuhn
Member
Jeanne is one of the founding members of L'Arche Frederick, along with her husband, Jim. She is retired from her work with the Scott Key Center in Frederick. She has previously worked for the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Fannie Mae Corporation. Jeanne is inspired by the genuine love and acceptance shown by people with disabilities and hopes the inclusive spirit of L'Arche will overflow to the wider community.
Jose Rector
Member
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
Youth Advisory Member
Tyler is a junior at Mount St. Mary's University majoring in forensic accounting, accounting, and Spanish. He encountered L'Arche in his freshman year as a member of Best Buds, a student organization that partners with L'Arche for community events. He has also worked with the Maryland Special Olympics. He is proud to serve as the first Youth Advisory Member.