Our Leadership
Under the leadership of founder Karlys Kline, the original members of the Women's Giving Circle of Frederick County had the vision and drive to inspire the creation of a new paradigm of support for women facing challenges in our community.
The Circle is governed by the Leadership Circle, consisting of the officers, immediate past Chair, Chair Emerita (founder) and committee chairs. The Leadership Circle is responsible for the Circle's management and operations. The Circle officers serve two-year terms with a maximum of three consecutive terms. Terms coincide with the Community Foundation's fiscal year, ending June 30th.
CHAIR (OFFICER)
Peg McGreevy joined the Women’s Giving Circle in 2018. After serving as the Vice-Chair and then Chair of the Grants Committee, Peg took on the role of Women's Giving Circle Chair for the 2024-2026 term.
As CEO and Head of People, Places, and Things at NounHR, Peg brings a breadth and depth of experience in human resource management. Prior to being a consultant and executive coach, Peg served in executive leadership in the financial services industry and gained experience in global business continuity, disaster recovery, and project management. In addition to graduating from Hood College and earning her M.B.A. from Mount St. Mary’s University, she holds a Global Fellow of Talent Management from The Wharton School and the two highest HR certifications, SPHR, and SHRM-SCP.
Peg is a lifelong resident of Frederick and active in many local organizations including Frederick Health’s Business & Industry Committee and Frederick County Society for Human Resource Management. She currently serves on the Board of Maryland Society for Human Resource Management where she co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) & Workforce Readiness Committees. She also serves on the Board for The Delaplaine Arts Center.
When she’s not cheering her son at the baseball field, Peg loves to travel with her family. She is excited to lead the Giving Circle and help promote the remarkable talent and generous spirit of the Frederick community.
VICE-CHAIR (OFFICER)
Heidi Horine joined the Women’s Giving Circle in 2009 and now serves as Vice-Chair. In that role, she is responsible for managing sponsorships in addition to other executive duties.
Heidi was raised in Frederick County and returned after college. Her career since has been in the special events industry, specifically event production, tenting and party rentals. Heidi is the National Sales Director for US Event Structures.
Heidi currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Manufacturers and Tent Renters National Association (MATRA). Previous community leadership includes many years as a volunteer and then Chair of the An Evening on the Riviera fundraiser, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local Frederick charities.
Heidi earned her B.S. at West Virginia Wesleyan College and completed the Event Management Program through George Washington University. She and her husband Scott enjoy traveling, entertaining and spending time with their two sweet golden retrievers.
FINANCIAL CHAIR (OFFICER)
Elizabeth DeRose joined the Circle in 2016. A graduate of the University of Illinois, she holds a BS in Finance and had a successful first career in the financial sector working in Chicago. Eventually, her love of cooking called to change careers and attend the Culinary Institute of America where she earned a Culinary Arts degree and met her future husband and love of her life, Ralph. She returned to Chicago to work for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises as a chef and then Director of Operations, before moving here to Frederick in 2001, at which time she joined the national restaurant consulting firm, VSAG, as Vice President for a number of years.
She began a new career in the nonprofit sector, serving as the Director of Operations for an organization that provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She joined Frederick Community College in 2016 to direct the Hospitality, Culinary & Tourism Institute. She is an active member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, serves on the leadership council for Community F.A.R.E.'s Farm to School Program, and in her spare time volunteers throughout the community.
PAST CHAIR
Bonnie Swanson joined the Circle in 2006 and took on the role of Program Chair in 2016. She served as Vice-Chair and then Chair of the Giving Circle 2020-2024.
Bonnie worked in the event planning business from 1994 until her retirement, working for two different event venues and co-owner of an event planning business. She completed the George Washington University Event Management Certificate Program in 2001. She served as Chair and Co-Chair of the “Evening on the Riviera” fundraising gala for close to 20 years, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities. She has been a member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek and a Board member of Color on the Creek. Besides being active in the community, Bonnie has served on the Board for Rotary Club as well as Board member of the Weinberg Center. Her favorite things are Rotary, WGC, traveling, her family and friends, and mostly being Mimi for her ever-growing number of grandchildren.
CHAIR EMERITA
Karlys Kline founded the Circle in 2006. She is a community leader, known for her service and philanthropic activities. She moved to Frederick in 1990. Her earlier career had been successful in New York & Philadelphia with the Jones New York Company. She switched careers completely as Vice President of a large building manufacturing company. By 2009 she retired and dedicated all of her time to helping improve the lives of women and their children in Frederick County. This was accomplished mainly by creating the Women’s Giving Circle in 2006. Karlys has participated on the board or committees of over 42 local nonprofits. Her passion is to ‘connect the dots’ with no agenda or reward. Her only goal is to make the community a better place. A few of her current boards include Frederick Health, Homewood, Frederick Arts Council, and Sheriff’s Advisory Council. Her husband, Tom Lynch, encourages her to “spread goodness & joy”. The pair says that they “vacation in Frederick” because they both love their lives and this community. Karlys is grateful every day for the full-time opportunity to spend her days giving back wherever she is needed.
MEMBERSHIP
Angela Chase joined the Giving Circle in 2012 and currently serves on the Leadership Circle team as the chair of the all-important membership committee. She loves getting people together and has been working at that in one form or another for most of her adult life. She graduated with a BS in Business Management from Marymount University in 1990 before returning to Frederick to work in the family business. A 3-year move to Indiana and subsequent return to Frederick for the past 23 years have been filled with various volunteer positions in community organizations. In 2008, after several years of substitute teaching, she returned to school to obtain a Masters of Arts in Teaching at Mount St. Mary’s University, which was followed by 5 years as a Technology Education teacher. She left teaching in 2016 to spend more time with her family and return to community volunteering. She often says she is a jack of all trades, but a master of none - always eager to learn new skills and become more knowledgeable. She and her husband are members of the Order of the Good Samaritan at Frederick Memorial Hospital. In her free time, Angela and her husband travel extensively and spend many of their weekends on the shore of Deep Creek Lake.
GRANTS
Stephanie Fitch joined the Women's Giving Circle in 2024, initially serving as Vice Chair of the grants committee and now as the Chair. She currently works as the VP Marketing Manager for ACNB Bank and owns a marketing and graphic design small business. With over a decade of experience in marketing, Stephanie has helped nonprofits, financial institutions, small businesses, and entrepreneurs build connections and share their message. Her unique blend of creative design and storytelling, combined with a solid foundation in science, psychology, and analytics, offers a well-rounded approach to branding, media campaigns, and events.
Originally from California, Stephanie holds degrees in microbiology and psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She moved to Frederick in 2011 and fell in love with the vibrant community but has not adjusted to this thing called “winter.” Stephanie currently serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County and also volunteers with the Mental Health Association.
Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys baking delicious treats, spending time with family and friends, and trying new things.
PROGRAM
Alexa Bedwell joined the Giving Circle in 2010 and is currently the Program Chair. She was born in Frederick and graduated from Gov. Thomas Johnson High. She attended UMBC, earning her BS in computer science and MS in information systems. While at UMBC she also met her wonderful husband Ted and they were married in 1999. She began her career in software product development for a consulting firm and then a dot com startup. In 2003 she left the tech world and took over Charles Studio, her family's photography studio in Frederick.
Alexa and her husband have two college aged children and is looking for opportunities to connect with the community and make a positive impact on Frederick. She is a member of Key City Rotary and enjoys running, yoga, art and spending time with friends and family.
COMMUNICATIONS
Harriet Langlois joined the Circle in 2010 and currently serves on the Circle Leadership team as the Communications Committee chair. A graduate of the University of Washington, Harriet holds degrees in Botany, Forest Ecology and Computer Science. For over 30 years, she worked in the satellite communications field as a software engineer/project manager, retiring as Assistant Vice President from Hughes Network Systems in 2012.
Harriet is on the Board of Directors of the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club where she volunteers in a number of roles, She oversees club races and serves as race director of the Frederick Women's Distance Festival 5K, which has raised over $237,000 for the Circle since 2010. Harriet shares a love of running, cycling, hiking, camping, and volunteering with her husband of 28 years and is a doting grandmother to four grandchildren.
OUTREACH
Carole Heine joined the Circle in 2010 and currently serves on the Circle leadership team as the Community Outreach Coordinator. In this role, Carole liaises with community groups that would like to interact with the membership and/or support the Circle through fundraising activities. Carole is originally from Upstate NY and found her way to Frederick as a Hood College student. She returned to Frederick in 2000 with her husband and four children and could not imagine raising a family anywhere else. Her previous work experience includes sales, contract negotiations, non-profit board leadership including Director of Tour de Frederick and Director of Business Development at OneClick.chat. Carole is currently Director of Customer Success at Yakabod, a leader in secure software development. Her free time includes cycling, hiking, traveling to visit family and lending a helping hand in the community.
DEVELOPMENT
Kim Selby joined the Women's Giving Circle in 2022 after many years of participating in
luncheons as a representative of the YMCA of Frederick County. Kim began her career with the Y in 2001, taking on various roles including Membership, Assistant to the CEO, Development, and Special Events.
A 2010 graduate of Leadership Frederick County, Kim developed a strong commitment to
knowing and helping the Frederick community. After retiring from the YMCA in 2020, she now enjoys spending time with friends and family, including her six grandchildren, both in Frederick and on the Eastern Shore. Her hobbies include kayaking, boating, gardening, occasionally shooting sporting clays, and volunteering with Flowers over Frederick.
Kim looks forward to serving Frederick through the Women's Giving Circle and connecting with many more members.
