Meet the Board
Susan Brooks
President
Susan Brooks is a passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities and a graduate of Bowling Green State University. She currently serves as the
Chief Innovation Officer at RCM of Washington, where she leads strategic initiatives and oversees the development of innovative programs. Before assuming her current role, Susan served as the Director of Operations for five years.
Her dedication to supporting people with disabilities stems from her personal experience as a sibling to someone with developmental disabilities, fueling her lifelong commitment to advocacy and empowerment.
At RCM, Susan plays a key role in the development and management of several impactful programs for adults and transitional youth, including the Direct Support Professional (DSP) Academy, Guided Group Discovery, and DC Travel Training, among others.
In 2025, Susan was appointed by the DC mayor to serve on the State Rehabilitation Council. She is also actively involved with the DC Coalition of Disability Service Providers, the DC Person-Centered Thinking Community of Practice, and the DC Bridging Aging and Disability Community of Practice. Additionally, Susan is a graduate of the ANCOR Leadership Academy.
Arthur Axelson
Treasurer
He primarily served as regulatory counsel, analyzing and interpreting state and federal legislative and regulatory requirements that affect the mortgage industry. He also works with the Mission, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs group on affordable lending and new regulatory developments.
Specifically, Arthur provided regulatory advice on LAS, affordable lending initiatives and other single family programs and issues, and supports litigation involving federal and state regulatory issues. He also assists single family in contracting with various vendors that provide further functionality to LAS.
Prior to joining Freddie Mac in 2015, Arthur was in private practice for over 30 years at various major law firms focused on state and federal regulatory compliance in financial services. Arthur represented Freddie Mac as outside counsel for approximately 20 years.
Arthur holds a B.A. cum laude from Franklin and Marshall College and a J.D. from Villanova University.
Meagan North
Secretary
Renee L. Pietrangelo, PhD
Member at Large
Renee L. Pietrangelo, PhD, served as chief executive officer of the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) in Alexandria,
Virginia from 1999-2014. ANCOR is a national, nonprofit association representing providers of supports and services to people with disabilities.
She has played a key role in creating and implementing a national campaign, sponsored by ANCOR and endorsed by seven national disability organizations, to address workforce issues regarding recruiting and retention of direct support professionals who support people with disabilities.
Ms. Pietrangelo has overseen a national workforce research initiative in support of the campaign’s objectives and is recognized as a national spokesperson on the issue. In that capacity she has worked with numerous federal and state leaders in crafting initiatives to address workforce shortages. In 2004 she was awarded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services distinguished “Secretary’s Highest Recognition Award” by then Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Ms. Pietrangelo has over 35 years’ experience as a nonprofit association executive, with established expertise in the areas of leadership competencies and development, and education and training. Her previous association executive positions were in the fields of medical technology and financial services. Ms. Pietrangelo has been integrally involved in quantitative and qualitative national research on leadership competencies. She earned her PhD in philosophy at Georgetown University, with an emphasis on ethics and human values.
Patricia Ritter, Ph.D.
Member At Large
Dr. Pat Ritter is the Executive Director of TLC–The Treatment and Learning Centers in Rockville, MD, whose mission is to improve lives and expand possibilities for individuals with disabilities throughout the lifespan. During her time at TLC, she has held various positions within the organization. She is a speech-language pathologist who began her tenure at TLC as the Director of Outpatient Speech and served as the Assistant Executive Director for 18 years before being appointed Executive Director in 2009.
During her tenure at TLC, Dr. Ritter has served as a vital member of the leadership decision-making team. Her key achievements at the organization include the development of the philosophy and model for The Katherine Thomas School (KTS), a special education school which she started in 1995. Dr. Ritter established therapeutic groups for children with sensory processing and autistic spectrum disorders and developed highly regarded early childhood programs based on development models for early intervention. Over her career at TLC, Dr. Ritter has been an innovator for many programs that meet the evolving needs of the community.
Dr. Ritter is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She was honored by the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) with its Inspiring Dreams, Changing Lives Award. She was recognized with a “Women Making History Award” by the Montgomery County Commission for Women. She currently is a member of the MANSEF Board of Directors and served as president from 2013 to 2015. She is a graduate of the Leadership Montgomery Class of 2008. She has been on numerous professional and community boards and a strong advocate for individuals with disabilities to be fully included in the community.
Arthur Ginsberg
Member At Large
Arthur Ginsberg has served as CEO, COO, and Executive Director of several prominent hospital, behavioral and health care systems and organizations. These include Community Residences – a non-profit supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs; DC Coalition of Disability Service Providers in Washington, DC; Keystone Human Services – community-based services in the areas of intellectual disabilities, autism, mental health, and early intervention; St. John’s Community Services – integrating people with developmental disabilities into the community of their choice; and, National Children’s Center – providing comprehensive and innovative services to children and adults with developmental disabilities.
His community and professional leadership positions have included Board positions at Virginia Network of Private Providers, Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland, District of Columbia Commission on Persons with Disabilities, ANCOR, DC Coalition of Disability Service Providers, American College of Healthcare Executives (Regent), Maryland Works, and Leadership Greater Washington.
Mr. Ginsberg holds a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from Xavier University, serves as Adjunct Faculty at GWU School of Public Health and Health Services; and is a Preceptor at Arizona State University, Tulane University and GW University.
Hiten Nihalani
Member at Large
the owner of Mosquito Joe of Baltimore & Annapolis, where he led the acquisition and growth of a local service business with a focus on marketing, sales, and customer experience. Previously, Hiten advised Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, and mission-driven organizations on strategy, execution, and organizational improvement. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from Aston University.