Staff and Board
Staff Leadership
Najla Wortham, MA LCPC
President Expand
Najla Wortham is the President of the Rock Creek Foundation (RCF). She has worked in senior management positions at RCF for over 13 years and has extensive experience working in the fields of intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), and severe and persistent mental illness.
Najla attended Howard University and later received her master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Bowie State University. She has been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor since 2012 and has a proven track record as an outstanding clinician.
During her time as the Director of Day and Therapeutic Services, Najla displayed excellent management of RCF’s Day Programs under the Behavioral Health Authority and the Developmental Disability Administration. She spearheaded the program’s transition to increased community participation, inclusion, and employment. The progress she personally directed, increased the staff’s appreciation for the philosophical and life-transforming opportunities that they were providing.
In 2009, Najla was inducted into the Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International, Chi Sigma Iota Mu Chapter. She maintains memberships with the Counseling Academic Professional Honor Society, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Black Counselors, as well as the NAACP.
In 2017, Najla was promoted to Chief of Operations and Corporate Compliance at RCF, and it is within this role that she ensured all RCF services operated to capacity while exceeding CARF standards. Under her direct leadership, RCF received a three-year CARF accreditation, demonstrating RCF’s commitment to excellence. Additionally, Najla worked to ensure financial decisions were in-sync with the clinical needs of the company.
Needless to say, shortly after the accreditation, RCF’s Board of Trustees appointed her as President. Najla is the first African-American and woman to hold this role and has consistently shown tireless commitment and exceptional performance for more than a decade. Najla’s values drive her mission-centered activities and are based on the fundamental belief that all people have the right to live, love, work, play, and pursue their aspirations.
Jennifer Alldredge
Senior Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager Expand
For over 17 years, Jennifer Alldredge has been a noteworthy leader at the Rock Creek Foundation. She started her career at RCF as a Staffing Coordinator and quickly moved up the ranks, efficiently managing the operations of the Residential Rehabilitation Program. She received her Management degree while working for RCF and held five different positions, all with increasing responsibility, within the company, culminating in her well-earned position as the Director of the Residential Rehabilitation program.
Under her leadership as Director, the Residential Rehabilitation Program successfully passed its first CARF Accreditation with a three-year accreditation in 2017. After growing her family, she decided to shift her full-time focus to her family and accept a remote part-time role as Senior Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager. This role has allowed for a perfect marriage between family and career. As the Senior Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager, Jennifer reviews, monitors, trains, and evaluates program areas within the company, with the stated goals of regulatory compliance and continuous quality improvement. In this position, Jennifer has further refined her skills for quality improvement and data analysis. In late 2020, Jennifer lead the organization through a second CARF Accreditation and once again received the highest accreditation of 3 years. Jennifer’s lengthy tenure reflects extensive institutional knowledge and company culture insight that is hard to come by today.
Britt Mobley
Director of Mental Health Services Expand
Britt Mobley is a highly competent and well-versed human services professional with 25 years of experience in providing community-based residential and outpatient services. After graduating from North Carolina Central University, Britt began his career in mental health working with adolescents as a high school special education teacher in Wake County Public Schools.
Today, his vast work experience includes working as a frontline staff member in a secured treatment facility with individuals with co-occurring disorders, to overseeing the day-to-day operations of multiple day treatment and residential programs throughout central North Carolina. Although Britt’s life was enriched beyond measure while living in North Carolina, he returned to Southern Maryland, where he spent his formative years, in search of joining an organization in which his diverse experience would make a substantial contribution. Subsequently, Britt joined the Rock Creek Foundation in August 2019 as the Director of Residential Services and maintains his passion for working with individuals with co-occurring disorders and helping them achieve their goals.
Cheri Olivar
Director of Developmental Disability Services Expand
Originally from Santiago, Chile, Cheri was raised in Silver Spring, MD, and is a graduate of Springbrook High School, Montgomery College and UMBC. Although Cheri began her career with the Rock Creek Foundation as the evening receptionist, her talents and dedication were unmistakable and now, 20 years later, she is the esteemed Director of Developmental Disability Services.
Cheri has dedicated her time in providing exceptional residential and day-habilitation services, and community-based employment for adults with intellectual disabilities and severe and persistent mental illness. Cheri has championed community integration and person-centered concepts for all staff and individuals supported, as well as ensuring a warm “family-like” environment for all.
Cheri also takes pride in balancing family life as a wife, mother and grandmother with her work responsibilities, and being an active member of her community. In addition to RCF, Cheri has been a vocal advocate for immigration rights in her community; taught community based acculturation/ESL classes; actively volunteered at a local food bank, County homeless shelter, long-term care facility in the activities department and has participated in the County’s Campaign on Affordable Housing. She has also worked with the Family Preservation Unit for Prince George’s County, obtained her Pharmacy Technician Certification, and is a member of the Maryland Responds Reserve Corps of Prince Georges County.
Board
Gabrielle is a master’s level special education teacher at Montgomery County Public Schools. She has spent her career ensuring that individuals with developmental disabilities are granted the opportunity to live meaningful lives.
Bruce has a long history of community service which includes Chairmanship on several diverse boards. Additionally, he has been a member of the RCF board for over 37 years, which has provided him with decades of experience in the field of developmental disabilities.
Fred Chanteau is the Chief Executive Officer of the Affiliated Santé Group Companies. He is a 40-year veteran of the behavioral health services field and a pioneer in community-based services for those with severe and persistent mental illness and developmental disabilities. He is skilled in business development, strategic growth, culturally driven organizations, nonprofit and for-profit structures, and value-based service development, driving efficiency and quality through integrated technology, program evaluation executive coaching, and team building.
Christopher Flynn has been a board member for over 13 years. He is a partner in Crowell and Moring’s Washington, D.C. office and is co-chair of the firm’s Health Care Group. Mr. Flynn regularly represents HMOs, PPOs, IPAs, TPAs, health benefit plans, fiscal intermediaries, managed behavioral healthcare organizations, plan sponsors, and health care industry associations in various litigation, investigations, and regulatory matters.
Renee was born and raised in Bethesda, MD. She attended Winston Churchill High School Potomac, MD, and graduated in 1994 from John F. Kennedy in Silver Spring, MD. Renee began her journey with the Rock Creek Foundation in 1996 and continues to be supported in a variety of ways that ensure she is “living her best life”.
Renee has been working at the Federal Courthouse since 1996 and was elected in 2020 to be the voice of her peers and an active member on RCF’s Board of Directors. Renee loves to spend time with her mother, sister, nieces, and nephews as well as maintain a bonding relationship with her family in Paraguay. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies, listening to music, talking with friends, and going on vacation.
Damon Harris is an Assistant Principal at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Dr. Harris has had a positive impact by developing, guiding, and supporting teachers. He was one of the first educators to help create the Building Our Network of Diversity (BOND) program, which seeks to support and retain male teachers of color, especially African-American and Latino males. He also served as a mentor to several BOND members by providing insight on navigating through MCPS as an African-American male teacher, conducting peer observations, and connecting these members with other educators and resources.
Margaret Parrott is an Instructional Specialist at Montgomery County Public Schools and has worked at MCPS for over 33 years, beginning her career as a Special Education Teacher, a position which she held for over 17 years. Margaret works to assist families of students with special needs to ensure a seamless and successful transition into the adult world.
James Winslow
Board Chair Expand
James Winslow has served on the RCF board of directors for over 14 years and has vast knowledge in residential and vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with developmental disabilities or mental illness. James is also a co-founder and President of the Salute Military Golf Association, an organization that brings the rehabilitative benefits of golf to post-9/11 wounded warriors.