National Advisory Board of Way Station

Background

Although its formal operations are limited to several counties in Maryland, Way Station has developed initiatives that are regional, national and international in scope. Way Station has demonstrated extensive management experience and expertise for 25 years as a nationally and internationally recognized behavioral health provider. Through its service provision to over 7000 persons with disabilities, Way Station regularly receives approvals and licenses by three different state agencies and for the past 7 years received the highest level of national accreditation by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF). Way Station's comprehensive model has also been nationally recognized and endorsed by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. The White House named Way Station as a "Point of Light" because of its contributions to the community. The National Institute for Mental Health recognized Way Station as a "National Exemplary Model Program" and developed an internationally released training documentary film that focused on Way Station's services.

Through its National Education Center, endorsed by the National Institute of Mental Health, it has provided advanced-degree field-work education via affiliation agreements with over 85 colleges and universities. Mental health policy consultation and technical assistance has been provided to over 200 governmental and non-governmental agencies from over 25 states and 8 countries. This activity has included a 3-year management consultation contract with George Washington University Center for Health Policy Research and consultation to Federal disability agencies (e.g. Social Security Administration Central Policy Office, U.S. Office of Technical Assistance, U.S. General Accounting Office, and National Academy of Social Insurance).

Role and Function

The National Advisory Board consists of up to 15 members. No fiduciary, operational, or oversight responsibility is assumed by National Advisory Board members. Membership is made up of individuals recognized for their expertise, knowledge, skills, and/or influence related to the mission and activities of Way Station. National Advisory Board members are individually approached or collectively assembled to bring fresh and candid perspectives from luminaries or experts who are unable to serve on Way Station's decision-making board but are willing to be helpful on a time-limited, targeted basis. The National Advisory Board helps to ensure the continuing financial health of Way Station, its National Education Center and many other programs and initiatives through the development of funds nationally.

Activities

Recommending policy, procedural or strategic recommendations (without implying or manifesting any authority or responsibility)
Providing perceptual information about the Corporation
Assisting in generating confidence among new and existing funding sources - foundation, corporations and individuals
Presenting suggestions for developing allies and strategic alliances
Assisting in recruiting key solicitation contacts and making major solicitations
Having no final authority or responsibility
Meeting face-to-face as a group (rarely occurring)
Being contacted by staff (primarily the CEO) on an as-needed, sporadic basis by telephone, email or personal visit

Way Station National Advisory Board Members

Walter B. Barbe

Walter B. Barbe, teacher, publisher, author and lecturer was born in Miami, Florida in 1926. His bachelor's, master's, and doctorate are from Northwestern University. He was Professor and Department Chair of Special Education at Kent State University, adjunct professor in Human Services at The Ohio State University, and currently is the Sergis Gambal Distinguished Professor at Keystone College in Pennsylvania. For 25 years he was editor and editor-in-chief of Highlights for Children. He has also served as the editor of the Zaner-Bloser Publishing Company and been the president and publisher of Modern Learning Press.

He has published 11 professional books and more than 200 professional journal articles. in addition he has published in a variety of fields. His latest publications include The Glass Industry in Wayne County Pennsylvania (Dorflinger Press, 2003) and A School Year of Poems (Boyds Mill Press, 2005).

Dr. Barbe is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. He is a founding member of the International Reading Association, a life member of the Council for Exceptional Children, past president of the National Association for Gifted Children and The Association for Gifted Children, and a member of the National Press Club of Washington, D.C.

He is chairman of the executive committee of the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary, an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He resides in Atco, Pennsylvania and maintains an office in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Barbe is the recipient of the following awards and recognition: International Reading Association, Distinguished Service Award, 1992; School Study Council of Ohio Award in Recognition of Dedication to Education, September, 2004; and the "Small Grant Award program to Classroom Teachers" of the School Study Council of Ohio was named in his honor, 2003.

Leslie Goldin

Leslie Goldin is the sister of a former member of Way Station, Alan Goldin. He passed away due to an unrelated illness following many years as an active part of Way Station. In his honor, she is committed to helping families of people with serious mental illnesses.

Trained as a speech therapist, she has worked for much of her adult life as a teacher of oral and verbal communication with children who are deaf and hard of hearing. In addition to her teaching, Leslie has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. She often converts her hobbies into enterprises. Her interest in fitness prompted her to become editor of "New Body" magazine. Her regular column called "Doctor in the House", features interviews and tips from prominent sports and fitness physicians.

Her fascination with the apparel industry led to her founding a company making children's sherling and leather garments called "Shear Bliss" that sold its product lines to stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney's. She has more recently launched a second hand clothing enterprise of designer brand apparel and has opened her own store called "Rave Reviews" at 119 East 96th Street in Manhattan.

She has written two books: How to Buy and Maintain a Fur Coat, published by Harmony Books; and A Practical Guide to Luxury and Sneaky Exercise - How to fit exercise, healthful eating, and relaxation into your life without having to take a lot of extra time and effort", published by Crown

Leslie resides in New York City where she is raising a 16 year old daughter.

James J. Maher

Jim holds a Bachelor's Degree in Hotel Administration and a Master of Science Degree with an emphasis on Food Facilities Design from Cornell University. He earlier attained an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Hotel Management from Paul Smith's College. Between times, he spent 21 months with Inter-Continental Hotels, first in Geneva, Switzerland and later in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Upon graduation from Cornell University in 1973, he joined Cini-Grissom Associates in Potomac, Maryland, a nationally recognized leader in the field of Food Facilities Design. He remained there for seven years, first in facilities design and later in management consulting. During his last three years, he held the position of Manager of the Washington office of the Management Service Division, with responsibility for a staff of eight Associates. His duties included office administration and budgeting, staff training, and supervision of the delivery of the full range of management consulting services the division offered to the hospitality industry. In 1989 he left the firm to continue with his own hospitality advisory services practice.

In the meantime, he had settled with his wife in the city of Frederick, Maryland, and had begun to acquire multi-family real estate. Eventually, his holdings included 40 apartments scattered about the city. He found the work in housing more rewarding than his consulting practice, so commencing in 1986, he devoted his efforts full time to the management of his real estate holdings -- involved in all aspects--from acquisition and financing to leasing and day-to-day accounting and to property management in all its forms. In 1995, he repositioned his holdings, selling one apartment at a time and investing in commercial holdings, with the final apartment building sale occurring in August 2001. He is now involved exclusively in commercial real estate. His holdings include properties in Maryland, Texas, Michigan, and Florida. Jim was briefly licensed as a real estate salesperson in the late 1970's. He re-established his license in 1997 and is currently licensed in the State of Maryland.

Jim divides his time between his homes in Estero, Florida, and on 24 acres in the countryside outside Frederick, Maryland.

C.E. "Ted" Peck

C.E. "Ted" Peck is a retired chairman and CEO of The Ryland Group, Inc. Before joining The Ryland Group, Mr. Peck served as an officer and a director of Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and holds an honorary doctorate from University of Maryland University College. He and his wife live in St. Michaels, Maryland.

Mr. Peck enjoys several volunteer activities. He serves on the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland University College as well as the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies and the Psychiatry Advisory Board of Johns Hopkins University. He is on the Board of the University of Maryland System Foundation and of the Memorial Hospital Foundation of Easton, Maryland.