Who We Are

President

Certified Public Accountant in private practice. Prior to resuming his private practice, Mr. Porter was an investment banker who facilitated mergers and acquisitions. Before entering the world of investment banking, Mr. Porter served as national director of tax for BDO Seidman, internationally the 7th largest public accounting firm. In addition to CLA, he currently serves on the board of Arts America, the Advisory Board of the Detroit Chamber Winds, and the board of the John D. Evans Foundation.

Vice President

Attorney practicing in Virginia, D.C, and Maryland. He specializes in trusts, wills, planning for special needs, healthcare decision making tools, and estate administration. He is a member of the D.C. Estate Planning Council and frequently provides lectures and presentations for a variety of audiences. He also serves as Chairman of the American Bar Association Section on Real Property, Probate, and Trusts Committee on Special Needs Trusts and Long Term Care. John graduated from Oberlin College and Catholic University.

Executive Director

Named Executive Director in 2017. Susan has over 25 years of experience working with men, women and children with disabilities, chronic health issues, histories of abuse, and other challenges. She was a member of the Leadership Fairfax Class of 2015. Susan is driven by her beliefs that everyone deserves a safe place to call home and that relationships are the foundation for everything we do. She lives in Falls Church with her husband, two children and two cats: Lucy & Ethel.

Corporate Secretary

Born in Norwich, England and earned his doctorate in Education from George Mason University. He is a retired Human Resources professional, having worked in Fortune 500 Companies both in Europe and the USA. Mike currently serves on the Board of the Washington Area Compensation and Benefits Association and continues to teach and consult in his area of expertise. He is married, has two children and lives in Burke, Virginia

Public health professional and tropical medicine specialist with an extensive background that includes serving on World Health Projects. He is an active member of the American Society of Parasitologists, The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and the American Public Health Association. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University. Bob is also the parent of a son with autism.

Board member since 1992. Born in England, she holds a BA in French from London University and spent several years in the British Foreign Service. She is the parent of a son with autism. Since 1962 she has been active in advocating for services for autistic children and adults. She served six years on the Alexandria Community Services Board and also served on the Board of the ARC of Northern Virginia.

Retired career member of the U. S Senior Foreign Service. Since joining the Senior Foreign Service in 1976 he has served in the Caribbean, Africa, and South America. The United States Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname from February, 1997- June, 2000. After leaving government service, Ambassador Hays worked with the Cuban American National Foundation, Tew Cardenas, LLP, and joined Thorium Power in 2006. Ambassador Hays holds degrees from the University of Florida, Harvard University, and the National War College.

Major, Army Strategist, U.S. Army Reserve, Active Duty

A CLA Board member since 2017, Tim holds an MBA from Xavier University, a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, and certification as a Project Management Professional. He is a full-time strategist for the Army Reserve, a reas estate agent serving the Northern Virginia area, and an investment coach for veterans. He is supported by his beautiful wife, Darlene, and their three children, Lynn, Ashton, and Riley (and their dogs, Rudy and Sasha). Tim also serves as a leader in The Landing, a faith-based support group for struggling teens.

A Board Member since 2018, Francesca is passionate about assisting and supporting special individuals and their families. Having two brothers a daughter impacted by autism and intellectual disabilities she has seen how much services have improved and how far they still have to go. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Ms. Belmonte has also completed graduate coursework in Special Education at George Mason University and substance abuse treatment studies. She worked for several years as a Special Educator with Fairfax County Public Schools and currently serves on the Prince William County Local Human Rights Committee.

Volunteer Board Member

Kimberly Brathwaite, MAOL, ALFA, CDP is an Instructor for the Department of Health Administration and Policy at George Mason University.
Mrs. Brathwaite has served in the healthcare industry for more than 15 years. She is a Licensed Assisted Living Facility Administrator and a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant which provided her with a strong foundation in the healthcare field. As her career developed, she gained experience in the long-term care, assisted living, and acute care settings.
As a strategic leader, Mrs. Brathwaite has led several planning initiatives across various organizations in the healthcare industry. She has demonstrated the ability to develop and execute successful strategies related to leadership, financial management, strategic planning, forecasting, sales, and marketing. Additionally, Mrs. Brathwaite has provided both technical and administrative leadership to promote organizational growth, internal advising, health, safety, and wellness. She has a passion for mentorship and developing people in the field. She has been an Assisted Living Facility Administrator Preceptor for the last 5 years. She has also served as a Leadership Coach for LeadingAge, a not-for-profit aging services provider located in Washington, DC.
Mrs. Brathwaite received her bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education with a focus in Public and Community Health from Virginia State University. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a Healthcare Administration focus from Regent University. She also earned her graduate certificate in General Business from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. She is a member of the Board of Long-Term Care Administrators for the Commonwealth of Virginia and a member of the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Mrs. Brathwaite is an avid crafter who loves action movies and shopping. She and her husband Stephen live in Northern, VA with their two pups Bella & Honey.