Board of Directors
Anne Carroll Harrington - Chairman of the Board
Anne is a native Marylander, having grown up on the eastern shore, and has lived in Annapolis for more than twenty years. She is one of the founders of the Box of Rain Foundation. Anne was a personal friend of Lee Griffin, a victim of a homicide in downtown Annapolis in 2002. A few of Lee’s friends came up with the idea of a living legacy in memory of Lee. Thus Box of Rain was officially launched in June 2003 with the first seven-week summer program, now in its ninth year of operation.
Anne worked in the hospitality industry in sales and marketing for several hotels in Washington, DC. She was the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel and prior to that a District Sales Manager for Norwegian Cruise Line. She has been an active realtor for the past six years and is affiliated with Coldwell Banker, Church Circle office.
Anne has volunteered with several non-profit organizations that serve disadvantaged youth and the elderly. Anne has also helped to organize several sailing regattas in Annapolis, and served as co-chair for the Leukemia Cup Regatta and the Rolex Women’s International Keelboat Championship.
Her community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain Foundation – Chairman of the Board; Development and Fundraising; Volunteer
- Eastport Girls Club – Mentor
- Partners in Care -- Volunteer
- Annapolis Community Boating – Board of Directors
Charles A. Babe Feldman
Babe has more than 25 years of experience in business management and development including starting and running U.S. and international technology companies. His achievements include the development of commercial products and establishment of international distribution, securing large scale commercial and private financing, obtaining patents and trademarks, forming / managing multi-company teams in cooperative ventures, and business development in the government and commercial sectors. He has more than 30 years of experience in systems analysis, engineering, design and development. This spans concept development, requirements analysis, trade studies, forensic analysis, development and use of automated system engineering tools, and standards-based development.
His community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain -- Board Member
- Eastport Civic Association – Board Member
- Eastport Girls Club – Facilities preparation, IT and grant proposal support.
- Temple Beth Shalom - Treasurer and Board Member
- Santa Clause Anonymous – Volunteer Gift Wrapper
- Lighthouse Shelter – Ride Participant and Contributor
- Eastport “Stop the Gunfire” Task Force – Founding Member
- Fishing Creek Farm – Walking Paths Development Committee
- Cape St. John – Community Association Board Member
Patrice Johnson
Patrice was a Police Officer with the Anne Arundel County Police Department for more than 14 years. Patrice was responsible for many aspects of law enforcement operations. She served as a school resource officer and with the bicycle patrol and special investigation units. She retired from the County in October 2005 and became a real estate agent with Long and Foster Real Estate in Annapolis, Maryland. She is currently a real estate specialist with Cook Real Estate Inc. in Arnold, Maryland.
Patrice Johnson is a lifelong resident of the Annapolis community. Patrice has been involved in many aspects of youth development, mentoring youth in her church, community and schools. She has met regularly with youth to help them develop strategies for change and development. In addition, she has held workshops instructing them in life skills and anger management, and has run self-esteem building initiatives. Patrice is family oriented and enjoys helping others and spending time with her Labradoodle, Max.
Her community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain – Board Member
- Mount Olive A.M.E. Church – Diamonds
- Annapolis middle School – School Resource Officer
- Severna Park Assistance Program (SPAN)
- Revolution Annapolis
John F. “Jack” Morkan III
Jack Morkan has more than twenty-five years of civil litigation experience and is currently co-chair of the Construction Group for a Baltimore-based law firm, Ober|Kaler, and is a member of the firm’s Litigation Group. Jack has litigated matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States and has participated in arbitration proceedings and dispute resolution involving application of U.S., international and foreign law in the United States, France, Switzerland, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and Ireland. Jack also represents health care providers, telecommunications companies, banks, leasing companies, manufacturers, insurers and other businesses and individuals, and has litigated complex disputes concerning rights arising from complex wills and trusts. Jack is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, in the international arbitration category, for 2011 and has been recognized as a Maryland Super Lawyer in construction litigation each year since 2007. Prior to joining Ober|Kaler, he served as the Staff Attorney for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Jack is a strong supporter of the Chesapeake Bay and the sailing community.
His community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain -- Board Member
- Eastport Yacht Club – Board Member and Commodore (2004 and 2005)
- Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians – Board Member and Treasurer
- Maryland Public Justice Center – Board Member
- IONA Senior Service-President of the Board
- LUPUS Foundation-Board member
- American Women’s Club London-Board Member/Development Director
Thomas A. Spiegel
Tom is a Certified Property Manager with the National Association of Realtor’s Institute of Real Estate Management and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Maryland and the District of Columbia. His professional career has been focused on commercial property management in Washington, DC, Baltimore and Annapolis. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.
Tom began sailing at the age of eight and continues to sail some 40+ years later. He spent six years instructing junior sailing. This experience gave him an understanding of the many ways that youth can gain from learning the skills needed to enjoy the water, and how these skills can contribute to their development of self esteem and self confidence.
A resident of Eastport since 1997, Tom is an active member of the Eastport Yacht Club (EYC). Through his membership in EYC, Tom developed a close friendship with Lee Griffin, and has been involved with the Box of Rain since its inception. He is firmly committed to the Box of Rain mission and to furthering its goals, expanding its impact and preserving the memory of Lee.
His community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain – Board Member
- University of Virginia Club of Annapolis – President
Jean Campbell Tullier
Jean has more than 30 years experience in marketing for non-profits, government agencies, and corporate clients. She has expertise in brand development, strategic marketing communications planning and implementation, public relations, event management, and web site development. She currently works for Gryphon Technologies as their Senior Communications Advisor, handling a range of defense agency outreach programs. Prior to working for Gryphon, Jean was the founder and president of BlueWater Agency where she handled business development and account management for clients including the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, DHS, Department of Labor, and Library of Congress. Corporate clients included General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, L-3, and American Truck Company. Prior to founding BlueWater, she was the Marketing Director for the U.S. Naval Institute. Jean has a degree in Communications from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications and a degree in English. She is a prolific writer, owns two cocker spaniels, and lives in Eastport.
Her community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain – Board Member
- Bay Ridge – Community Association Board Member and Secretary
- Eastport Home and Garden Tour – Interviewer/Writer
- Anne Arundel Medical Center – Annual Gala Committee
Nan Leute Walker - Treasurer
Nan aka ‘the Big Kid’ has more than 30 years of experience in the maritime industry including teaching sailing to children and adults, and administration with commercial and community Sailing Centers nationwide. She currently works for Severn Sailing Association as the Office Manager. Nan has been involved with the Box of Rain since its inception, serving early on as the Program Director and as one of the founding Board members. Her extensive background in community sailing started with the creation of Kid Ship Sailing School in 1994, which is now part of the Annapolis Sailing School. As the Executive Director of the U.S. Sailing Center in Stuart, Florida for six years, Nan built a youth and adult community sailing program. Nan moved back to Annapolis in 2000 with her husband Jason, and worked as the Club Manager for the J/Port Sailing Club, managing their fleet of J/Boats and their cruising and racing club membership. Nan has a Physical Education and Athletic Training degree from the University of Delaware and is a U.S. Sailing Level One Small Boat Instructor and Instructor Trainer. Her son, Hadlee, has been a mascot of the Box of Rain (BoR) program since he was born in 2002, and considers the BoR participants part of the family. When not promoting the sport of sailing or active in the Pines on the Severn Community, Nan can be spotted racing on a Farr 30, SSA one-design boat or running the SSA safety boat/Race Committee for TESOD.
Her community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain – Board Member, Finance & Summer Program Committee, Volunteer Coordinator, Rock & Roast Committee, Book Keeper
- Box of Rain – Program volunteer - Summer, SPLASH, Christmas ‘Angel’, Revolution Kids, Boat Building by the Bay
- Brendan Sail Training Program 501(c)3 - Program Director, Volunteer
- Annapolis Community Boating 501(c)3 - Committee, Team Tsunami Youth Program volunteer
- Women’s Rolex Junior Next Step Program - Committee
- US Sailing National Sail Training Symposium - Coordinator
- US Sailing Camp Counselor, Small Boat and Powerboat Instructor
- US Sailing Small Boat Instructor Trainer
- Maryland Safe Boating Instructor
Regan Edwards Weaver - Secretary
Regan has travelled extensively and taught sailing in a variety of settings over the past 15 years. She currently works for Schooner Healthcare Services in Annapolis as a Project Manager. In addition she assists her husband with his business, the Eastport Yacht Company. Regan is a very active member of the Annapolis community and an Eastport Yacht Club member.
Her community services have included:
- Shake-a-Leg Miami – Sailing Coach
- Special Olympics, St. Mary’s – Sailing Coach
- Blind Sailing Team Coach – Miami
- Brendan Corporation Foundation
- Box of Rain – Board Member, Secretary, Chairwoman of Rock & Roast (2010, 2011)
- City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks – Advisory Board
Kelsa McLaughlin - Executive Director
Kelsa is in her 4th year as Administrative Program Director for the Box of Rain Foundation. Raised in New England, her introduction to sailing did not begin until she met her now husband, in 2002. With a background in Elementary Education, she moved to Annapolis in 2004 and began her relationship with the Box of Rain as a volunteer and then as summer director. It did not take long before she was hooked on the program. Leaving teaching with the birth of her first daughter in 2007, it was only natural that she made the Box of Rain her other full time job. Able to stay involved with youth she is able to recruit participants, plan for the various programs, help with fundraising, and build partnerships with other local groups/projects. Kelsa resides in Annapolis with her husband and 2 daughters who all love spending time on the water , biking, and being active in the community.
Her community service activities have included:
- Junior League of Annapolis
- EYC Member, volunteer with special events
- Volunteer with Maryland Seafood Festival/New Year’s Annapolis
- Garrett’s Light Foundation-volunteer
- Founding Team Member of Revolution Kids
Edward "Sharky" Robinson -Summer Director
Born in Nassau, Bahamas to water-loving parents , Ed Robinson was the eccentric middle child of five siblings. He loved the ocean and marine life so much he would wrestle nurse sharks on the southern side of Nassau where they got caught in tidal pools. One day Ed decided that this was no fun for the shark and said to his rambunctious cousins that sharks have feelings too and it was time to stop. His cousin responded by calling him “Sharky” and the nickname was born!
Ed spent nearly a decade in environmental education in the Bahamas, Caribbean, Canada and the UK. Ed ran kayak trips in a National Park for the Bahamas National Trust; had a stint on a cruise ship for the Bahamas Tourism Board, and served as a dive Instructor, a sailboat pilot, a U.S. Navy Corpsman with a Marine Unit, and a kayak instructor.
Ed’s passion has always been for working with kids at-risk. The Box of Rain Organization has provided him with the opportunity to share with young people the great maritime experiences and leadership avenues to help them grow into healthy productive adults and to be assets in their Annapolis community. As Ed noted, “Once I started volunteering to take “my kids” out kayaking, and learning the marine environment around them and I caught the Box of Rain Bug and for the past two years I have been the Summer Program Coordinator, which I consider to be my favourite job choice by far. There is nothing like seeing the face of a child at the beach swimming for the first time or sailing on the Bay or finding shark tooth in the sand. It brings out the child in me and reminds me of my own childhood filled with endless summer days.”
His community service activities have included:
- Box of Rain Summer Director
- Disabled American Veterans Transportation Driver
- National Alliance of Mental Illness Veterans Volunteer
- Ocean Conservancy Marine Education Volunteer
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- National Alliance on Mental Illness Veterans Volunteer
- Ocean Conservancy Marine Education Volunteer
