Whit Ayres is a nationally recognized political consultant with four decades of experience in polling and strategy for campaigns, associations, and nonprofits. As Founder and President of North Star Opinion Research, he has advised U.S. Senators, governors, and over 80 organizations, including the American Medical Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A former professor and policy director, Whit holds a Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill. He served as President and Chairman of the American Association of Political Consultants and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2024. He is the author of 2016 and Beyond and serves on the News Literacy Project board.
George H. Bostick practiced law in the Washington D.C. office of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan for 35 years before spending six years in the Office of Tax Policy at the U.S. Treasury during the Obama administration. While still an active member of the D.C. bar, these days he enjoys spending most of his time with family, on the Alexandria Symphony board, as a Trustee of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, doing a little academic writing and speaking, and other pro bono activities.
Miriam “Mimi” Browning was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Education: BA, The Ohio State University; MS George Washington University; graduate of the U.S. Army War College and the JFK School, Harvard University. A former member of the federal Senior Executive Service, Mimi held influential information technology positions in the Pentagon and Berlin and also with the CDC in Atlanta. In corporate life, she was a principal and consultant with Booz Allen and Hamilton. Mimi and David Benjamin “Ben” Browning live in Alexandria. Favorite music includes The Archduke Trio, Parsifal, A Chorus Line, and the music of Nino Rota and Ray Charles.
Linda worked on Capitol Hill for 26 years for two United States senators and two members of the House of Representatives. She later served as Director of Development for a small non-profit raising funds from individual donors, coordinating a capital campaign, writing grants, and establishing a legacy program. Linda joined the ASO Board in 2001, and she has served in various leadership positions. Linda and her late husband Elliott were instrumental in establishing Sympatico in 2013, working with OrchKids and El Sistema as a model and providing substantial seed funding for the program.
From 1985 to 2024, Jamie Conrad practiced law in Washington, D.C., including 17 years as a solo practitioner primarily representing business associations on regulatory matters. He continues to provide legal services on a volunteer basis. A lifelong music enthusiast, Jamie describes himself as a musician trapped in a non-musician’s body. He has played harmonica and sung in various bands since his college days and has even recorded on a CD. For more than 25 years, he has sung bass in his church choir, a role he treasures for the opportunity to perform works by some of the world’s greatest composers. His musical tastes are wide-ranging, with a particular fondness for contemporary classical music by living composers and adventurous jazz guitar. He and his wife, Kathy, have lived in Alexandria since 1985 and are the proud parents of two adult daughters.
Nick is a retired partner of the global law firm BakerMcKenzie where he worked for 48 years. His practice focus was U.S. trade sanctions and export controls. He also served the firm in various local and global management roles, including on its global Executive Committee. Nick is a graduate of St. Albans School in D.C., obtained a B.A. from Union College in Schenectady NY and his J.D. from George Mason University. Before attending school in DC, he grew up largely outside the United States, attending schools in Germany, Austria and India. Throughout his extensive travels, he has maintained a lifelong interest in music, including studying voice with Ernst Haefliger at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich and with Todd Duncan in D.C.
It all started with a flutophone. Third grade music was a flutophone. In retrospect, that’s the lightest instrument that I would ever play. Fourth grade introduced piano lessons; fifth added the baritone, sixth grade brought organ lessons, the tuba, and a Sousaphone. My career as a librarian has been just as varied -- the Library of Congress, managing a non-profit, and as the recently retired, now emerita, University Librarian at American University. Whether I am playing or listening, music always brings me joy. In addition to being a Trustee of the ASO, I am on the Board of the Washington Master Chorale. Favorite music: Chopin preludes, any opera by Puccini, and 40’s dance music.
Carolyn Fuller is a lifelong supporter and advocate for the arts and humanities, with a special interest in the symphony, opera and book festivals. Her constant travels have taken her to the New Year’s Day Concert in Vienna, the Last Night of the Proms, the Vienna Opera Ball, the Edinburgh, Oxford and Sun Valley Book Festivals, among others. A Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates, she previously worked for the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee. She graduated from Hollins College and the Georgetown University Law Center and is on the board of the Washington International Piano Arts Council, Musical Movements for Change and the St. Paul’s vestry. She is the proud mother of three sons and grandmother of five.
Judy grew up in Norfolk, graduated from Mary Baldwin University, and settled in the New York area after earning an MBA at Columbia University. Her marketing career includes stints in Fortune 500 companies, the fragrance industry, and grant-writing with two universities. Judy moved to Alexandria in 2017 from New Jersey to be near her son, John, and his family. Besides the ASO Board, Judy serves at Westminster Presbyterian Church, tutors reading, consults on grant proposals and enjoys golf, tennis, hiking and bridge.
Jon is a retired economist whose 30-year career in Washington, D.C. included both federal tax policy analysis at the Treasury Department and the Congressional Budget Office and international tax advisory services for multinational corporations at Deloitte. He received his B.A. from Brandeis University and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He has resided in Alexandria with his wife since 1986. Growing up in Ann Arbor, he studied violin and played in the school orchestra. He heard many of the great touring orchestras and soloists who performed at the famed Hill Auditorium on the University of Michigan campus. In retirement, he enjoys attending student recitals whenever he visits a town with a music school.
Barbara Hayes has experience in fashion consulting, media sales and advertising. She served on the campaign staff for Senator John Warner and has held various positions on Capitol Hill. She previously served on the ASO Board of Trustees and Advisory Board. Barbara is an enthusiastic volunteer having held leadership positions with multiple nonprofits and civic organizations including Belle Haven Women’s Club, Twig Auxiliary (INOVA Alexandria Hospital), Campagna Center, Junior League of Washington, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Little Theatre of Alexandria, and the Symphony Orchestra League of Alexandria. She holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Peter is a Fortune 500 chief marketing officer with over 30 years of experience with market leaders such as Capital One, Hershey, General Mills, US WEST (CenturyLink), and TD Ameritrade. Across diverse industries, he drove the launch and growth of numerous iconic brands, products, and marketing campaigns. Peter most recently served as CEO of PSB Insights, a global research and analytics consultancy. He now consults on brand and marketing strategy and sits on public and non-profit boards. A former Forbes Senior Contributor, Peter is the author of the bestselling book, Marketing in the #FakeNews Era. Awards and acknowledgements include Cannes Lion, CMO Club Innovator Award, and Forbes Top 50 Most Influential Global CMO. Peter lives in Alexandria with his wife.
Freeman Jelks is the President of FNJ 3, an investment advisory firm he founded in 2008 to provide wealth management services and investment advice to individuals and small businesses. As a Certified Financial Planner, Freeman also helps his clients develop an investment and spending road map for a financially stable future that reflects their personal needs and goals. Freeman currently serves on the Finance Committee of the Child and Family Network Centers, and he has also participated in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Freeman graduated from the University of the South with a B.A. in Economics.
David is a former American diplomat and government-relations executive. He was privileged to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and National Security Council spokesman. While serving at the U.S. Embassy in East Berlin from 1981-1983, he and his spouse, Scarlett Swan, became friends with a promising conducting student and virtuoso horn player, Jim Ross. David is currently a member of the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board which manages trade in illicit controlled substances and the products used to make them. Scarlett is a well-practiced piano student; David owns a well-rested tuba. David and Scarlett moved to Alexandria in 2017.
Nicole Jones is an Investor Relations and Corporate Communications professional who consults in the biotechnology sector. She is also a certified Executive Coach and founder of Nicole Jones Coaching, where she supports executives with leadership development, performance, and executive presence. Nicole holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Virginia and studied jazz vocal performance at Berklee College of Music. A lifelong performer, she has sung across the U.S. and internationally, including in Eurovision for Cyprus. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her family, holds a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, and serves on the board of Move2Learn.
Lee Smith Klousia was born in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Randolph Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, VA with a degree in Art History. She moved to Bethesda and worked for The Hecht Company as a retail buyer and later at EF Hutton as a Sales Assistant and eventually as Operations Manager for a new branch. In spite of five years of piano lessons, after which she cannot even pick out a tune, she continues her love of good music. She has held numerous positions on the Smithsonian Women's Committee Executive Board as well as serving as an Elder at the Presbyterian Meeting House.
The music of Jonathan Kolm has been performing across the United States and abroad. His music has won prizes and awards in many competitions including the American Prize, the Swan Prize in Music Composition, the Percussive Arts Society Composition Competition, the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, Voices of Change Composition Contest, the Austin Peay State Composition Competition, as well as many others. He maintains an active performing career in new music and has appeared in recitals in many colleges and universities across the United States. In addition to his work as a composer and pianist, he teaches composition, piano and music theory at Northern Virginia Community College where he serves as Associate Professor and advocates for various environmental and social causes in the nation’s capital.
Martha Lloyd traveled extensively as a military dependent before her father retired from the USAF, making their permanent residence in Maryland. Her mother was born and raised in Japan where music education begins at age six with a focus on Western classical music. Martha’s mom exposed her and her siblings to classical music at an early age and encouraged her to play the violin when she started school in London, England. Many years later, Martha learned to play “Happy Birthday” on the piano at a surprise party that she held for her husband’s birthday. Martha serves on several volunteer and paid boards and has been a long-time supporter of ASO, along with her husband, Ronal Butler, a former Trustee. Martha Lloyd and Ronal Butler live in the Mt. Vernon section of Alexandria.
A 35-year resident of Alexandria, Laurie has been recognized for her business and community leadership for many years. Her board leadership experience has been concentrated in the arts and housing/human services areas, where she served as the president of the Alexandria Choral Society and First Night Alexandria, Inc., as well as on the boards of Rebuilding Together DC/Alexandria and Compass Pro Bono. Laurie is an accomplished mezzo soprano who has performed with several area professional and amateur choruses. Professionally Laurie is an executive with the federal government and previously served in multiple senior positions in the government contracting industry. Laurie lives in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria with her husband Bill Hendrickson and their family.
Harriett is a Certified Public Accountant with her own tax practice in Alexandria. She is a member of the Tax Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Public Companies Practice Section, the Virginia Society of Public Accountants (VSCPA) and the Northern Chapter of the VSCPA. She formerly taught accounting and business courses at Northern Virginia Community College. Harriett enjoys gardening, reading, playing the piano and participating in activities of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra as a member of the Board of Trustees. She wanted to be a pediatrician like her father, often helping in his office after school and accompanying him many times on his hospital rounds and house calls. She witnessed her first operation when she was six years old.
Arthur E. Peabody, Jr., Of Counsel, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC, Washington, D.C. focuses his practice on Medicare payment and reimbursement for hospitals and other providers. He formerly served as the Assistant General Counsel for Medicare for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Chief of the Special Litigation Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice. Arthur is involved in a number of music organizations in the greater Washington metropolitan area, minored in music during college, and especially enjoys choral music of the English cathedral tradition.
Dr. Jane Pollner is a board-certified infectious disease specialist with over 35 years of experience. Her clinical interests include HIV, orthopedic infections, and travel medicine. A longtime Alexandria resident and former Walter Reed physician, she now practices in Fairfax, VA. Originally a violin major, she rekindled her passion for music through her children’s lessons and now plays in her synagogue band, Avanti Orchestra, and chamber groups. She is a Washingtonian Top Doctor and active in several medical societies.
Frank Purcell is Head of Government Affairs for Indivior and former president of Cardinal Waypoint LLC, a health policy advocacy consultancy based in Alexandria. A bass vocalist who once played an undergraduate jazz trombone gig with bebop great Carl Fontana, he joined the ASO Board of Trustees for all the gifts music brought him in life - delight, beauty and community in all its diversity. His family, wife Christine and two grown sons, never agree what to listen to.
Gant Redmon is the Managing Partner at Redmon, Peyton & Braswell. He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1961 and has practiced law since 1964, specializing in banking, real estate, and estate law. He previously served as Associate Counsel for Atlantic Research Corporation and as a General Attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor. Redmon has held leadership roles on numerous boards, including multiple banks and civic organizations, and was named Alexandria’s Business Leader of the Year in 1995. He chaired the Alexandria 2000 and Beyond Task Force and served as President of the Alexandria Rotary Club. Recognized for his expertise in real property law, he has lectured on legal topics and contributed to civic initiatives. His current practice focuses on estate planning, trust administration, and commercial transactions.
My husband and I have lived in Alexandria, VA for 50 years. We have raised two sons who attended Alexandria City Public Schools, and who are both married and living in the Northern Virginia area raising their families. I grew up in New York City, and am a graduate of Western College, (now a part of Miami of Ohio University). I have a Masters in Economics at George Washington University. I've served on the North Ridge Citizens Association executive board, Charles Barrett PTA, GW PTA and ACHS (then T.C. Williams) PTA, as well as the TC Track Boosters board. We have been members of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House for the past 44 years. I have sung in the OPMH choir for 42 years. I belong to two different book clubs and enjoy gardening, quilting, and canning jam in the summer.
Beth Tuttle is an executive leadership coach, nonprofit strategy consultant, author, and skilled facilitator who is Managing Director of METStrategies for Leadership. She has previously served as President and CEO of The American Horticultural Society and DataArts: the National Center for Arts Research, and in senior leadership roles with the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Newseum. Inspired by the power of cultural experiences and access to nature to transform lives, Beth has dedicated her career to propelling arts, education, philanthropic, and horticultural institutions to achieve their missions and impact their audiences. In addition to being an E-Co Leadership Coach affiliated with George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, she is an Extension Master Gardener and can often be found in the public gardens of Rosemont and Del Ray where she and her husband Bob Carragher have lived for nearly 40 years.
Christopher Ullman is a communications professional, author, inspirational speaker, mentor, and champion whistler. He is president of Ullman Communications, a strategic advisory firm, and previously served as Director of Global Communications at The Carlyle Group, led communications at the White House Budget Office, ran the public affairs office at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and was spokesman for the U.S House Budget Committee. Chris is the Strategic Communications Expert in Residence at High Point University, a Senior Advisor at Narrative Strategies, and a Trustee of The Fund for American Studies. He earned his B.A. in political science from Binghamton University and is a four-time international whistling champion and member of the Whistlers Hall of Fame. Chris is the author of Find Your Whistle: Simple Gifts Touch Hearts and Change Lives and Four Billionaires and a Parking Attendant: Success Strategies of the Wealthy, Powerful, and Just Plain Wise. He and his wife Kristen have three children and live in Alexandria, VA.
George and his wife Patti moved to Alexandria in 2017 after having lived in London, England for over 22 years. George is a retired corporate lawyer. During his 36-year career with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, he worked on professional matters in 28 different countries around the globe. Today, George’s main interests are in the areas of music, education, and the visual arts. In addition to his work with ASO, he is president of the American Foundation for the Courtauld Institute of Art and serves on the boards of Maryland Lyric Opera and Musical Movements for Change.
Melynda Dovel Wilcox is a freelance writer and editor, having previously worked for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine for nearly 20 years. Her blog, portcitynotebook.com, covers education and other topics of interest to Alexandria residents. She and her husband, David, and their young adult identical twins, Laura and Amanda, are all amateur musicians, and their collection of instruments includes a baby grand piano, two French horns, a clarinet, a recorder, and a guitar.
Margaret Wohler has worked for the Fairfax County Park Authority since 1995 as a naturalist and illustrator at Huntley Meadows Park. She teaches art camps, sketch hikes, nature journaling, and natural history topics and has illustrated two books. She served for seven years as a commissioner on the Alexandria Commission for the Arts. She was on the Board of the Alexandria Film Festival for 13 years and worked with the ASO during the 2021 "Homegrown" project. She also served on the board of the Choreographers' Collaboration Project dance troupe for its 20+ years in Del Ray.
