Daniel Baird, President
Daniel Shehan Baird is the Executive Director of Dwyer Holdings. Dan joined Capital Funding Group (one of the Dwyer Holdings companies) in 2006 as Chief Financial Officer. He subsequently served as Chief Operating Officer of Capital Funding Group and Chief Financial Officer to Capital Funding Bancorp. Past business experiences include CFO of E. Stewart Mitchell, Financial Analyst at Willis Corroon, and Development Manager at Mackenzie and Associates.
Dan served as President of the Loyola Blakefield Alumni Board, Chairman of the Sherwood Forest Club Board, Executive Chair of The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, amongst others.
Dan resides in Annapolis with his wife, Leslie, and have four children. He spends his free time boating, hunting and fishing. He holds a master’s in business administration from the Sellinger School of Business at Loyola University, where he also holds a BBA. He is also a graduate of Loyola Blakefield.
Daren Cortese, Secretary
Daren Cortese is the CEO and President of Nursing Facility Solutions, LLC. Prior to this, Cortese owned and operated Brinton Woods Senior Living, in Lutherville, Maryland, for more than 15 years. He has more than 30 years of operations, financial management, and merger and acquisitions experience in the long-term care and health care industries.
Cortese is also Chairman of the Board for Health Facilities Association of Maryland (HFAM) and has completed the acquisition or divestiture of more than 140 skilled nursing facilities with a combined value of more than $500 million.
He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in economics from the College of New Jersey. He currently resides in Lutherville, MD.
Patricia Gibson, Treasurer
Patricia Gibson, CFA, is the Founding Principal and CEO of Banner Oak Capital Partners in Texas.
Before founding Banner Oak, Gibson was the President of Hunt Realty Investments, where she led the commercial real estate investment management activities for the Hunt family of companies, and held senior positions at Goldman Sachs’ real estate subsidiary, where she oversaw portfolio management and capital market efforts for more than $4 billion in commercial real estate assets.
She is currently a member of the executive council of the University of Texas Real Estate Finance Council, the Vice-Chairman of the Industrial and Office Parks Council of ULI, and on the Board of Directors of The Real Estate Council of Dallas, and Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, and past Chair of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers.
Gibson holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a BS in finance from Fairfield University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Tony Carvajal, Member
Tony Carvajal, CEO of the Association of Florida Colleges and the Florida College System Council of Presidents, has a long history in public policy and organizational leadership. He has worked at TaxWatch and The Able Trust, a foundation committed to helping Floridians with disabilities and Florida employers achieve their shared goal: meaningful and sustainable work that produces results. He recently completed a decade of service as the Executive Vice President at the Florida Chamber Foundation where he focused on identifying solutions to challenges facing the state and developing initiatives for a vibrant and sustainable economy.
Carvajal regularly is called on for guidance and insights into state-level plans and has served on numerous policy-steering committees covering topics such as early learning, workforce development, economic development, transportation, healthcare, volunteerism, civic infrastructure, philanthropy, and smart justice.
Since 2000, he has also served as the “Prime Mover, Problem-Solver, and Calmer of Chaos” at Carvajal Consulting and Management.
In addition to his research background, Carvajal also currently serves on the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Carvajal and his wife, Allison, live in Tallahassee and have one son.
Tom Geddes, Member
Tom Geddes is a partner and portfolio manager at Brown Advisory in the firm’s family office practice.
Geddes previously served as the founder and CEO of Plank Industries, a privately-held investment company owned by the founder of Under Armour. Before joining Plank Industries, Geddes was a partner with the Baltimore investment advisory firm Passive Capital Management and previously worked in the nonprofit sector.
Geddes served as Board Chair of MedStar Harbor Hospital and is a member of the National Advisory Council for President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.
He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and earned master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University.
Veronica Gonzalez, Member
Veronica Gonzales, Senior Vice President of Governmental and Community Relations at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), is a distinguished leader with a rich tapestry of experience spanning over two decades in both public and private sectors. Assuming her pivotal role at UTRGV in 2014, Gonzales has been instrumental in fostering crucial relationships between the university and various governmental and community entities.
Gonzales was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” on four occasions by Texas Super Lawyers and earning the esteemed title of one of “30 Extraordinary Women in Law” by Texas Lawyer. Her impact extends beyond the legal realm; she served with distinction in the Texas House of Representatives for four terms, notably chairing the Border and Intergovernmental Affairs Committees for two of those terms. As the first female elected to represent District 41 and the sole female representative from the Rio Grande Valley, Gonzales has broken barriers and garnered accolades, including the “Legislative Champion Award” and the “Patient Advocacy Award.” Her remarkable contributions have earned her national recognition, being named one of eight “Ultimate Latinas” in the nation by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Gonzales’ commitment to service extends to her involvement in the community, where she sits on numerous boards throughout the Rio Grande Valley, further solidifying her reputation as a dedicated advocate and leader. With a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Southwest Texas State University and a law degree from The University of Texas at Austin, her expertise, combined with her passion for advocacy and community engagement, continues to leave an indelible mark on the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
Nicole Kaufman, Member
With 20+ years of organizational design and team development experience, Kaufman successfully launched Everest Management Solutions, a boutique operations strategy and development firm generating more than 1.5 million in revenue in its first year. As an expert talent acquisition and retention strategist, she continues to support Everest in her role as Innovation Advisor and simultaneously serves as Chief People Officer at Air Protein, LLC.
She has more than 15 years of leadership experience in various areas of senior housing. Prior to founding Everest, Kaufman served as Chief Development Officer and Vice president of Operations for Compass Point Healthcare, and vice president of business development at Savia Senior Care.
As a DWD Board Member and Chair of the Grant and Scholarship Committee, Kaufman has “the opportunity to support a program that encourages students to thrive in a healthcare career, positions them for career advancement, and assists in the removal of barriers to continued success.”
Kaufman obtained her BS in education focused on communication sciences and disorders from The University of Georgia. She lives in Houston with her husband and two daughters.
Barb Clapp, Ex-oficio
Barb Clapp is the CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD), a mission-driven nonprofit reshaping the healthcare workforce through a holistic, human-centered approach. Under her leadership, DWD delivers CNA/GNA training, wraparound services, personalized case management, and long-term career support—empowering individuals facing systemic barriers while addressing the national healthcare staffing shortage.
Personally selected by co-founder Jack Dwyer to bring DWD from concept to reality, Barb has built the organization into a rapidly expanding, nationwide force for equity and opportunity. She oversees strategy, operations, program development, fundraising and key partnerships, drawing on decades of experience as both a nonprofit leader and successful entrepreneur.
Before joining DWD in 2021, Barb founded and led Clapp Communications, an award-winning global communications firm. Following the successful sale of the company in 2019, she turned her focus to full-time mission-driven work. A graduate of Loyola University, she has served on more than 20 nonprofit boards, including a Governor-appointed position on the University of Maryland Medical System Board.
A sought-after speaker on leadership, resilience, and business strategy, Barb has been widely recognized for her impact. Her honors include Baltimore Business Journal’s Power 10, The Daily Record’s Most Influential Marylander, Most Admired CEO, and three-time Top 100 Women honoree (Circle of Excellence inductee), the PRSA Lifetime Achievement Award, and BBJ’s Enterprising Women of Excellence.
Barb’s passion for service extends beyond her role—she actively supports causes in healthcare, education, and animal welfare. Her leadership is the driving force behind DWD’s mission: transforming lives, strengthening communities, and building a more equitable future for the healthcare workforce.
A native of Baltimore, Barb still calls the city home with her husband. When she’s not at DWD, she’s all about family and friends, travel adventures, killer workouts, gardening, whipping up the latest New York Times recipes, or enjoying a great book.
