Mr. Sheesley has over thirty years of experience in government, regulatory, and permitting processes with a specialty in environmental matters. During that period, Mr. Sheesley accumulated technical and administrative experience as a Sanitarian, Supervisor, Department Bureau Director, and Department Director. In most positions that Mr. Sheesley held, he was responsible for, or participated in public forums, community involvement, consensus building, and working with competing interests. During the past eleven years Mr. Sheesley has acted as a private consultant to real estate developers, banking institutions, and local and state governments providing assistance on land use issues, government regulation, permitting requirements and negotiation, environmental sanitation, and natural resources.

Rob Goldman is currently the Director of the Sport & Fitness Division and a Vice-President of The Columbia Association. In that capacity Rob oversees the development, construction, and operation of all 37 of CA’s recreation facilities. Rob has also been very active in working toward improving the overall health of Howard County by serving on a variety of Boards including The Family Life Center, The Health Initiative Leadership Team, The American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, the Partnership for a Quality Community, & the Coalition for Increasing Physical Activity in Howard County. Rob joined the Board of Health in July 2004

Peter L. Beilenson, M.D., M.P.H. currently serves as Health Officer of Howard County Maryland. Dr. Beilenson brings 13 years of experience in public health leadership having served as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner under the administrations of Mayors Kurt Schmoke and Martin J. O'Malley.

Dr. Beilenson received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College, Medical Doctorate from Emory University School of Medicine, and Masters in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

During his tenure in Baltimore City, Dr. Beilenson’s vision led to expanded drug treatment programs in Baltimore, improved immunization compliance, a wide range of extremely effective lead poisoning prevention initiatives, juvenile violence prevention, and the creation of the state-wide initiative for universal health coverage in Maryland- Health Care for All.

Dr. Beilenson has received many national and local awards for his innovative health policies including the first-ever recipient of the Milton and Ruth Roemer Award for creativity by a local health official from the American Public Health Association, the American Lung Association of Maryland’s President’s Award, and the Child Advocate of the Year by CASA of Maryland.

For more than 20 years, Gail Doerr has held professional positions in Maryland hospital systems, wellness centers, and institutions of higher education. A graduate of Fordham University, her areas of expertise include business development, marketing and communications, and education. Gail presently serves as the Director of Program and Business Development for the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She has been a resident of Howard County since 2001 and has served on the Board of Health since 2003.

Vanessa Foreman-Islam is a research and academic administrator who is currently directing research and education activities for a basic science department in the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland. She has resided in Howard County for nine years. Her interest in the well being of county residents, particularly its youth and elderly community, is evident by the volunteer commitments she has made in the past to the Howard County Human Rights Commission, NAACP Youth Council, the Shalom Square seniors and most recently to the Board of Health. Vanessa has been serving the Howard County Board of Health since September 2004.

Kari Appler has worked in public health advocacy and communications for over fourteen years. She currently serves as Project Director of the National Conference on Tobacco or Health at Danya International, Inc.

She previously served as the Director of Smoke Free Maryland, a statewide coalition of public health and community groups working to reduce the toll of tobacco-caused disease. Ms. Appler has volunteered and worked with numerous groups at the state and local levels to improve health and expand access to quality health care. Ms. Appler has resided in Howard County for three years.

Dr. Harry A. Oken, Clinical Professor of Medicine, earned his BS from the University of Maryland; his MS in Parasitology from the University of Maryland, and his MD., cum laude, from University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Oken is board certified in internal medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Oken is involved in administration at Howard County General Hospital and has served as Chairman of Medicine since 1994. Additionally, he is active in the teaching program at the University of Maryland and is a Clinical Professor of Medicine. Dr. Oken is married with three children.

Alex Ross has been a Howard County resident for over nine years. Dr. Ross is a senior health policy analyst with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. The focus of his professional work is on addressing the health care concerns of low-income and vulnerable populations across the Nation and assuring the viability of the health care safety net. Alex holds a Doctor of Science Degree in Health Policy from The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. Dr. Ross joined the Board to support the quality of life he enjoys in his community.

Dr. Tayman became owner and president of Columbia Animal Hospital in 1974 and has had a successful thirty-year career. He has also been the owner of four other animal hospitals. Dr. Tayman is a member of the Howard County Board of Health, is involved with the Domestic Violence Center of Howard County, as well was a board member of the Howard County Hospital Foundation, a member of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, and served as President of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Tayman has received numerous awards during his career including Best Veterinarian of the Year Howard County.

Sue Song is an advanced psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner that has devoted her professional life to the welfare of children and families. She has taken on a daunting array of duties that include: mental health care management consultant with two mental health clinics, adjunct faculty member for the University of Maryland, medical advisor for MEDIX, adjunct professor of Chung Nam University and Visiting professor of Seoul National University in South Korea.

Sue Song has also promoted the overall health of Korean American community by reducing cultural barriers and securing essential services for Korean American citizens of all ages. In particular, as past President of the Korean American Community Association she was a leading figure in articulating the needs of the fast-growing Korean American Community to government officials. She established Care Line services for Korean American community which is an information, referral and crisis hot line. Also, Care Line is a bridge between Korean American Community and Community at large for diversity and cultural training.