Women’s Conference

Keynote Speaker

Tisha Edwards, MSW, JD,

Tisha serves as the Secretary of Appointments and a trusted advisor to Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Secretary Edwards was the principal architect behind the appointment of Governor Moore’s historically diverse Cabinet. Leading the Governor’s Appointments Office, she is responsible for amplifying the administration’s impact across the state – through appointments to Maryland’s 600+ boards and commissions. With core principles of excellence and equity, Secretary Edwards plays a pivotal role in realizing Governor Moore’s transformative vision to leave no Marylander behind.

Prior to joining state service, Secretary Edwards served as Chief of Staff for the Governor’s successful gubernatorial campaign and election as Maryland’s first African American governor. Secretary Edwards is recognized for her expertise in developing purpose-driven strategies that maximize outcomes for constituents and stakeholders. With a career spanning over 20 years, she has negotiated landmark contracts benefiting Baltimore City teachers, distributed vital eviction prevention aid during the COVID-19 crisis and chaired the committee to modernize Maryland’s recruitment and hiring practices. Secretary Edwards is a C-Suite executive with extensive leadership within the private, nonprofit and government sectors.

Secretary Edwards earned her Master’s of Social Work and J.D. from the University of Maryland. She is a sought-after thought leader and frequent speaker on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. She serves on the boards of the United Way of Central Maryland, Baltimore’s Promise, Mariposa Education and the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation. She is a dedicated mother to Nicholas and Nevan, and is a native of Meridian, Mississippi.

 Maryland Insurance Acting Commissioner, Marie Grant

Marie has been appointed Maryland Insurance Acting Commissioner by Governor Moore effective October 1, subject to confirmation by the Maryland Senate. Marie believes access to quality insurance products for Marylanders is critical to making Maryland more competitive, safer, and more affordable.

Marie Grant is an attorney and state and federal policy expert with nearly 20 years of experience in policy, strategy, and regulation in both the public and private sector, mainly in the fields of insurance and health care payment. Her previous roles include Assistant Secretary for Health Policy at the Maryland Department of Health and Vice President of Public Policy at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.

Marie started her career at the Maryland Department of Legislative Services as nonpartisan committee counsel to the House Health and Government Operations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee where she advised the committee on health, life, and malpractice insurance legislation, as well as consumer protection.

Marie received her B.A. in public health from the Johns Hopkins University and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She lives in Catonsville with her husband and family.

Celiane Boston

Celiane is a proud wife and mother of two boys. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and is the founder of CBFI Agency, an insurance company she established in April 2020. Before starting her own business, she spent over 17 years in the banking industry. During the last five years of her banking career, she specialized in placing insurance policies. However, she was often faced with challenges to secure the best rates for her clients, due to conflicts of interest and restrictions imposed by the bank. That experience led her to reevaluate her career path which resulted in the creation of the CBFI Agency. Her goal was to create a company that prioritizes clients’ needs and offers tailored insurance solutions. At CBFI Agency, Celiane and her team are dedicated to helping both companies and families find the best policies to protect their interests. Celiane said, “This journey has been incredibly fulfilling, allowing me to leverage my expertise and passion for providing exceptional service to those who trust us with their insurance needs.”

Mariana Fernández

Born in Venezuela, Mariana is the CEO of Highland Insurance Group. She graduated from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello with a degree in Social Communication, specializing in Journalism. In 2014, she immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland, to pursue professional opportunities. Shortly after her arrival, Mariana faced significant challenges. However, she never considered giving up. After overcoming these difficulties, she and her husband decided to build a better life for themselves and their family. For the past two years, she has been leading Highland Insurance Group, an insurance agency dedicated to the Hispanic community, founded on the values of service, dedication, honesty, and kindness. Mariana has been recognized several times in the community and is currently on the District Growth Council for Allstate.

Ayana Johnson

Ayana is an estate planning attorney with a commitment to educating and empowering those around her through the law. She grew up in Dover, Delaware, and attended the University of Delaware for undergraduate school, where she earned her degree in Criminal Justice and Philosophy. Upon graduating, she entered law school at Howard University. While at Howard Law, she worked for the Federal Public Defender, the Delaware Department of Justice, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. After graduating law school, she accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City; Brooklyn, to be exact. During her time in Brooklyn, she indicted dozens of cases from gun charges to attempted murders, and she learned what the hype behind New York Bagels is really about. After a few years in Brooklyn, she returned to the DC area and worked at a local law firm as an Estate Planning Attorney. There, she learned just how imperative it is for people to not only to build wealth but to protect it. At the beginning of 2024, she opened her own law firm, Johnson Legal PLLC, with the goal of educating and empowering her clients and her community by teaching them the importance of estate planning.

Sue Rogan

Sue leads the expansion and support of asset building coalitions and partnership development to cultivate and broaden a group of stakeholders from around the state who are committed to asset building programs such as financial education, financial coaching and tax preparation. She leads CASH’s efforts to provide professional development for practitioners and oversees special projects that serve unique audiences. She also serves as CASH’s representative on several state Commissions to represent the individual consumer voice and is a Board Member of Consumer Action. Sue obtained a BA in Political Science from University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and prior to joining CASH, was an Investigator/Communications Manager with Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.

Suzanne Thompson

Suzanne worked in the employee benefits side of the insurance business for 36 years. She started at CareFirst’s Freestate Health Plan, then took a hiatus and opened American Sports Exchange which received Baltimore’s Best, and Baltimore Magazines Best of Baltimore awards.

She went back into insurance with MAMSI health working with groups 1500 plus. In 1993, she purchased an agency and has worked as a broker ever since. She has been active on the Board of Girl Scouts of Central MD for the past 18 years. She has received The Top 100 Women Award twice, Smart CEO Bravo Award, and Innovator of the Year Award. Suzanne also sits on the board of Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company and has been the Board Chair for the past 4 years.

Katelyn Todd, FNP

Katelyn is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a strong clinical interest in women’s health issues. She practices alongside two female surgical oncologists, Dr. Atsuko Okabe and Dr. Daria Abolghasemi, at the MedStar Franklin Square Breast Center, where she specializes in patients with breast cancer and benign breast conditions, as well as patients with high lifetime risk of breast cancer. She is passionate about educating women and empowering them to make informed healthcare decisions.