KEY STAFF
Robin Rickard J.D: Chief Executive Officer
Robin received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1999. She began her career as an Assistant State's Attorney for the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office where she prosecuted hundreds of cases. Before retiring after 30 years of service, she was assigned to the felony drug unit as well as drug court. This is when Ms. Rickard became passionate about helping those who suffer from substance use disorder in the criminal justice system. In March of 2019 she joined the Opioid Operational Command Center. She served as the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff until she was appointed Executive Director by Governor Hogan in June of 2021. She served on the Hogan/Rutherford administration's cabinet until the end of January when she was honored to join Chrysalis House as the Chief Executive Officer.
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Debbie Daugherty: Director of Development
Debbie has over thirty years of experience as a fundraising professional working for numerous nonprofit organizations in the Annapolis area including Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB), The ARC Central Chesapeake Region, Bello Machre, St. Mary's School and Parish, Anne Arundel Medical Center, The Key School, and Anne Arundel Community College Foundation. She is a Founding Member of Anne Arundel Women Giving together, a former President of the Junior League of Annapolis and the Ballet Theater of Maryland, and a member of the Rotary Club of Annapolis. She is a Leadership Anne Arundel '99 graduate and holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Karen Hoyer: Director of Performance Improvement
Karen came to Chrysalis House in November of 2019. She holds an Associates Degree in Human Services from Anne Arundel Community College. Karen has worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years, and feels passionately about giving back to the community. Her role is to assist the agency in providing the necessary supports to help women transform their lives and the lives of their children. She resides in Anne Arundel County.​
Diana Martin: Chief Administrative Officer
Diana serves as CHI's first Chief Administrative Officer at Chrysalis House. She has over 15 years of experience working for nonprofit organizations and over 10 years as an HR professional. Diana’s passion has always been work that supports the community and those in need. For the past 11 years on weekends and holidays, she works for Senior Services of Alexandria’s Meals on Wheels program as their Program Coordinator. Diana holds two degrees in Psychology and is currently working on her SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) certification.
Cathy Scott: Director of Finance
Cathy Scott has 17 years of operations and non-profit experience. Her passion is to work towards a specific mission that directly, tangibly, and positively impacts people lives. She believes supporting underserved groups, advocating for better mental health, and promoting environmental causes makes a real social impact. She is a native Washingtonian and has 2 sons and 3 grandchildren.
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Denise Spencer, MS: Early Childhood Development Director
Denise has over two decades of experience working with children and families. She has worked with a variety of populations including children and families with psychological disorders, the medically fragile and special needs population, and typically developing pre-kindergarten children. She comes to Chrysalis House with strong knowledge about early childhood development. A resident of Anne Arundel County, Denise is committed to supporting the women at Chrysalis House by strengthening their interactions with their children and educating them on ways to have long-lasting, positive relationships. Denise earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Master’s Degree in Counseling Education from McDaniel College.
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​Debra L. Tribble, MS: Chief Residential Officer
Debra has been the Program Director of Chrysalis House Healthy Start (CHHS) since the its founding in 2007, overseeing all aspects of the program. CHHS is a CARF-accredited Community Housing program for pregnant women (or those with a child under age 3) who have completed a higher level of treatment for substance abuse. The program, located in Baltimore City, is a recognized model for the integration of addiction treatment, mental health counseling, trauma services, and parent training. Debra brings over 32 years of experience in treatment services to Chrysalis House Healthy Start, as a clinician, program analyst and administrator in both the public and private sectors. Debra earned an undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and holds a Master's Degree in Community Health from Trinity College of Vermont.
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​Dr. Nicole Erkfitz: Chief Clinical Officer
Dr. Nicole Erkfitz is the Chief Clinical Officer at Chrysalis House, a distinguished behavioral health provider specializing in treating women and healing the family through residential and outpatient treatment. Dr. Erkfitz journey to this pivotal role is marked by a background in developing and leading multiple residential and outpatient behavioral health centers across the nation.
Prior to her current position, Dr. Erkfitz amassed invaluable experience within state and federal agencies. Her commitment to social issues took her overseas to India, where she served with the Department of State’s political section where she aided research on societal challenges in India.
Dr. Erkfitz's doctoral studies were dedicated to the critical exploration of birth trauma and the distinctive mental health needs of women and families in the postpartum period. Throughout her career, Dr. Erkfitz has dedicated her career to making behavioral healthcare accessible to everyone. Her impact extends beyond her administrative role, as she has contributed significantly to the field through clinical supervision, the development of continuing education courses, and the self-publishing of a children’s book and “how to” guide for parents seeking to integrate therapeutic language into their homes.
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Dr. Nicole Erkfitz's professional journey is characterized by a profound dedication to enhancing mental health services and fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals and families.
To contact any of our "Key Staff" members, please click on their name.