Our Team
Common Resilience Partners operates as a lean and efficient organization that embraces the idea of calling on professionals to support our programs when and where needed. Our team includes experienced and dedicated professionals who can join together as needed to make sure projects and programs are completed an effective, efficient, and impactful way. CRP contributors are true partners to the clients and communities we serve, helping resilience and development projects go from vision to reality.
Tom Litke
Program Director
Tom is focused on building resiliency into traditional communities. In a career serving New England and the Mid-Atlantic, he has led nonprofits and small businesses by managing $25m of projects and programming through building improvements and capacity building, emergency preparedness and historic preservation, placemaking and small business support.
John Mains
Business Development/Agri-Business Development Advisor
John Mains has a long career in community development projects spanning from urban economic development to rural business support. With a background in rural development, agriculture economics, and international devleopment, John has spent the last ten years as Director of SB Works, a DC Based Business support non-profit. With CRP, John contributes to support in economic planning, direct business develpment, and agri-business support. John also contributes with more advance legal and grant support services to CRP clients.
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David Gelles
Construction Manager
Mr. Gelles is the founder and Managing Director for Management Specialties LLC having oversight for all
business functions of the company. He brings 50+ years of project experience on varied Government, Commercial,
Institutional, and Aviation projects throughout the United States, with requisite experience in pre-
construction and on-site management of projects.
Chris Van Orden
Business Planning and Expansion Specialist
Business Planning and Expansion Specialist- Chris Van Orden has had an interesting career helping small businesses reach the next level and expand with successful periods serving craft beverage industries, food and beverage businesses, and transportation/logistics related business interests. Chris helps CRP when businesses or business communities we work with need help planning for future growth and guidance especially, or when our projects involve greater integration and involvement with food, beverage, and local logistics industries.
Kalysta Perez
Business Support Specialist
Kalysta is a Maryland native who attended the University of Maryland. Since completing her degree, she has worked in community engagement and business support throughout Maryland. She is committed to community-centered placemaking efforts, as well as strengthening and revitalizing commercial districts.
Brad Humbert
Manufacturing and Food Systems Consultant
Brad is the perfect example of how CRP works to find the people best suited to assist with projects and programs. Originally a client of Common Resilience Partners with grant support assistance for his Westminster, MD area farm, Brad is now on call for projects that involve manufacturing, food systems, and more technical/engineering based specialties. An aerospace engineering graduate from WVU, Brad has brought that advanced technical knowledge to use with rural Maryland based projects, as well as being well connected in the local food and craft beverage/value-added agriculture communities of Maryland.
Our Board of Directors
Charles Kim
President
Charles Kim is a lifelong Maryland Resident, a US Army Combat Veteran, and an experienced Project Manager for multiple state and federal agencies over his career. Originally from Howard County, Charles is dedicated to seeing Maryland's communities of all sizes and types thrive and provide the support, opportunities, and resources to its residents that they deserve.
Nancy Khan
Treasurer
As a Botanist for the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Nancy loves the natural world and knows that a successful future involves communities integrating with natural and the environment in ways the help the people, their culture, and their homes. Also deeply interested in the history of the DMV region, Nancy is excited to see communities preserve their heritage and stories in ways help build an identity not just of the past, but for future generations as well.
Hank Harned
Secretary
Having worked for two governors before starting his own consulting company Hank is
considered an expert in workforce development and labor relations in multiple industries including manufacturing, healthcare, and education. His work has accounted for billions of dollars spent to implement and improve workforce programs at the local, state, and national level. He is passionate about helping citizens improve their lives and their
communities. If you can’t find him in the office, he’s probably walking his dog Huckleberry at the park.