Our Staff

Sharon E. Goldsmith, Esq.

Executive Director

443-703-3048 | sgoldsmith [at] probonomd.org

Sharon E. Goldsmith joined PBRC in 1990 as its founding director. Sharon manages the overall operation of PBRC, including strategic planning, media relations, program development, financial management, human resources, board development, project incubation, and leadership. She also works closely with the Court of Appeals on its Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services as well as with local pro bono committees and legal services providers to ensure the most effective and coordinated system of pro bono delivery exists statewide.

Annie Brinkmann Speedie

Deputy Director

443-703-3051 | aspeedie [at] probonomd.org

Annie Brinkmann Speedie joined PBRC in 2011 and serves as the Deputy Director. Annie supervises PBRC’s Pro Bono Projects in the areas of home preservation, consumer protection, tenant advocacy and immigrant assistance, and she oversees PBRC’s extensive volunteer attorney recruitment and support activities. She also manages the Litigation Fund, contributes to PBRC’s grant proposals and reporting requirements, provides support to the Pro Bono Coordinating Council, and offers technical assistance to other legal services programs.

Sydney Dunning, Esq.

Director of Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)

443-703-3049 | sdunning [at] probonomd.org

Sydney joined PBRC in 2016 and serves as the Director of PBRC’s Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP). Sydney is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of CAP including recruitment, training, and mentoring CAP volunteers and coordinating CAP courthouse-based pro bono clinics where staff and volunteer attorneys provide pro bono limited scope representation to tenants (Baltimore City) and consumers (Baltimore City and Prince George’s County) in district court.

Elizabeth L. Grove

Executive Assistant

443-703-3045 | egrove [at] probonomd.org

Elizabeth Grove joined PBRC in 2013 and serves as Sharon E. Goldsmith’s Executive Assistant. Elizabeth coordinates meetings and conference calls, manages communications, organizes files and record-keeping, responds to general inquiries, tracks donations, and assists with special events. She also works with the Standing Committee and Pro Bono Liaisons, and helps ensure that attorneys meet reporting requirements. Elizabeth also provides support to the staff and Board of Directors.

Allison Harris, Esq.

Director, Home Preservation Project (HPP)

443-706-3050 | aharris [at] probonomd.org

Allison Harris joined PBRC in 2019 and serves as the Director of the Home Preservation Project.  Allison oversees outreach to the Maryland legal community to recruit and train volunteer lawyers, and is responsible for running legal clinics that aim to protect senior citizens and to stabilize low-income Marylanders in their homes.

MatZyonna "Matte" Howard

Project Coordinator

443-703-3052 | mhoward [at] probonomd.org

MatZyonna “Matte” Howard joined PBRC in the fall of 2019 and serves as the Project Coordinator for the Home Preservation Project. Matte is the point of contact for clients interested in attending legal advice clinics and/or seeking other legal resources. She also assists with managing and tracking the Home Preservation Project trainings offered to volunteer attorneys who participate in estate planning, tax sale, and utility bill clinics.

Jaci Jones

Marketing and Communications Coordinator

jjones [at] probonomd.org

Jaci Jones joined PBRC in 2015 and serves as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Jaci coordinates all marketing efforts at PBRC for our events, trainings, and other activities. She also handles creating all graphic design, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), CMS & SEO efforts, advertisements/articles for the press, and branding for PBRC.

Monica Larsen

Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project Paralegal / Asistente Legal del Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland

443-703-3054 | mlarsen [at] probonomd.org

Monica Larsen joined PBRC in 2018 as the Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project Paralegal. Monica is the Spanish-speaking point of contact at weekly legal clinics, conducts follow up with clients, serves as a resource for Marylanders looking for legal help, and manages the volunteer interpreters. 

Monica Larsen se unió al PBRC en 2018 y es la asistente legal para el Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland. Monica es el punto de contacto para hispanohablantes en las clínicas legales, mantiene contacto con los clientes, sirve como un recurso para los residentes de Maryland que buscan ayuda legal y está a cargo del grupo de intérpretes.

Akeria "Kira" Lumpkins

Paralegal, Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)

443-703-3047 | alumpkins [at] probonomd.org

Akeria “Kira” Lumpkins joined PBRC in 2019 and serves as the paralegal for the Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP). Kira assists at CAP’s courthouse clinics, helps track grant progress, and manages case files and client data. In this role, she provides support to the activities of both the Consumer Protection Project and the Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day Program.

Dave Pantzer, Esq.

Director of Education, Outreach, and Technology

443-977-6721 | dpantzer [at] probonomd.org

Dave joined PBRC in 2018. He leads PBRC’s efforts to engage with the bar and the public, develops and supports partnerships with legal and community groups, supervises attorney recruitment and training for the partnerships, and oversees the use of emerging technologies and platforms to support PBRC’s mission. He is also the site administrator for Maryland Free Legal Answers and the staff liaison for the Annual Pro Bono Service Awards.

Kiah E. Pierre

Training & Records Manager

443-703-3046 | kpierre [at] probonomd.org

Kiah Pierre joined PBRC in 2009 and serves as the Training & Records Manager. Kiah coordinates pro bono trainings for lawyers, refers trained lawyers to legal service providers, and tracks the status of their pro bono activity. She also manages volunteer records, contributes to PBRC’s grant reporting requirements, and coordinates PBRC’s annual Maryland Partners for Justice Conference.

Emily M. Poor, Esq.

Staff Attorney, Home Preservation Project

443-703-3028 | epoor [at] probonomd.org

Emily joined PBRC in 2019 and serves as a staff attorney for the Home Preservation Project. Emily is responsible for coordinating community outreach for the Home Preservation Project’s clinics in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County. Emily also assists with recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteer attorneys who participate in estate planning, tax sale prevention, and utility bill clinics.

Linzey Powers

Development Director

443-613-8144 | lpowers [at] probonomd.org

Linzey Powers joined PBRC in 2017 and serves as the Development Director. Linzey oversees PBRC’s fundraising efforts, building relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations who share our vision of access to justice for all.

Catherine "Cate" H. Scenna, Esq.

Director, Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project | Directora del Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland

443-465-4627 | cscenna [at] probonomd.org

Catherine “Cate” Scenna joined PBRC in 2015 and serves as the Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project Manager. Cate is responsible for recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteer attorneys for the statewide Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project. Cate is also responsible for coordinating the Project’s courthouse clinics where volunteer attorneys meet with unaccompanied children to identify legal arguments they can make in their deportation proceedings and provide information about obtaining pro bono representation.

Catherine “Cate” Scenna se unió al PBRC en 2015 y sirve como la Directora del Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland. Cate es responsable de reclutar, entrenar y aconsejar a los abogados voluntarios que apoyan el Proyecto. Cate también es responsable de coordinar las clínicas de corte del Proyecto en las cuales abogados voluntarios se reúnen con menores no-acompañados para identificar argumentos legales que puedan utilizar en sus procedimientos de deportación y para proveer información acerca de cómo encontrar representación pro bono.

Marc S. Schultz

Project Coordinator

443-703-3053 | mschultz [at] probonomd.org

Marc Schultz, a Baltimore Corps Fellow, joined PBRC in 2019 as a Project Coordinator for the Home Preservation Project.  Marc is responsible for coordinating Baltimore City legal advice clinics to stabilize low income seniors in their homes.