Meet the Team
The Leadership Team
at Opportunities, Inc.
Robert Baynard
Chief Executive Officer
Robert Baynard
Chief Executive Officer
Rob is an experienced professional in the field of Developmental Disabilities Services. For over 17 years, he has continued to work tirelessly to help communities recognize the importance of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and to ensure widespread inclusivity. Rob has worked in direct support services, case management, quality assurance, and program oversight across the state of Maryland. In the last ten years, he has focused on services within the counties of Prince George and Montgomery. Currently, Rob serves as a Board member of the Maryland Association of Community Services. He Chairs the Prince George’s Provider Council, co-Chairs the Transition Workgroup of Montgomery County, and previously held an executive appointment to the Howard County Commission for Transitioning Students with Disabilities.
“Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities bring so much value to the communities where they live, and it is my hope to work to increase the community's awareness of this. I believe that everyone should be included and given opportunities to build skills and achieve the goals that they set for themselves. Here at Opportunities, Inc. I believe we are working to help the community recognize the impact that people with disabilities have.”
Daphni Steffin, MBA, ATACP
Chief Operating Officer
Daphni Steffin, MBA, ATACP
Chief Operating Officer
Daphni Steffin serves as Chief Operating Officer of Opportunities, Inc., where she leads organizational strategy, operations, and innovation to expand high-quality services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). A recognized leader in Maryland’s disability services system, Daphni currently serves as Co-Chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Technology First Taskforce and was a lead contributor to ATNavigator.com, a statewide resource designed to increase access to assistive technology. Her work has helped drive forward Maryland’s commitment to becoming a Technology First state. She is also a Board Member of Maryland Inclusive Housing, where she chairs a standing committee focused on advancing inclusive community living.
With more than 20 years of experience in the IDD field, Daphni brings deep expertise in program development, organizational leadership, systems integration, quality assurance, and service innovation. Prior to joining Opportunities, Inc.’s executive team in 2023, she supported the organization as its LTSS transition consultant, helping design and implement new community-based service models and operational strategies. During her decade long tenure at The Arc Baltimore, Daphni founded and led an Assistive Technology program that connected more than 500 people with IDD to tools that enhanced independence in daily living, employment, and education. She later served as Chief Product Officer at iCareManager, where she led product development, customer success, and system integration efforts, expanding the company’s reach and impact both in Maryland and nationwide.
Daphni is certified in Assistive Technology through California State University, Northridge. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Salisbury University, where she led a Best Buddies chapter, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She is certified in Results-Based Accountability (RBA) through Clear Impact, and Leading SAFe through Scaled Agile. She is a recipient of The Daily Record’s Leading Women Award and is widely recognized for her leadership, vision, and commitment to advancing inclusive, technology-driven solutions.
“At Opportunities Inc, our work is about more than services—it’s about building communities where people belong, participate, and have real opportunities to thrive.”
Katharine Saulsbury
Chief Programs Officer
Katharine Saulsbury
Chief Programs Officer
Katharine obtained a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and first ventured into the field of Human Services in 2013. She initially supported people in their recovery from substance abuse and collaborated with local recovery homes. In 2017, she began working in the IDD field. Throughout her tenure at Opportunities, Inc., Katharine has fulfilled various roles, including serving as a community staff member in Employment and Meaningful Day services, working as a case manager, and currently holding the position of Director of Programs for Montgomery County. These diverse experiences have significantly contributed to shaping Katharine's vision for how Opportunities, Inc. can impact the lives of the people we support. Katharine truly values the connections that she is able to make and finds deep fulfillment in the work she does day in and day out.
“Assisting people in recognizing their worth and experiencing the satisfaction of attaining their goals holds great significance for me. I firmly believe that everyone deserves to lead lives filled with passion, and I am thankful to be a part of positive change.”
Asacia Rankin-Wright
Chief People Officer
Netsanet Firew
Chief Finance Officer
Netsanet Firew
Chief Finance Officer
Netsanet is an experienced Accounting and Finance professional of over 10 years and has a strong background as Staff Accountant. Netsanet’s deep knowledge of both areas has allowed her to expertly support our organization’s objectives for almost three years.“Knowing that I am doing my part to help the people we serve is what I enjoy most about working at Opportunities Inc. Over the years, I have grown to love not just what I do, but also the company I proudly work for.”
Erin Fig
Director of Training
Erin Fig
Director of Quality Assurance and Training
Erin holds a Masters of Art from GWU in Art Therapy, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist in the state of Maryland and a Board Certified Art Therapist. Previously, Erin worked as a Teaching Assistant for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austin, Texas for two years. She worked with children who were visually impaired or blind and diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was this experience that helped to solidify her career path. Erin’s background in Art Therapy has allowed her to create meaningful relationships with the people she serves by leveraging alternate forms of communication and using different mediums to connect and get a small glimpse into their world. Erin joined Opportunities Inc. over 10 years ago.“I enjoy the human to human connection that is integral to our work. It reminds me of what is most important in life and is very grounding. I also enjoy challenges and the ability to think creatively. This comes into play when designing services that will best support someone to achieve their goals.”
Kristin Nelson
Director of Advancement
Kristin Nelson
Director of Advancement
Kristin has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and is the Director of Advancement at Opportunities, Inc., where she is dedicated to enhancing the organization’s capacity to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She received a Bachelor’s in Communications from McDaniel College in 2010 and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2014 and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland. Kristin is on the Board of Directors for a Nonprofit her family started in 2017 called Listen Love Pray Foundation.“I am strongly committed to finding opportunities that enhance organizational capacity, offering staff the space to empower individuals to make their own choices, which has the ability to transform lives, uphold dignity, and establish essential pathways to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.”
OUR GOVERNING BODY
The Board of Directors
Tom Purcell, Secretary
Retired
David Fierst
Retired
Gerald Hall
Protection Officer, Secret Service
Elizabeth Nardin
Special Education Teacher, MCPS
David Gundlach
National Institute of Science and Technology
Dylan Lewis
Head of Programing, The Motley Fool
Our Mission
Advocate for, empower and support full inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Our Vision
We envision inclusive communities where all are empowered to reach their full potential.