Organizational Leaders and Vision, Mission and Values

Theodore Dallas Secretary of Programs

Theodore Dallas
Secretary

Theodore Dallas was appointed secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources in May of 2011, after serving as interim secretary since the beginning of that year. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Dallas was selected by Governor Martin O'Malley to serve as his deputy chief of staff. In that capacity, Mr. Dallas oversaw more than a half-dozen state government agencies ranging from economic development to housing and community development. Prior to his work in Maryland, Mr. Dallas served for five years as the executive deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. He continues to utilize his considerable management and leadership experience to strengthen DHR programs and systems that provide assistance to over one million Marylanders annually.

Mr. Dallas earned an undergraduate degree in political science and economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Temple University.

Leonard James Howie, III

Leonard James Howie, III
Deputy Secretary of Operations

With over 25 years of management experience, Mr. Howie is a vital part of helping to move the agency forward. His agency-wide responsibilities include overseeing administrative operations, budget and finance, technology, HR and other core functions that support all of the agency's work. Before coming to DHR, Mr. Howie was an integral part of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation where he was a part of the executive management team.

Mr. Howie earned a Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown University. He is a member of the Maryland Bar.

   
Carnitra White Executive Director Social Services Administration

ML Wernecke
Chief of Staff

As Chief of Staff, Ms. Wernecke coordinates with stakeholders in an effort to identify strategies and resources to more effectively serve Marylanders. She brings considerable experience in creating and coordinating policy inititatives and has served as Policy Director for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare as well as Deputy Policy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Policy and Planning.

Ms. Wernecke's experience and proven track record of securing project funding, and overseeing job placement and training programs will serve the agency well as she works closely with the Office of the Secretary and DHR's statewide leadership team.

   
Carnitra White Executive Director Social Services Administration

Carnitra White
Executive Director
Social Services Administration

Carnitra White oversees the state's foster care and adoption system, adult services and child protective services. She began her career at DHR in 1993 as a Purchase of Care (POC) worker at Baltimore City DSS. She was formerly the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Programs and has also has also served as the manager of the Office of Strategic Management at the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

Ms. White has a bachelor's degree in communications from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and a master's degree in social work from the University of Maryland. She resides in Baltimore and is active with numerous community and social organizations.

   
Kevin McGuire Executive Director Family Investment Administration

Rosemary Malone
Executive Director
Family Investment Administration

Rosemary Malone has over 30 years of experience with the Department of Human Resources. Prior to serving in her current capacity, she served as Deputy Executive Director responsible for the Office of Programs. In this role, she managed the agency's temporary cash assistance, food stamps, medical assistance and energy assistance programs.

In addition to overseeing economic assistance programs, Ms. Malone has considerable experience in employment and training, quality control, research and analysis, and planning. After graduating from Eckerd College and doing graduate work at the University of South Florida, she began her public service career with the Florida Department of Commerce.

Gina Executive Director Child Support Enforcement Administration

Joseph DiPrimio
Executive Director
Child Support Enforcement Administration

Mr. DiPrimio brings over 30 years of front-line and executive experience in state and local government and has considerable private sector experience. Prior to coming to Maryland, Mr. DiPrimio worked with Philadelphia's Child Support program and was responsible for overseeing the administration of the Philadelphia Court System.

His considerable experience has prepared him well to assist Maryland in reviewing its operations and making the necessary adjustments to achieve Maryland's goal of becoming one of the top ten states in the nation for child support collections.

Carnitra White Executive Director Social Services Administration

Ian Patrick Hines
Director
Communications Office

Mr. Hines is the senior communication strategist for the agency and works with the Secretary and the DHR leadership team to develop the agency's key messages. His office is responsible for supporting media management, public relations and internal/external outreach for DHR and the local departments of social services.

Prior to joining the agency, Mr. Hines was the Communications and Marketing Manager at the Maryland Energy Administration. He also served the City of Baltimore from 2008 to 2010, first as a liaison for the mayor to the city's southern and southeastern neighborhoods, and later as a legislative assistant to the president of the city council.

Mr. Hines is a 2007 graduate of McDaniel College with a degree in political science and international studies. He earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore.

   

VISION

We envision a Maryland where people independently support themselves and their families and where individuals are safe from abuse and neglect.

MISSION

We will aggressively pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults.
Our Mission is based on the following principles:

  1. Work is indispensable for achieving independence.
  2. Partnerships and alliances with business and the community are critical to our customers' ability to achieve and maintain independence.
  3. Families should be the first resource for the emotional and financial support of their children and other family members.
  4. Assistance is provided to people while honoring individual and group differences.
  5. Empowerment is essential to the provision of human services.

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

  1. Valuing and acquiring knowledge for the development of staff and for making informed decisions.
  2. Basing behavior on ethical principles and working with integrity.
  3. Measuring outcomes and being accountable for results.
  4. Investing in teamwork to accomplish our mission.
  5. Valuing each other and respecting different views, opinions, and experiences.
  6. Seizing opportunities for organizational excellence through innovation and creativity.
  7. Learning from our experiences and celebrating our accomplishments.
  8. Promoting employee well-being.