Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders with expertise in a wide range of areas, including training, advocacy, education, finance, law, fund development, and business management. The Board is responsible for taking care of the strategic and financial health of the organization on an ongoing basis. Each member contributes a tremendous amount of time, energy, and talent to ensure the vitality of our organization.

Meet Our Board

Rick Trawick

Founder

Rick is Founder of Second Chances Garage. Rick and his wife Cindy started Second Chances in 2010 with a vision to help those in need with transportation issues. His background in engineering and passion for cars of all types has been used to help create and grow an organization that can assist with low-cost cars, car repairs and reasonably priced used cars for our clients. In his spare time, Rick works on restoring his small fleet of old cars, reading history and hanging out with family.

Laura Johnson

Board Chairman

Laura Johnson is the owner/founder of Hummingbird Wealth Management located in Walkersville, MD.  Laura has been a financial professional for almost 40 years.  Hummingbird Wealth Management was created in 2013 as a place where EVERYONE is welcome.  They believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn about planning, finances & investing to better their future.  Laura joined Second Chances Garage as a board member in 2020 and became the Chairman of the Board in 2024.  She brings many years of experience working with non-profit organizations to include Warrior Canine Connection, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Boy Scouts of America.  Laura appreciates the mission of Second Chances Garage – she has had personal experience with family members struggling through and beyond addiction and mental health issues.  She believes that the mission of Second Chances Garage is one that would’ve helped her family members tremendously through their journeys.  Laura and her family live in Frederick County and can be often found outside enjoying nature through hikes, camping, boating, etc.

Russ Clark

vice president

Russ is a native Marylander, and only resided outside of the state for his college years at Elon College in NC. Russ majored in Leisure and Sports Management with an eye on the park service. He served as a Summer intern (1995) at Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, MD, thus solidifying that Frederick County would someday be home. Russ has supported Second Chances Garage through 2 donated vehicles and 1 purchase off the lot before becoming a Board Member in January 2023. Russ is a career homebuilder and works with Lennar Homes as the Construction Scheduling Manager for the VA/WV/DC Metro Division. He lives with his wife, Brandy, and their 3 kids in New Market, MD. The Clark’s also work with several agencies fostering dogs. In addition to their 3 rescued dogs, they have fostered over 20 dogs over the past several years.

April Dixon

secretary

April Dixon is an attorney at McCurdy, Dean & Graditor, LLC, where her practice areas include estate planning, trust and estate administration, commercial real estate, and land use. April is an active member of the Bar Association of Frederick County and the Frederick County Estate Planning Council. She has served in various officer roles for the Young Lawyers Section.  April is a lifelong volunteer of the Frederick County 4-H Youth Program and currently serves on the board of directors for the Frederick County 4-H Camp & Activities Center. She is a Leadership Frederick County 2023-2024 cohort member.  April has always called Frederick home – she grew up on a dairy farm outside of Mt. Airy and currently lives near Libertytown with her husband and their dogs. 

Bob Bennett

Treasurer

Bob Bennett has been actively involved in his community for over thirty years having served on the Board of Social Services for Frederick County, the Board of Elections for Frederick City, the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts National Capital Area Council, the Board of his homeowner’s association, and the Board of his condominium.  After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1963, he served in the U.S. Navy for seven years.  Upon leaving the Navy, he embarked on a business career that encompassed information technology, financial services, and operations management.  He held management positions at Sperry Univac and executive management positions at the Calvert Group and the Success for All Foundation.  He earned a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and an M.S. in Administration from George Washington University.

Taner Hassan

Board Member

Taner Hassan was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He completed his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University earning multiple degrees in Aviation Business Management. He has worked in various finance, marketing, and distribution roles at US Airways and in business development while at USA Today, before starting his own business. He has also held various management positions in the automobile industry, since 2001, buying and selling cars both retail and wholesale.  

Taner is currently the Senior Partner at F.C. Tax and Accounting Services, Inc.  He and his wife Stephanie live between Monrovia, MD and Vero Beach, FL and enjoy spending time with their children and love traveling.

Jose Bueso
Jose Bueso

Board Member

Jose Bueso has over 50 years of experience in the automotive industry, working for GM dealerships from 1972 to 1995. He co-founded Dynamic Automotive in 1995, serving as president of the company till 2018, he currently serves as Vice President and COO.

Jose has been an ASE Master Certified Technician since 1982 and currently retains advanced-level certifications as well.

His community involvement includes:

  • The Frederick County Career and Technology Center (CTC) and serving as the President of the Frederick County Students Mechanical Trades Foundation (FCSMTF), 2007- present.
  • Chair of the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council 2017 – present
  • Member of the AutoCare Associations Government Affairs Committee, 2016 – present.
  • Member-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce Member.
  • Past president of Carroll Creek Toastmasters.

Jose and his wife Laura live in Walkersville and enjoy much of what the area offers.

Ben Trawick
Ben Trawick

Board Member

Ben is an engaged member of the Frederick community and owner of Braveo, a full-service marketing agency located in downtown Frederick. He is a graduate of the 2023 class of Leadership Frederick County and an active member of the Key City Rotary Club. Ben has had the opportunity to serve Second Chances Garage in different volunteer and contractor roles over the years including creating marketing assets and managing IT and website needs for the organization. When he isn’t working you can find Ben at his Frederick home with his wife and son or playing board games at one of Frederick’s local breweries.

Dani Gurrie

Board Member

Dani Gurrie is the Marketing & Promotions Director for Manning Media Inc. – the parent company of 5 local radio stations (Key103, 106.9 The Eagle, Max Country, Hope FM and WARK). During the pandemic in March of 2020, she volunteered to “help out” during the launch of the brand-new Dina Carole Morning Show on Key103 and has been there ever since! Previous to this role, Dani was the founder of popular parenting website, Tots2Tweens.com. That 13 year experience gave Dani the insight to be able to understand issues that small businesses face each day. Dani joined the Second Chances board in 2023 bringing with her experience having been on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run & United Way of Frederick County. Her passion with helping out the community has led to raising tens of thousands of dollars for organizations throughout the area. Dani lives in Frederick with her family.

Holly Schor

Board Member

Holly Schor is the Vice President of Mission Services & Community Engagement for the Goodwill of Monocacy Valley, serving Frederick and Carroll County.  Holly has been with the Goodwill family since 2011, and joined the Frederick team in 2020 to support the merger between Goodwill of Monocacy Valley and Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ.  Her recent leadership efforts include rebuilding a new mission services experience in Maryland and creating an inviting work culture for Goodwill of Monocacy Valley team members. 

Holly is both personally and professionally aligned with the mission of Goodwill of Empowering Individuals, Strengthening Families, and Building Stronger Communities.  At an early age, Holly learned how the power of work can create a lasting impact on a family.  Watching her father struggle for years with significant barriers, she has made it her mission to redefine how people connect to work.