Ron Ward | Managing Director
Ron Ward joined joined Madison House Autism Foundation in July 2014 after spending fifteen years as an Office and Business Manager in the nonprofit and for profit sectors. Ronald hails from Richmond, Virginia, but was raised primarily in the Northern Neck area of Virginia in the small boatbuilding and oysterman community of Hartfield.
At Madison House Autism Foundation Ron oversees all financial, administrative and human resource activities as well as the day-to-day operations of the Foundation. Having a strong background in the arts enables him to lend both experience and enthusiasm to the myriad of initiatives spanning all creative mediums and reaching many types of audiences.
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Ron received a degree in Theater and Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland where he studied 20th Century Directors and Theorists. Ron once acted professionally, but now focuses his energies on the Madison House Autism Foundation. He uses his talents to help build a robust infrastructure, implement best practices, and enhance programs to serve the Foundation’s constituents. He dedicates his free time to his partner and her two wonderful children, and, if scheduling permits, he acts occasionally. You might have seen him at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre (Frederick, MD), Silver Spring Stage, Constellation Theatre, Folger Theatre or even on TV.
Jessica Simpson | Director of Operations, Madison Fields
Jessica Simpson has over 18 years of experience working with horses. Her family owns and operates a boarding facility located in Mt. Airy, MD where she grew up caring for horses, and learning the business. While in college, Jess participated in the Equestrian Team and volunteered with a local horse rescue. During the summers, she managed a facility in Frederick, MD, where she cared for 25 horses, managed their summer lesson and camp program, and taught beginner lessons.
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After Jess graduated from Salisbury University in 2013, she began a career in sales, but ultimately decided to return to her original passion and join the Madison Fields team in 2017.
“This is one of the most rewarding industries, and jobs, I will ever have. I am truly blessed to be able to share my passion, and love of horses with this community.”
Ann Carrick | Communications Manager & Research Associate
Ann Carrick has worked for several years in communications and research in nonprofit and academic sectors, including work with the International Positive Psychology Association and the Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development. She holds an M.A. in Positive Health Psychology and has focused on wellbeing across the lifespan. With an adult brother on the autism spectrum who faces daily challenges, Ann is passionate about building, modeling, and advocating for resources for and with autistic adults. She is certified in autism strategies for young adults through the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) and is thrilled to be able to bridge her communications and research background, as well as her experience with autism, with supporting autistic adults and their families.
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Nancy Frasche | Job Readiness Program Manager, Madison Fields
Nancy Frasche, a Montgomery County native, has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Her passion for the special needs community was ignited by her brother, who has Autism and is currently supported by a local adult service program.
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After graduating from Elon University with degrees in Special and Elementary Education, Nancy began her career at the Ivymount School in 2004, a private school in Rockville that teaches individuals with learning differences. Within Ivymount, Nancy worked as a 1:1 aide in the Autism Program, a Job Coach, and eventually rose to the level of Employment Coordinator for the Post High School Program, where she managed a team of Job Coaches and was responsible for building work partnerships within the community.
In 2017, Nancy began running the Job Readiness Program at Madison Fields. She also maintains a portfolio of private clients and works to develop their community and independent living skills. On the weekends, she helps run a recreational horseback riding program for individuals with learning differences.
Don Wiggins | Financial and Operations Manager
Don Wiggins graduated from the University of Maryland in 1992 with a BS in Chemistry and a BS in Secondary Science Education. He spent 12 years teaching High School Chemistry, during which he earned an MS in Environmental Biology from Hood College. He then left work and became a stay-at-home homeschooling Dad to two sons for 20 years. Somewhere in there he also picked up a Certificate in Biotechnology from Montgomery College.
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After his sons were both off to college, it was time for a challenge and a change – 30+ years in education one way or another was enough. Don learned of a new program from the State of Maryland called the Maryland Corps. He applied for the program, was accepted, and was placed at Madison House Autism Foundation at the end of October, 2023. He enjoyed his time here so much that he applied to be a member of the Second Year Leaders with the Maryland Corps, and again is serving with MHAF. He hopes to continue with the Foundation when his Maryland Corps term is up at the end of June, 2025.
Don does a little bit of everything in the main MHAF office: bookkeeping, HR, payroll, vendor management, even some low-level IT. He’s the Foundation’s liaison with the store manager of Dibs, the vintage & antiques consignment store the Foundation owns in Buckeystown, MD. He loves the fact that the job requires constantly learning new things.
Maggie Jackson | Head Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Madison Fields
Adam Jones | Barn Attendant, Madison Fields
Lawrence Aryeh | Grounds and Maintenance Technician, Madison Fields
Nathan Horst | Groundskeeper, Madison Fields
Autism After 21 Utah Project
Ann Carrick | Communications Manager & Research Associate
Mary Eargle | Outreach & Program Coordinator
Lorraine Clark | Development Director
