Meet the Board
Donna Martin
Immediate Past President
Houston, Texas
Donna has been involved, coordinating “The Holiday Project” in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas, through Volunteer Houston, since Christmas of 2002. In 2007 she was invited to be on The Holiday Project’s National Board.
Donna is retired from her career, as an activity director and community liaison, but continues her passion for connecting volunteers to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, to enhance the lives of the residents and the volunteers. Two of her favorite sayings are, “To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world” and “For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.” John Greenleaf Whittier
The Holiday Project brings Donna much JOY! She invites everyone to volunteer and experience the joy of volunteering and to spread joy through The Holiday Project!
Soren Trimble
Youth Coordinator
Soren Trimble is a junior at West Springfield High School in Springfield, VA. She has been volunteering with the Holiday Project since literally before she can remember. Making holiday cards to give out during her visits has become such a tradition that she now has her own trademark; if you see a card with "Made in the USA" on the back above an American flag with an inaccurate number of stripes, chances are she made it. Over her long tenure with the Holiday Project, Soren's cardmaking skills have evolved slightly beyond her early work, but she is most proud of the improvement in her people skills. When she was younger, all she had to do was give out cards and a few hugs. Now, she has the responsibility and pleasure of striking up conversations with residents. She has come to realize her time is more valuable than any gift, but that most people still appreciate a festive card. Currently, Soren is continuing as a volunteer and and encouraging other young people to participate by making cards and visits in her role as Youth Coordinator.
Paula Trimble
Treasurer
Paula Trimble is the Treasurer for The Holiday Project and has been a volunteer with the organization for several years. She and her daughter have participated in holiday visits and have helped organize visits with residents of nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers.
Paula is the Chief of Policy and Director of Small Business Programs at the Space Development Agency in the U.S. Department of Defense. The Space Development Agency (SDA) is building a space-based architecture to provide advanced missile tracking and targeting to meet the needs of the joint warfighter. At SDA, Paula is driving policy solutions to reduce barriers in the acquisition process and enable small businesses and start-ups to work more easily with the federal government.
Paula has always been attracted to disruptive organizations at the nexus of policy and technology. She started her career in the Washington, DC-area as a reporter at Space News and Federal Computer Week. She served in the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Space Commercialization, helping promote the expansion of commercial markets for GPS, satellite communications, and satellite imagery. Following that, she served at the Office of Commercial Space Transportation in the Federal Aviation Administration, helping shepherd a new reusable launch sector, and supporting the agency during the historic 2004 SpaceShipOne X-Prize flights. Paula spent more than eight years overseeing prototyping and experimentation efforts in the DoD’s Rapid Reaction Technology Office and most recently was Senior Principal at Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, leading the lobbying firm’s national security practice in support of university researchers, scientific societies, and national research institutes.
Paula and her teenage daughter live in Springfield, VA, where she seems to collect hobbies. When she’s not cycling, running, or practicing yoga, she’s a wine hobbyist and foodie always ready with a wine or restaurant recommendation. In her spare time, Paula chairs the judging committee for the annual Gerald R. Ford Prize for Reporting on National Defense and serves as the Communications Director on the Board of the Information Professionals Association, a professional organization that promotes cognitive security.
Michael Herman
Michael Herman has been on the Board of Directors since 2022. As an attorney, he also serves as volunteer counsel for the organization. He earned his B.A. degree in political science from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from American University/Washington College of Law. He is the managing partner of Michael D. Herman, Esquire & Associates, P.C., a general practice law firm of sixlawyers in Riverdale Park, MD. Michael has previously served as the town council member and mayor of the Town of Riverdale Park and has previously served as Chief of Staff to the Prince George’s County Executive.
Michael spends considerable time performing volunteer work for non-profit organizations and has served on more than 20 boards of directors since 1985. He has served as a Big Brother for Big Brothers/Sisters of the National Capital Area, and has previously served as President of the Riverdale Boys and Girls Club, President of the Alice Ferguson Foundation, and numerous other foundations. He is currently the President of the Riverdale Park Business Association, Passion & Compassion (non-profit addressing food scarcity in our community), and a board member of Joe’s Movement Emporium, a performing arts center in Mount Rainier, MD. Michael often describes his non-profit work as something to which he is deeply committed. He has been a team leader with the Holiday Project since the 1990s, often leading two or three visitations on Christmas Day. He will often say he is the most enthusiastic singer with a bad voice while caroling and hopes that others will drown out his voice. “I love the joy I get through the visits I do with the Holiday Project. My gift to others is really a gift to me.” He lives in Riverdale Park, Maryland with his partner Tanya Johnson and his two big dogs Tito and Duet.
Hope Cousin
Hope Cousin was born and raised in Richmond, VA. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brandcenter and her background is in communications, crisis management, and customer experience.
Hope negotiated and signed the first multi-media contract for the Children’s Museum of Richmond, developed the creative brief/strategic plan for FAMIS (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security), lead the efforts in helping the District of Columbia meet its federal mandate regarding paternity establishment through the DC Office of Attorney General, spent over six years, at the City of Richmond, improving operational and customer service procedures through MPACT (Mayor’s Participation, Action and Communications Team), and recently co-managed the District of Columbia's Covid-19 Hotline while juggling her other responsibilities in District government.
She is a woman of faith, a firm believer in community and giving back, and an unapologetic fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Robin Wiley
Robin Wiley is President of The Holiday Project. Prior to assuming the Presidency of our
national organization, Robin spearheaded activities in the National Capital Region for over
twenty years, and continues to lead volunteer activities in the Washington, DC metropolitan
area. In addition to her role in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Robin served for several
years as National Director of Media Relations and Outreach. To this end, Robin was able to
obtain coverage for The Holiday Project by CBS News at the national level. Robin brings to her
position over twenty years of experience in government relations and advocacy, and has
extensive experience organizing issue focused campaigns.
Robin reminds us all that perhaps Dr. Suess said it best when he said, “Christmas doesn’t come
from the store. Maybe, just maybe, Christmas means a little bit more.”