Columbia Association – Columbia Matters

Mike Easterling

Columbia Matters host Mike Easterling is an accomplished national television and video producer, with more than 30 years of experience with CBS, PBS and ABC affiliates in Boston and Baltimore, including seventeen years at Baltimore's WJZ-TV where he was responsible for such programming as Evening Magazine and People Are Talking, among others. In 1991 he was awarded an Iris Award for the documentary, Not In Our League, a story on the Negro Baseball League.
A member of AFTRA and the Screen Actor's Guild, he has made numerous guest appearances on television, including The Wire, Homicide, Something the Lord Made and America's Most Wanted. A graduate of Howard University with a degree in Marketing, Easterling also holds a certificate in Television Management from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University.

An energetic and dynamic public speaker, he formed the Easterling Group, Inc. in 1998 and is now a media consultant specializing in corporate training. Easterling continues to produce small television and corporate video projects, as well as providing public relations services. A Columbia resident since 1988, he views his volunteer involvement with the show as an opportunity to give back to his community. Easterling lives in Columbia with his wife and son. Mike is an Althoton Raider and Baltimore Ravens fan.

Dennis Mattey

Dennis Mattey, segment host of Columbia Amenities, has been with CA for more than 30 years, and is CA’s assistant division director of Open Space. Mattey holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master's Degree from John Hopkins University in Information Technology. He has used his construction skills as a volunteer for the Christmas in April program and was recently appointed by the Howard County Executive to serve on the Mid Maryland Workforce Investment Board as vice chair.

Mattey has lived in Howard County for the last 35 years and was an early member of CA’s recreational facilities. He shares his passion for Columbia with his wife and two children, and can frequently be seen walking around the lakes or other CA amenities keeping an eye on projects throughout Columbia.

Deneitra Hutchinson

Deneitra Hutchinson, the new segment host of CA Matters’ 50 Plus, has a background in performing and visual arts and modeling. But it was while pursuing a Masters of Science Degree in Community and Regional Planning, that Hutchison first learned about the master planned community of Columbia. Following her 1995 marriage to a military man, Hutchison called many other places home, including Germany, Hawaii, and her native Texas, before settling into her present home in Columbia.

Hutchison currently works as the Event Programmer for the Harper’s Choice Community Association and is mom to three boys. With a heart for volunteerism, she strives to accumulate as many positive experiences as she can, knowing that it will help prepare her for anything life sends her way.

Dr. Harry A. Oken

Doctor Harry A. Oken, host of CA Matters’ Health with Dr. Oken segment, has also been appointed CA’s first Medical Director, providing consultation assistance to CA on a variety of medically-based programs currently under development. Dr. Oken is board certified in internal medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Oken served as chairman of medicine at Howard County General Hospital for 14 years.

Dr. Oken earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Maryland

and graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1983. He completed his residency and internship in internal medicine at University of Maryland/Baltimore VA Hospitals and served as chief resident there from 1986-87. He has been a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland since 1987.

In addition to serving as CA’s Medical Director, Dr. Oken will also head CA’s new Medical Advisory Board (MAB). His vision is to have an MAB whose members are “thought leaders” from a variety of medical disciplines and who are personally committed to a lifestyle of physical activity. Dr. Oken’s special interests also include Cardioprotection/ Human Performance Lab; Skin Cancer awareness and prevention; Lyme disease treatment and prevention; and ongoing cardioprotection, hypertension and cholesterol/3-omega fatty acid research.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Dr. Oken is married with three children.

Barbara Kellner

Barbara Kellner moved to Columbia in 1982 and soon became absorbed by its history. Intrigued by the tidbits of information she gathered at the Columbia Exhibit Center, she answered a call for volunteers at the newly organized Columbia Archives. Once there, she started reading about Columbia and has never stopped.

As the long-time manager of the Columbia Archives, Kellner is charged with collecting and preserving the history of the planned “new town” and the career of its founder, James Rouse. Sharing Columbia’s history and vision with residents and visitors alike has become Kellner’s mission as she continues to develop unique ways to explore it through biking, walking and bus tours and other special events.

In 2004 Kellner was named the first host of Columbia Matters, a position she held until 2006. She continues to offer historical perspective for Columbia Matters as host of the Explore Columbia segment.

Kellner has a son and daughter and three grandchildren.

Kelly Cooper

Kelly Cooper, segment host of What’s Happening in Columbia, joined the Columbia Association (CA) team in March 2007 as a Communications Assistant. Cooper’s responsibilities include planning community welcome events, maintaining CA’s web site, handling media relations and helping to launch CA’s new calendar web site, www.columbiacalendar.org.

Cooper graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2006 with a B.A. degree in Communication. She spends her free time reading, writing, going to the movies and spending time with her family and friends.

Shelia Green

Shelia Green, senior reporter for Columbia Matters, is manager of CA's Communications and Community Relations Department.

Prior to joining CA, Green spent seven years developing her communications skills in the radio and television industry, six of them with Black Entertainment Television (BET) in Washington, D.C. as a communications specialist and publicist.

A graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, Green holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications and studied radio and television announcing at the Columbia School of Broadcasting. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Science degree in Management on a Public Relations track.

Green lives in Maryland with her family.

Mary Weeks

A Columbia resident for more than 35 years, Mary Weeks has been the producer of Columbia Matters since April 2007. Dedicated to producing the best possible show for Columbia residents, Weeks loves writing and seeing her vision come to life. She holds an A.A. degree in TV Production and Multimedia Design from Howard Community College, and earned a B.S. degree in Film, Video and Theatre from Villa Julie College. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Communication Arts at NYIT in Manhattan.

Throughout her career, Weeks’ goal has been to write and produce shows with positive messages. Her first play, “Changing Hands” debuted in 2005 at the Greenbelt Art Center to great reviews, and her first short film, “Justin’s Prayer”, is now in post production. In addition, Weeks has just completed a short book of poems titled, Pieces of My Soul. The mother of a six-year-old son, Weeks aspires to work with young people in the community to teach them all aspects of the production process and introduce them to all areas of the arts.