Meet our Board of Directors
Christine Givens, President
Christine Givens (she/her) is a life-long resident of Cecil County, Maryland. She is a global business communications professional with a combined 14 years of experience within the financial, healthcare and information technology industries. Over the years, she has showcased her proficiency in the development and execution of cross-functional communications strategies, campaigns and targeted messaging for large, highly regulated organizations to help increase brand awareness and support overall business strategies and objectives.
Throughout her life, Christine has volunteered at various organizations geared towards helping women, children and other underserved populations acquire the knowledge, resources and life skills lessons necessary to make informed financial and life decisions.
Christine is a proud graduate of Wilmington University (formerly known as Wilmington College), where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, and from Johns Hopkins University where she received her Master of Arts in Communications.
Christine is also a mother to three amazing children that keep her very busy. When she’s able to find free time, she enjoys shopping for deals, couponing and traveling.
Christine can be reached at christine.cecilsolidarity@gmail.com.
Beth An Griffin, Vice President
Beth An Griffin is a resident of Cecil County, Maryland. After graduating from Perryville High School in 1999, she quickly entered the workforce and moved to Delaware. Currently, Beth An is an Operations Manager for a consumer banking company and has used her 20 years of experience in the finance industry to propel her career. She is dedicated to creating a collaborative team environment, where her passion for developing others is in the forefront.
In 2016, Beth An moved back to Cecil County to be close with her family. She possesses an unbridled passion for giving back to her community and believes that love and kindness, sprinkled in with a little sass can accomplish most things. Beth An is most proud of her large blended family that she raises with her loving husband of three years.
Beth An can be reached at bethan.cecilsolidarity@gmail.com.
Jared Guardipee, Treasurer
Originally from Idaho, Jared Guardipee (he/him) is a senior sales manager for a major telecommunications conglomerate. There, he specializes in leadership, training, project management, process improvement, performance management and strategic planning.
A devoted husband and father of four, Jared has dedicated countless years of his life serving others. His advocacy work has included community outreach in the Philippines and coaching youth and club league teams. He currently serves on the leadership committee for his organization’s LGBTQIA+ employee resource group and is an active member and social media lead for Cecil Solidarity, Inc.
Jared is fluent in Tagalog and prefers to spend his free time outdoors, cooking, watching sports and photography.
Jared can be reached at jared.cecilsolidarity@gmail.com.
Tyrese Harris
Tyrese Harris is a Maryland native who spent her middle, high school and early adult years as a resident of Cecil County. In late 2020, after several years away to pursue her career aspirations, she returned to Cecil County with her husband and three children.
Tyrese is an experienced learning and organizational development leader with over a decade of experience across multiple industries including post-secondary education, healthcare and financial. She has been a champion for diversity, equity, inclusion and the importance of representation during her time in corporate America. Tyrese is well known as a proven leader with particular strengths in building teams, improving performance and driving change.
Tyrese earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and later completed her graduate work at Walden University earning a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, a graduate certificate in Training and Performance Improvement and another in Online Learning.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, shopping and traveling.
Tyrese can be reached at tyrese.cecilsolidarity@gmail.com.
Jessica Larson
Jessica Larson (they/them/theirs) is a 28-year-old Cecil County native. They are a decolonial intersectional feminist that has always been passionate about environmental and social justice. Their goal with Cecil Solidarity is to tap into the needs of the County and get creative in figuring out how to meet them while challenging current beliefs, structures, and relationships with systemic racism. They genuinely believe that change needs to start with us and looks forward to growing Cecil County’s mutual aid networks and wellness resources in the name of justice and equity.
Jessica can be reached at jessica.cecilsolidarity@gmail.com.