Greg Kahlert
President & CEO
Heather Kahlert
Executive Vice President
Ellen Finnerty Myers
Vice President & Executive Director
Lizzy Karp
Utah Grants Manager
Wally Hernandez
Maryland Grants Manager
Greg has a rich background as a philanthropist and businessman in Maryland. He spent almost 30 years at Evapco, a company his father William “Bill” E. Kahlert co-founded in 1976 and is now a worldwide manufacturer of heat transfer products. Evapco’s international headquarters are in Taneytown, MD.
Greg retired as a Vice President in the Sales and Marketing Department at Evapco in 2011 to continue his father’s legacy of giving back to the communities where he worked and lived. Greg now serves as president of The Kahlert Foundation, established by his dad in 1991.
The impact of The Kahlert Foundation is profound. The Foundation provides millions of dollars in support to non-profits across the states of Maryland and Utah. The current annual grant budget of more than $30 million makes the Foundation one of the largest in Maryland and Utah.
In 2017, The Kahlert Foundation was named the Outstanding Foundation in the state of MD by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The Foundation supports numerous charities that fall within its core focus areas of education, healthcare, youth, veterans, and human services with healthcare and education making up 65% of the distributions each year. Greg personally visits and meets with many charities on a regular basis to get to know the people and to help ensure their success. Greg and his wife, Roberta volunteer at MD Food Bank and Carroll County Food Sunday.
The Kahlert Foundation continues to be a family effort. Greg’s daughter Heather, who lives in Utah, has been building a philanthropic legacy through her support there. Roberta and their son Scott, who is the first third generation employee at Evapco, are also active on the foundation’s board of directors. Greg serves on the board of directors of Carroll Community College and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.
Greg graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana with a bachelor’s in business. His first job was as a tennis pro and then Greg ventured into sales and customer service which led him to join Evapco. Greg still loves to play tennis, golf, and travel and most of all, spend time with Roberta and their children and grandchildren. Greg and Roberta lived and raised a family in Ellicott City and then moved to Sykesville in 2006 where they reside today.
As the granddaughter of Bill Kahlert, founder of The Kahlert Foundation and legendary entrepreneur and philanthropist, Heather is the torchbearer of his legacy.
She has more than 10 years of experience championing the Utah’s nonprofit sector through deep, hands-on engagement with hundreds of organizations across the state.
In addition to her leadership at the Foundation, Heather serves on multiple boards and advisory councils across the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. She is also an advocate for social impact storytelling and has a growing portfolio as a documentary film producer.
Heather holds both a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from the University of Utah. She is a proud mother of three and lives in Salt Lake County.
She is a passionate advocate of education and youth initiatives, has an innovative nature, and loves fashion and pop-culture.
With over 35 year in the healthcare field as a corporate executive, Ellen is known for her expertise in strategy and innovation and is recognized for her ability to bring people together across multiple groups to collaboratively meet goals.
Ellen spent 21 impactful years at Carroll Hospital, part of LifeBridge Health leading an $85 million plus Foundation. Her portfolio also included oversight of many operational departments comprising marketing, public affairs, food services, transportation, housekeeping, and hospice. Before Carroll, she worked in philanthropy at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and at the University of Maryland Baltimore campus, where she raised more than $150 million throughout her fundraising career.
Today, she continues to spread her passion for purpose by serving on the board of the Maryland Science Center and on the Capital Campaign committee of The Children’s Inn at NIH. Past board service includes the Carroll Hospital Foundation, Carroll Hospice, JDRF Maryland (now Breakthrough T1D) and the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.
Ellen holds a degree in marketing from Rochester Institute of Technology. She and her husband Doug split their time between Baltimore, MD and Bethany Beach, DE. They’re proud parents of three amazing children. She was predeceased by her eldest son, Nicholas.
Ellen loves traveling, art & design, and the beach.
Lizzy brings a deep commitment to creativity, accessibility, and community impact. She has over a decade of experience leading engagement and program development efforts that build connection and drive measurable outcomes.
Before joining the Kahlert Foundation as Utah Grant Manager, Lizzy served as Program Director at the Houssian Foundation in Vancouver, where she led gender justice initiatives and funding strategies. She also co-founded Brood, an innovative maternal and family care organization that has supported more than 3,500 families since 2022. Earlier in her career, she helped launch STORYHIVE at TELUS—a first-of-its-kind film granting program that has invested over $125 million in emerging creators and underrepresented voices across Western Canada.
An award-winning film and podcast producer, Lizzy is passionate about the power of storytelling to foster cultural change. Now back in her hometown of Salt Lake City, she brings this rich experience in social impact, media, and community-centered philanthropy to her work with the Kahlert Foundation. She is a recognized leader in the creative and nonprofit sectors, honored with a 30 Under 30 award and the Wendy MacDonald Diversity Award for her work championing equity and inclusive storytelling.
Outside of work, Lizzy loves hiking in the Wasatch Mountains, music and DJing, and swimming with her son.
With a professional foundation in accounting, nonprofit operations, and administrative support, Wally Hernandez brings precision, integrity, and heart to her role as Grants Manager for The Kahlert Foundation’s Maryland region. Known for her organizational skills and collaborative spirit, she ensures smooth and timely processing of grants and plays a key role in maintaining strong relationships with partner organizations.
Wally joined the Foundation with over a decade of experience across finance and administration. Her prior roles include Staff Accountant, where she managed domestic and international accounts, conducted audits, and developed internal process manuals. She also held positions in the health care and CPA sectors, gaining expertise in contract management, credentialing, and financial reporting. Wally served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Human Resources Specialist and Postal Clerk, an experience that shaped her commitment to service and discipline in her work.
Wally holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from American University of Puerto Rico, graduating summa cum laude. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and is known for her strong communication and leadership skills.
Born and raised most of her childhood in Puerto Rico, Wally proudly embraces her cultural heritage and makes annual trips back to the island to visit family.
Outside of work, Wally enjoys family adventures with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. Whether hiking, visiting the beach, or catching a movie, she values creating meaningful memories together.
