Meet The Board
Robin Wiley, Washington, DC
President
Robin Wiley is the President of The Holiday Project. Before 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 the position over 20 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.”
Hope Cousin
Vice-President
Hope Cousin was born and raised in Richmond, VA. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center 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), led 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.
Paula Trimble
Secretary
Paula Trimble is the Secretary 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.
Ulysses Glen
Treasurer
Ulysses Glen, Jr joined the District of Columbia Government in August 1996, after spending one year as the Administrative Officer at the District of Columbia Lottery and Charitable Games Board (DCLB), Ulysses transitioned to the position of Chief of Staff for the Office of Finance and Treasury and remained there for ten (10) years. During his tenure at the Office of Finance and Treasury, Ulysses was instrumental in selecting the District’s current cashiering system, Inovah as well as instituting the collection of dishonored checks electronically. Ulysses served as Budget Director for the Government Services Cluster, which includes the Department of Public Works, Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Department of the Environment. Ulysses served in the role for 11 years before leaving to pursue his entrepreneurial goals. Ulysses returned to the District of Columbia Government in 2021 and is currently serving as the Program Manager at the Department of Employment Services.
Before joining the DCLB, Ulysses was a Marketing Associate at Total Healthcare in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Provider Relations Manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield. Ulysses earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s in Accounting from Regis University. Ulysses is currently studying to receive licensure as a Certified Public Accountant.
Ulysses is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association, Association for Financial Professionals, National Forum of Black Public Administrators, Board Member of Hope House, and a Lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Ulysses enjoys many hobbies such as bike riding, jogging, grilling, reading books, and buying expensive sneakers. Ulysses has become an online learned horticulturalist.
Ulysses has one son named Ulysses Adam Glen, 21 years old (deceased) and a Black Lab named Athena, who only eats gourmet food.
Michael August
Director
Michael August is the Director of Good Tidings for The Holiday Project. Michael has been a volunteer with the organization since he was an infant. Volunteering on Christmas Day for The Holiday Project has been a family tradition since 1978, spanning several generations. Along with the many San Diego area volunteers who participate each year, the August family often brings extended family and friends to cheer up the patients staying in local nursing homes and facilities. Volunteering for The Holiday Project hit close to home in 2007 when Michael’s father, Allen, was in a major car accident and ended up staying at the La Jolla Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for many months. Since then, the August family Christmas tradition of volunteering for The Holiday Project has focused on this facility.
Michael is a career computer scientist for the US Navy. He is passionate about applying emerging technologies to solve defense and national security problems. Michael is also a passionate Argentine Tango dancer and has been dancing Argentine Tango since 2015. He is an ardent student of this dance genre under the tutelage of Maestro Ive Simard at El Mundo Del Tango academy in San Diego, and is a member of the Argentine Tango Masters Association at the Associate level.
Michael Herman
Board Member
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 six lawyers 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 (a 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 a gift to me.” He lives in Riverdale Park, Maryland with his partner Tanya Johnson, and his two big dogs Tito and Duet.
Terri Muscat
Director of Marketing, Sebastopol CA
Terri has been volunteering with The Holiday Project since the early 1990’s when she was invited to be the Area Manager for Concord, CA, and has continued to bring comfort and joy to the residents in several facilities, as well as the volunteers who join her. For Terri and her team, it is an absolute pleasure to share the gift of ourselves – the residents are very dear, and the experience can be emotionally profound. It is this heartfelt tug that keeps her team coming back to share themselves year after year.
When Terri is not sharing her heart with residents at facilities, she is sharing her heart and enthusiasm as well as expertise, for 30+ years in the exciting world of promotional products. Terri has received several industry awards, and her long-standing clients absolutely love her. Terri has been very successful in guiding her clients to choose the perfect products to elevate their brands.
Soren Trimble
Youth Coordinator
Soren Trimble is a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park. 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 encouraging other young people to participate by making cards and visits in her role as Youth Coordinator.