Meet The Team

Who we are

Our team is a passionate group of people who come to work each day inspired to empower youth and close the opportunity gap. We are leaders, artists, teachers, mentors, project managers, researchers, communicators, program designers and storytellers.

Leadership

Byron Sanders

President and CEO

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Glenn Baldwin

Chief Financial Officer

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Jessica Malek

Chief Strategy & People Officer

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Amanda Rainey

Chief Advancement Officer

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Greg MacPherson

Chief Big Thought Institute Officer

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Erin Offord

Chief Programs & Systems Officer

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Program Directors

James Adams

Director of Out of School Programs

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Armando Banchs

Director of Creative Voices

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LeAnn Binford

Director of Consulting Services, Big Thought Institute

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Sergio Garcia

Senior Manager, Learning Systems

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Allison Lee

Director of Program Design

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Phyllis Walker

Director of Human Resources

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Lela Bell Wesley

Director of Professional Learning

Email Lela Bell Wesley

Diversity & Inclusion

Vision

To maintain a culture of inclusion focused on optimizing the rich diversity present in our workforce and workplace.

Mission

To be intentional in creating space for diverse perspectives and styles in the implementation and execution of the strategy of Big Thought.

Our Board

Our Board is passionate about education, creativity and our community. We are grateful for the contribution of their time, talent and leadership.

Chair

Danica Mathes
Board Chair, 2020-2021

Email Danica Mathes

Immediate Past Board Chair

Shaun Dowling
Immediate Past Chair of the Board

Chair-Elect

Tynesia Boyea-Robinson
Board Chair-Elect

Email Tynesia Boyea-Robinson

Secretary

De’Edra Williams
Board Secretary

Treasurer

Eli Mercado
Board Treasurer & Chair of the Finance Committee

Governance Chair

Richard Latin
Co-Chair of Governance Committee

Development Chair

Lisa Giuroiu
Chair, Development Committee

Imagineer

Dr. John Gasko
Imagineer

Voting Members

Jennifer Altabef
Anthony Begon
Tynesia Boyea-Robinson
Maura Conley
Rick Darlow
Giles Davidson
Shaun Dowling
Theresa Flores
Carsten Frederiksen
Beth Ganslen
John Gasko, PhD
Jared Ginter
Lisa Giuroiu
Jennifer Gormer
Irene Hosford
Richard Latin
Andrew LeGrand
Melora Leiser

Rene Martinez
Danica Mathes
Eli Mercado
Miles Melville
Peter Muriungi
Hollie Neal Morgan
Rina Parikh
Susan Parker
Trevor Rees-Jones
Emily Robben
Ginger Sager
Ketric Sanford
Rana Severs
Don Templin
Jay Veal
Todd Westerburg
De’Edra Williams

Ex Officio Members

Catherine Corrigan
Tucker Enthoven
Randee Paur Hefflefinger
Jeanette Johnson
Alfreda Norman

Pat Porter
William Siegel
Pam Watkins
Larry Whitt