Meet the Team

The Forum’s diverse team includes researchers, educators, policy analysts, youth work practitioners, advocates, and communications specialists.

Venalin Aguilar
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Specialist

Venalin designs learning experiences and provides coaching, project leadership, and technical assistance to support equitable CQI system building.

Alice Anderson
Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist
Chelsea Baker
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Adrienne Bard
Director, Cross-Systems Consulting - New York
Pamela Beltran-Mayen
Program Associate
Gerod Blue
Director, Federal Advocacy & Policy

Gerod manages the development of policy programs, agendas, & various campaigns focused on decreasing the Opportunity Gap & furthering the mission of the Forum.

Jason Callahan
Executive Vice President, Cross Systems Consulting

Jason Callahan is Executive Vice President, Cross Systems Consulting & leads capacity-building efforts for state systems change to improve outcomes for youth.

Yael Coburn
Grants and Contracts Manager

Yael serves as the Grants and Contracts Manager at the Forum.

Shavon Dotson
Managing Senior Learning & Development Specialist

Shavon designs and oversees training content and delivery.

Patrick A. Freeland
Director, Statewide Quality Improvement Systems
Isabel Gastulo
Senior Accountant
Edgar Gomez
Learning & Development Specialist

Edgar provides support in coaching and training to clients in Michigan.

Mostafa Hashemi
Senior Research and Evaluation Analyst
Michelle Hawthorne
Learning & Development Specialist
Amanda Heckenkamp
Director, Communications

Amanda is a strategic communications leader who drives efforts to amplify the Forum's mission and strengthen its role in advancing youth-serving systems.

Daisy Hicks
Senior Continuous Quality Improvement Specialist
Cari A. Hourigan, SHRM-SCP
Vice President, Finance

Cari has more than a decade of experience managing the intersection of finance, HR, grants, and contract management in startups and growing nonprofits.

Alexis Liu
Internal Services Associate

Alexis is an associate with the internal services staff, providing support to the internal services team and the Forum as a whole.

Donna Lloyd
Senior Manager, YPQI Implementation

Donna provides leadership, coordination, and support in the design, maintenance, and implementation of the Weikart Center’s YPQI approach.

Dave Martineau
Acting Executive Vice President, Youth Program Quality

Dave is the Acting EVP of Youth Program Quality and Director of Design & Innovation with more than 20 years of experience in youth development and facilitation.

Meghan McCann, J.D.
Interim Chief Program Officer
Ari Pak
Senior Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Specialist

Ari leads projects, provides coaching and technical assistance to system leaders, and designs learning experiences to advance equitable CQI systems.

Sarah Phillips
Director, Research & Evaluation

Sarah has extensive experience leading and supporting out-of-school time programs and conducting applied research in school and out-of-school time settings.  

Madison Quijano
Director, Juvenile Justice

Madison Quijano is a passionate youth advocate working to achieve the Forum’s mission as the Director of Juvenile Justice for Cross-Systems Consulting.

Lisa Rice
Senior Continuous Quality Improvement Specialist
Judy Seltz
Interim President & CEO

With 20 years of senior leadership experience and prior service as a Forum board member, Judy became interim president & CEO in October 2024.

Ora Shamley
Staff Accountant

Ora is a Staff Accountant, working on accounts payable, accounts receivable, and many other financial matters for the organization.

Neil Sumilas
Chief Operating Officer

Neil is an experienced senior non-profit executive focused on financial and operational management, talent management, board governance, and strategic planning.

Tiffany Walker
Senior Research & Evaluation Specialist

Tiffany provides technical assistance and evaluation support in partnership with youth development organizations focused on continuous quality improvement.

Leah Wallace
Learning & Development Specialist

Leah provides coaching, training, and technical assistance to Weikart Center clients around the country.

Heather Wulff
Instructional Designer

Heather brings instructional design experience and over 15 years of public teaching experience to her role at the Forum's Weikart Center.

Our Vision

All young people reach their fullest potential - in education, work, and life.

Contact Us
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