Meet Our Team

Shandy has been a healthcare technologist for most of his professional career, motivated by the desire to solve complex problems via application of tools and technology. He has been part of successful start-ups like Lumenos and Evolent Health, organizations that drove to transform care delivery and consumer experience. He has also spent time working in the nonprofit, telecommunications, and publishing industry, however healthcare is his true north. Shandy lives with his two kids, wife, and his Labrador pup in Arlington, VA. Shandy earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from Jadavpur University, India and Executive MBA from Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. Shandy is a keen follower of sports and enjoys identifying patterns that drive successful and winning teams. He hopes to bring those principles to Unite Us, further propelling organizational and team success. Shandy believes that social care is a key component of healthcare, particularly for underserved communities. He is inspired by the fundamental shift and impact that Unite Us could achieve in social care, healthcare, and broader society, as the organization continues to grow deeper into communities. Fully aware of the role technology needs to play in that mission, he is excited to be part of the team.

Three famous friends would be Nelson Mandela, Mohammad Yunus, and Lionel Messi.

Raj has worked for over twenty years with health plans, hospitals, and medical providers at Deloitte, Kaiser Permanente, and Optum (United Health Group). His focus has been in helping health care organizations better engage members and patients. He’s excited about how Unite Us brings together health and social care. Raj grew up in the San Fernando Valley; much of his teen years were spent at the mall, movie theater, and the local Tower Records. He keeps trying to bring “dude” and “radical” back into the common lexicon. Raj lives in Pasadena with his wife, Anjani, and their three children.

If Raj could choose three famous best friends, they would be Gabor Mate, Chris Rock, and Douglas Adams.

Megan graduated from the University of Minnesota with degrees in human resources and business marketing. She loves working with people and believes strongly in humanizing the workplace - promoting flexibility, collaboration, and empathy as the best ways to see team members succeed. Megan loves to travel and has lived in nine states and three countries, recently returning to the US from a couple years in Singapore and Australia. While abroad she obtained an executive coaching certification, working 1x1 with people to help them improve their careers and personal lives. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Andrew, her son, Larson, and their dog, Cooper. She can be bribed with tacos and Perrier.

If Megan could choose three famous best friends, they would be Meghan Markle, Michelle Obama, and Amy Schumer.

Phil has devoted his career to making the world a better place, working as a newspaper reporter, Medicaid leader and consulting executive, relentlessly focused on reducing poverty and inequality. He sees Unite Us as the culmination of his career and is thrilled at the prospect of creating an SDoH infrastructure that will transform healthcare and improve communities. He is on the board of Care Ring, a Charlotte healthcare nonprofit and The Chronicle, Duke University’s independent student newspaper. He is also on the board of Mira, an innovative healthcare startup. Phil holds a BA in political science from Duke and an MA in urban and environmental policy from Tufts. Phil enjoys cooking and entertaining, international travel, live music, souped up Volkswagens, and being in the ocean.

If Phil could choose three famous best friends, they would be Barack Obama, Stephen Hawking, and Kali Uchis.

Bryan has built his career being a force multiplier in sales and business development for cutting edge and mission based organizations. He sees Unite Us as a high point in being able to support SDoH centric needs in the federal segment. For over 20 years he has worked for technology products and service companies supporting government agencies in the US, and overseas. His background of supporting defense, security and risk mitigation efforts, coupled with his experience in federal contracting and channel management for veteran owned companies suits his role in leading the Federal segment. He holds a BA in English from Georgia Souther University and lives in Virginia. Bryan enjoys all things outdoors, is an avid reader, and has a passion for scaling business. When he is not working, or in a trout-stream, he will likely be traveling with one of his three daughters competing in volleyball tournaments across the country.

If Bryan could choose three famous best friends, they would be Teddy Roosevelt, Ray Dalio, and Gregory Alan Isakov.

Skye is a Golden Retriever born January 13, 2017, originally from Swan Lake, NY and now lives in NYC with her parents. Skye's primary responsibilities at Unite Us include welcoming visitors, napping, and keeping the floors clean. She is passionate about helping others, finishing their meals, and is always willing to help clear the sidewalks of pigeons. Skye graduated Premier Dog Training’s Puppy Bootcamp at the bottom of her class with regard to skills but is a highly capable networker. She prefers a flexible work schedule and makes appearances at the office when peanut butter is rumored to be available. Skye's interests include squirrels, the insides of fluffy toys, and her parents' doorman.

If Skye could choose three famous best friends, it would be the alleged inventors of peanut butter: Skippy, Jif, and Peter Pan.

Amela has always had a passion for helping those who need it the most. She has been able to integrate this passion with accounting, ultimately accomplishing the best of both worlds. Amela graduated from Saint Francis College with her bachelor of science and master of science in accounting. While obtaining her degrees, she participated in two internships, focusing on corporate taxes and payroll. Amela is excited to play a vital, supportive role to the finance team. During her free time, Amela loves spending time with her family, taking long walks, and cooking.

If Amela could choose three famous best friends, they would be Ellen DeGeneres, Michelle Obama, and Jennifer Aniston.

Alex is passionate about working with communities to address systemic inequities. He received his BA from Harvard College and JD from NYU Law. After graduating from Harvard, Alex joined Teach for America and worked as a middle school history teacher and debate coach in East San Jose, California. Before joining Unite Us, Alex was an associate in the IP and Technology Transactions group at Skadden in New York and a law clerk for a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In his free time, Alex enjoys writing music, playing cello, and hiking with friends.

If Alex could choose three famous best friends, they would be Brandi Carlile, Isaac Asimov, and Fred Rogers.

Jessica is passionate about bringing awesome people together. Connecting individuals to solve problems collaboratively (and having fun while doing it) is what drew her to recruiting. She loves listening to candidate stories and connecting them with opportunities to thrive and make an impact. Jessica's roots are in Boston as a foreign language teacher (German and French). After relocating to Raleigh with her husband Chad and daughter Laura, she pivoted into the start-up world. A professional background in hospitality, strategy, sales, and community building are what drew her to Unite Us and their powerhouse team. Outside of work you can find Jessica making up excuses to celebrate so she can entertain friends, travel, or do house renovation projects.

If Jessica could choose three famous best friends they would be Guy Raz, Michelle Obama and Reese Witherspoon.

Although he considers the Pacific Northwest home, Jason has lived in Southern California, Las Vegas, and even Upstate New York where he completed his graduate studies. With over 14 years in Talent Acquisition, Jason’s experience spans various industries including telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, financial services, education, renewable energy, and aerospace. He’s excited to bring the diverse industry background to Unite Us to find passionate and innovative talent.

If Jason could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Kwan, Sandra Bullock, and Celine Dion.

Shaquana comes to Unite Us from the Clinical Trial Industry. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Howard University and her JD from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She is the daughter of a military veteran so she moved around frequently in her youth, but she calls North Carolina home. In her personal life Shaquana has always enjoyed helping others and solving complex problems, specifically those impacting underserved populations. Unite Us has afforded Shaquana the opportunity to align her personal passion with her profession.

If Shaquana could choose three famous best friends, they would be, Ciara, J.Cole and Left-Eye.

Michaela brings a diverse set of public health experiences to her role as Community Engagement Manager. This includes conducting evaluations and redesigns of public insurance programs at UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research, coordinating the Turnaway Study at UCSF’s ANSIRH research program, and designing and conducting her own study of reproductive health stigma as a Fulbright Fellow in the Republic of Georgia. Most recently, Michaela served as the Director of Policy at LA Best Babies Network, where she led a collective impact network to support perinatal and early childhood home visiting programs in Los Angeles. During her time there, she helped develop a county-wide plan for universal access to home visiting services, including efforts to better coordinate referrals to services for pregnant women and young children. Living and breathing the frustrations of trying to coordinate care for families across systems and service providers is what led Michaela to Unite Us. Michaela has a BA from Oberlin College and an MPH from UC Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys running, seeing live music, and feeding her nieces and nephews sugar (and then giving them back to their parents).
If she could pick three famous best friends, they would be Melissa McCarthy, Hillary Clinton, and David Rose (Daniel Levy).

Mark has over 6 years of professional recruiting experience- both in-house and agency perspectives. He graduated with a BA in writing from Naropa University in Colorado. At Unite Us, he loves getting the opportunity to interview passionate, value-driven candidates all across the US. Mark grew up on a farm in the midwest and he's always especially excited to interview candidates in his home state of Minnesota! He lives in Red Hook, Brooklyn and on weekends you can find him eating BBQ and key lime pie near the water.

If Mark could choose three famous best friends, they would be Malala Yousafzai, Cardi B, and Bill Nye.

Alex joined us from California, where he received his Masters Public Health and Masters Business Administration at UC Berkeley. His background includes population health, value-based care, and digital health, spending time at Evolent Health, Welbe Health, and Doximity. After graduating from the University of Virginia he worked in finance, and despite discovering his passion for healthcare he can still occasionally be found frowning at spreadsheets. Alex lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife. Alex is a strong (and often vocal) proponent of our healthcare system addressing underlying social needs, and believes that facilitating coordination between different service providers is a critical first step. He hopes to help Unite Us’s partners address the foundational needs of their clients in new ways using better information, closer collaboration, and unified funding streams.

If Alex could choose three famous best friends they would be Prince, Lamar Jackson, and Jane Fonda.

Ariffa has worked in the state and non-profit sectors, and spent most of her career in health care and education, with a strong emphasis on health equity, health literacy, and the social determinants of health. Her focus and mission at Unite Us is the advancement in the education and program implementation of these areas for both internal teams and community partners, and to continue to drive change and long-lasting impact.

Ariffa is a certified health coach and mindfulness/meditation instructor. She enjoys her study of samurai martial arts, and cooking tasty meals. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband, Brad, and their cat Solis, “the love bug.”

If Ariffa could choose three famous best friends, they would be Bruce Lee, Keanu Reeves, and Maya Angelou.

Cody Johansen most recently has worked for two of the most well respected Healthcare Information Exchanges in America (UHIN and San Diego Health Connect). He holds a BS in biology from BYU and an MPH in health services administration from SDSU, where he was awarded the American Medical International Award and Foster G. McGaw Scholarship. His unique background has allowed him to work with all levels of healthcare to help bridge the gap between healthcare and technology. He enjoys the challenge of bringing together different stakeholders to achieve the goal of improving the health of all.

If Cody could choose three famous best friends, they would be Bruce Smith, Maynard James Keenan, and Ulysses S Grant.

Prior to joining the team at Unite Us, Rachelle spent several years in the customer service industry. She was first introduced to the industry in her home country, Grenada, and has since been exposed on a much larger scale after moving to New York. She has been employed by several companies in which her main roles focused on customer service, administrative and office support. Over this period, she has developed a true passion for helping people and is always willing to do so with an open mind. She was instantly drawn to the values of the Unite Us which encourages its employees and others to “Be a good human”. Outside of Unite Us, Rachelle enjoys listening to music, binge watching series, spending time with her family, nature walks, dancing and she 100% loves to sing.

If Rachelle could choose three best friends, they would be Barack Obama, Regina Hall, and Taraji P. Henson.

After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in Public Health, Nicole moved to NYC to attend law school. In college, Nicole worked with the Vulnerable Populations Strategic Initiative where she developed community-based, culturally competent educational materials to help address health care disparities. Before joining Unite Us, Nicole worked as an intern at the NYS Division of Human Rights and in the healthcare department of a law firm based in Long Island. Most recently, Nicole worked as a legal intern at Unite Us where she became passionate about Unite Us’ mission and solutions.

If Nicole could choose three famous best friends, they would be Olivia Benson (Law & Order: SVU), Michelle Obama, and Conan O’Brien.

Eartha is passionate about partnering with teams to find the most talented minds. She considers herself a life-long learner, a coach and team player. Eartha has over 15 years of experience as a recruiter, and has worked in Medical Device, Telecommunications & the UAV industries from Engineering to Sales. She calls San Diego, CA her home and in her free time enjoys exploring her city with her family, sewing, furniture restoration, watching documentaries & flying drones with her daughter.

If Eartha could choose three famous best friends, they would be Harriet Tubman, Bass Reeves & Amy Poehler

After serving in the Navy Samuel attended Georgia Gwinnett College and obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science. Shortly after, he began working as a recruiter relying on his short stint as a military recruiter for experience. He feels the company’s mission is always the best way to influence top talent to join. The company culture at Unite Us really sells itself. That and the happy hour. Samuel is a huge comic book nerd and loves DC comics! Unfortunately, his wife is a Marvel fan so they have a dog named Loki.

If Samuel could choose three famous best friends, they would be Batman, Superman, and Jimmy Carter.

Ashley is from Fairhope, AL which is located on the beautiful Gulf Coast! She was born and raised in sunny California but moved away to attend college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During that time she met and married her husband who was in the Air Force. For the next few years the military moved them around, even landing them in Alaska for 3 years, before they separated and established their permanent home in Alabama. Being the spouse of a proud Veteran, Ashley has seen first hand the challenges they face in healthcare and that is what drew her to Unite Us. Ashley is proud to be part of a company whose mission is to connect healthcare providers together in a seamless integration.

If Ashley could choose three famous best friends, they would be Walt Disney, David Bowie, and Abraham Lincoln.

With a master's degree in human resources management from Georgetown University, Anisha has over eight years of HR experience and can’t imagine a career doing anything else. Drawn to the chaos of HR, she is passionate about solving business problems, connecting with people, and building human-centric policies that create an engaged workforce and make the workforce feel valued. As an HR professional, Anisha believes in leading with empathy and that all employees, regardless of level, deserve to be treated with fairness, consistency, and respect. If you ever want to strike up a conversation, Anisha loves talking about all things reality TV, new recipes to cook, and the latest pop culture gossip.

If Anisha could choose three famous best friends, they would be Anderson Cooper, Chrissy Teigen, and Taylor Swift.

Apeksha is a Certified Public Accountant with over ten years of experience in financial analysis and reporting. She got her license her in the U.S. and her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance in India. Apeksha has a diverse industry background in accounting. Most recently, she worked at Pelco as Assistant Controller, where she successfully led the due diligence process for the sale of the company to Motorola Solutions. She has been recognized for improving existing accounting processes by streamlining operations. She is a die-hard rom-com fan. After work you can find her binge-watching Korean dramas on Netflix or the cheesiest Bollywood movies. She also likes working out and is looking forward to making the most of the east coast trails!

Krystal has a natural knack for planning, a passion for people, and a love for solution finding. She is an alumni from University of Central Florida, Rosen College, where she received a B.S. in event management. Krystal has had the privilege of working many events such as the Academy Awards, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, and many sporting events such as the NBA Allstar games and NFL Pro Bowl. It was through event management that she found her true calling for human resources and learning and development. At Unite Us, Krystal hopes to create purposeful content to contribute in driving the Unite Us mission. When not working, you can find Krystal enjoying the sunny Florida weather, gaming on her Xbox, reading crime/fantasy novels, and binge watching her favorite shows on Netflix.

If Krystal could choose three famous best friends, they would be Selena Quintanilla, Ryan Reynolds , and Jessica Day (from New Girl).

In 2006, Scott was Time Magazine's "Person of the year." (No, really. Google it!). When he's not working to help you with any and all things involving solutions, he prides himself on being a professional sleeper and eater. He's a jack of all trades, loves working out, eating, and falling asleep on planes and road trips. Before Unite Us, Scott served in the Army and worked in logistics. He's excited to be on the team and to help YOU in solutions!

If Scott could choose with three famous best friends, they would be Mike Tyson, Dave Chappelle, and Rick James.

Sophie is a passionate problem solver and mentor, which led her to pursue a career as a lawyer, where she enjoys solving complex problems and serving as an advisor to her clients and teammates. Prior to joining Unite Us, Sophie worked as an associate attorney at large law firms, advising emerging software companies like Unite Us in addition to maintaining an active pro bono practice focused on immigration and criminal justice reform. Sophie is a graduate of Columbia Law School and UNC Chapel Hill where she studied global studies and Spanish. Outside of work, Sophie enjoys running wherever she is living or traveling, playing piano, and teaching herself how to cook.

If Sophie could choose three famous best friends, they would be Stacey Abrams, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and Danielle Haim.

After completing her dual-degree in Global Health and Spanish from the University of North Carolina, Madi worked for about five years in the program management and nonprofit sector in Durham, NC. Most recently, Madi has returned to her hometown, Cary, NC, and worked as the Operations Director for a foundation in Raleigh while also pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at UNC. During her time back at UNC, Madi developed a passion for social determinants of health and their value in shaping the context around a person’s wellbeing as a means of addressing health outcomes. She is thrilled to join the Customer Success team at Unite Us and work alongside others impacting inequities in innovative and people-centered ways. In her free time, Madi coaches youth volleyball, loves reading and watching movies, and takes day trips to the beach as much as possible!

If Madi could choose three famous best friends, they would be Jesus, Paul Rudd, and Lizzo.

Briana lives by the motto: “Be a good human.” Each and every day she is intentional about being a good human and contributing community member. Briana believes in interconnected communities as a way of life. She considers herself to be spirited, innovative, and fearless. She understands from a personal standpoint that complete, person-centered health and wellness goes well beyond the doctor’s office. As an adolescent, Briana has always had a passion for public health and complete wellness. She never understood the disconnect between health care and social care, when both are required for person-centered health. Briana has first hand experience with the effects of a fragmented care delivery system. Because of that, her biggest goal in joining the Unite Us team is to change the world by creating unified communities with accessible resources. Briana has previously worked in population health management, reproductive health and justice, and maternity care. She hails from Western Massachusetts, and currently calls Raleigh, North Carolina home. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and is in the process of furthering her education. She obtained the following certifications in 2017: Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist while teaching as a childbirth educator for a birth center. Briana is the owner and founder of Birth and Beyond Doulas, a doula company focused on reducing health disparities in maternity care.

If Briana could choose three famous best friends, she would choose Toni Morrison, Rosa Parks, and J. Cole.

Vaughn Crawford joins Unite Us as a seasoned director of cross sector programs and connected systems work. Vaughn is a fierce believer in systems change and tells anyone who will listen that the only way to make meaningful progress on seemingly intractable issues is thought connected, collective and coordinated change efforts. Prior to joining Unite Us and the NCCARE360 team, Vaughn worked on issues of child wellbeing system improvement, behavioral health program implementation, collective impact, trauma informed care, social determinants of health and ACES. In each role the negative effects of service silos and disconnected change efforts were apparent. Vaughn sees Unite Us as a unique opportunity for technology to connect and provide much needed infrastructure to community serving organizations, health care and social services. Bringing together people and the resources they need to meaningfully improve their lives. She is excited to join the Unite Us team to help bring those connected systems to life. Vaughn has an MSW and a postgraduate certificate in nonprofit leadership from UNC- Chapel Hill and is working on a certificate in public leadership from Harvard Kennedy School. Vaughn lives outside of Raleigh with her two extraordinary daughters, her rescue Great Dane and fiance. They enjoy swimming, cycling, the outdoors, experimental cooking, ballroom dance and traveling.

Her three imaginary celebrity best friends are Trevor Noah, Beyonce, and Chrissy Teigen.

Before joining Unite Us, Kristin served as the CEO of Susan G. Komen Great Plains. She brings 15 years of experience in leadership, team mentoring, marketing, organizational development, and the cultivation of strong community relationships. Kristin began her career in marketing and advertising, working in various positions at Right Idea Media & Creative, KETV, and Yahoo!. In 2010, Kristin joined the Girls Scouts of Greater Iowa, spending seven years in senior-level leadership roles, serving as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Kristin earned a Master of Communication Leadership degree from Drake University. In her downtime, you will find Kristin reading, listening to music, and enjoying time with her friends and family.

If Kristin could have three famous best friends, they would be, Oprah, Tina Fey, and Brené Brown.

Jeff has been inspired by the quote from George Bernard Shaw "it is my opinion that my life belongs to the community. As long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can." Jeff believes in the wisdom of the community and brings his vast experience in urban planning and community development to create human centered designs for strategic collaborations to drive system level impact. His educational background is in communications and economics. He spent the last seven years facilitating a regional equity and engagement committee and looks forward to being a connector of systems and people for improved community health outcomes. Outside of Unite Us, Jeff enjoys running, riding bikes with his family, and making tacos.

If Jeff could have 3 famous friends, they would be: Douglas Rushkoff, Dieter Rams, and Majora Carter

Leticia is a firm believer that "the way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” As one who grew up in a connected community, Leticia is inspired to guide all individuals and communities to resources to improve their health and overcome various social determinants of health. To further this goal, Leticia received both a Bachelor's degree in Community Health from Utah Valley University and a Master's in Health Administration from Weber State University. Previously, she worked as Community Health Coordinator where she furthered grass roots efforts and worked directly in various communities guiding individuals to resources. Leticia is practiced in providing suicide and overdose prevention trainings and has a passion for education and breaking down barriers to health. In her free time, Leticia enjoys true crime podcasts, game nights with friends, and exploring the outdoors with her husband and three children.

If Leticia could choose three family best friends, they would be Steve Carrell, Leslie Knope, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Laudine comes from the small but fierce state of Rhode Island as the Community Engagement Manager. For the past ten years Laudine has worked in the anti-violence, nonprofit sector, specifically working for Rhode Island's only Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center. She quickly saw the lack of resources for those impacted by violent crimes. Connecting those in crisis with critical needs, in a trauma-informed manner is what brought Laudine to the systems front. Laudine's focus has been through an advocacy and direct service lens which allows her to always keep the systems conversation person/client centered. Most recently, Laudine championed Rhode Island's first Adult Sexual Assault Protocol, which provides state wide, trauma-informed, best practice response to these sensitive cases. A strong advocate for survivors of sexual violence, Laudine hopes to empower those working alongside survivors to enhance best outcomes. In her spare time, Laudine loves to play with her rescue pittie, Queenie, while her sassy cat Elliot judges them from far away. She also loves the beach and enjoying RI’s best seafood!

If Laudine could have three famous best friends (still pending applications) they would be, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Michael Scott and Drake.

Kendra has been in healthcare for the last 18 years. She has spent the majority of her career as an Account Manager overseeing large managed care, value based contracts and health plan relationships on the provider side. Kendra grew up in Seattle and currently lives in Burien, WA with her husband and two small boys. Kendra went to Central Washington University and graduated with a BS in exercise physiology. Kendra is passionate about accessible healthcare and services for the underserved, frail and elderly. Kendra’s biggest goal in joining Unite Us is professional and personal growth within a sector of healthcare that is tackling one of the biggest challenges we face across the nation currently, social services access. Kendra is thrilled to join the Unite Us team!

Kendra’s three famous best friends would be Barack Obama, J.K. Rowling and Stevie Wonde

Casanya is passionate about elevating collaborative solutions for community concerns. She has spent most of her career serving in public policy and community service. After graduating from Trinity International Law School, she began her journey in public policy, working with CBOs, law makers and policy influencers to remove barriers to societal needs. Recently, her focus has been more local, supporting local CBOs and local government entities to effect and elevate positive change through community engagement and collaboration in the region of Sacramento, California. Outside of work, Casanya enjoys exploring new places, trying new foods and cheering on the Sac Kings with her hubby of over 19 years. She’s a mom of two rambunctious rescues (CoCo and Winston). And, you can almost always catch her singing, dancing to or playing music.

If Casanya could choose three famous friends, they would be Priscilla Shirer, Sade, and Clair Huxtable.

Kendra joins the Unite Us Customer Success team with more than 20 years of experience and knowledge in the social justice field supporting young children and their families, especially those living furthest from opportunity. She has worked on a variety of issues at the program, policy, and systems levels, that cross the early health and developmental continuum - including maternal mental health, developmental screenings, and access to safe housing. Kendra has spent time in the public, nonprofit, and philanthropy sectors and has a unique perspective and understanding of how all three can work together most effectively to create change for communities. Early in her career she served First 5 Fresno County for 14 years from its inception, including five years as Executive Director. Her insistence on an equity focused, parent driven, and data informed approach to early childhood systems played a pivotal role in how Fresno County serves young children and families today. As a champion of children’s health, education, and overall development, Kendra has been crucial in transforming the mindset in Central California, and its approach to children’s issues. Focusing on family voice, science, data and research, Kendra helped change the thinking among public and private entities alike resulting in one of the most comprehensive networks for children in Fresno County. Originally from Clovis, California, where she now resides with her husband and two awesome kids, Kendra has a BA in law and society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a masters of public administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. In her spare time you can find Kendra rocking out in a POUND workout class, binge watching reality TV with her husband, or obsessing over her two Giant Schnoodles.

If Kendra could choose three famous best friends, they would be Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Cat Stevens, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Tori brings over seven years of experience working with civil rights organizations, medical-legal partnerships, and fair housing organizations. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia to work with the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Immigrant Justice Project. While with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Tori focused on civil rights violations experienced by immigrants in the Southeast. Beforehand, she volunteered as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Health Justice Project at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She is passionate about finding innovative solutions to issues that affect vulnerable populations. Tori believes that addressing complex social issues requires a community centered approach. She is excited to leverage Unite Us’ platform to improve health outcomes for communities across the country.

If Tori could choose three famous friends they would be Toni Morrison, Barry Jenkins, and Michelle Alexander.

Samantha was born and raised in rural Massena, NY - minutes away from the Canadian border (eh?). Samantha completed her bachelors of science in community health from SUNY Potsdam and then completed her master of social work from the University at Albany. Samantha has diverse experience working in the nonprofit fields of public health, human service, medical social work as a LMSW (NY), and health information technology. Through her experiences, Samantha is passionate about addressing social determinants of health from a policy and systems change perspective. By joining Unite Us, Samantha feels she is in a place to pursue those opportunities.
In her spare time, Samantha enjoys yoga, indoor cycling, running, summertime along the St. Lawrence River, and playing soccer. Samantha just became a “Dog Mom” to a yellow lab puppy named Ruthie (after Ruth Bader Ginsburg).

Three famous best friends: Mia Hamm, Brené Brown, and John Mellencamp.

Jason currently serves as the Community Engagement Manager for the Washington D.C. area. A background in law and a love for politics led to a career in campaigns and community outreach across the country. As a campaign director, Jason developed and executed voter engagement strategies in local, statewide, and national races. In his last campaign, he led voter outreach in Detroit and Chicago on behalf of Hilliary for America. Most recently, Jason led Making Every Vote Count as its Executive Director and currently advises Imby Community, Inc. on its community engagement and operations. Jason is a proud alumnus of Middlebury College (Go Panthers!) and New York Law School. If he's not working, you can probably find him enjoying a walk with his dog, on a soccer (or rugby) field, or enjoying Manchester United on television.

If Jason could choose three famous best friends, they would be Sir Alex Ferguson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Eric Holder.

Through his upbringing, community service was instilled as a priority. Life provides many opportunities to serve and Unite Us provides Jackson the chance to make it his full time job. Jackson grew up in Park City, Utah where he enjoyed the outdoors spending time skiing and rock climbing. He earned a BS degree in business administration from the University of Utah. After school he worked in software for both the occupational health then travel industries.

If Jackson could choose three famous friends, they would be Shane McConkey, Aretha Franklin, and Bill Gates.

Before her career at Unite Us, Jessi primarily worked in the healthcare sector at a large academic medical center. Her experience in analytical programming, developing automated systems, reports, and dashboards, and leading technical teams as a project manager led her to the Technical Project Manager role at Unite Us. In her free time, Jessi enjoys many things: spending time with friends/family, doing something related to fitness (usually HIIT, yoga, zumba, or hiking), cooking vegetarian meals from scratch, traveling somewhere, or simply looking for her next new experience.

If Jessi could choose three famous friends, they would be Vicki Robin, Anthony Bourdain, and Jane Goodall.

While getting her Masters degree at The London School of Economics, Molly studied global health systems. She has dedicated her career to applying the world's best ideas in the US. Molly has focused on translating policies into programs that work. She has implemented healthcare reform in Illinois and Colorado. She led a CMS innovation grant that promoted a community-based alternative workforce, supporting kids and their families with chronic conditions. She has advocated for service delivery changes for vulnerable populations. She loves to collaborate and contribute to a positive culture that builds strong, lasting relationships. In her free time, Molly escapes to nature with her dog, husband and son. She loves dancing, swinging kettlebells and watching old movies.

If Molly could choose three famous best friends they would be Atul Gawande, Mary Oliver and Amy Poehler.

Shelley has claimed Texas residency her entire life, but in two very different communities. She grew up in a rural town with a population of 2,000, but has spent her adult life in the Austin area. She holds a graduate degree in Social Work from Texas State University, specializing in administration/supervision. Shelley held a long career with the American Cancer Society (ACS), managing a national portfolio of cancer prevention and early detection programs for employers and other community systems. Living in such different communities throughout her life and her work at ACS informed her knowledge of the rampant need for accessible, affordable, and evidence-based programs to address the social determinants of health. Meeting new people, linking opportunities and solutions, and helping her team and clients achieve success are all motivators for Shelley in the workplace. She’s thrilled to be part of the Unite Us family. When not at work, Shelley enjoys long hikes with her family and dogs, running with friends, and escaping internationally via travel shows she watches with her husband.

Her three celebrity best friends would be Bryan Stevenson, Brene Brown, and Mindy Kaling.

Alexandra graduated from the University of South Dakota with degrees in health services Administration. She comes to Unite Us with experience in coalition building and a passion for public health. Alexandra strives to continue enhancing her skills to develop herself personally and professionally. Outside of work she loves time spent on the lake, crafting and traveling.

If Alexandra could choose three famous best friends, they would be Amy Herman, David Goggins and Shania Twain.

Chelsea comes to Unite Us with a background in community organizing and engagement both in the nonprofit and city government sectors. Chelsea is a passionate systems thinker and community builder. Chelsea began her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, working in children and family services, and remained in Southeast Asia to work for an INGO based in Sri Lanka - serving as a youth development program officer and regional gender equity focal point. It was during her time in Southeast Asia that Chelsea became deeply committed to coalition building as a way to improve an individual’s social determents of health and promote health equity across communities. Chelsea holds a MPA from NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service where she focused her degree on Public and Nonprofit management. Outside of work, Chelsea loves to ride her bike around NYC and travel to warm sunny beaches when winter becomes too much.

Three famous best friends: Jessica Williams, Carrie Brownstein, Michaela Coel

Megan has dedicated the last 14 years to being a tenacious advocate for those who need a voice. Her work in the human services sector has included both forprofit and nonprofit organizations, helping the disabled and those who have unmet medical needs. After studying nursing, social work, and psychology, Megan found her path after serving as a court-appointed special advocate. In that role, she honed her skills in navigating through the healthcare, school, and court systems, making life-changing differences for children. Megan believes that for social change to happen, everyone's voice must be heard and valued. Growing up in small-town Iowa and now residing in one of Iowa's largest cities has opened her eyes to more significant needs. Megan brings her skills and knowledge in care networks and service gaps to Unite Us, where she hopes to provide a broader impact to those in the community.

If Megan could choose three famous best friends, they would be Socrates, Marie Curie, and Ashton Kutcher.

Melissa has worked in provider relations, contract management, managed care and community outreach. She grew up in a small rural town in Iowa called Vinton, she now considers home the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Melissa attended the University of Northern Iowa and studied health promotion with an emphasis in women’s health. Melissa is a people person and loves to help people and make them feel like they are loved, she thinks her personality will help build long lasting relationships with the providers and Unite Us. Melissa’s biggest goal is to build relationships and help make the local hospitals and organizations see how a partnership with Unite Us will help them.

Melissa’s 3 famous best friends would be: Walt Disney, Keith Urban and Bobby Bones.

Before her time with Unite Us, Tracy Jo spent many years at the forefront of developing nationally-recognized programming in youth development, civic engagement, and social responsibility as the Program Director for the country’s largest Youth & Government program. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Tracy Jo graduated from Western Kentucky University summa cum laude as a first-generation scholar - the first in her family to receive a degree - whereafter she served with AmeriCorps at a CBO in San Francisco to preserve neighborhoods and families affected by rapid gentrification. Upon moving back to Kentucky, her directorial work with the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association emboldened her passion for public policy and deepened her commitment to the social justice movement. The marriage between her personal background and her professional pursuits eventually led her to receive a full-scholarship to New York University’s Robert F. Wager Graduate School of Public Service. In May 2019, she graduated with her masters in public administration, specializing in public and nonprofit management and policy. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at NYU in the Masters of healthcare administration and MPA/MPP programs. TJ is an enthusiastic, creative, and warm professional, with a sharp eye for detail and keen mind for the big picture. She is thrilled to take New York state to the next level in innovation and social care integration.

If Tracy Jo could have three famous buddies, she would want to be besties with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Lin Manuel-Miranda, and Solange Knowles (big sister Beyonce’ comes as a bonus, right?)!

Oluchi was born and raised in the city of roses, Portland, Oregon. Her previous work was in the nonprofit and public health sector where she managed, designed and developed health programs that target social determinants of health, address health disparities and improve health equity in communities of color. Oluchi received her bachelors of science degree in communication disorders and sciences from the University of Oregon and her masters in public health from California State University, Northridge. Oluchi loves breaking down barriers, challenging systems of oppression and addressing tough public health issues that disproportionately impact some groups more than others. She truly believes that when people are connected to the tools, resources and programs that they need to live healthy lives, they thrive. And when people thrive, communities thrive, and everybody benefits.

If Oluchi could choose three best friends, they would be Anthony Bourdain, Issa Rae and Nispey Hussle.

After graduating from the University of North Dakota, Emily Gomez began her professional career as an AmeriCorps VISTA in southern Minnesota working with underserved communities. This ignited a passion for serving others through her work with healthcare focused nonprofits, delivering programs and services to clients across the state. She completed her Master’s in Organizational Leadership from St. Mary’s University which brought into focus her desire to break down barriers her clients faced from a higher level. When she is not working, Emily is spending time with her husband and daughter, walking her two dogs Josie and Blue, trying new recipes and listening to true crime podcasts.

If Emily could choose three famous friends, they would be Chrissy Teigen, Gordon Ramsey, and Benito Skinner.

Aly is an empath and a passionate non-profit professional with a demonstrated history of enhancing health-centered programs and strategic relationships. Originally from California, she briefly lived overseas in Tanzania and Cambodia and has considered Kailua, Hawaii home since 2017. She earned her undergraduate degree in human development and sociology from California State University, Long Beach and went on to earn her master of public health with an emphasis in global health from Touro University, California. Her passion for public health began when she was medically separated from the Peace Corps. After returning to the United States malnourished and physically unfit, she was determined to earn a master’s degree in public health to help others advocate for better health outcomes. It was then that she learned there are complex underlying social inequities that influence our population’s health. Pulling from her past career experience providing social services and health education, Aly believes in a holistic approach to healthcare that extends outside the walls of a provider’s office. Collective impact is the only way to create lasting system changes-now there is greater need than ever. In her free time, Aly enjoys hiking with her dog Jack, free diving, and finding the best local restaurants.

If Aly could choose three famous best friends, they would be Kimi Werner, Nelson Mandela, and Blake Lively.

Luciano was most recently Vice President of Programs and Integration at the United Way of South Hampton Roads where he directed community engagement with hundreds of partners and the annual investment of more than $12 million in human service programs. An Urban Planner by training, Luciano spent 15 years driving community development through institutions of higher education and collaborative community planning. Luciano grew up in Hampton Roads (Southeastern Coastal Virginia), received a bachelor's degree in history education from Old Dominion University and a master’s in urban planning from Florida State University. His career has taken him around the United States with extended stays in Miami and Tallahassee, Florida, as well as Boston, Massachusetts. However, it has also returned him to his hometown where he currently lives in Norfolk, Virginia with his wife Leandra, nine year old twins Amina and Santiago, and five-month old Mini GoldenDoodle puppy Luna Liberty. There is nothing more important to Luciano than his faith, family, and food. His commitment to service and justice is grounded in personal experience and his love for others. We are all connected and your chosen family is just as important as the family one is born with. Unite Us helps to expand our connectedness while elevating community challenges so we can face them together. We are building community by collaboratively creating a new public health and human service infrastructure.

My famous best friends (who are not my wife and kids) would be Roberto Clemente, Pope Francis, and Sonia Sotomayo.

After developing a fascination for technology Mary was inspired to pursue a BAAS at University of North Texas, concentrating on technology and applied science. She has worked in various roles post-grad, including (but not limited to): Sr. IT business analyst, sr. technical support specialist, corporate software trainer. Mary has worked for various major international companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, and is also an investor and an entrepreneur.
Outside of work, she is involved in community outreach, and has a passion for serving the underprivileged. Her greatest joy is mentoring youth interested in STEM careers. She is currently working with teachers in the area to oversee a mentoring program linking IT professionals to local high schoolers in underserved areas. Mary is the epitome of the word integrity, and is not afraid of new challenges. Her top Gallup Strengths are Achiever, Activator, Arranger, and Command. She is well-traveled, and loves the beaches of Belize and Hawaii. When not at work, you can find her enjoying yoga, hiking, cross-fit, dance, and meditation.

If Mary could choose three famous friends, they would be Maya Angelou,
Eckhart Tolle and Nelson Mandela.

Claire comes to Unite Us with a background in agile project management and manufacturing analytics. Claire studied management information systems at the University of Tulsa and continued on to pursue an MBA from Wichita State University. She is excited to combine her enthusiasm for project management with her passion for helping others. In her free time, Claire enjoys hiking, trying out new recipes, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs.

If Claire could chose three famous friends, they would be Amy Schumer, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), and Julia Roberts.

Tatiahna Belton joins Unite Us with a passion for assisting others in numerous different sectors of healthcare. Tatiahna began her career as an Assistant Office Manager at a dental office, which devoted their services in a small rural area. There she realized the importance of healthcare for all individuals and the benefit of having access to dental/medical care. After attending Bennett College for Women where she received her Bachelors of Science in Biology she continued her education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University receiving a Masters of Science in Biology. After graduation, she continued to work at the dental office for over five years until changing careers. Prior to joining Unite Us, she has worked as a Project Analyst and EDI Project Manager at a biotechnology/laboratory company. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and trying new recipes.

If Tatiahna could choose 3 famous friends they would be Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Charlie Wilson, and Michelle Obama.

After graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in public health studies, Maggie received her masters of health science in environmental health and engineering from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Maggie worked as a patient advocate based in the Harriet Lane Clinic, as well as the Gynecological Oncology department at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her experience working within the Baltimore community and community based resources instilled in her the importance of access to quality health. She is especially passionate about women's health, access to reproductive health services, and the environmental health impacts on women and children. Maggie is excited to bring her experiences and passion to Unite Us. Outside of work, she can be found gardening, crafting, and playing with her two cats, Gingerbread and Mocha.

If Maggie could have three famous best friends, she would choose Michelle Obama, Ibtihaj Muhammad, and Daveed Diggs.

Leah has a career history in the public sector, working for local health and human services organizations within county systems. Possessing a background and with expertise in services for individuals who are aging or adult individuals who have a disability, Leah promotes person-centered practices with an understanding that each person’s unique set of experiences shapes who they are today. Living in the upper midwest her entire life, Leah grew up on a family-run dairy farm in Minnesota and understands the beauty of a small, rural town atmosphere. Attending Southwest Minnesota State University, Leah obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work and is a licensed social worker in the state of Minnesota. Leah is currently pursuing a graduate degree in organizational leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Leah knows that no one individual or system can go it alone. The depths of connections we possess grows our ability to realize goals not previously possible. Leah’s goal in joining the Unite Us team is simple: develop and maintain meaningful connections and relationships within her team and networks. Through these meaningful relationships, Leah’s passion for authenticity, precision, and accountability will expertly unite.

Leah’s three famous best friends would be Steve Carell, Frasier Crane, and Brené Brown.

Mimi graduated from Princeton University with a degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs with a concentration in law and legal systems. Her coursework at school focused on health policy, social systems, and government services: particularly their effects on minority populations. This educational background fueled her interest in working for Unite Us, as she believes wholeheartedly in the positive change the organization is facilitating. Additionally, she brings experience working in the healthcare field as an office manager in the office of a primary care physician. Outside of work you can find Mimi exercising, trying new vegan recipes, and spending too much time on Tiktok.

If Mimi could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Mindy Kaling, and Rihanna.

Sarah Beccio is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta and has worked on the nonprofit and federal government sides for Tribal Nations. As the head of communications at the National Congress of American Indians, she collaborated on tribal healthcare projects and its policy research center. She also teamed up with the White House on the Generation Indigenous Initiative and was part of the working group for the first-ever Tribal Youth Gathering.
After Sarah left the Department of Interior, she started a public relations and communications firm to assist tribes and Native organizations with mainstream media and strategy. Her company also worked with professional sports teams, The Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), and Elect Her/Running Start with their Native American inclusion efforts. She has also started a non-profit, Codetalkers, whose mission is to bring coding to Native communities and tribal schools. Most recently, Sarah partnered with Facebook to put together a Covid-19 emergency plan to ensure that Isleta Elementary School students have the technology they need for distance learning. When Sarah isn’t working, she is hanging out with family and friends, watching sports and reality tv.

If Sarah could have three famous best friends, they would be Chrissy Teigen, Maya Rudolph, and Serena Williams.

Carly is originally from Chicago and now pursues her passion for public health in beautiful Los Angeles, California. She received her B.A. from Vanderbilt University where she became passionate about public health and health equity. She then went on to receive her Master of Public Health and Master of Social Welfare from UCLA where she specialized in community health and child and family well-being. There, she also completed two years of internships in which she provided mental health services to children in school settings. Through her work, she experienced first hand the lack of coordination between health and social care as well as how far too often, social service providers are overworked and underpaid for the invaluable work they do. She is excited to join the Unite Us team to address these fragmented systems of care and promote value-based payment systems for social service providers to improve health and well-being for all. When not at work, you can find Carly playing with her rescue dog, spending time with her loved ones, and practicing yoga.

If Carly could pick three famous best friends they would be Tom Hanks, Chrissy Teigen, and Jonathan Van Ness.

Avery was born and raised in The Equality State: Wyoming! She earned a bachelors in visual art from The University of British Columbia, a post graduate degree in secondary education from The University of Wollongong and is currently working on a master’s in rehabilitation counseling from Utah State University. Through her experience working in education and counseling, Avery has come to understand the immense value in leveraging community-based resources to increase positive health and social outcomes. Avery is looking forward to capturing the gusto of Unite Us to fill the gaps in her home state. When Avery is not working, you will find her enjoying the mountains by hiking, biking or climbing. She almost has a house project on the go!

If Avery could chose three famous best friends, they would be Taika Waititi, Dr. Seuss, and Jimmy Kimmel.

Gracious comes to Unite Us with a passion for health equity and community engagement. She earned a BA in sociology from the University of Washington, where she later returned to obtain an MPH in health services with a certificate in global health. Gracious has worked alongside community-based organizations and agencies in King County on community health worker and mobile health programs. She has conducted program evaluations to improve grantmaking and to increase cancer screenings. Throughout her experiences, she is guided by her commitment to improving health outcomes locally in WA. Gracious calls SeaTac home, a suburb of Seattle. She enjoys bonding with friends over food, trying new recipes, and playing tennis during the few dry months in the Seattle-area.

If Gracious could choose three famous friends, they’d be Rihanna, Michelle Obama, and Naomi Osaka.

Moira believes in the power of community in transforming the people’s lives. For the past two decades, she has worked to expand access to community-based supports and services for young children and their families, most recently as the Executive Director of the First 5 Association of California. Her work at First 5 helped expand child care, home visiting, developmental supports, and healthcare access across the state. She has deep experience in policy and advocacy, strategic planning, and data analysis, with a focus on lifting up community practice and expertise. Moira did her undergraduate work in art and architecture at Harvard College and holds a PhD in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. A true California-transplant, she has lived in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, but has hiked and biked every corner of the state and if asked, can name the county seat of every one of California’s 58 counties. Moira lives with her partner and teenage daughter in Berkeley, and loves spending time in her backyard garden and orchard. Passionate about breaking down the silos that prevent individuals and families from achieving their greatest potential, Moira loves the Unite Us commitment to collaboration and innovation to address big societal challenges. Moira is excited to leverage the Unite Us platform across California.

If Moira could pick three famous friends, they would be Emma Goldman, Michelle Obama, and Greta Thunberg.

Jennifer comes to Unite Us with years of experience in client facing marketing roles in consumer products, hospital laboratory diagnostics and healthcare. Additionally, she served Cerner data warehousing and home health & hospice software clients. Jennifer joined United Way of Greater Kansas City as a resource consultant for two fundraising seasons. Most recently, with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Kansas City, she was responsible for strategic partnerships, events, community engagement and worked with many nonprofits through a charity accreditation program. Denver, Allentown, Philadelphia and Atlanta have been home cities for Jennifer, not to mention her collegiate years at Drake University in Des Moines, IA where she majored in marketing. The farthest venture from her hometown of Kansas City was a trip to Thailand in 2012! When not working, you’ll find Jennifer spending time with friends or family or, at the piano. She has been in a band, volunteered to play music for hospice patients, and written songs for local nonprofits. Jennifer is to excited help elevate the work of so many organizations that contribute to improved lives through social care. She can’t wait to help build a thriving, efficient network of coordinated care at both the local and state level.

To engage and build on her artistic, sports and community interests, Jennifer would love to hang out with Esperanza Spalding, Patrick Mahomes and Michelle Obama!

Born in El Paso, Texas, Edith grew up with a strong desire to help those around her. She is passionate about creating data-driven innovative solutions that keep the community they serve at the heart of everything they do. Edith graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Science. She spent her time advocating for Latinx children and their access to early diagnosis of developmental disabilities through the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge. She has gained experience in healthcare administration at Pediatric Associates of Austin, learning the importance of maintaining a human-centered approach in all aspects of healthcare. As a Second Day Impact Fellow, she was determined to find a mission driven company that truly believed in the change they wanted to create. She is excited to have found a home with Unite Us, where she hopes to tackle barriers and increase access to health and human services. When not working, Edith can be found hanging out with her dog, Max and enjoying Austin’s outdoor activities.

If Edith could choose three famous best friends she would choose Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Tim Duncan, and Ron Swanson.

As a Community Engagement Manager, Marlene understands the importance of building meaningful partnerships to improve access and address barriers in all communities. Marlene joins the team at Unite Us from the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association where she led efforts to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in underserved communities through outreach and education. After graduating from Florida International University with a B.S in health science / speech & language pathology in 2008, Marlene taught children with special needs, adopting a holistic approach to prioritize success both inside and outside the classroom. Marlene currently resides in Denver, Colorado where she enjoys traveling, cooking, video games, and exploring everything Colorado has to offer with her husband Erik and tiny pup, Sam.

If Marlene could choose three famous best friends they would be Mariah Carey, Walter Mercado and Karen Kilgariff.

Brian is joining Unite Us after nine years of healthcare experience at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon. For his last 2 years at OHSU, he worked with a pediatric program that supported families who were dealing with complex health conditions but also living with many psychosocial stressors. It was during this time that he supported some of the most at risk patients seen in the healthcare system and discovered that there were so many factors that contributed to a person’s health than just following a medical regimen. With his experience and as someone who has always been fascinated by technology and helping others, there was no better fit than Unite Us.

If Brian could pick three famous best friends, they would be Hannibal Buress, David Chang, and Kim Seok-jin.

Bobbie received her master's in healthcare administration with an emphasis in public health from Des Moines University, Osteopathic Medical School. She began her public health career at the Iowa Department of Public Health where she helped implement best practices in tobacco control, including statewide initiatives that resulted in Iowa’s Smokefree Air Act, an increase in tobacco taxes, and tobacco free workplaces and school campuses. While at the American Cancer Society, Bobbie led the organization’s nationwide grant program that built partnerships with community-based organizations, Federally Qualified Health Centers and other safety-net primary care systems to reduce cancer disparities and improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations through systems-level change. Bobbie remains engaged in cancer control and currently serves on the board of directors for the Iowa Cancer Consortium, including serving as co-chair for the health equity committee. She lives in Johnston, IA with her husband (Christian), two daughters (Jayden and Jordyn) and two dogs (Rocky and Kingston). Outside of work, she loves to travel, hike, bike and make lots of fun memories with friends and family.

If I could choose, my three famous best friends would be Michelle Obama, Melissa McCarthy and Alicia Keys.

Monique has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, healthcare and government in Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Through her work serving vulnerable populations at community based organizations and at a critical access hospital, she has witnessed the need for improving access to social care and is thrilled to be part of the Unite Us family that is building a world of connected communities to improve people's health and well-being. Highlights of her career are: Establishing the Wyoming 2-1-1 helpline in Cheyenne, expanding the Seward County CASA and Pre-trial Diversion program and serving as the Marketing and Foundation Director for West Holt Memorial Hospital in Nebraska. She also has served in numerous civic, business and other leadership roles locally and statewide. Monique lives in Sioux Falls, SD but calls Nebraska (Go Big Red) home. In her free time, she enjoys Husker football/volleyball, swimming, playing cards and enjoying time with her grandchildren along with volunteering at her favorite nonprofits.

If Monique could have a wish granted, it would be to have these three famous best friends: Princess Diana, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Garner.

A native of Los Angeles, Jeff has a diverse history of experiences that focus on customer service, enterprise system deployment and business development. Starting his career as a Geographer for the US Census Bureau, he learned to lead community based projects that primarily served the under-enumerated populations in Southern California. Mastering GIS and special projects focused on human geography, he entered the Emergency 9-1-1 telecommunications and dispatch industry. Working with Motorola Solutions, he implemented enterprise wide and local Wireless E9-1-1 systems where he integrated new GIS and mapping systems into the greater telecommunications infrastructure. Some of his projects included the State of California, and Oregon as well as LAPD, LA County Sheriff's Office, Orange County Fire and many others. Concurrently to working in E9-1-1, Jeff's family was developing a winery business in Paso Robles, CA. Jeff left Motorola to help his family establish and develop a fully combined (growing, winemaking, sales) winery business called Oso Libre Winery. Jeff oversaw all levels of wine production, product design, IT, wine club and sales. Now that the winery business is on solid ground and successful, Jeff has returned to the information technology industry, focusing on enterprise deployment and customer success.

Shane is currently completing their Master's Degree in Public Health at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill in North Carolina. They hold a degree in Communications and Media Studies from NC State University, which was completed in the span of three years through plenty of hard work and dedication. Shane grew up in a small family business environment and describes themselves as a lifelong learner. In their classes, internships, and practicum work, Shane focuses on reformative justice in healthcare, studying policy reform in order to expand affordable, accessible, and equitable healthcare to underserved populations. Outside of work, Shane volunteers with local veterans, hikes trails and mountains, and creates paintings and sculptures. Shane is enthusiastic about gaining experience in consulting and always brings passion to their work.

If Shane could choose three best friends, they would be Jacinda Ardern, Steve Irwin, and Rihanna.

Momone Maley’s passions for sustainability, healthy food, and community have provided her with a diverse set of experiences in local food systems, community action, youth programming, technology in natural food certifications, conservation, and socially conscious theatre. Momone is originally from the rust belt and has since lived on both coasts, in the heart of Chicago, and in a small multicultural town of meditators. She lives in Southern Oregon and considers it one of the many places she calls home. Momone received her undergraduate degree in theatre from the College of Charleston and her MBA in sustainability from MIU. Momone has a love for food, dance, the outdoors, and multiculturalism. Following these sources of joy have led her to participate in building strong communities that increase the quality of life for its present and future members.

If Momone could choose three famous best friends, they would be Marge Piercy, Ruth Stout, and Leah Penniman.

Lauren has always had a passion for working to improve the lives of others. After graduating with a bachelors of science, from Old Dominion University, Lauren put her passion into action when she began her career in education. Throughout her career she has focused on working in-low income schools to help fill the educational gap of underprivileged students and families. While teaching a Biomedical Science/ Technology course, Lauren used her technology skills to help both students and staff. In addition to teaching, she became involved by volunteering in school activities, youth services, and community engagement programs. Lauren is thrilled to bring her skill in working with various community agencies to the Unite Us team! Lauren lives in Charlotte, NC but calls Hampton Roads (Virginia), her home. In her free time, she enjoys participating in outside activities, spending time with family and friends, attending musical events, and handmade crafting.

If Lauren could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, J. Cole, and Issa Rae.

Monique N. Marshall was born and raised in East Baltimore, Maryland. Passionate about serving, Monique was able to integrate her personal love for community with her professional career as Chief of Staff to Councilman Leon F. Pinkett, III, Baltimore City Council 7th District. Throughout her career as a public servant in Baltimore City, Monique has proven experience in strengthening neighborhoods through community organizing; focusing on the pillars of public safety & health, economic development, education, transportation, and food access. Serving the diverse communities of West Baltimore, Monique had the opportunity to be a representative on a variety of boards, as well as a community liaison to agencies, organizations, and associations throughout the city. Prior to her tenure in the Council’s Office, Monique was a Corporate Retail Manager for over 17 years in the DMV Area. Her expertise is in Business Development, Training and Development, Talent Acquisition, Human Resources, Strategic Planning, Budget Analysis, Sales and Marketing. Monique has the ability to work well with cross functional teams, foster stakeholder relationships, and build public-private partnerships. Monique attended University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she learned the importance of relationships and networks through meeting good people and making lifelong friendships. Monique obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree from University of Baltimore, majoring in interdisciplinary studies, specializing in corporate communications, business management, English; MPA Public Policy.
Monique currently serves as a Community Engagement Manager for the Baltimore Area. Monique is community. She is every person who doesn’t have access. She is every person who doesn’t feel empowered. Monique is every person that feels like the systems are broken, and that there is a lack of hope. She is also the solution. She responsible for her village. She has a spiritual responsibility. She has a social responsibility. Monique has a human responsibility to take care of other humans. It’s the right thing to do. It’s what keeps her up at night- personally knowing what it’s like being a part of the underserved community and actually doing something about it! Monique’s biggest goal is to continue to connect underserved communities with resources and to be a part of the change that we want to see. Her goal is to build a strong network leveraging and strengthening existing relationships that will become the foundation that the Baltimore market rests on. Unite Us is what communities need to connect the dots- to bring services full circle. The need is so prevalent and this innovative- a smart, yet simple tool that can save the world, one community at a time. It’s a health and social services Super Hero!

Monique’s three celeb besties are Erykah Badu for her psychedelic vibes, Martin Lawrence because laughter fills the soul, and Tracee Ellis Ross because one must ALWAYS come to slay!

Serving in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years, Gina witnessed the growing impact of social determinants on quality of life, especially in underserved communities. Program failure was often blamed on the individual participants instead of addressing the many barriers that they face. Always trying to problem solve and an avid techy, Gina was attracted to the Mission and Vision of Unite Us. A proud mother of three, Gina and her husband Jeff reside in Colorado Springs and enjoy anything outdoors, travel (especially if there is water involved), and spending time with their dog, Harley. Having grown-up in Puerto Rico, Spanish and English are both first languages. Gina earned an exercise physiology degree from the University of Texas at Austin. A life-long learner, Gina is fueled by a team that is always looking to get better, serve more people and improve well-being for ALL.

Gina’s famous best friends that contribute to lively dinner conversations are Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Ghandi.

Katie arrived at Unite Us after studying and working in politics, primarily helping run political campaigns. After learning of the work Unite Us does, however, she joined the team and has been consistently amazed by the work ethic and passion of her coworkers ever since. When not working, she’s likely reading, listening to a true-crime podcast, or trying to figure out how much water is needed to cook rice.

If Katie could choose three famous best friends, they would be Sarah Paulson, Trevor Noah, and Karen Kilgariff.

Colleen spent ten years in the world’s greatest Navy before finishing a master’s degree in performance psychology. As an advocate for veteran wellness, she received a fellowship with The Mission Continues and lobbied for veteran rights on Capitol Hill alongside her team at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. She spent five years with the team of cutting-edge researchers and clinicians at University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for BrainHealth teaching High-Performance Cognitive Training and is a candidate for Certified Mental Performance Coach with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Colleen is passionate about preventative, holistic health and through her work with Unite Us, is motivated to drive health equity by connecting healthcare and social services throughout Texas. In her free time, she enjoys long-distance running, writing, cooking and chilin’ with her hubby and five rescue dogs.

If Colleen could choose three famous best friends, they would be Albert Lin, Dwayne Carter and Martha Stewart.

After working in management at a large medical insurance company for many years, Kim became very passionate about finding solutions in the gaps in healthcare. Already pursuing a degree in Business Management, she embraced this passion by adding on a minor in Healthcare Admin. Kim has also always been very passionate about helping others, which led her to the local United Way several years ago. She became very involved organizing fundraisers and volunteering for a variety of organizations throughout the community, and eventually ended up working part time at the emergency homeless shelter, being an advocate for clients and finding them the resources they need. It’s Kim’s desire and passion that makes her so excited to bring Unite Us to her community where she was born and raised in Bismarck, ND. Beyond her career and volunteer work, Kim has a deep love for travel, learning about other cultures, kayaking, music, and nature. She also has a passion for animal rescue, and has adopted handicapable cats, and would love to rescue each and every homeless animal if given the opportunity.

If Kim could choose three best friends, they would be John Lennon, Drew Barrymore, and Maya Angelou.

After graduating from the University of Miami with her BS in health science, Shelby moved to Washington, DC to serve as an intern at the White House during the Obama Administration. Her strong desire to address social determinants of health and improve the health and well-being of communities led her to pursue her masters of public health in child, youth, and families at Columbia University. Prior to joining Unite Us, she has worked to expand cross-sector partnerships at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to reduce childhood obesity, to create a more equitable food system with the Urban Food Policy Institute, to address health barriers to learning at the Children’s Health Fund, and to mitigate the coronavirus through the Massachusetts COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative. Further, Shelby has spent the past five years as an Advance Associate in the Office of Former First Lady Michelle Obama. She brings to Unite Us her passion for public health and helping people, as well as experience in details and logistics. Shelby grew up and currently resides in North Andover, Massachusetts. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exercise classes, and cooking.

If Shelby could choose three famous best friends they would be Michelle Obama, Chrissy Teigen, and Olivia Benson from Law and Order SVU.

Nadine was born and raised in Massachusetts, however, now resides in Southern New Hampshire. She holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of New Hampshire and master of arts in community & social psychology from the University of Massachusetts. Her experience spans the public, private, for-profit and not-for-profit sectors with a focus in community, workforce development, and social services. Nadine is especially passionate about the wellbeing of the community in which she resides, making her a natural fit to join a passionate and mission-driven organization like Unite Us.

If Nadine could choose three famous best friends, she would choose Dave Chappelle, Brene Brown, and Simon Sinek.

Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Alexa moved to the US in 1998 to go to college. She graduated with a BS in management information systems and a minor in international relations from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She then went on to obtain her MBA from that same university. She currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her family. After spending fifteen years in the financial markets as a client relationship manager, Alexa returned home to Haiti to lend her skills to the municipality of Port-au-Prince; a role that she found really challenging, yet extremely rewarding. That position allowed her to have a direct impact on the community. Either way, her entire work experience has allowed her to serve the public in a meaningful way. Living in different countries with distinct social economic situations has allowed Alexa to truly listen, empathize and understand people. She hopes that her life experiences will help make a difference in the lives of those in need. Alexa is an advocate for autism awareness and reform. She is a mama bear to a beautiful autistic daughter, a wild rambunctious toddler boy and a fluffy dog. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, travelling and trying new foods. Her dream is to visit every country in the world and she’s already been to 25. She is fluent in four languages: french, spanish, Haitian creole and english.

If Alexa could pick three best friends, they would be the Carters (Jay-z and Beyonce), Temple Grandin, and Michael Jackson.

Marc has spent his career working in community health at the intersection of health care and community-based organizations. Most recently, he served as the Director of Healthcare Integration and Translation at YMCA of the USA, where he advanced population health strategy, clinic-to-community partnerships, and led the testing of new ways to integrate community-based organizations into healthcare delivery and payment systems. He is a firm believer in the impact that networks of social service organizations can have on population health management goals, and is excited to join an organization that is leading the way in helping this come to fruition. While completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he not only met his wife Katie, but also discovered a midwestern classic-Friday night fish fries. Marc also has an MPH from the University of Illinois-Chicago. When he’s not at work, he enjoys traveling with Katie, listening to salsa music, all things sports, and volunteering as a medical interpreter at a free clinic in his home city, Chicago.

If Marc could choose three famous friends, they would be Kobe Bryant, Marc Anthony, and Maria Hinojosa.

Kathy is originally from New Haven, CT. She has over 20 years working with various nonprofit organizations in leadership roles. Kathy prides herself as a community person and enjoys building relationships. She has a graduate degree in urban studies and completing a second graduate degree in organizational leadership. During her professional journey, she received an awesome opportunity to work closely with Dr. Maya Angelou involving a national health equity initiative. During Kathy's spare time she enjoys spending time with her daughter and grandson.

If Kathy could choose three best friends, they would be Dr. Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali, and Angela Davis.

Jon Carnes has worked in the Insurance, Financial Services, and Mental Health sectors. He calls Duluth Minnesota home, but lives in Minneapolis. He went to school at the University of Minnesota, where he studied linguistics. Jon loves diving in and solving complex problems while supporting a mission, and his mix of extreme nerdiness and passion for improving healthcare is a great fit for an Operations Analyst at Unite Us.

If Jon could choose three best friends, they would be Elim Garak, Noam Chomsky, and KA Applegate.

Kiyana believes in the power of community, and knows a community only thrives when the people in it thrive. After years working in the nonprofit space, she joins Unite Us ready to create major state-wide change in her home state of Oklahoma. Her inspiration to help others comes from a long family lineage of strong women who always get the job done and also her educational background in family studies and sociology. When Kiyana is away from the office, she enjoys reading anything and everything, trying out a new recipe, finding a fresh bouquet of flowers for her house, and talking neighborhood walks with her husband and puppy dogs.

If Kiyana Dan could choose three best friends, they would be Sophie Kinsella, Katie Couric, and Rachael Ray.

Ericka studied Psychology at Mississippi State University. For her senior year, she accepted an internship at the Psychology and Law program at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Aside from the winters, she enjoys Nebraska and decided to stay. She moved a lot growing up, so it has been gratifying for her to grow roots here in Lincoln. After graduating from college, Ericka began her social work career by helping kids and families involved in the court system. Although her efforts were always well-intentioned, her role put her in a position to be viewed as the adversary. She has witnessed the barriers to resources and limitations of siloed approaches to client care. So when she saw the work being done at Unite Us she was inspired! Ericka is eager to begin serving her community in a way that will impact generations to come.

If Ericka could choose three best friends, they would be Simon Sinek, Sherlock Holmes, and Professor Snape.

After graduating from University of California, Davis Alexandra found her passion for helping others through her work for various nonprofits. After moving to MN, she earned her masters in nonprofit management from Hamline University and focused her work within the healthcare space. She recently worked at Second Harvest Heartland where she dedicated her efforts to improving health for underserved and high risk populations and demonstrating the value of investing in people’s basic needs as part of their overall health and the organizations that support them. Alexandra’s mission is to assist others and have a positive impact which is what drew her to Unite Us.

If Alexandra could choose three best friends, they would be Neil Gaiman, Marie Curie, and Deena Kastor.

Dom’s full-time job is husband and father of two. He is a community engagement professional by trade. He is a native of Philadelphia. His background is a diverse one but his community organizing experience is the foundation of all his work. He helps communities overcome barriers simply put. He got a lot of his confidence from the real HU, Howard University. He is a thinker, problem-solver, and a fighter. He doesn’t get discouraged when he doesn’t know something he gets motivated. He believes in empowering the community he serves. Unite Us is helping to do just that by giving communities across the country the tools to address unfair or inefficient systems by working together and Dom is up for that fight.

If Dom could choose three best friends, they would be Malcolm X, Kobe Bryant, and Dave Chappelle.

Jessica is a licensed master of social work who studied social work advocacy and administrative practice at the University of Kansas. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, where she was born and currently resides. Jessica’s pioneering spirit and obsession with achieving outcomes enables her to steward her role as a Community Engagement Manager with excellence so that the Unite Us mission is accomplished, thus enabling more people to receive seamless coordinated care.
Outside of work, Jessica enjoys blogging, writing non-fiction, and reading. In her downtime, she enjoys watching quirky, and often really stupid, Netflix originals.

If Jessica could choose three best friends, they would be Brené Brown, Barack Obama, and Matthew McConaughey.

As a community engagement manager, Courtney cultivates positive working relationships between health and social care organizations. After graduating from Boise State University with a degree in history and gender studies, Courtney joined Americorps and served at a domestic violence shelter in Central Oregon, where she grew up, educating youth about healthy relationships. Her Americorps experience led to a career in the nonprofit sector, working in community engagement roles and as part of the Oregon Safer Futures Project, linking domestic violence programs and healthcare systems in order to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant and parenting survivors of intimate partner violence. Courtney applies this unique experience to her role with Unite Us, engaging both social care and health care organizations in dynamic partnerships within Unite Us' coordinated care networks. Outside of her work Courtney enjoys hiking and exploring the "Pacific Wonderland" that is Oregon with her husband and two Great Danes, absorbing riveting documentaries on a night in, and enjoying her hometown of Bend, Oregon with friends and family.

My three famous best friends would be Florynce Kennedy, Meryl Streep, and John Krasinski.

After graduating from Barton College, Stephanie’s career journey took some interesting twists & turns as it includes sales, retail, marketing, management to nonprofit development and management. She has been involved in philanthropic causes since college for it was instilled in her as a child when she volunteered with her grandmother at a local nursing home. Her nonprofit background includes working with national organizations such as The Salvation Army, the March of Dimes and the American Heart Association. Her most recent role was the Executive Director for New Beginnings of Central Florida, a poverty prevention & homeless ministry, which offers bridge housing and life skills to lead individuals and families to economic stability. She has always had a passion for serving the underserved in her community. She believes in empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential even when they are not yet aware of their full potential. As a Community Engagement Manager, Stephanie believes that her role will contribute to providing the connectivity her community needs to better serve those in need, focusing on the whole person and unity among stakeholders throughout the community. When not at work Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family and dogs on the lake or curled up to watch a movie.

If she could pick three famous best friends they would be Julia Roberts, Condoleezza Rice, and Ellen DeGeneres.

During her eclectic career, Kelly has witnessed the tremendous impact of social determinants on quality of life and the need for better, stronger relationships between patients, providers, and their communities. Whether as an employee of the State of NH, the local community mental health center, or a private marketing and communications firm, Kelly has remained committed to working hard, collaborating in problem solving, and innovating for good.

A proud mother of two, Kelly and her husband Craig enjoy building trails at their home, camping, and spending time with their dog, Gerald, and bunny, Clementine. Kelly is from the Lakes Region of NH. Kelly earned a Management degree from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts.

Kelly wants to do good work with good people. She is curious and always looking for ways to help those around her reach their full potential.

Brittany Smith is a creator, connector, and cultivator. She has been working within the public health sector for over 11 years in academia, health departments, healthcare systems, and managed care organizations. She is drawn to “start ups” as she thrives in spaces where she’s able to be creative, learning endlessly, and helping to mold the foundation. Some of her experience includes managing and building out statewide teams for Medicaid health plans, revamping and expanding community health coalitions with a focus on creating policy, system, and environmental changes, and developing and implementing community and population health programs for healthcare systems. Detroit is her hometown but she’s been living in Charlotte, NC for over seven years. Brittany completed her undergraduate education, majoring in Psychology, at Wayne State University and obtained a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Behavior from the University of Michigan (Go Blue). She is passionate about leveraging technological innovation to address health inequities and other social issues. Her past personal experiences and deep desire to connect our most vulnerable neighbors to resources that will create sustainable change is what brought her to Unite Us. Her goal is to be a good human, support and collaborate with the team, and be a part of a solution to improve health outcomes. Brittany is married with two children and in her very finite spare time, she's sneaking in naps, traveling, cracking jokes, cooking, and volunteering. She’s also the daughter of an army veteran.

If Brittany could choose three best friends, they would be Issa Rae, Kelis, and Michelle Obama.

Andrew has always been passionate about helping people. As a problem solver and people person who grew up in a restaurant environment, he naturally gravitated towards the hospitality industry. During his studies at University of Maryland Eastern Shore he advocated The Campus Kitchens Project where he served as a Kitchen Manager. In this role, he planned meals, coordinated volunteers to prepare and partnered with local organizations like The Dwelling Place, serving weekly meals to homeless families in the Rockville community. Wanting to be more involved, Andrew also volunteered at DC Central Kitchen where he has prepared and served over 10,000 meals to the homeless community in DC. Andrew believes his experience in building relationships and can-do attitude coupled with his passion for helping people will allow him to do more and be more serving a broader community with Unite Us.

If Andrew could choose three best friends, they would be Kobe Bryant, Harry Mack, and Trevor Noah.

Devyn graduated from Louisiana State University Shreveport with her Masters of Business Administration. She enjoys working with people and has a strong passion for helping others. Devyn loves to travel and has traveled to over 7 countries and lived in 3 different countries. While living abroad she helped to enrich the lives of orphaned children. Devyn now lives in North Carolina with her husband and son, but is always willing to catch a flight to somewhere warm and sunny with a beach.

If Devyn could choose three best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, and Daenerys Targaryen.

Eiman graduated with a degree in Environmental Science and Economics from Northwestern University. She was most interested in learning about the relationship between the environment and health. She spent her time outside of class volunteering and taught local elementary school students about health and nutrition through an after school cooking program. This experience inspired her to seek impact based roles, and she worked in education after college. This same experience also drove her to Unite Us, whose mission and goals appealed to her interests in addressing barriers to access to health and social services. Outside of work, Eiman enjoys watching tennis, listening to audiobooks, and attempting to cook.

If Eiman could choose three best friends, they would be Malala, Naomi Osaka, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Abigail is an Account Manager with Unite Us, where she applies her passion for advancing health equity and systems-level change through building genuine relationships. Prior to joining Unite Us, Abigail led local and national initiatives that increase access to healthy foods for low-income families while supporting local farmers and economies. Her love for food infiltrates all aspects of her life, so when she’s not at work you can find Abigail at the farmers market, whipping up tasty treats, and exploring new restaurants. She lives with her partner, Josh, and her pup, Rosie, in Portland, OR (where she was born and raised) - and also has a deep love for Detroit, MI (where they called home for many years together before heading back out West).

If Abigail could have three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Nina Simone, and Mary Oliver.

Originally from Northeastern Ohio, Taylor is passionate about co-creating systems that are tailored for specific communities by creating authentic relationships and garnering trust. Prior to joining Unite Us, she led teams in various capacities at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore where she most recently held the position of Director of the Western Tidewater Community Produce Hub. Additionally, Taylor has served as an advisory board member for the Military Family Advisory Network, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of veteran and military families. Taylor holds a bachelor of science degree from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and a master of public administration degree from Old Dominion University. She resides in Norfolk, VA with her spouse and their lovable rescue dog.

If Taylor could choose three famous best friends, they would be Bryan Stevenson, Dylan Dreyer, and Michelle Obama.

Originally from Kenya, Brian moved to the US to attend college at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a degree in International Relations. Brian’s interest in how disruptive technologies and data-driven solutions are re-shaping approaches to sustainable development issues led him to Unite Us, where he is excited to support the platform, build robust partnerships to tackle today's biggest healthcare challenges and improve the social determinants of health in communities. Brian previously worked with the United Nations and the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. In his free time, Brian is an avid photographer who also enjoys traveling and biking.

If he could choose three famous best friends, they would be: Matisse Thybulle, Stormzy and Megan Pete.

Kelly graduated from Penn State with degrees in Business Administration and Finance. After seeing the transformations being made with technology and data, she got her Master’s degree in Information Technology and Data Analytics. As a military spouse, she has lived in seven states and has been directly impacted by complex healthcare systems and lack of transparency between providers during these moves. Kelly is passionate about creating solutions to fix these issues, as well as assisting service members and their families navigate their way through various benefits and services.

If Kelly could choose three best friends, they would be Monica Geller, Amy Poehler, and Aubrey Plaza.

Hayley is the Richmond, Virginia (RVA!) Community Engagement Manager at Unite Us. Hayley grew up in Japan, England and France and moved back to VA as a university student to attend James Madison University where she received her BA in Social Justice & Community Advocacy. She has a background in International and Community Development, most recently working with Habitat for Humanity, supporting affordable housing advocacy and community engagement initiatives. When Hayley’s not strategizing about community collaboration, she’s running around with her Husband, Craig and son, Bear, frequenting RVA’s awesome restaurant scene.

If Hayley could choose three famous best friends, they would be Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Ruldoph (the trifecta)!

Before joining Unite Us, Adam spent 13 years building partnerships and systems for organizations in the education and public health sector. He is passionate about community wellbeing and relationship building and believes real change occurs through intentional collaboration. This belief brought him to Unite Us in the role of Community Engagement Manager, where he is working to create a strong network of partners for lasting change in and out of the communities he serves.

Adam holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and received his Masters of Public Administration from Drake University. When he isn't working, you can find him spending time with his husband and two Schnoodles at their home in downtown Des Moines. He enjoys art, travel, cooking, reading, music, volunteering, coffee, and design.

If he could have three famous best friends, they would be
Anthony Bourdain, Barack Obama, and Tina Fey.

Sohna currently serves as the Community Engagement Manager for the Los Angeles area. With over a decade of education nonprofit experience, Sohna has dedicated her life to serving others. Originally from Bakersfield, California, Sohna has spent the last six years in Los Angeles working closely with partners in systemically under-resourced communities committed to closing the achievement gap. With a Master in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco, Sohna is eager to continue her service to the Los Angeles community. As the South African proverb Ubuntu states, “I am because you are” my humanity is tied to yours.

If Sohna could choose three famous friends they would be Rihanna, Cardi B and Beyonce!

Max has enjoyed a non-traditional education path, and their work has included roles at both nonprofit and for profit medical centers. While working with cancer patients, Max developed a passion for care navigation, as they observed the many difficulties that patients had to overcome to receive necessary treatments. In their recent role as a care navigator at Metro Inclusive Health, Max was privileged to work closely with some of the most marginalized communities in the Tampa Bay area. During this time, Max was able to coordinate care for HIV positive individuals, link transgender clients to gender affirming medical and behavioral health services, and provide assistance to community members seeking housing, substance abuse treatment, employment assistance, and governmental assistance through programs such as medicaid and EBT. As a non-binary transgender individual, Max has personally experienced challenges navigating the health care and social service fields, and they find great joy and satisfaction in being able to leverage their knowledge of these systems to assist their community to access life saving care. Max loves calling the Tampa Bay area home, and is eager to join the Unite Us team as a Network Hub Support Specialist. In their role, Max will be able to combine their life-long dedication to community care navigation, problem solving, and health accessibility to improve the health outcomes and quality of life for individuals and families in Tampa. Max cannot wait to see how their diverse community is able to thrive with the greater access to coordinated networks of care that Unite Us is pioneering and championing.

If Max could choose three famous best friends, they would be Leslie Feinberg, Amber Hikes, and Adrienne Maree Brown.

Prior to joining Unite Us as an Implementation Manager, Sarah worked in the nonprofit sector, with a specific focus on child welfare. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in communication. Sarah believes developing partnerships and facilitating conversations to overcome systemic barriers is the most important part of her work. When she is not working, Sarah can be found at home, in Papillion, Nebraska. She is either teaching yoga, binge watching Netflix with her husband, or snuggling with her two dogs (Sparty the Schnauzer and Poe the Westie).

If Sarah could choose three famous best friends they would be Brene Brown, Elvis Presley, and Trevor Noah.

Ebony has seven years of community engagement experience, working with hospitals, schools, religious entities and community organizations to promote healthy communities in Delaware. Through her previous role as Director of Community Health and Well Being with Saint Francis Hospital, Ebony built partnerships to create and lead programs and activities that address social influencers of health throughout New Castle County. Ebony has a passion for helping others and it shines through her smile and positive attitude, her hard work, her commitment to building healthy communities and the relationships she has built and maintained over the years.

If Ebony could choose three famous best friends, they would be Kevin Hart because she loves to laugh, Pattie LaBelle because she loves to sing and eat, and Maya Angelou because her words feed Ebony’s soul.

Laken was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, but currently lives in Pittsburgh where she most recently worked helping to manage and implement overdose reduction initiatives in counties across Pennsylvania. Laken received her BS in psychology from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. Laken is passionate about making health and social care accessible for everyone; Unite Us allows her to put that passion into action. Outside of work, she enjoys running and exploring the Pittsburgh food scene. When the gray, cold winters set in she enjoys binge watching Netflix and cheering for the University of Dayton Flyers.

Laken’s three famous best friends would be Michelle Obama, Elton John, and fellow Daytonian Allison Janney.

Kim is a data analysis professional who loves little more than a good spreadsheet. Originally from Lake Stevens, Washington, he currently resides in Spokane with his wife and their spoiled dogs. Kim earned a bachelor's degree from Western Washington University, and is passionate about affecting positive changes in his community. Prior to joining the Unite Us team, Kim worked in quality improvement and coordination for a Naval ship-building contractor, and Upstream USA, a nonprofit providing training and resources to clinics to expand contraceptive access. Outside of work, he enjoys canoeing, hiking, science fiction and amateur horror and comedy filmmaking with his friends.

If Kim could choose three famous best friends, they would be Steven Spielberg, Brandon Sanderson, and Cheddar the corgi.

Robyn started her career working in local government for Cook County in Chicago, before coming to Washington, DC to work on Capitol Hill for a Congressman from Chicago, handling health policy during the passage and implementation of the ACA. Robyn moved from working in domestic health care to working on global women’s health at the United Nations Foundation before coming back to U.S. health care, where she helped lead a human-centered design initiative at the DC Primary Care Association. After more than ten years in DC, Robyn considers it home and loves spending time at the Arboretum with friends enjoying some of her husband’s homebrew. Robyn received my Master’s in Population Health Management from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. From people living with a mental illness incarcerated in Chicago, to women in Kenya unable to access contraception to plan their families, to people experiencing homelessness in DC, Robyn has spent her career working to improve the lives of people in need. Unite Us puts people at the center of health and social services, and builds the support they need around them as individuals rather than asking individuals and providers to navigate a complex system. Robyn is energized by the opportunity to build a health infrastructure that is human-centered, meets people where they are at, and drives outcomes.

If Robyn could choose three famous best friends, she would choose Eleanor Roosevelt, Barack Obama, and Amy Schumer.

David has spent his career working in federal government, healthcare, nonprofits, and public education. He considers Southern California home and currently lives in Corona, CA. He attended California State University, Long Beach and earned a BA in sociology and is currently enrolled at National University where he plans on earning his Masters in Public Administration Summer of 2021. David has a strong foundation in community and civic engagement, and is a high energy professional who is enthusiastic about working with decision makers and community members to enhance opportunities for historically disenfranchised communities. During his free time, David enjoys traveling, hiking, visiting vineyards, and spending time with his fur child, a Golden Retriever named Goliath. David has an ambitious goal of visiting all 422 US National Park Sites (including Puerto Rico, Virgins Islands, American Samoa, and Guam) within the next 10 years.

If David Escobar could choose three best friends, they would be Alexandria Ocazio-Cortez, Daniel Levy, and Whitney Houston

Simon comes to Unite Us with nearly a decade of nonprofit administration and project management experience. Prior to Unite Us, Simon served as Chief Operations Officer for the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation and Deputy Director for El Pueblo History Museum. As Development Director for Pueblo StepUp, Simon wrote large-scale grants to fund Medicaid enrollment initiatives for Pueblo’s underserved populations. Simon holds a BS in political science from Colorado State University Pueblo. Simon’s passion for community engagement, capacity building, and love for southern Colorado drew him to Unite Us. Simon and his husband Nick are both Pueblo natives. He enjoys spending time with his friends, reading National Geographic, all things 80’s, his two pups (Bailey and Ruby) and traveling with Nick whenever they have the opportunity.

If Simon could choose three famous best friends, they would be RuPaul, Frederick Douglass and Stevie Nicks.

Ines Garcia Carreno obtained her B.S. in management and business economics from UC Merced. After graduating, she spent two and a half years in the nonprofit sector to build and create resources for her community and make an impact. As a youth organizer, she was able to learn many skills from being a social justice advocate, mentor, strategist, program, operations and project lead through community and electoral organizing efforts. Ines wants to continue to empower and make opportunities more accessible within the technology field in a mission driven company and Unite Us provides that.

If Ines could choose three famous best friends, they would be Sonia Sotomayor, Sheryl Sandberg, and Oprah Winfrey.

Emily attended college in Greeley, Colorado at the University of Northern Colorado where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Following graduation from college, Emily relocated to Nebraska from Colorado in 2006. While living in Nebraska, Emily has spent most of her professional career in the Child Protective Services arena. She has also worked with the Department of Labor and Child Support Enforcement Agencies for the State of Nebraska. Nebraska is where Emily currently resides, but Colorado is always where she will call home. While working within the social service field and also with other state agencies, there has been an identified need for a universal platform for agencies to communicate with each other about the needs of their clients/ customers. Unite Us provides an opportunity to bridge that gap in rural Nebraska and Emily was interested in being part of the implementation and this ground-floor opportunity. Emily has always been passionate about networking and brainstorming better ways to meet the needs of fellow Nebraskans.

If Emily could choose three famous best friends, they would be Judge Marilyn Milian, Brene Brown, and Amy Schumer.

Mindi thrives in St. Louis, and is a proud South City resident. She has spent her career in nonprofit and health care sectors, ranging from refugee resettlement to legal advocacy to Medicaid. After seeing gaps in information sharing and a lack of a cohesive community-wide approach across industries, Mindi found Unite Us. She completed her B.A. in political science, international studies, sociology, and Spanish from Saint Louis University. In her down time, you can find her playing board games, listening to live music, and walking around Carondelet Park.

If Mindi could choose three famous best friends, they would be Lzzy Hale, Amelia Earhart, and Kate Warne.

Cari came to Unite Us after a two-year hiatus where she took on cancer and came out the winner. Prior to that she worked in the nonprofit sector in many positions, most recently as a community outreach manager at a food bank. Cari grew up in Grand Forks, ND and went south to attend Arizona State University. She stayed in Arizona for an additional ten years before heading back to the frozen north to be closer to her parents and in-laws. Cari is driven to connect people to their passions and encouraging them to think outside the box when it comes to serving those in need. Her experience on the client side of needed services along with her nonprofit experience with vulnerable clients drew her to Unite Us where she can use a combination of her knowledge and experiences to help people get the services they need quickly and efficiently.

Cari is lucky to have the greatest best friends, but if she could throw some famous people into the mix she would chose Kristen Bell, Trevor Noah and Michelle Obama.

Corinna is a leader and advocate for advancing quality public health practices. Corinna is an Air Force Veteran, mother of three and military spouse, who continues to serve her community as a public health accreditation site visitor and is actively involved in various Tampa Bay organizations that address health equity. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a master's in public health with a concentration in health service administration. She brings 15+ years of experience working as a consultant for federal, state, and local governments, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Unite Us she served as a Mobile Clinic Community Outreach Coordinator at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital where she worked, boots on the ground, directly engaging with community partners to provide comprehensive services to rural, uninsured/or underinsured families. When Corinna is not working she is enjoying time with her family, enduring fitness challenges, or building her business with her husband.

If Corinna could choose three famous best friends, they would be Tracee Ellis Ross, Michelle Obama, and Robyn Roberts

Lisa was raised in Wyoming and lives in the city of Cheyenne. She attended the University of Wyoming receiving a B.S. in health science holds a PMP certification from the Project Management Institute. Lisa has fifteen years experience in the nonprofit sector and project management. She has over ten years experience in coalition development and management. Lisa is passionate about bringing organizations together in collaboration with the goal of individuals and families leading healthier lives throughout their lifespan. Lisa’s biggest goal joining the Unite Us team is for Wyoming citizens to successfully navigate the healthcare and social service systems receiving the services they need.

If Lisa could choose three famous best friends, they would be Amelia Earhart, Sacagawea, and Wonder Woman!

Angel Martinez serves as a Senior Community Engagement Manager at Unite Us and is based out of Chicago, IL. He received his master's in social work from Loyola University Chicago and completed a post-graduate program shortly after to obtain his Drug and Alcohol Counseling certification. Angel comes to Unite Us with six and a half years in the nonprofit sector. Some populations supported throughout his social service career include, but are not limited, to the follow: the LGBTQ community, HIV population, eldercare community, substance abuse community and the homeless population. Two fun facts about Angel are that he’s a professional latin dancer (placing 1st in the world under the World Latin Dance Cup) and he rehabs homes with his partner on the side.

If Angel could choose three famous best friends, they would be Brene Brown, Andy Cohen and Amanda Seales.

Laura joins Unite Us with a diverse background that includes experience in probation, behavioral health face-to-face services, and social determinants of health-based programs. She has a passion for helping those in her direct communities of Southwest Virginia. Laura graduated with her BS in criminal justice from Ferrum College and her MA in management and leadership (business) from Liberty University. Helping those in need drives her to pursue a career that focuses on addressing SDoH related inequities in communities. Laura is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Unite Us team to help make that drive a reality. Laura currently resides in Roanoke, VA with her family where they enjoy the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Along with spending time with her family outdoors (preferably fishing), she also enjoys reading and cycling with the Peloton community.

If Laura could choose three famous best friends, they would be Meghan Markle, Joanna Gaines, and Carrie Underwood.

Originally from Western North Carolina, John received his BA at Georgia State University with a degree in anthropology. He began his professional career in the nonprofit sector of community health and child nutrition. During that time, he developed a passion for health equity and working with minority and underserved populations. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, spending time on the lake, and trying out new recipes.

If John could choose three famous best friends, they would be Jane Goodall, John Lewis, and John Stewart.

Steven comes to Unite Us with a background in community organizing and engagement both in the nonprofit and city government sectors. Steven enjoys working with grassroots community organizations to help develop solutions for his community. Motivated by the strength and courage of his late mother, Steven began his community organizing work as a volunteer with his church by assisting their community development corporation in establishing a top tier prek program. Mayor Cedric B. Glover tapped Steven to be a part of his administration to help work with community organization, faith based organizations, and the business community to work toward a more equitable community. Upon completion of Glover's terms, Steven moved into work with David Raines Community Health Centers where he was able to help connect residents across North Louisiana's five parish region to affordable and quality healthcare. Steven holds a MLA from Louisiana State University (Shreveport Campus) where he focused his degree on history and public policy. Outside of working, Steven loves to workout with his TNT Boot Camp Team, Be A Tourist (foodie), and time with his family.

If Steven could choose three famous best friends they would be Barack Obama, The Johnson Family from Black-ish, and Drake.

Ann has a rich background in business development in which she has worked in tourism, global health, US government-sponsored health plans, and small business development. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, as well as, a graduate of the University of Memphis, she currently lives in New Orleans, LA. She is motivated to support improvements in healthcare as a business development professional, marketing specialist, and community relations expert. Her background working with start-ups and international development organizations primed Ann to enjoy solving complex operational challenges as well as driving innovation.

If Ann could choose three famous best friends, they would be Jane Goodall, David Attenborough, and Wangari Maathai.

Maya is from San Diego, CA and currently lives there, she recently graduated last May from Westmont College in Santa Barbara with a degree in computer science. While in school, she did some software development for a startup software company called Zira as well as some web development for local hospital fundraisers. She is excited to continue working in the healthcare industry.

If Maya could choose three famous best friends, they would be Ferris Bueller, Han Solo, and Princess Diana.

Summer Sage received her Bachelor of Science in theatre from Skidmore College and a Master in communication and the arts from Regent University. She was a family trainee in the Virginia Leadership in Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program at VCU. Her background includes work as an Executive Director with the Harrisonburg Rockingham Free Clinic, Rural Outreach Coordinator with VCU’s University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; The Partnership for People with Disabilities, Center for Family Involvement, and the Family-to-Family Network. A 2013 Partner in Policymaking graduate she has served on the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, the Virginia Rural Health Association, VCU’s Autism Center for Excellence and the Virginia Rural Health Association. In 2018 she was awarded the The Ken Studer Friend of the Association, an award given to recognize a program, institution or individual that has advocated for or aided the Virginia Rural Health Association in support of the Association’s mission. Sage is a knowledgeable healthcare leader and advocate experienced in working with community, state, and federal organizations and funders; an extensive policy background with a focus on disabilities and rural communities; and her areas of expertise include organizational leadership, strategic communication, coalition building, disability systems, and public policy.

If Summer could choose three famous best friends, they would be Shakespeare, George Washington, and Temple Grandin.

Brandon resides in Charleston, West Virginia. Brandon served eight years in the Army as a 19D Cavalry Scout. After his service, he was a paramedic who flew for HealthNet Aeromedical Services and drove ambulances for Kanawha County. Most recently, Brandon was an agent for the Department of Homeland Security serving as counter terrorism among other assignments. Throughout these roles, Brandon also worked with the Department of Health and Human Resources for many years in different scenarios and aspects. Brandon’s background has given him the opportunity to work with and learn from a variety of people. Being able to empathize with people and understand different cultures and backgrounds has allowed him to excel in many situations that most people never have an opportunity to experience. Brandon’s experience has equipped him to adapt quickly to situations, work independently as well as be part of the team.

If Brandon could choose three famous best friends, they would be his grandmother Glinda, his wife Kersti, and his beautiful german shepherd Naluh.

Natalie has always been passionate about healthcare and community service. Originally from Western New York, Natalie completed her B.S. at the University of Buffalo, but now lives in the greater Seattle, WA area. After graduating, Natalie went on to work in human subject research, where she researched human behavior and prospective cancer treatments and medical devices. Natalie is thrilled to be working for Unite Us, where she can continue to help others! When she’s not working, you can find Natalie outside riding her bike or inside cooking gluten free meals.

If Natalie could choose three famous best friends, they would be Jane Goodall, Adam Sandler, and Snoop Dogg.

Lucas Wehle is a queer trans man who has dedicated his life to social justice advocacy. Born and raised in Tampa, FL, Lucas has a wide range of knowledge around the resources that exist in the Tampa Bay Area. While transitioning during his college career at the University of South Florida, Lucas’ passion for helping others grew immensely through sharing his story, leading workshops, speaking in classes and mentoring other trans students. In 2015, Lucas began his career working for Metro Inclusive Health, a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit, where he developed and expanded programs and services serving LGBTQ+ Youth and Transgender individuals. For the past ten years, Lucas has focused his energy on helping increase inclusive spaces and raise awareness for all gender diverse individuals through facilitating Diversity and Inclusion Trainings for hospitals, universities, businesses, and organizations across the country. Having first hand experience with healthcare discrimination and disparities himself, Lucas decided to create a department specifically focused on creating more services for the Trans Community in the non-profit where he worked and moved over to the Health Center department to manage the Trans Services Division in 2016. After serving the LGBTQ+ community directly for over ten years, Lucas is excited to move into a broader field where he can use his previous experience to continue to advocate for all humans and increase access to social services for all.

If Lucas could choose three famous best friends, they would be Laverne Cox, Billy Porter, and Buzz Lightyear.

Allison enjoys being a part of organizations making a difference in the lives of people. She believes when people and organizations work together to serve others our lives and world become a better place. From vision casting to execution she has 15 years of experience working closely with senior leaders of organizations to advance partnerships and facilitate opportunities to create exciting outcomes in organizations. Allison most recently served as a project consultant for a statewide collective impact project focused on military connected services in MN. Allison holds an undergraduate degree from Drake University in business administration/finance and a Masters of Education from Loyola University Chicago. Her favorite things to do include spending time with and attending the activities of her three children, enjoying the four seasons of MN, exploring new places, and arranging flowers.

If Allison could choose three famous best friends they would be Michelle Obama, Savannah Guthrie, and Ryan Reynolds.

Lauren comes to Unite Us from working most recently in the bundle payment space. She has also previously worked in pharmaceuticals and global public health. She holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Public Health from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique or EHESP in France. Living in Connecticut has inspired her passion and concern for issues of wealth inequality and access to health care. In her spare time, she is a vocal community activist, advocating for a better quality of life for marginalized people in CT. She is excited that the mission of Unite Us aligns with this work and is excited to contribute to addressing social barriers to health in places like her community.

If Lauren could choose three famous best friends, they would be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bernie Sanders, and Lizzo.

Carol comes to Unite Us with a diverse background in healthcare sales and social service. After 13 years in the pharmaceutical industry in territory sales, account management, and training, she ventured into social service as the Community Relations Manager for a Hawaii nonprofit. In this role she was responsible for leading a statewide team to recruit foster families for children in care in the State of Hawaii. She directed recruitment strategies including media campaigns, community partnerships, and foster care presentations. Although originally from Chicago, graduating from Illinois State University with a B.S. in marketing, she considers Hawaii her home where she and her husband raised two children and a Shi Tzu named Brittany. In her free time Carol enjoys traveling, hiking, and skiing. Carol is passionate about city transformation and the power of uniting communities together to assist the most vulnerable populations. She is excited to be a part of the Unite Us team working together to build a statewide network that provides greater access to services, bringing hope and healing to communities, and sees how this can impact and break generational cycles.

If Carol could choose three famous best friends they would be Brene Brown, Marie Kondo, and Kobe Bryant.

Mercedes joins the Unite Us Customer Success team as a Community Engagement Manager with experience in community engagement, cross sector networks, and customer service. A native of Fresno, California, she is passionate about serving her community, being an advocate, and helping families connect to appropriate services in real time. She has a background in early childhood education and family development, and understands the
importance of a coordinated care network supporting and empowering people as leaders of their families and honoring family experiences, history, and knowledge. Prior to Unite Us, Mercedes was a Program Manager at First 5 Fresno County where she worked side by side with local organizations to track data and outcomes to build coordinated care networks that support children, family, and community health. There, she had the opportunity to lead and implement cross sector initiatives and support “boots on the ground” teams with strategizing, planning, and implementing their community plans with a focus on a buy-in with local stakeholders for sustainability. When Mercedes isn’t working, she enjoys making memories with her two daughters (Belen and Micaela, who are 11 years apart) doing yoga, listening to music or binge watching the ID channel.

If Mercedes could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Leslie Mann, and Maya Rudolph.

At an early age, Emily observed how people turned to music to heal and decided she wanted to make people happy through performing. She attended The Boston Conservatory where she earned a BFA in musical theater. Upon graduation, she moved to NYC to pursue her dream of performing while working as a customer service representative. Over the past several years, Emily's love of helping people has grown, so when the opportunity to work at Unite Us was presented, she was thrilled to welcome this expansion of her growth. She is passionate about connecting with people and supporting those in need through a compassionate lens. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time creating recipes (and eating said creations), spending time with her large Italian-American family, traveling, and singing.

If Emily could choose three famous best friends, they would be Cynthia Erivo, Harry Styles, and Michaela Coel.

Quinny is a mission driven relationship builder, dedicated to improving the health of North Carolinians, particularly those who have been historically marginalized due to race or legal status. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina, where she specialized in system level interventions. She has worked across the Triangle in nonprofit and government sectors promoting refugee services, mental health interventions, domestic abuse prevention, and housing assistance. When she’s not working, you can find Quinny volunteering to promote voter turnout among BIPOC, working on a jigsaw puzzle, or creating a new playlist.

If Quinny could choose three famous best friends, they would be Selena Gomez, Solange, and Tierra Whack.

Christine brings over ten years of experience working with nonprofits in a variety of roles from direct service to event planning. She earned her MPA from University of Phoenix and most recently worked in outreach and public relations. Early in her career, she worked in a rural community and witnessed how difficult it was for families to access the services they needed. A natural connector, Christine is passionate about serving others and believes in the power of community. She’s drawn to helping people find solutions that will improve their overall quality of life. She also volunteers as planning co-chair for the Thurston County chapter of Expanding Your Horizons. After work you can find her enjoying live music, sharing moments with her friends, family and cat Penelope, volunteering, playing outside, or eating her way through a new city.

If Christine could choose three famous best friends, they would be Nicole Byer, Tom Collichio, and Ben Harper.

Mr. Tyree Jamaal Williams Sr. is a health professional with over ten years of combined experience in public health, clinical nutrition, clinical quality management, research, community health assessment and planning and organizational development. Mr. Williams is passionate about helping individuals achieve success in not only health but all areas of life. Mr. Williams is a native of Jacksonville, FL and faced many challenges growing up in a poverty stricken neighborhood. Because of this Mr. Williams is extremely dedicated to advancing health and social equity across all groups and ethnicities. Mr. Williams has received two degrees (BS and MS in nutrition and dietetics) from the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, Florida and will be completing his third degree (Master of Health Administration) in the spring of 2021.

If Mr. Williams's could choose three famous best friends they would be God, LeBron James, and Simon Sinek.

Through teaching in city school systems and working with young people exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Amanda was drawn to the social work field. After receiving her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), she worked as a crisis intervention counselor, outpatient therapist, and program supervisor for public mental health agencies throughout the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck of Virginia. Although Amanda loves providing direct clinical services to families, her passion is focused on macro-level change, specifically how gaps in services, systems, and policies impact healing and growth in our communities. Her short and long-term visions are closely integrated - to create accessible systems of care across Virginia to empower all people and families in building resilient, trauma-informed, sustainable communities. In her free time, you can find Amanda outside with her husband, dog, and daughter.

If Amanda could choose three famous best friends they would be Brene Brown, Rashida Jones, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Upon graduating from Florida State University with a master's degree in public health, Katie spent the last ten years working for community based organizations and state government. She facilitated a collective impact approach to preventing chronic diseases through policy, systems, and environmental changes. After working at the state health office, Katie moved to an anti-hunger organization where she continued to develop cross sector partnerships and collaborative networks. Katie, her husband and two children reside in North Florida where they enjoy getting outdoors, keeping a small farm, and watching reruns of classic tv shows.

If Katie could choose three famous best friends, they would be Joanna Gaines, Candace Owens, and Ron Swanson.

Mary discovered her passion for health and social services, while beginning her volunteering efforts in 2008, with the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. She was so inspired by the dedication of the staff and participants, that she went back to school to obtain a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector. Mary brings a 35 year history of customer service, fundraising and relationship building to her role at Unite Us, including her experience as a Sr. Community Development Manager with the American Cancer Society. She continues to volunteer locally through the Surfrider Foundation beach clean-ups ,and Family Assistance Ministries, providing support for those facing homelessness. Mary is passionate about connecting people with the resources and services they need, and is excited to continue building those networks through Unite Us.

If Mary could choose three famous best friends, they would be Maya Angelou, for her wisdom and insight, Richard Branson, for his innovation and knowing how to treat his employees, and Mr. Rogers, for his compassion and kind heart.

Margaret has been part of the Charlottesville community for over a decade with a majority of her time spent fundraising for the University of Virginia. Prior to her move to Charlottesville, she worked with public and policy programs at the Aspen Institute. It was there where she exposed to the mover and shakers whose primary goal was to create a better world. She’s excited to be part of Unite Us and make it easier for people to receive proper care and services they need. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, finding new adventures, and watching college sports.

If Margaret could choose three famous best friends, they would be Madeline Albright, Colin Powell and His Holiness The 14th Dali Lama of Tibet.

Talia was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She earned her B.A. in psychology at McGill University. After graduation, Talia decided to work in the mental health and nonprofit space to gain hands-on experience. After being trained across many facets of the public health and healthcare landscape both through the front lines and upper management, Talia decided to pursue a Master of Public Health at Boston University. Talia’s time working with vulnerable populations made it clear to her that there is a disparity in access to health and social care needs. She developed a strong passion and desire to address these barriers and is determined to bring a focus of health equity as a public health priority. Talia currently resides in Minneapolis and is looking forward to exploring her new home.

If Talia could choose three famous best friends, they would be Barack Obama, Kate Middleton and Jimmy Fallon.

Danika is the State Director for North Carolina and is committed to improving health equity across the region. She has held leadership roles in population health, care management, reproductive health, served as ED of Coordinated Behavioral Care, and is the Board President of the North Carolina Art Therapy Institute. She holds two master's degrees and is a licensed clinical social worker, board-certified art therapist, and certified case manager with executive leadership certificates from Cornell and New York University. She was awarded NYN Media “40 under 40” and an award for Corporate Social Responsibility in Health and Wellness by NY City and State. After 20 years in NYC, she lives in Raleigh and is a mom to three sparkling redheads.

Danika’s three famous best friends would be Shirley Chisholm, Dolly Parton, and Lady Gaga.

Julie has extensive experience in the public health arena working for government and nonprofit organizations in Arizona and New Mexico. With a passion for improving social influences that impact health, Julie sees life through a lens of health equity. Julie is determined to be part of the solution and works to assure that everyone has access to resources to be their healthiest. Julie attended the University of New Mexico on a softball scholarship. She then went on to Central Michigan University where she received her master's degree while serving as an assistant softball coach. Phoenix, AZ is where Julie rests her head. Julie’s personal passions are her family, baseball and tinkering with many artistic mediums.

If Julie could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, and Sonya Sotomayor.

Becca hails from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and women & gender studies. Her studies were focused on systems of oppression in the American socio-political landscape, and since she has felt a deep commitment to providing opportunity equity for those marginalized by the powers at be. Upon graduation in 2013, Becca began serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA for a local nonprofit providing food literacy and empowerment to elementary school students. Becca spent two years at the Food Literacy Project, and then journeyed west to live in Portland, Oregon. There, she began her career in SaaS, working for a software company focused on sales solutions in the automotive sphere. Becca started as an Account Coordinator, yet quickly rose in the ranks, ending up establishing the company’s Partnerships Team and serving as their first Partner Manager. She is thrilled to be with Unite Us, where she has found a marriage between her rich experience in relationship management and her passion of providing well-being resources to those in need.

If Becca could choose three famous best friends, they would be Harry Styles, Alison Roman, and Cheryl Strayed.

As a member of the Implementation Team, Alex is passionate about people, relationship building and inclusion. Prior to joining Unite Us, Alex received her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University which led her to call NYC home. Her second year placement was at the Marlene Meyerson, JCC Manhattan where she worked for six years. During that time, Alex specifically supported communities made up of teens and adults with developmental and learning disabilities. Alex has experience facilitating support groups, running social programming and connecting families to a network of additional resources and agencies. Alex’s biggest goal in joining the Unite Us team is to expand her knowledge and understanding around how to successfully connect individuals to the social services and health care resources they need. Alex sees Unite Us as the platform she wishes she had to utilize during her time in direct care.

If Alex could choose three famous best friends, they would be Glennon Doyle, Kenan Thompson and all three members of the band Haim (is that cheating?).

Devin is a proud PNW native where he has served in various healthcare and customer service capacities. While attending Washington State University, he worked as a CNA and further developed his passion for healthcare. After graduating with a B.A. in social sciences and a minor in business, he went on to serve as a director in the senior living industry. He has also spent several years volunteering with children in the bleeding disorder community. He hopes to utilize his experience and knowledge of his community to help better serve those that will greatly benefit from an integrated network of social and health services. Devin currently resides in Ridgefield, WA with his wife/high-school sweetheart. When not working he loves to travel, try new vegan food, work out, watch football, and surf.

If Devin could choose three famous best friends, they would be Jack Johnson, Jane Goodall, and Johnny Rose.

Hillary received her MSA with specializations in human resource management and organizational leadership from the University of South Dakota. She has worked with federally funded programs that serve marginalized populations for the last several years. Her passion for serving people and creating paths of equal access for opportunity and change is strong. In joining the Unite Us team, Hillary looks forward to developing genuine, trusting relationships both inside and outside the organization to further connect health and social care. Hillary enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. She loves traveling, binging reality tv shows, and is an avid foodie.

If Hillary could choose three famous best friends, they would be: Beyoncé, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Ross Geller from FRIENDS.

Early on, Kathleen focused on food justice in the Boston neighborhood where she grew up. She moved to Virginia in 2016 where she earned her MPA, strengthened strategy, collaboration, and results across $5 million in annual grants at United Way, and, most recently, facilitated quality improvement during a brief stint at a child and family services agency. All of these roles illuminated challenges with accessing and coordinating care and managing referrals. In joining Unite Us, Kathleen is not only excited to use the power of networks to solve these challenges, but also to transform the delivery of care by redirecting resources towards system gaps and health inequities. In her spare time, you’ll find Kathleen playing soccer, searching out the best ice cream, and spending time with her wife and family in Norfolk, Virginia.

If Kathleen could choose three famous best friends, they would be Megan Rapinoe, Stacey Abrams, and Brené Brown.

Callie is a proud Louisvillian (Kentucky!) who is fascinated by people & processes. She attended Loyola University New Orleans, where she studied Latin American Studies, Spanish & Psychology. Callie served on AmeriCorps-City Year, helping New Orleans students prepare for graduation & beyond. This fostered Callie’s path in working for social good. She brought this passion back to Louisville where she worked as a school administrator, then later joined the Customer Success team at a tech-start up which focused on cultivating community service. Before joining Unite Us, Callie took her skillset to Commercial Real Estate, specializing in Healthcare, where she was a licensed agent and learned how to navigate the sector. Callie’s career has always been geared towards helping people, working to better her community, & connecting people with resources that matter. Outside of work you can find Callie connecting with her cats, food, and the outdoors!

If Callie could choose three famous best friends they would be Mowgli, Ilana Glazer, and Jane Goodall.

Tricia is a relocated Canadian. After meeting her husband in American history class at McMaster University in Canada, she never dreamed she would end up living in Arkansas. The move was to last two years, but life as they say “happens” when you are busy making plans. Two years has now turned into almost two decades. Learning to maneuver through the American healthcare system was eye opening for this new immigrant. It turned into a passion to help educate others on how to get access to healthcare. Writing about her family’s US healthcare experience and helping anyone who needed advice led to a quick stint with Arkansas For Medical Care before she joined Unite Us. When Tricia isn’t reading, writing, soccer or hockey mothering, she is busy hiking the beautiful Ozarks that she now calls home.

If Tricia could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michael J Fox, Joan Didion, and Helen Humphreys.

Joanna is a strategic thinker dedicated to developing and synergizing community connections to improve the health of all people in North Carolina. She brings experience from working across the healthcare and research spectrum. Prior to earning her MPH from UNC, she was a research data coordinator and project manager, collected oral histories exploring health and healthcare narratives of a community health clinic, assisted in the daily activities for seniors with dementia, provided home health care in predominantly rural NC, and worked and lived on a nonprofit community farm for adults with disabilities. She enjoys going on long walks and reading long books.

If Joanna could choose three famous best friends, they would be America Ferrera, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Selena.

An Athens, GA native, Shauna studied psychology & community counseling at the University of Georgia. After graduating with honors, she moved to Guam to teach in the U.S. military schools for the Dept. of Defense while gaining some amazing traveling experiences overseas. Shauna has focused on serving her community through her roles in the mental health field while working hand in hand with many local nonprofit organizations, Dept. of Family and Children Services, University of Georgia community programs, and mental health providers to build long lasting relationships in order to better serve the needs of members in her community. In her free time, Shauna enjoys the outdoors, hiking in the mountains, volunteering at animal rescue sanctuaries, and watching UGA football.

If Shauna could choose three famous best friends, they would be Andy Cohen, Seth Rogan and Oprah.

Becky has a passion for supporting community-based organizations and their networks and helping them create the change they want to see in their communities. Becky grew up on a ranch in western South Dakota and after college moved to Bolivia to work at a rural college. She returned to the U.S. to obtain her Masters in organizational leadership at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. She has spent her career in the nonprofit and philanthropy fields, working both internationally and locally in Minneapolis, MN and now in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. In her free time Becky loves spending time exploring the Black Hills, as well as weaving, knitting and baking sourdough bread.

If Becky could choose three famous best friends, they would be Sam Sanders, Isabel Allende, and Hannah Gadsby.

Laura has worked in various nonprofits, education and the corporate social responsibility sector. Her career has always been driven by the desire to leave the world a better place than she found it. She was born in Colombia but moved to Miami as a child. After years of living in New York City, New Orleans and Santa Barbara, she is currently living in Miami once more. Laura got her MSW from NYU and a Masters degree in nonprofit management from Columbia University. She is passionate about creating equity and navigating the systemic issues that trickle down to the individual. She is also a fierce advocate for women’s rights. You can find Laura reading or running as her favorite way to relax and enjoy her time.

If Laura could choose three famous best friends, they would be Roxane Gay, Virginia Woolf, and Isabel Allende.

Robert has a Masters in management. He is an Air Force Veteran who worked in the nonprofit sector for 26 years. His last role was Executive Director for CASA, and prior to that he served children and families in roles at KS Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Salvation Army, and EmberHope/Youthville. As a member of the KS Hispanic Affairs Commision, Robert was appointed to the Governor’s task force “To end childhood poverty” and was the keynote speaker at the Governor’s Summit on Poverty. Robert is passionate about organizational capacity building and resource development. When he is not working he likes to ride his trike and preach.

If Robert could choose three famous best friends, they would be Jesus, Randy Couture, and Mother Theresa.

Myra is a goal-oriented individual driven by company vision and mission. Her past service in the Navy sharpened her analytical and critical thinking abilities through organizational planning and information systems technician training. She followed up her service with a deep dive into studies of information systems, project and business management, and business administration. Her love for innovation and uplifting her community have brought her to join the Unite Us team. She dedicates her free time to physical activities such as rucking with local veterans, running, swimming, and strength training.

If she could choose three famous best friends, they would be Brene Brown, Michelle Obama, and Jennifer Lopez.

Gabriela spent her last eight years as a Community Liaison with Los Robles Healthcare in Ventura County. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, and currently resides in Ventura, California. Gabriela found her passion in healthcare by helping referral sources and patients with home health and hospice care. In her role, she worked with a network of providers in the senior care industry. She loved being an advocate for Spanish-speaking patients who faced challenges when navigating a fragmented health and social care system. Gabriela’s goal at Unite Us is to build a healthy coordinated care network in her community, ultimately improving people's health and wellbeing. Gabriela attended San Diego State University and earned a bachelor's degree in Latin American studies. Gabriela enjoys traveling, animal advocacy and loves the outdoors.

If Gabriela could choose three famous best friends, they would Kristen Wiig, Michele Obama, and Oprah Winfrey.

Patrick grew up in the mountains of Arizona and always dreamed of traveling and exploring different cultures. After studying abroad in the Netherlands, Patrick decided to move to Hawai’i to pursue a degree in anthropology. After working in different capacities at a local University and for different nonprofits in Hawai'i, he decided to continue his education with a second degree in Information Technology. Patrick is passionate about being in service to other people and is a proponent of Harm Reduction. Outside of work he loves to swim, workout, and have game nights with family and friends.

If Patrick could choose three famous best friends, they would be Dolly Parton, Rue McClanahan, and Doris from American Housewife.

Jasmine dreams of a world where everyone has the resources they need to live the highest quality of life attainable. She earned her B.S. in kinesiology from Cal Poly Pomona, where she found a passion for health equity and community engagement. Prior to joining Unite Us, Jasmine launched and coordinated wellness programs within affordable housing communities throughout Southern California, where she mentored and empowered at-risk families to become self-advocates for their health and the health of their communities. Jasmine was born and raised in SoCal and currently lives in the city of Ontario. In her spare time, she loves hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, camping, and backpacking.

If Jasmine could choose three famous best friends, they would be Chrissy Teigen, Lorelai Gilmore, and Leslie Knope.

Jamarr is a customer service expert, having spent over ten years in customer service. He is a Chicago native, who went to college in Dallas, TX, where he now lives, studying business, finance, and business management at Southwestern Christian College. He's previously coming from the travel industry as a corporate travel agent at TripActions and has prioritized going above and beyond for his customers as standard practice. Helping people succeed is his passion and he's thrilled to leave his mark here at Unite Us. Outside of work, Jamarr loves everything art related, including TV, theater and plays, readings books and articles, and writing stories and poems. He likes going out with friends but loves staying in as well and bringing the “out” inside. He's also a nerd at heart (his words) who truly loves everything tech related.

If Jamarr could chose three famous friends, they would be Kobe Bryant, Kamala Harris, and Paul Walker.

Melanie was born and raised in a small river city in Northern KY where she continues to live and raise her two sons, Colin and Rhett, with her husband, Chris. A Social Worker by training, Melanie worked in multiple sectors including domestic violence, education and most recently in a pediatric hospital, focusing on patient advocacy and patient/family experience. She received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Northern Kentucky University and later went on to obtain her Master of Arts in Integrative Studies. She is passionate about helping and empowering others to live their best lives and committed to making her community a better place. She is motivated by building relationships and working collaboratively to solve problems and find solutions. Melanie’s experience has provided her with the opportunity to gain important skills, such as active listening, empathy, and social perceptiveness. When Melanie is not working, she enjoys beach vacations with her family, teaching yoga in her community and hanging out with family and friends.

If Melanie could choose three famous best friends, they would be Audrey Hepburn, Dan Levy, and Princess Diana.

Remeka is passionate about building healthy communities by investing in people and the places where they live, learn, work, worship and play. She has spent most of her career developing public health strategies focused on maternal/child health and population-based health initiatives. In her previous role at Harris County Public Health, she led education and engagement campaigns to help people make informed decisions through meaningful culturally competent education, outreach and community engagement. Remeka is a proud alumna of Xavier University of Louisiana and Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys testing food and drink recipes, singing bad karaoke, and spending time with family and friends.

If Remeka could choose three famous best friends, they would be Issa Rae, John Legend, and Martha Stewart.

Claudia came to the US from Nuevo Leon, Mexico at the age of 8 and grew up in a small town south of Houston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Houston and worked in human resources for various industries before transitioning to the world of community engagement in the non-profit healthcare space. Prior to joining Unite Us, Claudia worked for Community Health Choice and Texas Children’s Health Plans, helping people access quality healthcare and working with community-based organizations to reach underserved populations. Claudia’s passion for helping vulnerable populations thrive stems from her parents who left Mexico in search of a great future for their family, overcoming great obstacles to achieve their dreams. Currently Claudia and her husband live in the Houston area where she enjoys running, spinning, yoga, reading, and eating yummy food. They enjoy traveling in search of great running routes, half and full marathon medals, and more yummy food.

If Claudia could choose three best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Brene Brown, and Vicente Fernandez.

Roosevelt has nearly 20 years of nonprofit experience in community based and faith based organizations. He graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and currently lives in Washington. Roosevelt loves people, and he is passionate about helping all people overcome barriers in their lives. He is excited about joining the Unite Us team because his experience and passion will continue to be used to support and empower organizations, who are committed to helping people thrive. In his free time, Roosevelt loves building video games, learning new things, and sports.

If Roosevelt could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michael Jordan, Bob Ross, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Prior to joining Unite Us, Tim designed innovative strategies and programs for social sector organizations to support community members more efficiently. Most recently, he worked to promote holistic supports for young children and their families in Wisconsin. As a student of collective impact and systems theory, the intersection of services for vulnerable populations and those experiencing multiple compounding social determinants of health has been an area of interest and focus for Tim for most of his career. This understanding of the complex challenges that individuals face when seeking services from multiple types of providers is what brought Tim to Unite Us. Outside of work, Tim can be found with his family finding the best forest to play in or planning the next DIY project to dive into.

If Tim could have three famous best friends, they would be Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Seth Meyers.

Sarah graduated from The College of Saint Rose with a degree in criminal justice. Her coursework focused on criminal behavior/criminology, law, sociology and psychology. Sarah first started her career working in data analysis, proposal writing/coordination and sales support. Most recently, Sarah spent the last year working in a hospital providing patient care for COVID-19 patients. Sarah is excited to join Unite Us after first-hand seeing the gaps between social care and health care. While not at work, you can find her on the peloton, binging Netflix, baking, and golfing!

If Sarah could choose three famous best friends, they would be Megan Rapinoe, Kate McKinnon, and Demi Lovato.

Mariel has dedicated her career to improving health in communities. Trained in international development, public health, and nursing Mariel strives to bridge divides among sectors to build stronger relationships and connections to support communities and the people that live in them. For Mariel, working at Unite Us is an opportunity to strengthen these relationships and support community change. Originally from Nebraska, Mariel has lived on both coasts and in five countries. When not working, Mariel is with her family, enjoying Nebraska’s seasons, rivers, and prairies.

If Mariel could choose three famous best friends, they would be Dan Levy, Jane Goodall, and Ego Nwodim.

Kenyetta has a strong educational background and several professional experiences, which she has utilized on the local, state, and federal levels. She is a proud graduate of Eastern Kentucky University’s Masters of Public Health program, and has worked in the field of public health for over 18 years. Her career has an emphasis on supporting vulnerable populations. She started out working for the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department as a Communicable Disease Investigator and a Health Equity Educator. She later worked for the Community Action Council and served as the Health & Nutrition Manager, providing health and nutrition oversight to low-income families. As her career advanced, she served in many positions on the state-level, working for the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). Throughout her time there, she planned for vulnerable populations to be supported during public health emergencies and/disasters. She also transitioned into multiple roles gaining experience in management and leadership throughout KDPH. During her spare time she loves to sing, travel, and spend quality time with family and friends.

Her famous three famous best friends would be Viola Davis, Kierra Sheard, and Keshia Knight-Pulliam.

Mone’ was born and raised in Houston, TX. She studied biology at Xavier University of Louisiana. It was during this time that she was introduced to public health. She obtained a Master of Health Science in molecular microbiology & immunology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Mone’ wrote her master’s thesis on the social determinants of health and how they impact patients with Tuberculosis, Diabetes, and HIV infection. Her journey deepened her passion to pursue a career in community health. Her professional experience includes working at a non-profit, where she managed Healthy Corner Store and physical activity initiatives across diverse communities to increase health equity. In her spare time she enjoys Zumba and traveling.

If she could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Jill Scott, and Jamie Foxx.

Ellen has spent her career building elements of data informed coordinated care programs, systems, and related policy at the federal, state, and local level. She is thrilled to work for Unite Us, which places individuals in need of resources at the center of strategies to harness the power of technology, policy, financing, and community to transform systems of care irrespective of care setting. For the past two decades, her work with community based organizations and parent advocates on early childhood policy at Alameda County, California generated and influenced city, county and state policies and significant new public funds. Her prior work as an advocate, analyst, and planner includes roles at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families, the California State Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and The Children’s Defense Fund. When not working, she thrives on travel and wilderness adventures with her family and friends.

If Ellen could choose three famous best friends, they would be the Dalai Lama, Ann Richards, and Tina Turner.

A social-equity advocate, writer, poet, and mother, Jae reveres the collective, uplifting power of community, respects people struggling to overcome socio economic obstacles, and feels compelled to help reverse social inequities by educating and equipping individuals and organizations at the community, state, and national levels. California natives, Jae and her daughter planted themselves in the Peach State in 2013, decidedly growing in and with Georgia. When Jae is not championing a cause, she can be found traveling, enjoying outdoor activities, and spending quality time with family.

If Jae could choose three famous best friends, they would be Rumi, Etta James, and Jesus with an entourage of entertainers, comedians, chefs, and home reno gurus grandfathered in for fun good times.

Kathy has a 20-plus year career in the field of aging having served as the Education Director for the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative(OHAI) program where she was able to entrepreneurially implement evidence-based healthy aging programs throughout southern Oklahoma. For 12 years, Kathy served as an Area Agency on Aging Director directing programs under the Older Americans Act which included nutrition, transportation, family caregiver services, legal aid services, and evidence-based health programs. Kathy has seen the benefits of grant writing and researching to make life better for all populations. Having worked directly with the tribes throughout the state of Oklahoma, Kathy has a passion to ensure all populations are included to receive the best social and health care humanly possible. With the ability to join Unite Us as an integral team player, Kathy is passionate to help merge together the excellent social services already in place within the state of Oklahoma by helping to align social care with health care partnerships to create a better place for all to live, work, and play. Kathy makes her home in southeast Oklahoma, but enjoys traveling to all parts of Oklahoma. She has a son who served in the Texas ARMY National Guard and beautiful daughter in law who both reside in Ft. Worth, Texas. They will soon be having a baby girl!

If Kathy could choose three famous best friends, they would be Charlie Daniels, Dolly Parton, and Billy Graham.

Tiffany is a graduate of the Virginia State University with a background in criminal justice. Tiffany has worked in the human service field for the past 14 years. Prior to joining the Unite Us team, Tiffany worked as a Probation Officer with the VA Department of Corrections and as a Substance Abuse Counselor. Tiffany has a passion for people and her goal is to help individuals that desire help, achieve self-independence through a judgment free lens.

If Tiffany could choose three famous best friends, they would be Tracee Ellis Ross, Rosa Parks, and Sunny Anderson.

Casey is a passionate professional working to improve people’s health and well-being in her community of Bowling Green, Kentucky. She came to Unite Us with experience working in nonprofit and healthcare. She attended Western Kentucky University where she earned her undergraduate degree in business and organizational leadership and is currently pursuing her MBA with a concentration in business data analytics. Additionally, Casey has experience managing complex projects, creating and facilitating training programs, fostering relationships throughout her community, and developing strategic plans for growth and sustainability. As a member of the Bowling Green community, she enjoys meeting new people, volunteering with various organizations, and connecting people to resources. Casey likes to spend her free time planning her next opportunity to travel, reading on her Kindle, working out or catching a Yoga class, and spending quality time with family and friends.

If Casey could choose three famous best friends, they would be Erin Andrews, Camille Kostek, and Carrie Underwood.

Brandon is passionate about solving problems and helping others. He began his career serving in the Army leading teams, at home and abroad, before a stint in management consulting. He still serves in the Army Reserves today. He holds a Master in Business Administration from UC-Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Management from West Point. At Unite Us, he hopes to positively impact communities in need by building a network to drive better outcomes. Brandon lives in Houston, Texas with his wife Nicole and their three children. When not working at Unite Us, you can find him at his kids’ baseball, softball or basketball games.

If he could choose three famous best friends, they would be Malcolm X, Mansa Musa, and Musiq Soulchild.

Kaiden Blü (they/he), graduated from the University of Delaware with a Master of Science in Health Promotion, and since then has moved to Washington State and has been actively involved in reducing health disparities in the LGBTQ+ population. Kaiden’s passions include community building, health education, and advocacy work. Kaiden completed an Americorps Service Year with GLSEN, and has experience with business development and fitness management. Kaiden is passionate about the mission of Unite Us, “connecting communities to health and social care” and is proud to be a part of an organization that is working on impacting individuals’ social determinants of health!

If Kaiden could choose three famous best friends, they would be Taylor Swift, Dan Levy, and Oprah.

Megan is driven by a passion to help people lead healthy lives and thrives best when collaborating and leading diverse teams to make big ideas a reality. Mostly recently, she spent over a decade managing and leading innovative programs at a national children’s health nonprofit, with prior experience in healthcare marketing and communications in the managed care and pharmaceutical sectors. Megan earned her bachelor’s from Penn State and a master’s in health communication from the University of Illinois. Outside of work, you can find her with her husband, daughter, and dog doing what they love most--traveling, hiking, bicycling, or paddling near their home in St. Petersburg, Florida.

If Megan could choose three famous best friends, they would be Stephen Colbert, Jane Goodall, and Glennon Doyle.

Kayla Woodberry has over ten years of experience in Oklahoma’s nonprofit sector. Most recently, Kayla was the Program Manager for the RP-3 Program, a Department of Labor grant created to provide job training and work readiness skills for justice-involved young adults. In addition, Kayla was the Assistant Director of Compliance & Quality Outcomes for Crossroads Youth & Family Services. In this role, Kayla spearheaded data-driven decision making to provide quality services for over 1,000 Head Start and Early Head Start children in four counties. As a member of the Unite Us team, Kayla is looking forward to providing coordinated service efforts to Oklahomans with the greatest need. Kayla is excited to present this network to rural communities, minority populations as well as those who are involved in the justice system. Kayla is a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Education. She currently resides in Oklahoma City.

If Kayla could choose three famous best friends, they would be Toni Morrison, Barry Switzer, and Oprah Winfrey.

Jusahara comes to you from Newport News, VA. She is a happily married, mother of one, that in a past life was a 20+ year military spouse. Jusahara has a diverse professional background, most of it focused between Human Resources and Human Services in both State and Federal government. Jusahara is originally from Panama, fluent in Spanish, and has served as a professional interpreter English/Spanish interpreter/translator in court, corporate, medical and alternate settings. --She also has a very solid understanding of Portuguese, and a decent understanding of Arabic. Jusahara is Human Services at heart, her passion lies in being a beacon that provides light/knowledge of aiding services available to those needing assistance. Outside of work she's an avid crafter, who loves to dance, travel and does her best to start every morning by meditating to ensure she stays in her vortex!

If Jusahara could choose five famous friends (she knows is supposed to be three...but what to do), they would be Oprah Winfrey, Esther Hicks, the Dalai Lama, Elon Musk and Cardi B.

Joseph’s social service background came from experiencing the Unite Us software first-hand. Starting in 2018 as a Volunteer Coordinator of the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley, he spent nearly two years recruiting and managing volunteers for a startup resource and referral program for local clients. This program would later become the Coordination Center for a Shenandoah Valley-based Unite Us network. He also helped support the new network by training partners for a community-wide substance use screening, helping social service providers identify and respond to underlying health conditions at intake. Joseph lives in Winchester, Virginia with his wife and dog. Joseph is also the founder of a small artistic business, where he writes on-the-spot poetry on antique typewriters at events

If Joseph could choose three famous best friends, they would be Elon Musk, Cicero, and Thomas Merton.

Katie is a Salt Lake City native and has spent her career working for a local public health department as a coalition coordinator and has worked to build relationships with local community members, community based organizations, and other partners. She completed a Masters of Community Leadership at Westminster College and also earned a Bachelor’s of Public Health prior. Katie is looking forward to continuing to foster and build relationships in Salt Lake in her new role as a Community Engagement Manager for Unite Us. Katie has a passion for addressing health inequities and Unite Us works to make that goal a reality for the communities they work in.

If Katie could choose three famous best friends, they would be Michelle Obama, Kaitlyn Bristowe, and Heather McMahan.

LaKisha comes to Unite Us with a diverse background in the mental and behavioral health, with expertise as a housing specialist to the mental, disabled, and veteran populations. LaKisha enjoys community engagement, where she is able to help connect the dots for those in need. Inspired by her mother’s strength and kind heart to helping others, LaKisha and her family give back to their community annually by providing free food meals and resources to those in need. LaKisha is very diverse within her higher education as she holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. LaKisha also received an associate's degree in Allied Health at Southern University of Shreveport, LA for Respiratory Therapy. LaKisha is currently in graduate school, at Capella University, where she will receive a Master’s in Social Work, December 2021. Outside of working LaKisha enjoys spending time with family and friends and serving in the day care at her local church.

If LaKisha could choose three famous best friends, they would be Beyonce’, Nicki Minaj, and Kim Kardashian.

As a Massachusetts native, Arianna is passionate about the dynamic community she lives in and reducing the barriers in place that limit service accessibility. Her experience is rooted in providing advocacy and creating systems change for victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation, human trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence. After graduating with her degree in social work from Rhode Island College, Arianna went on to advocate for victims of violent crimes through service navigation and crisis intervention. During that time, she collaborated with members of local, state, and federal agencies to build a coordinated approach to the provision of wrap around care. Realizing the additional barriers in place for children, she grew an overwhelming passion for eliminating child sex crimes and led initiatives to eliminate re-traumatization for children. Arianna is a certified Advanced Child Forensic Interview Specialist through the National Children’s Advocacy Center and has worked diligently on multi-disciplinary teams in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to streamline the criminal justice process for children and families. Serving as the Child Advocacy Center director for the state of Rhode Island, Arianna provided leadership to the state’s accredited Child Advocacy Center and oversaw the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children program. She successfully worked with state and community leaders developing protocols with the goal of effectuating criminal prosecution while providing clients and families coordinated care. Most notably, Arianna led the implementation of one of the nation’s first uniform response protocols to address the response to victims of child abuse imagery, commonly referred to as child pornography. Arianna is dedicated to limiting the number of times individuals must tell their story to access wrap around care. She strives to increase service delivery statewide and is dedicated to making people feel valued and heard. She continuously delivers this passion into her work with Unite Us as Community Engagement Manager for Massachusetts. Outside of work Arianna loves creating new memories with her amazing family and exploring the outdoors with her adorable labradoodle, Lily!

If Arianna could choose three famous best friends, they would be Sutton Brady, Katey Denno, and Reese Witherspoon.

Ruben comes from a very SaaS Client Account Management focused background, where he spearheaded efforts in understanding clients needs, building and fostering relationships, and working cross departmentally to help end users. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, he traded the laid back valley lifestyle for the hustle and bustle of Downtown Los Angeles. He studied psychology with emphasis on developmental learning and conditioning at the University of California, Chico where he split time between collegiate sports and academics.
Growing up as the eldest in a giant Mexican family, he’s always felt obligated and compelled to assist those around him. One thing that he incorporates every day of my life is to try and be a good person, which funny enough is one of the main mantras here at UniteUs. I am a firm believer that if we just spent every day trying to be good people, this world would be a better place.

If Ruben could choose three famous best friends, they would be Jean Piaget, Harry Potter, and Gordon Ramsey.

Lucia is passionate about helping others. She is very excited to join Unite Us, where she can assist and connect individuals and communities to the care they need most. Lucia was born and raised in Miami, FL. She earned a B.S. and M.S. in international affairs at Florida State University with a concentration in urban planning, and development and public administration. Her previous experience includes working and volunteering at nonprofit organizations. She worked closely with diverse and vulnerable immigrant communities by providing refugee resettlement services to ensure the best possible resettlement experience for each client, from pre-arrival to successful acculturation within the United States. In her most recent role she worked at the British Consulate-General Miami for nearly four years. She assisted vulnerable British nationals in Florida, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. She worked closely with both UK and US government departments, assisted with crisis planning for the consular district, and implemented effective outreach strategies. Lucia also led the diversity and inclusion efforts within the British Consulate Miami as part of the wider US Network. Lucia’s fluency in Spanish has been an asset in all of her work experiences, as she has been able to provide interpretation and translation services. During her free time, Lucia enjoys cooking, listening to music, traveling, museums, photography, and visiting coffee shops and record stores.

If Lucia could choose three famous best friends, they would be Ben Gibbard, Abbi + Ilana (from Broad City), and Aubrey Plaza.

Edith has called Houston,Texas home since the age of one. She attended the University of Houston-Downtown studied psychology and nonprofit management. Edith has worked in the nonprofit sector for over twenty years, where she has experience working with adult literacy, mental health, workforce development and homelessness. She holds a certification in financial literacy obtained through United Way of Greater Houston, providing coaching techniques to the most vulnerable population with goals towards financial stability. Prior to joining Unite Us, Edith worked with SEARCH Homeless Services for over ten years, using motivational Interviewing techniques, guiding previously homeless transition into permanent housing. Edith’s passion for helping the vulnerable population comes from being a first generation American and witnessing the challenges her family was faced with to achieve the dream of providing proper education, financial stability and generational possibilities. In her free time, she enjoys live music with her family who include her partner, son, and daughter.

If Edith could choose three famous best friends, they would be Frida Kahlo, Hillary Clinton and Prince.

Candice is a native of Texas and Tennessee and proudly joins Unite Us as an Account Manager in Cleveland, Ohio. She has an eclectic background in education, business, and tech. Her bachelor's degree is in music education from Tennessee Tech University and she earned an MBA from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Prior to joining Unite Us, Candice served as a project manager for a local hospital association and discovered a passion for collective impact, community health and health equity. In that role she supported a countywide Community Health Needs Assessment as well as the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium and developed a deep appreciation of collaborating to support our most vulnerable community members. Outside of work Candice enjoys spending time with her daughter, cooking, gardening, live music, and travel. She’s honored and humbled to be part of the Unite Us team to help improve access to care for all.

If Candice could choose three famous best friends they would be Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lawrence and Barack Obama.

James believes in the power of technology to build amazing things and change the world--that’s one of the factors that drew him to Unite Us. He spent time working in a variety of industries at technology consulting companies in Texas and California before settling in Raleigh, North Carolina and diving deep into the healthcare technology space. After earning a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill, James built innovative solutions for companies such as Accenture, Electronic Arts, Bayer, and BlueCross BlueShield. Outside of work, James theoretically enjoys basketball, poker, and investing. In reality, he spends his free time chasing his three boys around the yard and renovating a 40-year old house.

If James could choose three famous best friends, they would be Warren Buffett, Magic Johnson, and Miriam Maisel.

I have bachelors in textile engineering and economics. Came to the USA in 2001 from Azerbaijan and went back to school to UMKC for accounting degree. I am chronicle student and found myself in information technology where I constantly learn and exercise logical problems. I love math and found coding more interesting than accounting. Sabina is vivacious and loves everything from philosophy to the adventure.

If she could choose three best friends that would be Michel de Monten and Lewis and Clark.

Justin is originally from Connecticut but now calls NYC home. He lives in Downtown Brooklyn and bikes over the Brooklyn Bridge to work most days. He shares his apartment with his four year old tuxedo cat Trax. Justin has spent his entire career working with databases and is excited for new challenges.

If Justin could have three famous best friends they would be Pete Davidson, Quentin Tarantino, and Bernie Sanders.

Fahim has over eight years of experience as a software tester in the software development industry. He grew up in Brooklyn New York but currently live in Totowa NJ. He attended Brooklyn College and is now interested in pursuing my masters in either computer science or information technology. Fahim believes that working together as a team and having a common goal can lead to efficient success. He feels that everyone in Unite Us has that same mindset. Fahim is excited to join this team and also excited for the opportunities he will have to pair with teammates and learn new things.

Fahim's 3 best friends, would be his wife Runa, his Brother Shihab, and Alan Turing.

John cares about making systems more connected and transparent. He thinks that linking people to the social care they need will build a healthier America. John previously co-founded an insurance software startup, and finds that insurance industry experience helps him in connecting health and community resources at Unite Us. He also worked as a software engineer at Cornell University library, where he loved encountering new research every day. John studied art and graphic design at the University of Nebraska. He still calls eastern Nebraska home. John enjoys making artwork, editing Wikipedia, and roller skating.

If John could choose three famous best friends, they would be Amelia Earhart, Bertrand Russell, and N.K. Jemisin.

After graduating with a degree in psychology from SUNY Oneonta, Russell pursued a career in technical recruitment. Russell has a passion for learning about new technologies and being able to find top talent for the teams that he partners with. At Unite Us he will be partnering with our engineering, product and data teams to create strategies in order to identify and deliver on top talent. Outside of work you can find Russell either watching the New England Patriots or watching Interstellar.
If Russell could choose three famous best friends they would be: Christopher Nolan, J.Cole, and Jackie Chan.

Ryen’s passion for technology and IT support was ignited by the release of the iPhone 3G during his high school years. Prior to joining Unite Us, Ryen held various sales and support roles at technology-focused companies and received his BS in information technology at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He prides himself on his deep focus on enhancing the technology experience for end-users and IT. In his free time, Ryen is an avid #foodie that loves to explore new cities and the outdoors with his fiancé.

If Ryen could choose three famous best friends, they would be Meredith Grey, Rihanna, and Tim Cook.

Sarah is passionate about improving the health of communities and individuals by focusing on their social determinants of health. She got her master’s degree in public health from UW-Madison, concentrating on the food and nutrition environment’s impact on obesity in Wisconsin. She’s been a technical writer for years and jumped at the opportunity to write for a company that shares her mission and passion.

If Sarah could choose three best friends, they would be Monét X Change, Aaron Rodgers, and Amy Poehler.