Siddharth Ashvin Shah, M.D., M.P.H., is a physician, public health scientist and thought leader who seeks to change the way we regard our society’s helpers, protectors, and healers—people and organizations who operate in demanding and traumatic environments. As founder and CEO, he provides hands-on leadership of Greenleaf’s operations. This includes collaborating with his expert staff on the development of integrative wellbeing solutions that deliver extraordinary value to clients, as well as guiding the firm’s strategic expansion and enabling a mindful internal culture for its staff. Siddharth’s interdisciplinary expertise spans the humanities, social sciences, common sense preventive medicine, cross-cultural resilience and spiritual practices, trauma-informed care, disaster public mental health, and real-world applications of cutting-edge neuroscientific thinking.

Greenleaf grew out of Siddharth’s international consulting to governments, health care organizations, NGOs, and the private sector in the areas of chronic high stress, brain health, trauma resiliency, strategic communications, and leadership effectiveness. Before founding the firm, he conducted a private practice at the GW Center for Integrative Medicine in Washington, DC. Previously, Siddharth headed the Preventive Medicine Residency Program at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, along with a faculty appointment in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, NYC. Siddharth received his Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from Rice University in Houston and completed his Doctor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. After one year of specialized training at the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry, he attended the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for advanced training in preventive and behavioral medicine and a Masters in Public Health.

Adia Bailey, Contract Specialist, has been with Greenleaf since 2014. An integral part of the client team delivering institutional support to USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), she provides expert contract administration and management services for the humanitarian organization. These include producing contract and related documents and ensuring compliance. Previously, Adia worked for more than five years at MAIC, Inc., a business management consulting firm in Hyattsville, Md. There, she served Department of Homeland Security clients in contract management and data analyst positions. Adia has certified knowledge in a wide range of database and federal contracting software applications. She has completed coursework in business administration at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. What inspires Adia? “I love the quote, ‘Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.’ It keeps me moving whenever I get an idea for a new task.”

Arielle Schneck, Instructional Design Specialist, is currently on the client team serving USAID’s Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. She works closely with team members and client stakeholders to develop training standards and engaging e-learning programs for the humanitarian organization. She comes to Greenleaf from TJ Westlake, Inc. in Arlington, Va., where for several years she held training and related management responsibilities at the Department of State's Foreign Service Institute. Arielle has also held instructor positions with AmeriCorps in Arlington, Va., and Chungdahm Learning in Cheonan, South Korea. She completes a Master of Arts in instructional design and technology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. In May 2018, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in women's and gender Studies from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. What inspires Arielle? “The outdoors. Whether out in the woods, on a mountain top, or on the busy streets of downtown D.C., being outside helps my creativity flow freely.”

Christopher “Kit” Larsen, Training Unit Manager, takes a team leadership role in the development and delivery of client programs include those for USAID’s Office of Food for Peace. He is primarily responsible for working with client stakeholders on the design, development, implementation, and assessment of training solutions. Previously, Kit worked for the Department of Defense for many years throughout the spectrum of learning - instructor, curriculum developer, instructional designer, researcher, and author. His career also includes the founding of and curriculum design for One Shepherd Leadership Institute, a not-for-profit school offering leadership development for civilian and government personnel. Kit holds a Ph.D. in learning technologies with an emphasis in educational psychology from the University of Missouri, where he also earned his Master of Education in educational technologies. He is a veteran of the United States Army. What inspires Kit? “I'm a sucker for the underdog. I'm inspired by stories of people who triumph in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. That's adventure.”

Dan Schneck, Instructional Designer, is part of Greenleaf’s team that is serving USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. Dan collaborates with colleagues to design, develop, and deliver materials for online and in-person learning experiences. Previously, Dan worked at the California Department of social services where he oversaw the creation of new training modules from inception through the production and go-live stages. He is fluent in Latin and Greek. He has also taught Latin and chaired the Electives Department at a prestigious high school. Dan earned his Master of Arts degree in Classical Philology from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. and his Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies & Classical Languages from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. What inspires Dan? Reading Greek and Roman literature. “I am amazed at how deeply I can be connected to someone writing 2,500 years ago. It reminds me that we are all part of a larger culture that is living, breathing, and will keep us going beyond our life spans.”

As Communications and Operations Specialist, Dani Waldman is a key member of the headquarters team. Dani leads the external communications, marketing and social media effort, and is heavily involved in internal communications, corporate culture, content development and operations.

While Dani has worked with numerous organizations both nationally and internationally, she comes to Greenleaf most recently from the nonprofit sector. She has extensive experience in program coordination, marketing, event planning, and is also a certified life coach.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Roanoke College in Salem, Va. What inspires Dani? “Bringing individuals together in community is what inspires me. I love facilitating connections that lead to empowering conversations and the opportunity for introspection.”

Danielle Williams, Senior Instructional Design Specialist, is currently on the client team serving USAID’s Food for Peace training unit. She designs learning experiences for effective learning, supporting FFP in achieving their organizational goals. Previously, Danielle worked at two property management firms, where she used various proven training models and methodologies in combination with mobile technology to improve staff learning and performance. She has also served in public education as a specialist in instructional design, training, and facilitation. She earned her Master of Arts in adult education and training from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Ariz., and her Bachelor of Science in English education from Bowie State University in Bowie, Md. What inspires Danielle? “Music is my biggest inspiration because it gives people the ability to connect on a personal level.”

Emily Dockery, Training Coordinator, is part of Greenleaf’s team that is serving USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. Emily provides support to the training team, schedules and arranges logistics for training courses, maintains the learning management system (LMS), and assists OFDA learners with the LMS and course registration. Prior to joining Greenleaf, Emily provided a high level of customer service to senior researchers, visitors, and guests as the Receptionist at the RAND corporation in Arlington, Va. Emily has also worked in marketing, communications, and volunteer management in the U.S., Azerbaijan, and Cambodia. Emily earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. What inspires Emily? “Artists, specifically writers. I think stories brighten our lives. My favorite poet, John Keats, wrote, 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever.' I think stories in any shape or form helps sustain people in both good times and bad.”

As Practitioner and Manager, Erin Petersen is a key member of the Communications and Operations team. She plays a key role in operations, client delivery and account management, content development, and business development.

She comes to Greenleaf from Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC where she worked for over a decade in medical education. She also has experience as a clinical mental health counselor specializing in trauma and psychological first aid for distressed persons.

She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master in Education from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History from Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass. What inspires Erin? “I am always inspired when I am afforded the opportunity to help people make forward progress no matter how big or small. I love to ask how I can help someone move from point A to point B and then walk alongside them on the journey until they arrive there.”

As Vice President, Practitioner, and Training Unit Manager, Kate serves on the leadership team leading development and delivery of programs including those for USAID’s Office of Food for Peace, OFDA and PSC. With deep experience serving organizations through the lens of emotional health, her relevant skills span systems thinking, organizational development, strategic planning, process optimization, team leadership, and program management. Before joining Greenleaf in 2015, Kate worked for several years for the American Psychiatric Foundation as Associate Director, Partnership for Workplace Mental Health. There, she led a major program designed to reduce stigma and build emotionally healthy workplaces as well as researched and wrote about best practices that support employee resiliency, wellbeing, and engagement. Previously, she was with PricewaterhouseCoopers for a decade, serving in operations and human resources roles focused on performance and process improvements, employee development and engagement, and change management.

Kate earned her Master of Arts in social enterprise from the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C., and her Bachelor of Arts in international studies with a Latin American emphasis from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. She has also completed professional education on Suicide Prevention in the Workplace from Working Minds Training, earned a Leadership Institute Certificate from the National Center for Leadership, and achieved Competent Communicator and Competent Leader designations from Toastmasters International. What inspires Kate? “To experience the view of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park brings joy, inspiration and awe at the world God created. So much so, I also chose to get married in Yosemite Valley.”

Kathy Cox serves as Chief of Staff and Director of Communications Operations at Greenleaf. She oversees all activities within the company works directly with the CEO on strategic growth planning, and effectively leads numerous operational areas, including recruitment and human resources, administration and budgeting, internal communications, business development, and marketing. She is also a member of Greenleaf’s management team. Previously, Kathy served for six years as Crew Chief at Harmony Crew, a strategic engagement firm in the Washington, D.C. area. There, she led the firm’s operations, marketing, strategic partnerships, and client workshops and retreats. Her career also includes management and operations positions at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena, and MindBank Consulting Group, all in the Washington D.C. area. In addition, she has extensive experience as an independent consultant, providing operations, fundraising, and event services to a range of clients.

Kathy is certified in Servant leadership by the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for servant leadership in Atlanta, Ga., and in quantum leadership by the Academy of Total Intelligence in Oxford, England. She was named a SmartCEO Brava Awards Honoree in 2016, celebrating female business leaders who combine their entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community. Kathy is an active member of Leadership Greater Washington, the Association of Talent Development, and Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. What inspires Kathy? “Those moments when you take note of the perfect synchronicity in the world – whether it be something visually beautiful, the emotional lift of a great song, or connecting with someone through a smile.”

As Practitioner and Senior Advisor, LeRoy Thompson counsels Greenleaf teams on tailored sustainable solutions for clients operating in highly demanding environments, enabling them to improve enterprise performance while protecting employees’ emotional wellbeing. He joined in 2010 when Greenleaf partnered his long-time management consulting firm, Thompson & Associates. Since then, LeRoy has taken on an expanded role in delivering programs and results to Greenleaf clients. Prior to founding Thompson & Associates in 1983, LeRoy was an Associate with McKinsey & Company in their Washington D.C. office, where he led a range of client strategy projects and mastered the consulting firm’s well-known hypothesis approach to solving business challenges. He has served a wide range of government, healthcare, corporate, and non-profit clients.

LeRoy’s business expertise spans organizational development, systems thinking, quantitative and qualitative research, strategic planning, process complexity reduction, change management, leadership development, instructional design, and facilitation and training. He holds a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business from Columbia University Graduate School of Business in New York City as well as a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in English and American literature and language from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. He is an award-winning business author and has been a featured speaker at numerous national and international business conferences. What inspires LeRoy? “Being around people who have a passion for learning. It reminds me to not be content with what I currently know and believe to be true.”

Lody Isaac, Instructional Design Specialist, is part of Greenleaf’s team that is serving USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. She designs learning experiences for effective learning, supporting OFDA in achieving their organizational goals. Previously, Lody was a Senior Instructional Systems Designer with Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions Inc., working on designing, developing, and monitoring training for U.S. veterans. As a talented ISD who feels that instruction works best when it is developed with a strong understanding of the organization, Lody built relationships and trust with her client through collaboration with subject matter experts and other stakeholders while supporting the organization's mission. Lody’s career also includes serving multiple government agencies as a Senior Instructional Design Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. Lody earned her Masters of Education in Instructional Design and Technology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. What inspires Lody? “I’m inspired by close friends and family that are always there for me and fill me with peace.”

Mariama Souare is Senior Training and Development Specialist. As part of Greenleaf’s team that is serving USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit, she facilitates training programs spanning a range of content and tailored to OFDA’s unique global environment. Previously she served for 10 years at the National Endowment for Democracy, headquartered in Washington, D.C. As Senior Grants Office/Trainer, she managed grants in the eastern, western, and southern regions of Africa as well as trained staff on grants requirements and administration. She has also worked as a teacher in Virginia public schools. Mariama is a Certified Professional Coach from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. She earned her Master of Education in English as a second language from Marymount University in Arlington, Va., and her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Va. What inspires Mariama? “Sharing and gaining knowledge through being with family, friends, colleagues, and reading books.”

Mary Gettings, Recruiter, serves on the Greenleaf client team that provides a range of institutional support services to USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). She supports the OFDA divisions in recruiting and hiring humanitarian experts to serve in the field and in the Washington, D.C. headquarters. Before joining Greenleaf, Mary served as Executive Assistant to the CEO at a non-profit organization that raises and manages funds for public education in Philadelphia. She has also held administrative and teaching aide roles at Higher Achievement in Washington, D.C., Rutgers Oral History Archives in New Brunswick, N.J., and Kingsway Learning Center in Moorestown, N.J. Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics, with a minor in cognitive science, from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in New Brunswick. She completed Arabic language & area studies on a scholarship at AMIDEAST Egypt in Cairo. What inspires Mary? “Running in the rain puts me in my element. It’s both cathartic and invigorating.”

Meghana Venkatesh, Trainer, works on the Greenleaf team serving USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. Using proven methodologies and technologies, she works with client stakeholders to develop and facilitate customized trainings to serve a range of staff learning needs for OFDA employees. Previously, Meghana served as International Projects Assistant and, before that, International Programs Fellow, at Global Cold Chain Alliance in Alexandria, Va., a member organization that supports more than 1,300 companies in 75 countries who serve the food industry by providing third-party, temperature-controlled supply chain services. She is from Austin and holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. What inspires Meghana? “My parents inspire me. They worked very hard and sacrificed a lot to get to where they are today. All of the opportunities and experiences my sister and I have had is thanks to their selflessness.

Nancy “Nan” Heaney, Senior Training and Development Specialist, serves on Greenleaf’s team supporting USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. Her primary responsibilities include delivering top-notch facilitation and curriculum guidance to OFDA staff. Her previous experience includes 12 years with SRA International in Fairfax, Va. As a project manager there, she developed and customized courses as well as provided classroom and online training to more than 3,500 Department of Defense employees. During her impressive 20-year career in a variety of roles with the United States Navy, Nan directed a diverse range of mission-critical projects, many of which included training responsibilities. She earned her Bachelor of Science in business management studies from the University of Maryland in University College, Md. She also holds a Design Learning Certification from the American Society of Training and Development and completed training in instructional system design from the Defense Intelligence Agency. What inspires Nan? “I am constantly inspired by what a beautiful human being my son has become.”

As Practitioner and Senior Advisor, Dr. Nancy Spangler has extensive experience developing workplace health and resiliency strategies. She specializes in applying a systems-based approach to create positive change in individuals and organizations.

Nancy devises collaborative relationships with employers to optimize programs, policies, and practices supporting psychological health across the spectrum of prevention methods, screening, and effective treatment. In order to enhance human performance, she has the ability to blend leadership philosophy, neuroscience, mindfulness, and workplace health promotion according to client needs. Her varied clients have included health care organizations, benefits consultants, pharmaceutical companies, professional organizations, digital learning providers, and governmental agencies.

Nancy holds bachelor and masters degrees in occupational therapy from the University of Kansas, and she has practiced as an occupational therapist in a variety of settings. Her PhD is in Therapeutic Science, a special interdisciplinary program at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Her previous clinical work has includes serving adults with brain injuries and children with developmental disabilities related to autism, cerebral palsy, and abuse.

Nancy has published peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters on behavior change and workplace mental health issues. What inspires Nancy? "I'm inspired when I see groups of people with all kinds of differences -- in strengths, personalities, knowledge, and experiences -- coming together to do great things in the world. It can be meaningful, powerful, and joyful."

Nichole “ Niky” Grogan, Senior Instructional Design Specialist, is part of Greenleaf’s team that is serving USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. She creates interactive online training courses, enabling OFDA employees more opportunities for training collaboration and self-paced learning. Previously, Niky was CEO of Thinkwell Healing Group, an initiative she founded to coach women and young girls to personal and professional wellness. Her career includes instructional design and training roles in the Washington, D.C. area for numerous Intelligence Community and private sector organizations. She also served for 10 years in the United States Air Force as Russian and Uzbek Linguist/Instructor and Command Language Program Manager. Niky earned her Bachelor of Science in adult education and training from St. Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish, Maine. She is a certified instructional designer and a certified wellness coach. What inspires Niky? “Stories of triumph. When an individual overcomes a situation that has left others immobilized in despair, I'm reminded that I can overcome obstacles too, no matter the level of difficulty!”

Stephanie Rhodes, Junior Recruiter, serves on the Greenleaf client team that provides a range of institutional support services to USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Stephanie plays a key role in facilitating communication with job candidates for OFDA’s personal services contracts positions and job postings, in accordance with US Government procurement regulations. Previously, Stephanie’s career spanned multiple positions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection where she organized data for utility accounts worth $100 million and created standard operating procedures on account management in compliance with Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR). Stephanie is working on her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bowie State University in Bowie, Md. What inspires Stephanie? “The desire to be the best version of myself passionately motivates and inspires me to do something admirable in the world.”

Tajalli “Taj” Dunn, Training Coordinator, works on the Greenleaf client team serving USAID’s Food for Peace training unit. She supports the development of new training processes and programs as well as the build-out of training systems relied upon by Food for Peace employees in their work to eradicate poverty and hunger. Taj’s previous experience includes the roles of Information Resource Assistance at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency in Arlington, Va., and English Language and Culture Assistant at an elementary school in Galicia, Spain. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore. What inspires Taj? “Music and its ability to bring people from all walks of life together. Participating in music ensembles has for me, always been a wonderful way to build community.”

Thomas “Tom” LeaMond is part of Greenleaf’s team that is serving USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) training unit. As Senior Training & Development Specialist, he creates and implements training programs to improve staff competency as well as helps learners navigate OFDA’s training environment. Tom has more than 20 years of experience as a trainer, facilitator, consultant, and business analyst working in the government, healthcare, and small business sectors. His international portfolio includes teaching English as a second language (ESL); developing immersion language, cultural, and volunteer programs in Latin America; and working with USAID in Afghanistan, South Sudan, Honduras, and Washington, D.C. Tom earned his Master in Business Administration and his Bachelor of Arts in geography from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. What inspires Tom? “Living simply, because it is easier to get important things done in life when you are not constantly bombarded with things like technology, and having the latest and greatest of everything.”