Patricia Demetriou/President/Founder

Jason is a visionary professional inspired by what lies ahead with more than 10 years of experience in various technical support and Major Incident Management roles. He has helped improve team efficiency and has created strategies that helped reduce organizational risk. Jason is the Vice President for Global Technology Infrastructure Platforms/ Major Incident Management, who leads a team of professionals and supports JPMC internal/external customers.

Jason is a graduate of DeVry University and Keller Graduate School of Management. In addition to the nonprofit organization, Jason is working to implement the Youth Leadership Program which provides high-school students with opportunities to earn highly sought IT certifications, career development, and financial and reading literacy programs post-graduation. Jason is enthusiastic about giving back and making sure the youth in the communities we representhave the skills, confidence, and tools to be successful. Jason has two adult children and two grandchildren and one of his interests is that he is a car enthusiast of classical/historical muscle cars.

JD, having worked with children and adolescents within a theater workshop and community recreation setting for the past 24 years, realized it was obvious that the culture and development of our children and young adults needed to be addressed. JD's education in marketing and as a professional photojournalist, play a key role in his approach regards to finding the optimum way to teach youth and nourish their young minds with information and images that will foster a generation of dynamic contributors to society who fully understand their potential. In addition to his experience living abroad for several years, JD has been on the board of directors for the LifeSmart Education since its inception in 2010 and has made many solid and viable contributions to the organization. At present, JD is continuing his education to obtain his bachelor’s degree PR/Marketing.

Paul has over twenty years of experience working in the mental health field.  Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Paul continued his educational endeavors by completing his Master of Arts in clinical psychology from Argosy University in Phoenix, Arizona.  While obtaining his M.A., Paul worked with "at-risk" children and their parents.  This provided Paul with a deeper understanding of the challenges of professionally working with youth and their families. Paul also obtained his Doctorate of Psychology from Capella University with a specialization in clinical psychology.  While earning his Doctorate Degree, Paul completed his pre-doctoral internship conducting Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) at Pennsylvania Counseling Services.  Working with a diverse population of at risk adolescence, their family, and therapeutically engaging available community resources provided Paul invaluable experience and a greater appreciation and drive to help this population. 

Sherish Rider is a dedicated and passionate worker for LifeSmart Education (LSE) since 2014, when she started out as a volunteer. Sehrish has extensive knowledge working in the financial sector and education. Sehrish has transitioned her love for education to become a board member of LSE to help develop programs and to run the newly formed for-profit company AM City Kids LLC, an online tutoring platform. Sehrish helps to run this program as the Program Manager which supports the nonprofit work of LSE.  

 Neeta Agrawal is a passionate advocate for educational equity, community empowerment, and the transformative power of early investment in young people. With over two decades of leadership in nonprofit management, education policy, and strategic advancement, Neeta brings a wealth of expertise in building partnerships that fuel meaningful, sustainable change.

She most recently served as Chief Advancement Officer at Future Ready Five, where she helped build partnerships and raise millions in support of early childhood education and kindergarten readiness in Franklin County. Her background also includes years as a teacher in Chicago Public Schools and leadership roles focused on fundraising, strategy, and community engagement.

As a first-generation Indian-American and a mom of three, Neeta brings both personal passion and professional perspective to LifeSmart’s mission. She believes deeply in the power of social-emotional learning and life skills to shape confident, capable young people. She’s excited to join the board and support LifeSmart’s incredible work in helping students grow not just academically, but as whole people.

Neeta lives in Columbus, Ohio, and when she’s not cheering on her kids in school and sports, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, exploring new restaurants, and getting lost in a good murder mystery novel.

 Elijah Mattis is a forward-thinking professional with a strong background in data-driven media, operations, and team leadership. He currently serves as an Operations Analyst at PLS Financial Services, where he manages compliance, training, and performance initiatives across multiple regions. With a degree in Communication from Bowling Green State University, Elijah brings sharp analytical and communication skills to every project he takes on. His experience in contract and personnel management—particularly in high-demand logistics roles—highlights his adaptability and proven leadership under pressure. Certified in Google Analytics, HubSpot Marketing, and more, Elijah is passionate about using data to drive strategic growth and operational excellence. 

Amavi has extensive experience teaching various business-related subjects at universities on a part-time basis, including Research Methods for Managers, International Marketing, Intercultural Management, Capstone Research Tutorial, and International Business Negotiations. With strong expertise in instructional techniques and student assessment practices, Amavi is also proficient in leveraging web technologies for teaching. Additionally, they have a proven ability to develop curricula for courses at all levels, mentor doctoral and master’s students, and teach diverse student populations in both English and French.

 Dr. Nilesh finds his greatest fulfillment in empowering leaders, executive teams, startups, and business families to navigate their evolving contexts, unlock their potential, and achieve their strategic goals. With integrity, clarity, and a deep sense of purpose, he offers consulting, board and CxO advisory, independent board membership, executive coaching, mentoring, corporate training, and research in strategy, entrepreneurship, corporate governance, and organizational transformation. As a co-founder of Enableance.com, he operates in the consulting, coaching, and training space while also serving as an adjunct professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at IIM Sambalpur. With over 28 years of global experience spanning India, the USA, and the UAE, Nilesh has held leadership roles across diverse industries and organizational contexts. He earned his Ph.D. from Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and has taught there and in the UAE. His professional journey includes consulting roles at PwC, KPMG, and Henley Center, as well as serving as the country head for Telos Partners in India. A certified coach (ACC, RCC, ICC), he also holds a CFA (India), an MBA from IBS Hyderabad, and a BE in Electronics from MNIT Jaipur. Additionally, he is certified as an Independent Director for publicly listed companies in India. Based in Bhopal, he lives with his wife, son, and parents.