Patricia Demetriou/President/Founder

 Sandeep Nair is a globally accomplished business leader and board member with a passion for helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. With more than two decades of president-level leadership experience at Emerson Electric, a Fortune 500 company, he has built a strong reputation for driving strategic growth, developing high-performing teams, and creating sustainable value across diverse business environments.

Today, Sandeep channels his expertise into supporting organizations—both for-profit and nonprofit—in advancing their goals and cultivating a growth-oriented mindset. He has a special interest in education and empowerment, recognizing them as essential pillars for thriving in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

James Breibach is an executive procurement professional, consultant, and financial empowerment coach with over 30 years of experience across procurement, retail, and e-commerce. He has built a career specializing in global sourcing, cost optimization, vendor management, and product development, helping organizations improve profitability and operational efficiency. James has held senior leadership roles including Vice President of Textile Procurement at Rizzy Home and Director of Purchasing at Quality Procurement Group, where he led multimillion-dollar negotiations and strengthened supplier partnerships while expanding product lines and market reach.

In addition to his corporate leadership background, James brings strong expertise in financial coaching and community empowerment. He previously served as a Financial Coach with Wright-Patt Credit Union and as a Universal Banker with U.S. Bank, guiding individuals in budgeting, credit improvement, and long-term financial planning. Known for his commitment to integrity, mentorship, and practical problem-solving, James combines C-suite strategy with hands-on coaching to help both organizations and individuals achieve sustainable growth and success.

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. 

Peter J. Quinn is a transformational executive leader with more than 20 years of experience driving large-scale technology, operations, and organizational change across government, education, financial services, and consulting sectors. Known for his ability to turn around failing initiatives and build high-performing, resilient organizations, he has served in senior roles including Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Managing Partner. Throughout his career, Quinn has led complex enterprise transformations—most notably modernizing IT infrastructure for the New York City Department of Education, supporting over 1.1 million students and 160,000 employees, and standardizing technology across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ vast public sector ecosystem. 

A trusted advisor to C-suite executives, Quinn specializes in aligning technology strategy with business goals, strengthening cybersecurity posture, and improving operational efficiency. His leadership spans global teams, multimillion-dollar budgets, and mission-critical systems, with a proven track record of delivering measurable results—from rescuing failed government IT projects to enabling rapid organizational growth in the private sector. As a change agent and strategic thinker, he is recognized for building diverse, high-performing teams and creating innovative solutions that enhance service delivery, ensure compliance, and drive sustainable success in highly competitive and regulated environments. 

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.  

Kathryn Johnson is an accomplished Human Resources professional with more than 12 years of experience leading organizational transformation, strengthening governance structures, and driving strategic talent initiatives. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in designing and implementing systems that enhance workforce effectiveness, streamline operations, and support long-term organizational growth.

Kathryn is deeply passionate about empowering people and building strong, inclusive workplace cultures. She believes in the power of human capital as a catalyst for both business performance and meaningful community impact. Her commitment to aligning people strategies with organizational goals has made her a trusted partner to leadership teams and a valued contributor across the organizations she serves.

 Jay G. Maier is a finance and healthcare innovation professional with experience spanning investment banking, private equity relations, and emerging healthcare ventures. He currently serves as an Associate at Healthcare Development & Innovation Group (HDIG), where he contributes to a three-pillar strategy focused on building a comprehensive database of healthcare innovation players, advising clients on strategic applications, and supporting the development of an opportunistic healthcare innovation fund. His work reflects a strong blend of analytical rigor and forward-thinking strategy, particularly in identifying and scaling innovative opportunities within complex industries. 

 Prior to HDIG, Jay worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Brady Ware Capital, where he played a key role in M&A transactions across multiple sectors. His responsibilities included financial modeling, valuation analysis (DCF, LBO, comparables), buyer outreach, and the preparation of critical deal materials such as confidential information memoranda. In addition, he managed private equity relationships, actively engaging with financial sponsors nationwide to support deal sourcing and execution. Jay began his career through investment banking internships and holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Psychology from The Ohio State University. His technical expertise includes industry-leading financial tools and he is SIE certified, underscoring his strong foundation in capital markets and investment strategy. 

 Ram Dandu is a seasoned technology executive and educator with over 30 years of experience spanning insurance, banking, government, and education. He currently serves as Head of Infrastructure at Grange Insurance, where he leads enterprise infrastructure strategy, AI enablement, cloud modernization, and global operations. His leadership has driven large-scale digital transformation initiatives, including migrating thousands of workloads and databases, implementing DevOps practices, and pioneering the integration of generative AI into infrastructure operations. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at JPMorgan Chase, managing global middleware and infrastructure teams, and spearheading modernization and performance optimization projects.

Beyond corporate leadership, Ram has a strong commitment to education and community service. He began his career as an Assistant Professor and Systems Manager at Gayathri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering in India, where he taught computer science, mentored students, and advanced technology literacy programs for underserved communities. Since 2003, he has served as an Academic Advisor to St. George’s University in Grenada, guiding IT curriculum design and modernization efforts. Passionate about AI literacy, workforce readiness, and mentorship, Ram continues to advocate for technology accessibility and practical education as essential tools for empowering future generations.

 Virginia Edgington is an accomplished financial professional with extensive experience in budgeting, financial analysis, grants management, and organizational development. She currently serves as a Senior Financial Analyst with the Environmental Protection Agency in Columbus, Ohio, where she leads financial analysis and budget management for multimillion-dollar programs, develops strategic financial models, and provides executive leadership with data-driven insights to support informed decision-making. Throughout her career with the EPA, she has successfully advanced through positions including Budget Analyst, Financial Associate, and Grants Coordinator II, demonstrating a strong commitment to fiscal stewardship, process improvement, and operational excellence. 

Virginia holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2026, as well as an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Wilberforce University. She has further strengthened her expertise through professional training in leadership, fiscal management, and Lean Six Sigma methodologies, and she is a Certified Personal Financial Counselor in Financial Literacy. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Virginia is an active community leader who has served as an emcee for Elevate Women, participated on the Ohio EPA 50th Anniversary Committee, and mentored emerging professionals through organizations such as the Get Noticed Network and Toastmasters International. 

Brennen (B.) Carter, M.Ed., MLS is an academic and business consultant, program manager, and entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience supporting educational institutions, nonprofits, startups, and small businesses. As the Owner and Head Consultant of Brennen & Consultants, LLC, he provides strategic guidance across business development, education, policy, and organizational management. Carter previously led Bren’s Resources, a social assistance consulting firm that earned 24 perfect 5-star Google reviews during four years of service. His work spans project management, mentorship, grant writing, and program development, with experience helping organizations and individuals achieve professional, academic, and operational success. 

Carter holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership & Policy from the University of Washington and a Master of Legal Studies in Social and Corporate Law from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. He is also pursuing additional credentials in executive business administration, project management, and program management through institutions including Quantic, Google, Microsoft, and the Project Management Institute. An accomplished educator and writer, Carter has taught over 500 students across 15 years, authored numerous publications and books. He also serves as a SCORE Certified Mentor and has contributed to advisory and mentorship initiatives with organizations such as Harvard Business Review, the USC Black Alumni Association, and UW’s Husky Leadership Initiative.