NATIONAL SKILLS COALITION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Workforce Development
Alice is the Director of Workforce Development and Strategic Initiatives, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services. Prior to this role she served as Chief of Staff for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU) for eight years.
Prior to joining CSCU, Alice served as Executive Director of CWEALF, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women, girls and their families to achieve equal opportunities in their personal and professional lives. Alice has spent more than two decades conducting research, advocacy, training and technical assistance on issues related to education and workforce development. She has conducted evaluations of a variety of education and training programs.
Alice has worked with the Governor's Office for Workforce Competitiveness to support model programs and strategies for increasing the skills and career opportunities for low-wage and unemployed workers; assisting in the facilitation of the CT Career Ladder Initiative to create and promote model programs for career advancement in technology, health care and early child care and education fields; and coordinating the legislatively created Allied Health Workforce Policy Board. Alice created the Campaign for a Working Connecticut to mobilize a diverse coalition of education and training providers, advocates, employers, and labor unions to improve the state's workforce competitiveness.
Alice has authored and co-authored many academic publications and research reports and has served as a resource for both regional and national press. Alice received her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. Alice has been a member of NSC's Board since 2015.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the MANA Action Fund
Allison L. Dembeck joined the U.S Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and is the Vice President of Education and Labor Advocacy. She focuses on education, labor, workforce development, and equity issues.
Before coming to the Chamber, Dembeck was the education, labor, pensions, and welfare policy analyst on the Senate Republican Policy Committee under the chairmanships of Senator John Thune (R-SD) and then Senator John Barasso (R-WY). She also spent several years in the personal office of Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) handling education, labor, pensions, and child and family issues. Dembeck did two stints with the House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce-the first for former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and the second for Representative John Kline (R-MN). Dembeck also was Manager of Government Relations for Ceridian Corporation, focusing on pensions, health care, and payroll compliance.
Dembeck is the education policy lecturer at the University of Texas System's Graduate Archer Fellowship Program and a former adjunct faculty member of Montgomery College in Maryland. She has an M.A. from The George Washington University and a B.A. from Binghamton University-State University of New York (SUNY).
In addition to her position on the National Skills Coalition Board of Directors, Dembeck is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the MANA Action Fund and on the Board of Directors for Women in Government Relations.
Areas of expertise: Adult education, Workforce policy, Immigration, Digital literacy
Amanda Bergson-Shilcock is a Senior Fellow at National Skills Coalition where she leads the organization's work on adult education and workforce policies to expand opportunities for US-born and immigrant adults. Throughout her career, Amanda has worked with state and federal policymakers and skills advocates to develop policy solutions that address the challenges facing adult learners and jobseekers, including immigrant workers.
As a workforce development expert for more than a decade, Amanda has authored numerous publications and policy recommendations - on immigrant integration, workforce development, and adult education - which have helped educate policymakers, journalists, and the public, and inform public policy at the state and federal levels. Her policy expertise, insights, and commentary have been cited and published in local and national media outlets, including TIME, Fortune, BBC News, Inside Higher Ed, POLITICO, Business Insider, The Wall Street Journal, HR Dive, and many others.
Prior to joining National Skills Coalition in 2015, Amanda served as Vice President of Policy and Evaluation at the nonprofit Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians in Philadelphia. In that role, she led the Welcoming Center's policy and communications work on adult education, workforce and economic development issues. She also served as Policy and Communications Director for IMPRINT, a national coalition of nonprofit organizations focusing on the integration of immigrant professionals.
Amanda holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied American Civilization with an emphasis on minority populations. She is based in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Manager With
- Senior Accounting Manager
Anneka Bell is the HR and Accounting Manager with National Skills Coalition. Anneka supports the efforts of NSC's Operations Team, which includes administrative, finance, and human resource functions. Anneka joined NSC in 2020. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining the NSC, Anneka worked as an Operations Administrator in Washington, D.C., holding fifteen plus years of non-profit accounting and administrative experience.
Anneka holds both an associate degree in Accounting from Prince George's Community College and Business and Accounting courses at Bowie State University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Digital Communications
Areas of Expertise: Digital Engagement, Event Communications, Graphic Design, Social Media and SEO
Brittany Cannady Powell is the Director of Digital Communications, where she is responsible for cohesive digital strategies and tactics that build support for NSC's policies, issues, and campaigns with an eye on racial equity and inclusion. Prior to her role as Director of Digital Communications, Brittany was NSC's Digital Media Manager, where she executed innovative advocacy efforts across state and federal policies that brought NSC to the cutting edge of digital media engagement, including the revamp of NSC's annual event promotion.
Prior to joining NSC, Brittany worked as a Senior Associate for Digital Media at Advance CTE, which supports state Career Technical Education leaders in advancing high-quality and equitable CTE policies, programs and pathways. During this time, Brittany developed and implemented a digital media strategy across work streams, managed the organizational website and social media presence, and connected members and external audiences with organizational resources and tools.
Brittany began her career as a CTE educator in North Carolina where she taught in the Business and Marketing career pathway, facilitated professional development for first-year teachers, and provided teacher supports at the district and state level. She also advised the DECA chapter, leading students to state and international career-development conferences.
Brittany has a Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership in Curriculum Instruction from Gardner-Webb University and a Bachelor of Science in Communications, Advertising with a minor in Marketing from Appalachian State University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Strategy Officer
- Higher Education
Brooke DeRenzis is the Chief Strategy Officer, where she advises the CEO on strategic opportunities and leads staff in the development, alignment, and implementation of National Skills Coalition's network, policy, and communications strategies. Prior to her role as Chief Strategy Officer, Brooke was National Skills Coalition's Managing Director of State Strategies, where she launched numerous multi-state initiatives, including the Skills State Policy Advocacy Network (SkillSPAN) - a first-ever nationwide network of state coalitions expanding skills training for thousands of people through state policy changes.
Brooke's policy and organizing expertise, publications and partnerships with local community organizations, workforce practitioners, business leaders, and workforce advocates have helped educate policymakers and shaped workforce policy solutions that continue to make a meaningful impact for workers, businesses, and communities.
Prior to joining National Skills Coalition in 2014, Brooke was a Project Director at DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, where she led advocacy efforts on a range of public policy issues facing the District of Columbia, including workforce development and postsecondary education. She has also held research positions with the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution.
Brooke holds a master's in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's from Sarah Lawrence College. She is based in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Senior Government Affairs Manager
- Worker Safety Net
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board
- Deputy Executive Director for 1199SEIU Training
Daniel is Deputy Executive Director for 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds. Prior to this role he was Executive Director of the Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP), a national network of SEIU unions and healthcare employers partnering to develop innovative career pathways and quality healthcare career education models. He also served as Vice President for the H-CAP Education Association, a related organization comprised of a network of industry-based healthcare training partnerships. Daniel has extensive experience working with healthcare industry partners and the public workforce system, coordinating a variety of federal and state grants designed to provide upskilling, apprenticeship and other on-the-job training opportunities for healthcare workers.
Daniel is a doctoral candidate in Social Policy at Columbia University. His work on group-based disparities has been published in Social Research, Dissent, the Journal of Intergroup Relations, the Hamline Journal of Law and Public Policy and the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare.
Daniel has been a member of NSC's Board since 2017.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Vice President of Policy and Research at the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative
Dr. Alex Camardelle is currently the Vice President of Policy and Research at the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, an intermediary that seeks to achieve shared prosperity by closing the racial wealth gap through community wealth building strategies. In this role, Dr. Camardelle is responsible for developing and overseeing AWBI's 's mission-aligned advocacy and research agendas and related strategic initiatives and activities. He also serves as Co-Investigator for anti-poverty research at the National African American Child and Family Research Center housed at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Prior to AWBI, Dr. Camardelle served as the Director of Workforce Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, where he led a program that centers Black workers in policy debates concerning the future of work, workforce development, and access to good jobs. Dr. Camardelle also served as the Senior Policy Analyst for Economic Mobility at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute where his research and advocacy supported policy reforms shaping workforce development, worker justice, and access to core safety net programs for individuals and families with low incomes. Lastly, he worked at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, where he was responsible for strengthening economic opportunity through research, grantmaking, and partnerships.
Dr. Camardelle serves on the board of directors for the National Skills Coalition, an organization that advocates to remove barriers to high quality training and employment services through policy change. He also serves on the board of Foreverfamily, Inc., a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth with incarcerated parents. The Georgia Center for Nonprofits recognized Dr. Camardelle as one of its 2017 30 Under 30, a distinction for professionals who are making a powerful impact in Atlanta by exhibiting outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to their community work. He is also part of Georgia State University's 40 under 40 alumni class.
Dr. Camardelle holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Alabama. He is also a graduate of Georgia State University, where he earned his Master's of Public Administration degree in policy analysis and evaluation and Ph.D. in educational policy studies. Alex's scholarship focuses on race, workforce development, and political economy. He is also a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. He lives in Atlanta with his partner Ricky and "gerberian shepsky" Zora.
Dr. Melancon brings over 25 years of progressive workforce development experience to serve in his role as President/Founder of Durango Works, an independent workforce development consultancy firm. He is also the Director of the National Green Jobs Advisory Council (NGJAC) at NCWE. Dr. Melancon has just been appointed to the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board (EWAB) and advises the Secretary of Energy in developing a strategy for the Department of Energy (DOE) to support and develop a skilled energy workforce to meet the changing needs of the U.S. energy system. In addition, he recently completed his 10-year tenure at Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) as the Vice-Chancellor for Workforce Solutions. Dr. Melancon has worked with a very small team and many employers in the Greater Baton Rouge area to achieve national recognition for his programs. From 2012 to 2015, he grew his workforce development program from serving only 350 students per year (not including contract training) to over 3,500 BIPOC students with more than 40 diverse instructors.
In May of 2018, Dr. Melancon's North Baton Rouge Industrial Training (NBRITI) program was nationally recognized after only two years of program redesign with great support from businesses and industry. This updated NBRITI program has become a top-three workforce development program in the United States, according to the National Skills Collation (NSC). In 2019, Dr. Melancon received the National Skills Coalition Skill Champion Award. From 2015-2020 his team has helped generate over 20 million dollars for business and industry. His team has also provided more than 22,000 people with the necessary skills to embark on careers in multiple industry sectors, including transportation, healthcare, construction, energy, petrochemical, and manufacturing.
Dr. Melancon has over 20 years of experience in executive-level leadership and has been recognized by independent workforce development policy leaders. Dr. Melancon has many years of experience in managing more than 150 million dollars of direct workforce development initiatives for the State of Louisiana and the federal government. He was also the Office of Juvenile Justice Assistant Secretary (acting as the Deputy Secretary) for a statewide agency that included three 24-hour secure-care facilities and 11 regional offices. He oversaw a very diverse staff of over 1,100 employees.
Dr. Melancon has the passion and track record for being the ideal servant-leader for business and industry, state and local government, and federal policymakers. Being the President/Founder of Durango Works has better positioned him to bring more resources to local communities nationwide. Dr. Melancon states." I want to play a more significant role in growing our economy by providing pathways for high school students, college students, disconnected young adults, and the working poor to obtain gainful employment and to be competitive with the future changes of work."
Dr. Sekou Siby leads the national staff to support membership operations, training and education programs, community and public engagement, as well as policy advocacy and organizational development. Under his leadership, ROC United is building worker power, and promoting policies that improve the lives of restaurant workers and their communities.
Dr. Siby's inspiring story tells a remarkable rise from his native Ivory Coast to New York City, where he survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He first worked as a cab driver, a cook at the Windows on the World, and then co-founded ROC United, managing and organizing major campaigns and bringing hundreds of restaurant workers to victory against wage theft and wage inequality.
A polyglot - speaking four languages - Dr. Siby was featured in major national publications and television networks. He was awarded the prestigious Heroes Award and National Leading from the Inside Out Yearlong Fellowship by the Robin Hood Foundation and Rockwood Leadership Institute in 2013 and 2018, respectively. He holds an MBA and DBA in Business Management from the University of Phoenix School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Higher Education Racial Equity and Inclusion Workforce Data
- State Network Manager
Erin Sheehan manages a network of state coalitions working to advance skills policies that support industry engagement, equity, public accountability, and job-driven investment. She manages this network in collaboration with local coalition leads, NSC staff, and national partners. Erin collaborates with NSC staff to provide state coalitions with customized technical assistance to achieve meaningful policy impacts, including through advocacy, communications, and peer learning strategies. Erin joined NSC in October 2021, and she is based in Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining NSC, Erin served as a Policy & Data Analyst at Connecticut Voices for Children, a New Haven based research and advocacy organization. In this role, she coordinated with staff and external partners to provide strategic advocacy focused on advancing economic justice. Previously, Erin worked on both statewide and local campaigns in Connecticut and Nebraska.
Erin graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and History.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Executive Director of the Independent Electrical Contractors ( IEC ) Chesapeake Chapter
Grant is the Executive Director of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Chesapeake Chapter, a nationally recognized non-profit employer association representing merit-based electrical contractors in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He is a well-respected advocate for the expansion of apprenticeships both as a benefit to employers as well as to youth seeking skills toward a rewarding career. In addition to overseeing the day to day operations of IEC Chesapeake and IEC Chesapeake Apprenticeship and Training, Inc., Grant serves on the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council, the Maryland Task Force to Study Economic Development and Apprenticeships, and the advisory board to the Maryland Clean Energy Center.
Grant is a graduate of University of Maryland College Park.
Grant has been a member of NSC's Board since 2017.
Areas of Expertise: Event Coordination, Office Operations
As an integral member of the Operations Team, Janelle acts as a trusted advisor who effectively manages the activities of the board and executives, coordinates NSC events and projects, and assists with fundraising tasks to execute our organization's goals.
Prior to joining NSC, Janelle has supported operations at various organizations and firms. She brings with her over 8 years of operations and administrative experience.
Janelle holds a bachelor's degree in Consumer Sciences from Morgan State University. She currently resides in Washington D.C.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director of Policy and Research
Jeannine LaPrad is the Managing Director of Policy and Research at National Skills Coalition, where she leads the organization's policy research, development, and implementation activities. Jeannine oversees a team of senior workforce research, data, and policy experts who work closely with NSC's partner networks to highlight what is working in states and communities, support policy advocacy, and provide strategic guidance to policymakers and practitioners.
Job Titles:
- Director, Business Leaders United
Jeffrey Connor-Naylor began with National Skills Coalition in 2021 as the Director of Business Leaders United (BLU) for Workforce Partnerships. BLU is a national business network comprised of leaders from small and medium-sized enterprises representing a range of industry sectors who are concerned about our nation's skills mismatch and promote public investments in skills training and education that prepare America's workers for jobs in the 21 st Century economy. Jeff provides overall direction to the BLU program as well as developing strategies to engage and expand the BLU network.
Before joining National Skills Coalition, Jeffrey worked as a Deputy Director at ReadyNation (an initiative of the national nonprofit Council for a Strong America), which supports business leaders to advocate for research-based policy solutions that help children and youth succeed in education and the workforce. In this role, he recruited and engaged leaders from Fortune 500 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, and business membership organizations. During his time with the organization, he also built the country's largest privately-operated business initiative that helped companies of all sizes promote the 2020 Census with their employees and customers.
Jeff has also served as Director of the Northern Virginia Office at The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, a Virginia-based policy think tank, where he oversaw the organization's workforce development portfolio. As Lead Organizer with Homes for Families, Inc. in Massachusetts, he worked with non-profit leaders across the state in support of affordable housing policy.
Jeffrey has a Master of Social Work from Boston College and a B.A. in Religious Studies from Hiram College.
Job Titles:
- Senior Fellow
- Higher Education
Areas of expertise: Postsecondary education. Workforce policy. Apprenticeship. Federal appropriations.
Jennifer Stiddard is a Senior Fellow at the National Skills Coalition, where she serves as an expert on higher education and workforce policy for the organization's government affair's team. In that role, Jennifer focuses particularly on federal policies to increase access and remove financial barriers and for individuals seeking skills training and postsecondary credentials.
For nearly two decades, Jennifer has worked in various roles on Capitol Hill and the non-profit sector to advance policies supporting access, success, and equity in higher education and workforce. Most recently she served as senior policy advisor to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions overseeing the workforce portfolio for Chair Patty Murray. As senior policy advisor, Jennifer worked on legislation addressing recovery efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the CARES Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, and the Build Back Better Act, as well as policies to reform the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the National Apprenticeship Act.
Prior to her work on the Senate HELP Committee, Jennifer was director of government relations for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). During her time at ACCT, she played a key role in advancing legislation to provide students with year-round access to the Pell Grant program and increase federal funding for key community college priorities. She has worked closely on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) both during her time at ACCT, as well as her years serving as senior legislative assistant to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. For the 2008 reauthorization of the HEA, Jennifer worked to enact a provision into law that provided access to the Pell Grant program for children who lost a parent in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also served as a lead to the Congressional Black Caucus Education Taskforce while working for Congresswoman Johnson.
Jennifer is a sought-after speaker on postsecondary and workforce policy, as well as federal advocacy. She has participated on numerous panels, including presenting on Capitol Hill. She has also served as a contributor to many publications, including as one of the main authors to The Trustee's Role in Effective Advocacy (2019).
Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, and a Master of Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in education policy with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Jenny Wittner is the Chief Operating Officer at National Skills Coalition, where she leads efforts to ensure that NSC's HR, development, financial and overall operations support NSC's work to advance policy, build networks and change the conversation around skills training. Jenny joined NSC in 2022.
Prior to joining NSC, Jenny led the fiscal sponsorship service at Arabella Advisors as a Managing Director, working to provide the operational infrastructure to hundreds of non-profit projects. She has worked in roles in nonprofit operations, policy, and direct service over the course of her career.
Jenny has a long commitment to inclusive skills training and deeply believes in its centrality to equity and its importance to workers and business. She started her career as an English as a Second Language teacher in immigrant communities and quickly realized the need to build pathways and synergies between adult education and workforce training. She worked for two decades in skills training policy and practice prior to her time at Arabella.
Jenny holds a Bachelor's degree in social studies from Harvard College and a Master's degree in teaching ESOL from Northeastern Illinois University. She is based in Chicago and Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager of Business Leaders United
Areas of Expertise: Employer Engagement, Childcare, Career Technical Education (CTE)
Jeran Culina is the Senior Manager of Business Leaders United (BLU). BLU is a national business network comprised of leaders from small and medium-sized enterprises representing a range of industry sectors who are concerned about our nation's skills mismatch and promote public investments in skills training and education that prepare America's workers for jobs in the 21 st Century economy. Jeran manages the implementation of engaging and expanding the BLU network.
Before joining National Skills Coalition, Jeran worked as a Senior Policy Associate at Advance CTE, which supports state CTE leaders to advance high-quality and equitable CTE policies, programs and pathways. In this role, she managed two sites under the JP Morgan Chase New Skills ready network grant which supports sites in developing more equitable high quality career pathways for all learners.
Jeran has also served as the Education and Research Project Manager at Talent 2025, a systems level convener in West Michigan. As the Education Research Project Manager, she led the organization's work in all the education priorities from early childhood to postsecondary education. Jeran guided the convening of several education working groups that focused their priorities on policy and advocacy that alleviated barriers and increased funding for at risk students throughout their educational journey from cradle to career.
Jeran has a Master of Educational Leadership Michigan State University and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary of Social Sciences with an emphasis on early childhood education from SUNY Buffalo.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Board
- Executive Director of the Mast Cell Disease Society
Jessica is Executive Director of the Mast Cell Disease Society. Jessica is an experienced leader with nearly 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, research, coalition building, and issue-based advocacy. Most recently, she led the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, the Indiana SkillSPAN lead. She has also earned numerous awards for her work including NSC's 2015 Skills Champion Award, the Baker One Community Partner Award in 2015, and was named one of the Indianapolis Business Journal's 40 under 40 in 2019. Jessica earned her Master of Arts in Political Science from Ball State University in 2006 and her B.A. in Political Science from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN, in 2003.
Karina Paredes-Arzola manages a network of state coalitions in the West, working to advance skills policies that support equity, career pathways, partnerships, job quality, immigrant integration, and investments that build an inclusive economy. She manages this network in collaboration with local coalition leads, NSC staff, and national partners. Karina collaborates with NSC staff to provide state coalitions with customized technical assistance to achieve meaningful policy impacts, including through advocacy, communications, and peer learning strategies. Karina joined NSC in February 2022, and she is based in San Francisco, California.
Prior to joining NSC, Karina served as Program Manager at the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a statewide policy alliance with more than 10,000 organizational members. In this role, she worked to build membership and engagement. Karina also brings a breadth of statewide and local coalition-building, community organizing, and experience working with labor and nonprofits to support economic justice, worker, and immigrant rights. She has also worked in legal rights positions and with policy makers.
Karina holds a bachelor's in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- State Strategies Director ( West )
- the State Strategies Director
Kate Kinder is the State Strategies Director, Western States, where she leads efforts to develop broad based coalitions in Western states to advocate for workforce development and higher education policies and practices that advance an inclusive economy and elevate the voices of students, workers, and employers.
Kate brings more than 15 years of workforce development and community college leadership, where she has led local, state, and national initiatives that advance career and education equity, such as career pathways, SNAP E & T, benefit access, corrections education, work-based learning, two-gen projects, integrated education and training, and collaborative workforce development grants. Most recently, she served as the dean of Career Pathways and Skills Training at Portland Community College where she led the development and expansion of the nationally-recognized Community College STEP (SNAP 50/50) Consortia amongst all 17 Oregon community colleges, in collaboration with Oregon's Department of Human Services (ODHS). Kate also spearheaded and led Oregon's Pathways to Opportunity and SkillSPAN coalitions to close opportunity gaps and increase economic mobility through developing policy and programs that connect individuals to the benefits and supportive services they need to access skills training, complete college credentials, and move into careers.
In recent years, her work has focused on building coalitions amongst community colleges, human service agencies, employers, community-based organizations, and workforce partners to advance racial equity and rural opportunity by transforming policy, partnerships, and programs. She has provided strategic guidance, helped develop policy agendas, and provided technical assistance to numerous local, state and national entities to replicate and scale effective models that center the needs of adult learners, workers, and those most marginalized.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon. She is based in Portland, Oregon.
Job Titles:
- Higher Education
- Policy and Research Analyst
- Policy and Research Analyst With
Kate Michaels is a policy and research analyst with National Skills Coalition where she brings her passion and experience working at the intersection between educational opportunity, workforce needs, and pathways to economic mobility to support NSC's work of advancing policies that help build an inclusive economy.
Kate brings a background in research and analysis, project management, and stakeholder engagement. As a Harvard Project on Workforce Summer Fellow, she supported the City of Boston's Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion in strengthening career readiness opportunities for Boston youth. Kate also served as a Program Manager with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities where she supported the launch and scale of a nationwide student success initiative across nearly 130 universities across the U.S. and managed several networks of participating institutions. She has additional research and policy experience in topics including community safety, economic development, and local government support.
Kate holds a master's in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is based in New York City.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Government Affairs
Areas of expertise: Workforce policy. Apprenticeship and work-based learning. Higher education. Infrastructure. Unemployment and Reemployment Policy.
Katie Spiker is the Managing Director of Government Affairs at National Skills Coalition, where she works to advance NSC's Washington-based policy efforts through federal legislation, agency regulation, and national funding initiatives. As a workforce policy expert, Katie works closely with members of Congress and their staff, as well as Cabinet agencies - like the Departments of Labor and Education - to develop and implement bipartisan workforce policy solutions to help workers and businesses succeed. Katie also partners with state and local workforce leaders to elevate their advocacy efforts to lawmakers in Washington.
Katie has authored numerous publications on workforce policy issues and her policy expertise, insights, and commentary have been cited and published in local and national media outlets, including CNN, The Hill, Bloomberg, Morning Consult, Inside Higher Ed, The Hechinger Report, IndustryWeek, San Diego Union-Tribune, and many other outlets.
Prior to joining NSC in 2015, Katie was the Associate Director of the National Center for Women's Employment Equity at Wider Opportunities for Women where she managed the design and provision of on-site and virtual technical assistance and the creation of case studies and policy briefs related to nontraditional occupations and occupational segregation. Katie has also consulted with the Institute for Women's Policy Research and the National Women's Law Center. She served as policy counsel for Workplace Flexibility 2010 and the National Partnership for Women and Families as a Women's Law and Public Policy Fellow. Katie is a 2015 Ford Foundation Public Voices Fellow.
She holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami. She is based in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Director of Institutional Giving
Areas of Expertise: Grant Compliance, Grant Management, Sponsorship
Krista Batey is the Director of Institutional Giving at National Skills Coalition. In this role she builds relationships with institutional investors, including private foundations and corporate partners, to support NSC's work. She oversees development strategy, communications, and events. She also manages incoming grants and develops new stakeholder engagement strategies.
Krista has spent her career in the nonprofit and social impact sector. In the last 15 years, she's focused on grantmaking and grants management. She worked as a grants officer and program officer at two foundations and as director of grants management for a nonprofit. She recently spent eight years at Arabella Advisors working in their fiscal sponsorship practice. At Arabella, Krista led a new department focused on managing incoming and outgoing grants and contracts for Arabella's nonprofit clients and launched new fiscally sponsored projects.
Krista started her career working at an immigrant rights organization and speaks Spanish. She has an MS in Public Service from DePaul University and a BA from Knox College. Krista joined NSC in 2024 and is based in Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Senior Fellow
- Higher Education
- Senior Fellow, Postsecondary Education
Areas of expertise: Postsecondary access and success policies, Holistic supportive services (including child care), Student parents and adult learners, Non-degree credential quality and data
Lindsey Reichlin Cruse is a Senior Fellow at National Skills Coalition where she leads the organization's work on postsecondary education policy, particularly for adults with low incomes, and access to public benefits, childcare, and holistic supports for postsecondary students.
For nearly a decade, Lindsey has worked to build more inclusive and equitable pathways to postsecondary education and economic security for marginalized communities, with special attention to students with children. Her research has spanned college affordability, access, and success; holistic student supportive services, such as childcare and non-tuition assistance; and cross-system alignment to support students and families. Lindsey has authored numerous publications sharing findings from original research and their implications for state, federal, and institutional policy and practice. She is regularly sought after to share her expertise and has been quoted in several national outlets including The Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, and PBS Newshour.
Prior to joining National Skills Coalition in January 2022, Lindsey spent over eight years at the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR). Most recently, she served as Managing Director, Student Parent Success Initiative, for which she led IWPR's research on strategies to increase postsecondary attainment and economic security for families with low incomes, with a focus on families headed by single mothers and mothers of color.
Lindsey has a master's degree from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is based in the Washington, DC area.
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager
- Operations Manager With
Mae Diaz Cabrol is the Operations Manager with National Skills Coalition. Mae supports the efforts to ensure that NSC's HR, financial, and overall operations work smoothly alongside the organization and its goals. She joined NSC in 2023.
Before joining NSC, Mae managed the day-to-day operations and strategic planning of TrueFamily Brands, a start-up that contributes to solving Vermont's childcare crisis. Before that, she was part of a group of consultants that helped private companies mainstream diversity in their human resources and relationships with their communities.
Mae holds a Sustainable Innovation MBA from The University of Vermont and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Torcuato Di Tella University in Argentina. She is based in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Senior Government Affairs Manager
Areas of Expertise: Infrastructure, Energy, Workforce Policy
As Senior Government Affairs Manager, Megan works closely with members of Congress and their staff as well as the Administration to advocate on behalf of NSC's legislative agenda. She provides in-depth policy analysis of legislation and works to set advocacy strategy to move the needle on NSC's priorities.
Before Joining NSC in 2021, Megan served as a lobbyist for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers working on a portfolio including trade, infrastructure, and workforce development. She also spent several years performing legislative analysis research on a variety of federal issues in the Legislative Department for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Prior to that role, Megan served as a Staff Assistant for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she performed legislative research and provided administrative support to Committee Democrats.
Megan graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Politics and Government; History; and Pre-Law. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of State Strategies
Areas of expertise: State workforce policy, Racial equity and inclusion, Policymaker education planning, Coalition building and support
Melissa Johnson is the Managing Director of State Strategies at National Skills Coalition, where she leads the organization's efforts to advance workforce policy solutions at the state level. Melissa oversees the development of NSC's state policy agenda and works with the organization's network of state coalitions and partners to provide strategic guidance for policy development, advocacy, advancement, and implementation.
Melissa's publications, policy expertise, and engagement with local community organizations, workforce boards, business leaders, and workforce advocates have helped educate state policymakers and shaped state workforce policy solutions that continue to make a meaningful impact for workers, businesses, and communities.
Prior to joining National Skills Coalition in in 2017, Melissa was a Senior Policy Analyst at Georgia Budget and Policy Institute where she led the organization's research on several issues, including gender economic equality, affordable child care and workforce development. Earlier in her career, she worked in policy analysis and legal roles for the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia and in the private sector as a management consultant.
She holds a J.D. from Emory University School of Law, as well as an MBA and bachelor's degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Melissa is based in Atlanta and Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Director, Worker and Student Voices
Previously, Michael held the position as Senior State Network Manager, developing, managing, and coordinating NSC's network of state coalitions working to advance policies that support industry engagement, skills equity, public accountability, and job-driven investment in coordination with NSC staff, national partners, and coalition leaders. Michael joined NSC in 2017 and he is based in Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining NSC, Michael was Advocacy Coordinator for the Poverty to Prosperity team at the Center for American Progress. He worked with national, state and local coalitions and organizations to provide resources, messaging and advocacy tools and coordinated campaigns. He also managed and developed the story network -a growing network of people who have experienced poverty and who use their personal stories to take action in the media and with policymakers.
Michael has also worked as a program associate at the Bonner Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey, a grassroots organizer at RESULTS Education Fund in Washington, DC, a community organizer in New Orleans, Louisiana and as a manager for On-the-Job Training programs throughout Eastern North Carolina with EDSI. Michael holds a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College, where he studied Psychology. He went on to serve as a Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow.
Job Titles:
- Senior Fellow
- Senior Fellow, Workforce Development
Areas of Expertise: Workforce Development Policy; State Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives; Program Development, Implementation, and Service Delivery Innovation
Nakeisha Ricks-Pettyjohn is a Senior Fellow at National Skills Coalition, where she serves as the organization's expert on federal and state workforce development policy and strategy implementation. In this role Nakeisha brings significant state policy expertise and relationships to inform NSC federal and state policy advocacy campaigns and provide technical assistance to state policy leaders and other workforce development stakeholders.
Prior to joining NSC, Nakeisha was the Senior Director of Workforce Programs for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development where she managed the coordination of external partnerships for the statewide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs and oversaw the operations and program implementation of Tennessee American Job Centers. Nakeisha is passionate about innovative program development, system alignment, and policy changes addressing equity, access, and economic mobility barriers for workers of color, workers with children, and justice involved individuals. She has a proven track record in furthering workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and implementing a wide variety of student services to meet the diverse needs of adult learners and workforce participants.
Nakeisha graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Biology. She is based in Tennessee.
Nicky develops the editorial content and collateral that supports NSC's major campaigns, publications, and projects. She works to ensure clear and consistent messaging across various communication platforms in order to advance public policy and to make the organization's policy and political agenda accessible to a range of audiences including the media, policymakers, partners, and the general public. She joined National Skills Coalition staff in 2015. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Nicky brings a thorough understanding of how thoughtful, systematic communication tactics can engage targeted audiences and move a cause forward. For ten years prior to joining NSC, Nicky led communications, advocacy, and member mobilization campaigns at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union where she worked to give voice to some of the labor movement's most innovative and progressive campaigns for economic and social justice.
Nicky earned a master's degree in political management from the George Washington University, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Smith College.
As a policy analyst, Patrick conducts research and analysis to advance workforce policies, funding and systems that increase access to skills training, worker equity, and build an inclusive economy. His areas of focus include the public workforce development system, support services, workforce partnerships, postsecondary education, and solutions that can advance job quality, worker voice, and meet the needs of local employers. Patrick's work primarily supports California and other Western States, as part of SkillSPAN.
Prior to joining National Skills Coalition, Patrick worked as the California Deputy Director at Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, an initiative of the national nonprofit Council for a Strong America, which mobilizes grasstops community leaders in advocating for investments in evidence-based policy solutions that promote child well-being. In his role, he led a 300-person membership organization, facilitated legislative meetings and advocacy days, and developed policy agendas around cradle-to-career issues. Patrick also brings experience working as a journalist, covering policy and political issues.
Patrick has a bachelor's degree in Political Science with a pre-law concentration from James Madison University, as well as a minor in Political Communications. He is based in San Francisco, California.
Job Titles:
- Chief of External Affairs
Rachel Unruh is the Chief of External Affairs at National Skills Coalition, where she develops initiatives that support strategic partnerships that advance the organization's agenda and reach new audiences. Rachel leads NSC's public opinion research efforts and was the chief strategist for Voices for Skills, a campaign to mobilize working people, students, teachers, and business leaders to educate policymakers and 2020 candidates about overwhelming public support for a new national investment in skills training. In 2021, she led the development of NSC's Industry Recovery Panels, which advised the Biden administration and congressional leaders on skills policy to support an inclusive economic recovery. She currently leads NSC's Digital Equity @Work campaign.
As a workforce policy and communications expert for two decades, Rachel has written on skills policy, politics, and public opinion and is a trusted, nonpartisan resource to local and national media, including The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, MSNBC, Morning Consult, and The Guardian.
Rachel served as NSC's Chief of Staff for ten years, leading the development and implementation of NSC's policy, organizing, advocacy, and communications strategies. She joined NSC in 2006 to develop and lead Skills2Compete, a national campaign endorsed by hundreds of organizations that made the case for a 21st-century skills guarantee to address the demand for U.S. workers with middle-skill credentials. Replicated in 13 states, the campaign brought jobs that fall between a high school degree and a college degree to the attention of the public, policymakers and the media, and helped inform policy changes at the state and national level.
Prior to joining National Skills Coalition in 2006, Rachel served as Director of Community Relations and Senior Policy Associate at Chicago-based Women Employed, a leading national advocate for women's economic advancement. Rachel's work included policy analysis and advocacy to increase access to and success in higher education for low-income women.
Rachel holds a master's degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree from Grinnell College. She is based in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution
Areas of Expertise: Workforce policy development and implementation, Aging and long-term care, Racial equity, Future of work
Robert Espinoza is the Chief Executive Officer of National Skills Coalition, which fights for a national commitment to inclusive, high-quality skills training so that more people have access to a better life, and more local businesses see sustained growth. Since 2000, through expert analysis and technical assistance, broad-based organizing, targeted advocacy, and cutting-edge communications, NSC has changed hundreds of state and federal skills policies that have transformed the lives of workers across the country and grown local businesses and economies.
Robert Espinoza is a prominent advocate and thought leader in the fields of workforce, aging, and caregiving. He has dedicated more than 25 years to advancing public policy and fostering a greater general understanding about some of our most pressing societal issues, from the workforce to caregiving, LGBTQ+ rights to racial equity-and more. He presents frequently at events throughout the country and has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, Forbes, and The Washington Post, among others.
Prior to his role at the National Skills Coalition, Robert served as the Executive Vice President of Policy at PHI, the nation's foremost organization focused on the direct care workforce. For nearly a decade, he directed the organization's award-winning national advocacy, research, and public education division. Under his leadership, the division produced over 100 original publications, launched multiple high-profile national and state-based initiatives, and garnered significant media attention and online engagement.
In recognition of his innovative contributions, Robert was selected for the inaugural CARE100 list in 2020, recognizing him as one of the most forward-thinking individuals reshaping the landscape of caregiving in America. Additionally, he was named one of Next Avenue's 2020 Influencers in Aging. In 2021, he testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen workforce interventions in direct care.
In addition, Robert serves as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and sits on the board of directors for the National Academy of Social Insurance, the FrameWorks Institute, and the American Society on Aging, where he holds the position of Chair Elect. Since 2023, he has hosted A Question of Care, a widely syndicated podcast exploring the many challenges facing our country's caregiving system.
Robert received his MPA from New York University, and his BA in English and BS in Journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he graduated summa cum laude. He is a 2014 graduate of the Rockwood Leadership Institute, and lives in Jersey City, New Jersey with his husband, Michael, and their dog, Gracie.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships at LinkedIn
As Head of Global Public Policy Partnerships at LinkedIn, Sarah Steinberg builds partnerships with governments and organizations around the world to harness LinkedIn's vast data insights to understand the trends that are shaping labor markets and advance more equitable, sustainable, and resilient economies.
Prior to joining LinkedIn, Sarah led a signature $75 million global education initiative at JPMorgan Chase, a philanthropic leader dedicated to driving inclusive economic growth in communities worldwide. Through this work, she supported extraordinary local leaders in 10 communities around the world to leverage innovative new practices and policy solutions to expand access to real-world work experience, higher education, and good careers for underserved young people.
Before that, Sarah led workforce research and policy development at the Center for American Progress, including championing a groundbreaking approach to connect more young people to good jobs by dramatically expanding apprenticeships in the United States. Her work has been cited by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others. She has a bachelor's degree in government and sociology from Dartmouth College.
Tianna Montgomery is the Communications Associate at NSC where she provides support to the organization by assisting in coordinating the full range of the written, digital, social and video content. She contributes to NSC's strategic communication campaign plans that target core audiences. She also renders general communications assistance that supports NSC's mission.
Prior to joining NSC in 2022, Tianna worked at Yelp Industries where she developed and maintained partnerships with stakeholders and advertising partners. She has experience leading digital marketing strategies, social media campaigns, and community outreach for small businesses and Old Dominion University. Through her communications experience working to create awareness of issues ranging from animal testing to the homelessness crisis, Tianna gained a passion for storytelling which led her to create a website to elevate the voices of local BIPOC talent and business owners.
Tianna obtained her Bachelor of Science in Communications and Media Studies from Old Dominion University. She is based in Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Senior State Network Manager
Areas of Expertise: Organizing and Coalition-building, Public and Policymaker Education Strategy, State Workforce and Education Policies, Racial Equity and Inclusion
Yasmin Fallahkhair manages a network of state coalitions working to advance skills policies that support an inclusive economy. She leads projects, cultivates relationships, and provides customized technical assistance around policy development, advocacy, and communications to local coalition leads in collaboration with NSC staff and national partners. Yasmin joined NSC in April 2020 as a state network manager. She is based in Washington DC.
Prior to joining NSC, Yasmin served as a Senior Associate at Whiteboard Advisors, a strategic consulting and communications firm. In this role, she worked closely with policymakers, innovative entrepreneurs, and visionary organizations to build and implement thoughtful government affairs and MarCom strategies. Yasmin also brings extensive experience and knowledge in education policy, having served the Data Quality Campaign for over 5 years in communications, development, and policy/advocacy roles.
Yasmin holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master of Public Administration from American University.