LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES - Key Persons
Aadi Shah is thrilled to attend the International Leadership and Business Internship over the summer. He is ready to use this program's emphasis on hands-on experience, experienced faculty, and numerous benefits to build valuable skills needed for a successful career. This program represents a significant step toward achieving his career goals, and he cannot wait to embark on this rewarding educational journey.
As a rising junior at Lambert High School, Aadi is a student who challenges himself by taking rigorous Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses. He is active with his school's DECA chapter, FBLA chapter, Robotics team, and Track and Field Team. Outside of school, he enjoys volunteering within his community and being an online non-profit tutor for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In the future, Aadi's dream career is to be the CEO and founder of a large-scale technology company. He hopes to use the skills he acquired during this program as a foundation for running a strong and successful company. He believes that by building experience and knowledge at an early age, he will be best prepared to overcome obstacles in the future.
Job Titles:
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Job Titles:
- Webmaster
- Accounts & Registrations Manager
- Office Manager at All Leadership Initiatives Youth Development Programs
- Website Development Coordinator
Andrea is the current office manager at all Leadership Initiatives Youth Development Programs watching over the development of our Business, Legal, and Medical education programs at Georgetown University.
Andrea Batoon is the Webmaster for Leadership Initiatives. She has the overall responsibility of ensuring that each student working with Leadership Initiatives has a platform that properly showcases their accomplishments.
Job Titles:
- Global Education Development Director
- International Translation Team Lead
Auwal graduated from the University of Maiduguri where he studied Agriculture-Education (Double Hons.), he also has a master degree in International Affairs & Strategic Studies and a Diploma in Human Resources (HR).
Auwal had worked with a multinational telecommunication industry for seven (7) years as a customer service professional before joining Leadership Initiatives (LI), he is a member of the "Association of Business Practitioners" (ABP), "Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and Young African Leaders Initiatives (YALI).
Auwal have attended several pieces of training/courses with various institutions/organizations such as; UNICEF, USAID, Global Health, SDG
Job Titles:
- Cybersecurity Program Education Liaison
She currently works at the Innovation Center in Longmont, CO. She has created a Cybersecurity Pathway that includes: Intro to Cybersecurity, Python, Linux, Ethical Hacking, and Security +. Ms. Cerrone loves helping students find their passion and teaching them about the value of cybersecurity. She is looking forward to helping all of you have fun in cybersecurity as well!
Ms. Cerrone started this wonderful journey in education almost 26 years ago and never looked back. She started teaching in Boston at Oliver Ames High School, developing one of the first school websites with all teachers having their own websites as well (teaching teachers HTML 20 years ago was not easy). Moving to Colorado, she was one of the initial teachers in the IB Math program and created one of the first Computer Science and Web Design courses in this district 15 years ago. Ms. Cerrone was part of the inaugural group at Mead High School, building all of the technology curricula for Mead High. She also helped create the Engineering Program at Erie High School. Prior to coming to the Innovation Center, she developed a Computer Science Pathway at Silver Creek High School with classes ranging from Intro to Programming to Web Design to AP Computer Science.
After college, Ms. Cerrone worked in the financial industry for 7 years at Bay Bank in Boston. Although she enjoyed the challenge of the product management group she worked with, there was something missing. Ms. Cerrone's mother was a middle school ESL teacher. She saw the dedication and passion she had for her students and they had for her. She helped her mother set up her classroom, grade papers, and help students when she could. Ms. Cerrone saw first hand the challenges that teachers and students go through. Instead of being part of the problem in complaining about a broken system, she decided to become part of a solution.
Job Titles:
- Department of Defense - Deputy for Enterprise Management
Bill was also a former Senior Managing Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers and a retired US Army Officer with over 22 years of service. Bill graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1976 and obtained a Master of Science in Business Administration from Boston University in 1981. Bill holds certifications as a CPA, CFE, CGFM, CDFM and and serves on the Board of Directors of 3 Non-Profits..
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance
- Registration and Accounts Manager With
Blake Spreeman is the registration and Accounts Manager with Leadership Initiatives. She works throughout the year to track expenses and payments as well as plan future spending.
Job Titles:
- Director of Washington DC Public Defenders
Ms. Harden has also trained the best attorneys in the nation. She is currently a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School's Trial Advocacy Workshop and an adjunct professor/supervising attorney in Georgetown University Law Center's criminal defense clinic. From 2006 to 2018, Ms. Harden coached the award-winning Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Team at Howard University School of Law. She also serves as faculty for the National Criminal Defense College, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Gideon's Promise, and several other litigation training.
Ms. Harden has practiced law for more than 20 years and is known as one of the most skilled trial attorneys in Washington, D.C. She is a fellow in The American College of Trial Lawyers and has been recognized as one of the "Best Lawyers in Washington, D.C." by the Washingtonian and as a "Top-Rated Criminal Defense Attorney" by Super Lawyers. She is also a member of the National Trial Lawyers and a member of the National Black Lawyers Top 100.
Brandi Harden is a nationally renowned litigator and the Managing Partner of Harden & Pinckney, PLLC. Ms. Harden specializes in complex criminal and civil, family law, wrongful death, police misconduct and civil rights cases.
Job Titles:
- Leadership Institute 's Vice President of Campus Programs
Bryan Bernys is the Leadership Institute's Vice President of Campus Programs. He is responsible for all the Institute's student training programs, it's national field team and a nationwide network of more than 1,800 conservative student organizations.
Now, as the planning manager of medicine and occupational health worldwide, he was charged with the well-being of 80,000 employees in 50 countries. Carullo is a dedicated supporter of civic organizations in his home community as well, especially Food for Others, of which he was a board member and retired treasurer, 2003-2010. It is the largest distributor of free food directly to people in need in Northern Virginia. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1989, former finance leader for the Emergency Oil Spill Response Team, and retired treasurer of Felicity Cove Association Inc.
A former division one college baseball player on half scholarship, Carullo currently assists with several youth baseball activities. His family has a patent pending related to hitting fundamentals." His favorite pupils are his 2 grandson baseball players and 2 granddaughter softball players! He greatly enjoys his many years of continued service as a Board Officer to Leadership Initiatives as well as other not for profit Boards he has served on.
Carullo's ExxonMobil career has taken him from New York, where he worked in accounting and finance; to Singapore and Indonesia to Virginia, where he has worked in various controller and finance positions, as coordinator of government reporting, and as assistant secretary for shareholder relations.
Since graduating from Wagner College with a BA in economics and masters in finance, Carmine C. Carullo has built a nearly 42-year career with ExxonMobil Corporation. He has always combined his business expertise with civic engagement locally and worldwide.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Georgetown University 's Neuroethics Studies Program
- Professor
The author of over 350 peer reviewed publications, 7 books and 40 governmental reports on brain science, biotechnology, ethics and policy, he is an elected member of the European Academy of Science and Arts, and an Overseas Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK).
Professor Giordano is also Senior Bioethicist of the Defense Medical Ethics Center of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD; Stockdale Distinguished Fellow of Science, Technology and Ethics at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; and Science Advisory Fellow of the Joint Staff, Pentagon.
James Giordano PhD, MPhil, is Pellegrino Center Professor of Neurology and Biochemistry, Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program, and Chair of the Subprogram in Military Medical Ethics at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC.
Dr. Paul T. Kostecki's professional career has focused on research, education and training in environmental contamination with an emphasis on human and ecological risk assessment and risk management of soils. His work includes soil ingestion estimates for children and adults; establishment of scientifically sound cleanup levels for soil; bioavailability of soil contaminants; fish as toxicological models for contamination assessment; and assessment and management of petroleum contaminated soils. Dr. Kostecki has developed and conducted over 60 conferences, workshops and courses both nationally and internationally, and has made presentations at over 100 national and international meetings. Since 1985, his conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water has attracted over 10,000 environmental professionals from over 50 countries. Dr. Kostecki has published over 100 articles and reports, co-edited/co-authored 35 Books and secured over $15M in research support.
Dr. Kostecki co-created the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences (AEHS) in 1989 and served as its Executive Director until 2009. In 2009, he established the AEHS Foundation and serves as the President. AEHS and the Foundation has conducted 30+ international and national conferences on Contaminated Soils,
Dr. Paul T. Kostecki passed away after a year-long illness on November 20, 2021. He leaves his beloved wife of forty one years, Ann Marie Kostecki, his daughter, Anina Kostecki (Tom Chevalier), son, James Kostecki (Sarah Kostecki), his cherished granddaughters, Lucia Chevalier and Olivia Kostecki and loving sister Elaine Scott (Arthur Scott).
Born to parents, Teofil and Anna Kostecki, Dr. Kostecki grew up in Saugus, MA. After earning his doctorate from the School of Natural Resources at the University of Michigan he returned home to Massachusetts. As research faculty and later Vice Provost for Research at UMass Amherst and President and co-creator of the AEHS Foundation, Dr. Kostecki developed and conducted over 60 conferences, workshops and courses both nationally and internationally. For over thirty years, his conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water attracted over 10,000 environmental professionals from over 50 countries. Over the course of his career Dr. Kostecki published over 100 articles and reports, co-edited/co- authored 35 books and secured over $15M in research support. The AEHS Foundation will continue to carry on Dr. Kostecki's professional and entrepreneurial legacy of research, education and training in the field of environmental contamination.
Whether chasing the elusive striped bass while fishing on his prized boat, La Dolce Vita, traveling the world with friends and colleagues, building rock walls and landscaping new gardens with his wife, or gathering around the table for a meal with his family, Paul Kostecki found joy in each and every day. His memory lives on through his family and his many friendships forged during his time on this earth. To be Paul Kostecki's friend was to always have someone in your corner. To be Paul Kostecki's family was to know unconditional love. His energy, strength and Grace will continue to shine bright through the countless souls whose lives he touched.
Job Titles:
- Fellow With the Center for Neuroscience and Society
Rachel Wurzman Ph.D. is a Fellow with the Center for Neuroscience and Society and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neurology with the Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Job Titles:
- Special Agent of the FBI and a Scientist
Drew C. Richardson was a Supervisory Special Agent of the FBI and a scientist in the FBI Laboratory. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at UNC at Chapel Hill, and his Master of Forensic Science and Ph.D. in Cardiovascular and Autonomic Physiology at George Washington University. Dr. Richardson headed the FBI Laboratory's chemical/biological response team (HMRU), served as the coordinator for NBC scientific assets at the Atlanta Olympic Games, assisted in the formulation of congressional budget requests for the FBI Laboratory's counter-terrorism needs, and testified before the US Senate Judiciary Committee regarding use of polygraphs. Upon retiring from the FBI after 25 years, Dr. Richardson moved to the Shenandoah Valley and began teaching forensic science, criminology, and physiology.
The Drew C. Richardson Memorial Scholarship will carry on Dr. Richardson's legacy of support for dedicated and promising HOSA participants who are interested in medicine, healthcare, neuroscience, and/or national security. The scholarship covers full tuition for a Leadership Initiatives Summer Internship Program. Top HOSA participants will be invited to apply and an annual scholarship recipient will be chosen based on academic and personal merit.
Job Titles:
- Global Education Development Director
Garrett Johnson is excited to be participating in the International Leadership and Business Internship this summer. He is grateful to have the opportunity to learn more about the business world and be alongside likeminded people. He chose this program because he is interested in starting his own business in the future. Garrett also is looking forward to meeting the business men and women who will be leading this internship.
As a rising Senior at Regis Jesuit High School, Garrett is a dedicated gold honor student who is enrolled in both Advanced Placement and Honors courses. Currently, Garrett is part of the Future Business Leaders of America and Diversity Action Group clubs. He recently won the district championship and competed in the state event for FBLA. Garrett works with the Diversity Action Group to create a more inclusive environment at Regis. Garrett also plays on his school's Varsity Track team. Garrett started his landscaping company and spends most of his free time building up the company. If you don't find Garrett cutting lawns, you will most likely find him in the Thrift store.
Garrett is looking forward to being able to make an impact on the world and on people around him. He is looking forward to meeting like minded people from across the world. Garrett's goal is to study business is college and start his own company. He hopes that this internship will give him a window into the business world for him to look through.
Mr. Kunde joined Ferrero in October 2018 from Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, where he served as Vice President of Government Relations since April 2015. Prior to Sysco, Mr. Kunde was Senior Vice President of Government Relations at Darden Restaurants. In addition to his corporate experience, he has held leadership positions at several national and state trade associations, including the International Dairy Foods Association, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Connecticut Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. Mr. Kunde also serves on the board of several non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting education, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship Program Specialist
- Member of the CIA Senior Analytic Service Counterterrorism Expert
Gina Bennett, a former member of CIA's Senior Analytic Service, is a seasoned counterterrorism specialist who authored the earliest warnings of some of today's terrorism trends, including the 1993 report - the first report - that warned of the growing danger of Osama bin Laden and the movement he was fomenting.
Job Titles:
- International Business Partnerships Coordinator
- Youth Development Programs Assistant Director
Glory is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (BSc Geology) and has a diploma in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Glory is a Thinking School Africa fellow, Young African Leadership Initiative Fellow, leadership mentor, and coach.
Job Titles:
- Board Member of Rising for Justice
- Cybersecurity Program Co - Director
Ms. Pinckney is currently a board member of Rising for Justice and JusticeAid. She has also served as the Co-chair of the D.C. Bar Criminal Law and Individual Rights Section Steering Committee and Chair of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (hereinafter PDS) Board of Trustees.
Ms. Pinckney is the proud recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Award from D.C. Law Students in Court. She is a fellow in The American College of Trial Lawyers and a recipient of the Washington Bar Association Educational Foundation Award for Women. Ms. Pinckney has also been named one of Washington D.C.'s Best Lawyers in Criminal Defense by the Washingtonian Magazine and is a member of the National Black Lawyers Top 100.
Heather Pinckney is an experienced litigator specializing in criminal defense, civil litigation, family law, wrongful death, and civil rights cases. Ms. Pinckney is the Executive Director of the Black Public Defender Association and also currently serves as an adjunct Professor at The George Washington University Law School, where she teaches a seminar entitled "The Role of the Public Defender."
Job Titles:
- Academic Advisor
- Chief
- Academic & Education Advisor
- International Translation Team Lead
- Professor of Communication
Jake is a tenured professor of communication studies at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo Michigan where he teaches courses on public speaking, interpersonal relationships, and organizational/intercultural communication.
Jacob Arndt is the Chief Academic Advisor who works with staff, students and parents to design and implement a challenging curriculum for experiential summer programs. Jacob believes that one of life's greatest teachers is overcoming challenges.
Job Titles:
- Bloch PLLC, Managing Partner
- Cybersecurity Program Education Liaison
I am happy to join the Leadership Initiatives team and grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact within the Bauchi Community.
I worked in the Community Department at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe where I acquired the following experiences; Health education, Disease surveillance, and Immunization. I hope to improve the quality of life through prevention and treatment of disease.
My name is Laurat Abubakar. I graduated from College in the year 2020 where I studied Public Health in Bauchi State University Gadau. During my undergraduate, I conducted research on Factors Influencing the choice of place of delivery among women of childbearing age in Shira Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operations Officer
- Executive Director
Jessica Bailly is the Chief Operations Officer. She works directly with our experts and educators to create real-world educational experiences for our students. Jessica believes that students of any age are capable of making a difference in the world. This belief is what lead Jessica to Leadership Initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Senior Pricing / Financial Analyst
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Project Coordinator
Lauren is the Director of Operations and has the overall responsibility of ensuring Leadership Initiatives' Youth Development Programs are an enriching, fun, and educational experience for everyone involved. She has been involved in the development of numerous new programs including the Advanced Neuroscience Summit, and the National Security & Intelligence Summit.
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Finance Manager
Leigh Adams Slaughter is a REALTOR®, licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Ms. Slaughter served as a lawyer, lobbyist, community and health care liaison, and Congressional staffer.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Education Director
Job Titles:
- Education Director / Georgetown University - Professor of Law & Sociology
Marc Zavarro is a Programs Director with Leadership Initiatives, where he currently serves as the Director of multiple programs including the National Security and Cybersecurity Internships. Throughout the last six years with Leadership Initiatives, Marc has worked with two universities in Northern Nigeria on counterterrorism efforts, while also partnering with dozens of small businesses and nonprofits in the DC area to promote cybersecurity awareness and training.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder
- the Leadership Initiatives Team
Job Titles:
- Student Development Coordinator
Morgan is looking forward to this summer because she is eager to work with students to help them create space in their lives for neuroethics, and to create space in neuroethics for them! Morgan loves how this internship ushers high school students to the frontier of neuroscience research, and can't wait to see what research proposals they design to explore their curiosities.
Morgan graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Creative Writing as she pursued the Pre-Health track. While at Duke, Morgan served in leadership positions for TEDxDuke and Duke National Alliance on Mental Illness, and she was a contributing writer for the Duke Medical Ethics Journal. She volunteered at the Duke Emergency Department to help members of the Durham community gain access to health resources identified by social determinants of health screening, and was a research assistant in two labs where she completed a thesis and research she hopes to publish. In the upcoming year, Morgan is headed to Columbia University to pursue a Master's Degree in Narrative Medicine while she applies to medical school.
Morgan Biele began working with Leadership Initiatives in 2016 during her sophomore year in high school. After participating in two internship programs and an IIP Team, she became the Advanced Director of the Youth Development Medical Programs. Morgan served as an International Public Health Internship Coordinator during the academic year, and helped lead the Advanced Medical Public Health Internships and the Advanced Medical Neuroscience Internships during the summers before becoming the Director of the Advanced Medical Neuroscience Internship. Morgan has also been a Virtual Scholar in Residence at Georgetown University conducting research mentored by Dr. James Giordano.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Project Coordinator
Mubarak Ladan Babaji has received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Bauchi State University. Since 2019 Mubarak has worked as a health facilitator distributing vaccines and volunteering at local hospitals. Mubarak has also worked as a research assistant and completed groundbreaking research on premarital relationships within the undergraduate community at Bauchi State University.
An alumna of Clemson University, Nancy is a registered nurse with extensive experience in career and technical education. Her work includes program management, curriculum standards, and assessment development and implementation, professional development models, and partnership building. Her commitment to teachers and students allows NCHSE to serve as the collaborative to support the preparation of future health professionals and community leaders; ultimately impacting the healthcare workforce needs.
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator
- Accounts & Registrations Manager
Nicholas is very excited to be a Leadership Initiatives intern. He is interested in working in the non-profit field in developing nations in the future and has a love for helping others.
Nicholas enjoys playing video games and discussing philosophy and politics. He is the president and co-founder of his school's Philosophical Debate Club. He is also a member of the Interact Club and he has been working in the International Internship program since his sophomore year of high school.
Nicholas Abele is enrolled in the Early College at Guilford. Nicholas is a Dean's-List student at Guilford College, enrolled in college classes as part of the Early College program.
Job Titles:
- Ohio HOSA State Advisor
- Senior Operations and Analytics Leader
Nicolas Benore is a Senior Operations and Analytics Leader with a 20-year career with experience across various facets of Consumer Lending. Currently serving as the Head of Strategy, Planning, and Operational Support at Wells Fargo, Mr. Benore oversees teams responsible for outbound strategy improvements, telephony, workforce management, capacity planning, and NextGen workflow.
Mr. Benore has been on the LI Board for over 10 years and has been passionate about helping young minds pursue their passion. He brings to Leadership Initiatives his passion for community service and development.
Job Titles:
- Leadership Institute - Vice President
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Project Coordinator
Rabiu is excited to work with Leadership Initiatives staff and students to continue to grow opportunities around his local community. Rabiu believes that he can play a vital role in building healthy communities in northern Nigeria by providing critical public health prevention methods and services that contribute to economic stability and mobility.
In the past, Rabiu served as the Executive Director for Miyeti Almajiri Initiative for three years. He also worked as a Program Manager for the Community Initiative, a nonprofit based in Bauchi working to promote health and education throughout the state.
Rabiu is passionate about improving health systems in Nigeria by strengthening infrastructure, family planning, reproductive health, maternal health, and improving access to newborn and child healthcare.
Rabiu Garba obtained his Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Ahmadu Bello University and his post-graduate diploma in Education from Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic. Rabiu has managed NGO and government projects in health, education, and governance in northeast Nigeria for over 10 years.
Job Titles:
- Cybersecurity Program Co - Director
- Managing Attorney for the Law Office of Rebecca Bloch
Rebecca Bloch is the managing attorney for the Law Office of Rebecca Bloch.
Job Titles:
- Medical School - Director
Sarah Agar holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Gettysburg College and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and is licensed as a Graduate Social Worker.
Job Titles:
- Member of the CIA Senior Analytic Service Counterterrorism Expert
Sarah Stiles joined the Georgetown University sociology faculty in 2007. Prior to that she taught at American University for eight years where she was Director of the Leadership Program in the School of Public Affairs. She met Marshall Bailly at American and has been proud to work with him ever since.
Job Titles:
- Medical Programs - Assistant Director
Tamar Davou Dinju is a graduate of Business Education, majoring in Management at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (A.T.B.U) Bauchi Nigeria. Her passion for humanitarian development stemmed from her experience at Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP), an NGO in Abuja where Tamar served as a finance/administrative assistant in the year 2011-2013.
Trisha Sakamuri is elated to be taking part in the Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship this summer. She is enraptured with the possibility and opportunity that will come to fruition through this internship and is excited to meet new people, learn from current health professionals, and have hands-on experience using technology that is changing healthcare as we know it!
As a rising senior at Middleton High School, Trisha has an indomitable presence on her school campus and within her community as well. She is enrolled in several Advanced Placement and Honors classes and is currently completing her Associate's Degree through the dual enrollment program in partnership with Hillsborough Community College. She has spent roughly 500 hours doing community service and is heavily involved in her high school's Air Force Junior ROTC program. Additionally, she participates in her school's Future Business Leaders of America chapter, is currently serving as the HOSA-Future Health Professionals Northern State Vice President, and is the Senior Class Student Government President. Lastly, she also has proudly been on the varsity swim team for the past 3 years.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operations Officer
- Certified Computer Hardware Engineer
Umar Muhammad is a Cisco-certified Computer Hardware Engineer who serves as Program Director of Business Creation and Expansion for Leadership Initiatives' (LI) Nigerian operations. Umar's resume credits include employment with Maida Business Center (2002) and African Petroleum Business Center (2004).
Job Titles:
- Click Here to Go Back to Board Selection
- First Officer, American Airlines & Vice Wing Commander ( Colonel ) USAF Reserve