JD is the former Chief Executive Officer of NAF and a former member of the NAF Board of Directors. With a deep commitment to preparing students for college and meaningful careers, JD has worked at both the grassroots and the highest levels of government for decades, to reform how young people are engaged in learning and how they are positioned to pursue their academic interests and career goals.
Prior to her appointment at NAF, JD served as President of Keep the Change, Inc., a nationally recognized consulting business focused on helping communities reform education and develop a skilled workforce. During her years in the public sector, she developed and implemented policy at the highest level of federal government. In 1994, she was selected by US Secretary of Education Richard Riley and US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich to head the new Office of School-to-Work in Washington, D.C. She served in that role for four years, overseeing a $1.1 billion budget and spurring nationwide progress in education reform and workforce development.
JD Hoye
JD is the former Chief Executive Officer of NAF and a former member of the NAF Board of Directors. With a deep commitment to preparing students for college and meaningful careers, JD has worked at both the grassroots and the highest levels of government for decades, to reform how young people are engaged in learning […]
Elizabeth Mendez
Elizabeth Mendez is an Office Manager at ConnectED. She has decades of experience in business administration and operations. Before joining ConnectED, she worked most recently with The Nielsen Company and Networks by Design. Work for Elizabeth is deeply rooted in connections to community and team; people are at the heart of her achievements. When not at work, Elizabeth […]
Maggie Williams
Margaret “Maggie” Williams serves as the Chief Financial Officer at ConnectED. Before ConnectED, Maggie served as the Chief Financial Officer for the non-profit organization, Second Chance, where she managed a $6M program that helps to improve the lives of individuals formerly incarcerated in the Criminal Justice System. Prior to Second Chance, Maggie served as the […]
Deanna Penales
Deanna Penales is an Accountant at ConnectED, working with the Finance Team. Deanna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accountancy from California State University of Sacramento. Three years ago, Deanna decided to move from her hometown of Sacramento to San Francisco to pursue a career in and expand her knowledge of Accounting/Finance. She has […]
Jason Quiara
Jason Quiara is Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer at ConnectED. Before coming to ConnectED, Jason was a Senior Program Officer for the Education and Economic Mobility Program at the Joyce Foundation. At Joyce, led the Foundation’s national college- and career-readiness grant-making portfolio. He also managed the Great Lakes College and Career Pathways Partnership – a […]
Michelle Berrios
Michelle Berrios began her career in the hospitality industry, working with major hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area. After a few years as Director of Catering, she decided to transfer her skills to Event and Meeting Planning. She currently has over 15 years of experience as an Event and Meeting Planner, working with major […]
Kiera Brodsky-Chase
Kiera is committed to challenging the status quo. She comes to ConnectED from a 15-year career working in special education and instructional coaching. Kiera’s vision is to ensure access to high quality instruction for all learners. Kiera has worked as a teacher in residential programs, K-12 special education programs, focusing on 9-12 full inclusion. She […]
Ben Crosby
Ben believes in designing systems to make college, career, and life work for all students. He began his career in public education as a high school teacher in Northern California. In the classroom, Ben saw the impact high-quality college-and-career pathways had on at-risk youth. This experience solidified his belief in preparing students for college and […]
Rob Atterbury
Rob Atterbury is a Director for District and Regional support for ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career, where he has been on staff since 2009. Rob began his career in the automotive industry, and later became a career technical education teacher, curriculum coordinator, director, and Associate Superintendent for high school transformation. Rob has […]
Joseph Hendry
Joseph Hendry is IT Administrator for ConnectED. He has previous experience teaching English in the Czech Republic, as well as working at a tech startup and managing a café in San Francisco. Joseph graduated from New College of Florida in Sarasota, with a BA in Anthropology.