Leadership & Board

Leadership

Randy Barth

Founder and CEO, Think Together

Tia Dwyer

Chief Operating Officer

Maria Reichel

Chief of Growth Strategy

Amy Hemseri-Sabala

Chief Financial Officer

Dave Cummings

Chief Digital Officer

Matthew Scharpnick

Chief of Innovation, Impact Portfolio

John Turner

Chief Revenue Officer

Tommy E. Brewer, II

SVP of Partner Success & Innovation

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle

Founder & President, Orenda Education

Adriana García-Pulver

Chief Administrative Officer, California Schools Talent Collaborative

Dr. Paul Gothold

President, Leadership for Success

Melissa Crawford

Chief of Staff

Joshua Felix

Chief Human Resources Officer

Holly Perry

VP Talent Acquisition & Organizational Development

Natalia Flores, M.Ed.

SVP Regional Operations & Program

Stacy Galdamez

VP Program Quality & Compliance

Jacqueline Licardie

Area Vice President

Rhonda Scott, M. Ed.

Area Vice President

Cobán López

Area Vice President

Founder and CEO, Think Together

Randy Barth

Randy Barth founded Think Together in 1997 after a gang shooting in Costa Mesa, CA to help meet the needs of a specific neighborhood. He invested personal funds and bootstrapped the organization as volunteer Board Chair while tending to his day job as a stockbroker and later as a corporate CEO. After a successful 20-year business career, Randy began to apply his entrepreneurial skills to education as CEO of Think Together in 2004.

Since then has scaled the organization to $230 million in revenue and 6,000 employees serving more than 200,000 students in over 1,200 programs across CA. He diversified the organization into a variety of direct service programs for students and supports and solutions for teachers and administrators of public-school systems. In a little more than two decades, Randy built one of the largest education social enterprises in CA, which has tripled in size since the pandemic.

Randy, along with former LA Times reporter, Jennifer Delson, is the co-author of the book, Think Together, How YOU Can Play a Role in Improving Education in America. He has served on various boards and advisory boards and as a Senior Fellow at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. Randy graduated from UCLA in 1981 with a BA in Economics and studied under Peter Drucker at Claremont Graduate University. Randy lives in Santa Ana, CA with his wife Mary and has two adult daughters, Katie and Emily, and five grandchildren.

Chief Operating Officer

Tia Dwyer

Dwyer works closely with CEO Randy Barth and the Executive Team to implement and maintain high quality programs. She oversees all regional and program leaders and helps design and guide strategic planning. She joined Think Together in 2009 as Director of Learning Programs where she built a nationally recognized summer learning program before being promoted to Orange County’s General Manager. Prior to joining Think Together, she oversaw expanded learning programs in the Lawndale School District. Dwyer is a credential teacher and holds a Bachelors in Music from UC Irvine and a Masters in Education from National University.

Chief of Growth Strategy

Maria Reichel

Maria Reichel is the Chief of Growth Strategy working closely with the CEO, executive team, and board of directors to lead long-range planning and strategic initiatives that further Think Together’s vision of closing the achievement gap in California. Maria also provides strategic leadership to the marketing, communications, and fund development departments. She joined Think Together in 2010 after getting to know the organization as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Prior to joining the social sector, Maria worked as a management consultant with Mercer in Los Angeles and London, and as a Financial Analyst with Goldman Sachs in New York. She earned a bachelor’s in industrial engineering from Columbia University and a bachelor’s in international political economy from Colorado College.

Chief Financial Officer

Amy Hemseri-Sabala

In her role as Chief Financial Officer, Amy Hemseri-Sabala brings additional strategic and financial leadership to the organization, as Think Together increases capacity to support more students and programs. She will lead the accounting and controlling functions and support the launch of a staffing collaborative that will provide school districts with resources to meet their staffing needs statewide.

Amy earned an MBA in Finance from UCLA Anderson School of Management, a Master of Divinity in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a BA in Economics/ Business from UCLA. She first met Think Together in 1994 as a volunteer at the organization’s first site, Shalimar Learning Center.

Chief Digital Officer

Dave Cummings

In his role as Chief Digital Officer, Dave will guide the organization in deploying technology that helps Think Together scale more efficiently and will also bring an experienced innovator’s lens as the organization continues to evaluate how emerging digital technologies can best serve Think Together’s mission. Before joining Think Together, Dave has been in a variety of C-suite roles for companies, most recently as the Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer for Finning International. At Finning he led the digital, revenue management, operations excellence, digital marketing, IT and cyber teams.

Dave has a bachelor’s in management studies from the University of Sunderland and a masters of business administration from Robert Gordon University.

Chief of Innovation, Impact Portfolio

Matthew Scharpnick

In this role as Chief of Innovation, Impact Portfolio, Matt leads the development of business models for Orenda, Leading for Student Success (LSS), and a new suite of digital products to drive innovation and expand student success across California.

Matt supports Think Together’s growth by fostering a culture of innovation and operational efficiency, leveraging AI and digital solutions, and fostering a culture of experimentation to scale transformative education initiatives.

Matt was a Director at BCG X, the digital and AI innovation arm of the Boston Consulting Group. There, he led teams building digital products, launching ventures, and driving digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies in financial services, consumer goods, and healthcare. He also contributed to BCG’s thought leadership efforts, helping define new interaction models and AI business applications. Prior to that role, Matt co-founded Elefint, a design studio for mission-driven organizations, helping nonprofits and foundations bring ideas to life through strategy and storytelling.

Matt earned his MBA from UC Irvine and a BA from UC Santa Cruz.

Chief Revenue Officer

John Turner

John Turner serves as Think Together’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), overseeing sales, partnerships, and strategic business development. With his leadership, Think Together aims to optimize revenue streams, strengthen district relationships, and explore new opportunities to serve even more students across the state of California.

Before joining Think Together, Turner served in senior roles at Alphabet, Google Cloud, and TriNet, where he was known for his ability to unify teams and implement strategic playbooks that drive success. He has participated in several business “exits” including a successful IPO with TriNet, and one of the largest enterprise software mergers in history. Turner also serves as an investor and advisor to several early-stage global technology companies.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in International Relations from Santa Clara University, earned an MBA from San Jose State University and completed a certificate from the Stanford Business School.

SVP of Partner Success & Innovation

Tommy E. Brewer, II

Tommy Brewer is the SVP of Partner Success & Innovation, leading the organization’s efforts to expand Think Together’s impact across California. He oversees both our Program Development and Strategic Partnerships Teams, ensuring innovative, high-quality programs that can be leveraged to meet the needs of new & existing partners. Tommy has been with Think Together since 2014 and has served as General Manager for both the San Gabriel Valley region and Southeast Los Angeles region, deepening our relationships by expanding Think Together’s Student Support Services throughout the county. Prior to Think Together, Tommy was a Teach For America corps member & elementary school teacher in Atlanta, GA. After moving to Los Angeles, he spent 10 years as the Director of Staff Development for LA’s BEST. Tommy currently serves as the Board of Directors Chair for the National Afterschool Association (NAA). He is originally from Washington D.C. and is a graduate from Morehouse College.

Founder & President, Orenda Education

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle is founder and president of Orenda Education, a professional education and technical assistance organization. For more than 20 years, Dr. Avelar La Salle and the Orenda team have been thought partners for districts and schools aspiring to transform their systems and practices to raise student achievement. An equity warrior and an advocate for justice within the educational system, Dr. Avelar La Salle’s mission is to change the odds for the twenty million kids in US schools for whom the current systems of instruction and improvement are not working — predominantly Latino, African American, and students from under-resourced families. She received her Ph.D. in Education from Stanford University, and during her career has held the roles of teacher, principal, district administrator, researcher, and university professor. She is the author of many articles on education equity and several books, including her newest work Shattering Inequities: Real World Wisdom for School and District Leaders, written in partnership with Dr. Ruth S. Johnson.

Chief Administrative Officer, California Schools Talent Collaborative

Adriana García-Pulver

Adriana García-Pulver is the Chief Administrative Officer for the California Schools Talent Collaborative. With over 20 years of experience in education and non-profits, Adriana has served as the Chief Executive Officer for REACH, a non-profit organization supporting individuals with diverse abilities, and as Executive General Manager for Think Together, a non-profit partnering with school districts to enhance educational support services.

Adriana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations from the University of California, Riverside, a multiple-subject teaching credential, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration from Chapman University. She is also a founding board member of MOSAIC, a non-profit dedicated to developing student and community leaders to create systemic change in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

President, Leadership for Success

Dr. Paul Gothold

Dr. Paul Gothold serves as President of Leadership for Success, where he provides support for superintendents by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for success. Gothold has more than 30 years of experience as an educator, previously serving as San Diego County superintendent, where he oversaw over 42 school districts. In this role, he served the state’s most vulnerable students, providing them with more opportunities and improving social mobility.

Gothold earned a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Whittier College, where they have also served as an adjunct professor.

Chief of Staff

Melissa Crawford

Melissa is passionate about helping organizations implement plans to achieve their strategic goals. She brings a strong focus on communication, operational excellence, and cross-departmental collaboration. Melissa spent 16 years at Stamps.com where she built marketing, account management, and sales teams, and launched new business initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and her Masters of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

Chief Human Resources Officer

Joshua Felix

Joshua joined Think Together in 2006 and has served in a variety of field positions, regional office and Home Office leadership roles. He began his tenure with Think Together as a Site Coordinator in the former Foothill region at Lincoln Elementary School in the Ontario-Montclair School District. He moved into Human Capital as Recruiting Operations Manager in the Foothill region Office and was later named Director of Staffing at the Home Office. In 2013, Joshua relocated to the Bay Area to oversee the successful merger with Bay Area After School All Stars and led a dynamic team of over 150 staff. In addition to maintaining his focus on delivering high-quality programs, Joshua has developed an exceptional knowledge of the Bay Area and has a track record in cultivating relationships with leaders across the state. Most recently, Joshua served as Head of People for a nonprofit focused on supportive housing services across multiple counties in California. Joshua looks forward to reacquainting himself with former colleagues and meeting the new team members.

VP Talent Acquisition & Organizational Development

Holly Perry

Holly Perry has been in the talent acquisition field for 9+ years, specializing in high-volume recruitment in the healthcare and educational fields. Since joining the expanded learning space, Holly has built out a diverse and robust talent department for an organization with more than 5,500+ employees supporting positions throughout the state of California. Over the last year, her team has increased monthly hires by nearly 200% per month, averaging nearly 600 new expanded learning employees monthly.

SVP Regional Operations & Program

Natalia Flores, M.Ed.

Natalia oversees the program administration and operations for Think Together’s seven regions who provide high-quality expanded learning services to over 400 districts throughout California. She works with the organization’s General Managers to ensure Think Together succeeds in reaching the organization goals in Business Development/Retention, Program Quality, Operations, Strategic Leadership and Culture. Natalia has 20 years of experience in expanded learning programs and non-profit organizations. She previously served as Director for both the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles and Para Los Niños before joining Think Together in 2010. Natalia joined Think Together as the Director of Learning Programs where she led the organization’s summer learning program and served 12,000 students a day. As General Manager she created and led the Student Support Services department for the organization which reached and surpassed its goal by threefold in one year. Natalia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Chicano(a) Studies from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Social and Multicultural Foundations of Education from CSU Long Beach.

VP Program Quality & Compliance

Stacy Galdamez

Stacy currently serves as VP Program Quality & Compliance and previously oversaw the programs and operations for the San Gabriel Valley region. She joined Think Together in 2011 as a Site Coordinator, and was promoted to Quality Assurance Coach, Director of Programs and Operations, and General Manager of the Bay Area region before taking on her current role. Stacy has over 14 years of afterschool work experience and was an afterschool student herself. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from CSU Fullerton.

Area Vice President

Jacqueline Licardie

Growing up, Jacqueline was very involved in extracurricular activities and understands firsthand the importance of afterschool programs to youth. Jacqueline was so deeply impacted by the sense of belonging she felt during her time in after school, that she chose to pursue a career in expanded learning. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Northridge, Jacqueline began her career working with youth as a Girl Scouts of America Troop Leader. She later became a Girl Scout Membership Executive, helping bridge the gap between Girl Scout customs and Latino families.

Jacqueline continued to empower youth and expanded learning staff while working at LA’s BEST as a Traveling Supervisor and Program Coach where she mentored and trained staff in elementary after school programs. After her time at LA’s BEST, Jackie joined After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles in 2009 where she held several positions from Program Director, Director of Program and Professional Development, and most recently serving as the Interim Chief Executive Officer. Jacqueline’s passion to give back has grown into over 20 years of changing the odds for youth across California.

Area Vice President

Rhonda Scott, M. Ed.

Rhonda Scott has worked in the region since 2010. She began her journey as a program leader and has since held the roles of site leader, program coordinator, quality assurance coach/trainer, and most recently director of program and operations. Rhonda received her bachelor’s degree from Ashford University and her master’s in education from Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, making great meals, and playing board games.

Area Vice President

Cobán López

Cobán López, Area Vice President, oversees all Bay Area sites and staff.

Cobán began his career as a youth program coordinator with the YMCA of Silicon Valley and has since dedicated more than 20 years to education, youth development and leadership across the South Bay and Peninsula in the Northern California Bay Area. His work has spanned across various independent schools and nonprofits, with a focus on bridging gaps through information, access and social capital for students, families and community members.

Most recently, Cobán served as the inaugural director of programs for the 49ers Foundation, where he led the impactful S.T.E.A.M. Education and Health and Wellness programs, reaching more than 20,000 students annually.

Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and raised in the Bay Area since the age of five, Cobán earned a bachelor’s degree in public service and social change from San Jose State University and has a master’s degree from Notre Dame de Namur University.

Board of Directors

Randy Barth

Founder & CEO
Think Together

Eric Boden

Philanthropist

Victor Chiang

Start-up Advisor/Investor
Silicon Valley

Mary Lynn Coffee

Attorney at Law
Nossaman, LLP

Lillian Maldonado French

Ed. D. Retired Superintendent

Daniel Friedman

Managing Director & Senior Partner
Boston Consulting Group

Tracy Hernandez

Founding CEO
Los Angeles Business Federation

Dale Scott Hurd

Philanthropist

Fran Inman

Senior VP
Majestic Realty Co.

John Lee

Chief Operating Officer
BioMed Realty

Paolo Leon

Partner
AO Architects

Julie Miller-Phipps

Co-Owner and Principal Consultant
Collaborative Innovation Partners

Sangeeth Peruri

Philanthropist

Vinay Prabhu

Global Co-Head of Consumer & Retail
Jefferies Investment Banking

Steven Robertson

CFO
HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc.

Summer Taylor

Managing Director
Deloitte

Marlene Washington

Head of Sales, North America
Thermo Fisher Scientific

Anu Worah

Owner and Director
Rebalance Physical Therapy

Dan Young, Board Chair

President
Camino Enterprises

Leadership

Randy Barth

Tia Dwyer

Maria Reichel

Amy Hemseri-Sabala

Dave Cummings

Matthew Scharpnick

John Turner

Tommy E. Brewer, II

Dr. Robin Avelar La Salle

Adriana García-Pulver

Dr. Paul Gothold

Melissa Crawford

Joshua Felix

Holly Perry

Natalia Flores, M.Ed.

Stacy Galdamez

Jacqueline Licardie

Rhonda Scott, M. Ed.

Cobán López

Board of Directors

Randy Barth

Eric Boden

Victor Chiang

Mary Lynn Coffee

Lillian Maldonado French

Daniel Friedman

Tracy Hernandez

Dale Scott Hurd

Fran Inman

John Lee

Paolo Leon

Julie Miller-Phipps

Sangeeth Peruri

Vinay Prabhu

Steven Robertson

Summer Taylor

Marlene Washington

Anu Worah

Dan Young, Board Chair

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