Leadership Team

Michael is a nationally respected social impact leader with decades of experience transforming systems, scaling opportunity, and uniting cross-sector partners to support youth, families, and communities.

As President and CEO of Eckerd Connects, Michael leads one of the country’s largest non-profits dedicated to workforce development, family support, and youth services. With over 2,000 employees and operations across 20 states and Washington, D.C., Eckerd Connects helps over 23,500 people each year gain the resources, skills, and support needed to thrive.

Michael has led organizational transformations across every level—from grassroots non-profits to a $1.3 billion federal agency. His commitment to service is deeply personal. Raised by teen parents in a caring, under-resourced community in Western Massachusetts, he found mentorship and possibility at his local Boys & Girls Club. At 16, he became a congressional intern, where he first saw how policy could be a lever for change. He later returned to work at the same Boys & Girls Club that shaped him, launching a career devoted to opening doors for underserved children and families.

Before joining Eckerd in June 2025, Michael served as CEO of AmeriCorps, overseeing $4 billion in assets and more than 200,000 service members annually in over 40,000 locations. He led the agency through a period of modernization and growth—expanding opportunity, strengthening member benefits, and launching new initiatives focused on youth mental health, conservation, and public health.

From 2017 to 2021,  he served in the White House and at the Obama Foundation, leading the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, supporting over 250 communities working to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color, and underserved youth. Earlier, as Director of the Social Innovation Fund, he managed a $700 million public-private portfolio to scale evidence-based solutions nationwide. At the Case Foundation, he drove philanthropic efforts to advance civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility—partnering with both the Bush and Obama administrations on initiatives including the bipartisan JOBS Act.

After leaving the federal government, Michael founded a pro-social consulting firm working with organizations like Blue Meridian, Harlem Children’s Zone, Kapor Center and the state of Maryland on initiatives to reduce barriers and expand opportunity for underserved communities. Michael has served on the boards of Results for America, Venture Philanthropy Partners, Public Allies, Idealist.org, and Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement. His work has gained media attention on national media outlets such as CNN, The Hill, C-SPAN, and The Grio.

He is a graduate of Marymount University, holds honorary doctorates from the University of New Hampshire and American International College, and has been recognized as a TIME Climate 100 and Forbes BLK 50 honoree. Michael is also a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity and a Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame inductee—the organization’s highest honor.

Michael leads Eckerd Connects with a clear mission: to unlock potential, expand opportunity, and transform systems so that every child, every family, and every community can thrive.

Tiffanie serves as the Vice President of Human Resources at Eckerd Connects. She is an experienced HR Executive Leader with 18 years of experience in leading HR initiatives. Tiffanie brings a wealth of experience to Eckerd Connects including talent management, employee engagement and experience, employee relations, learning and development, performance management, compensation and benefits, as well as compliance and risk management. Throughout her career, she has worked with mid- to large-scale organizations in the healthcare and marketing industries. Tiffanie is known for aligning people strategy with organizational goals to positively impact workplace culture and drive business results. She has shown exceptional leadership in promoting a people-first culture, utilizing data-driven decision-making and HR metrics reporting, and engaging with talent through mentorship and alliance.

Tiffanie is well studied in her field, holding a Master of Science in Employment Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business and HR Management from Nova Southeastern University. She has received several accolades during her career, including an Excellence in HR Award from the South Florida Business & Wealth Association.

Outside of work, Tiffanie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring nature, freelance home interior and fashion designing, and reading.

Kevin serves as the Vice President of Performance and Quality at Eckerd Connects.  He has over 25 years of experience working in the human services industry across state government, for profit companies, and non-profit organizations.  Kevin’s professional experience spans multiple business segments including prevention, probation, residential services, child placement, foster care, and workforce development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Business Administration.  Kevin joined the Eckerd Connects’ team in 2015 with the acquisition of Paxen, LLC.

In his eight years with Eckerd Connects, Kevin has continuously evolved and improved the organization’s quality, contracts, and training efforts to become an integral part of daily operations.  As the Vice President of Performance and Quality, Kevin ensures the organization performs in a manner that promotes organizational strength across all functional areas: Quality, Finance, Staff, External Relations, and Growth & Transformation.

Laura joined Eckerd Connects in January 2006. Laura serves as the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, the Eckerd Board of Directors, and is the Corporate Secretary for the organization. Laura was previously Executive Assistant to the CEO of a local healthcare system, where she worked closely with the Board of Directors and coordinated and participated in all Executive Committee meetings, annual board retreats, Compliance Committee meetings, Quality Improvement meetings, and strategic planning meetings. She also acted as liaison between executive staff and anti-trust counsel in the merger of Morton Plant and Mease hospitals. Before that, she served as Senior Executive Assistant and Assistant Secretary for AEGON, a nationally known insurance and securities organization, for 17 years, where she assisted in coordinating the company’s annual conventions for more than 600 representatives from across the United States.

Jenny is a seasoned strategic advisor and executive leader who brings more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of strategy, operations, and executive advising. As Chief of Staff (CoS) at Eckerd Connects, she partners with the President & CEO and senior leaders to align priorities, strengthen board and stakeholder engagement, and drive enterprise-wide execution across the 20+ states we serve.

Jenny has supported CEOs, C-Suite teams, and global organizations through periods of growth and transformation. Her background includes senior leadership roles such as Chief of Staff at AmeriCorps and Chief of Staff at Women for Women International, and service as Special Assistant and White House Liaison to the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Earlier in her career, she taught kindergarten and later helped scale a startup in medical education—experiences that shaped her hands-on approach to building trust, navigating complexity, and delivering results. She has advised on large federal initiatives and long-range strategic plans for mission-driven partners, consistently blending big picture vision with operational precision.

Jenny’s expertise spans organizational strategy, stakeholder engagement, crisis response, risk management, communications strategy, and board relations. She holds an M.Ed. from Lesley University and a B.S. from Texas Tech University. Based in Tampa, Florida, she is recognized for bringing clarity, connection, and a steady hand to high stakes, fast-moving environments .

Martin joined Eckerd Connects in 2008 and currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel. In this capacity, Martin provides strategic leadership across multiple critical functions, including legal, finance, human resources, and information technology. He directs the organization’s legal strategy, ensuring compliance and managing enterprise risk, while also overseeing financial operations to support fiscal integrity and sustainability. Martin leads HR initiatives that align people strategies with organizational goals and champions technology solutions that enhance efficiency and security. His responsibilities span contract negotiation and formation, governance and regulatory guidance, and advising the executive team on complex business and operational matters.

Drawing on a multidisciplinary foundation, Martin has built his career at Eckerd Connects through various leadership roles. Over the years, he has managed operations, facilities, procurement, contract administration, external relations, and government relations. This breadth of experience provides him with a comprehensive understanding of organizational dynamics and the wide range of programs and services that advance Eckerd Connects’ mission. His ability to integrate insights from these varied disciplines strengthens his approach to strategic decision-making and enterprise leadership.

A lifelong learner, Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Juris Doctor degree. While in law school, he completed a prestigious internship with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. He also holds two graduate degrees: a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, where he was a Bloomberg Public Health Fellow, and an LL.M. in Business Law with a concentration in Employment Law and Human Resources Risk Management from Florida State University College of Law.

Outside of his work at Eckerd Connects, Martin serves as an adjunct professor, teaching courses in law and business.

Ryan leads national business development efforts across Eckerd Connects’ Workforce Development, Child & Family Services, and Job Corps divisions. He has nearly 25 years of experience working in the non-profit, human services industry spanning both operational and executive leadership. Ryan graduated from the University of Florida and began his career operating community-based juvenile justice programs for a small non-profit based in Tampa, Florida. He transitioned to Eckerd Connects in 2013 to help lead implementation for the former Project Bridge program, a juvenile justice transitions program providing services across 12 Central Florida counties. In 2015, Ryan was tasked with leading national procurement and program development activities for Eckerd Connects, working with dedicated teams of operational, administrative, and executive staff. His strengths include identifying systemic problems, streamlining processes, and organizing stakeholders to maximize outcomes for children, young adults, adults, and families.

Throughout his career, Ryan has demonstrated the ability to drive growth, create innovative solutions, and develop lasting relationships with industry leaders. In his current role, Ryan collaborates with diverse internal and external teams to design and implement innovative programmatic solutions that improve systems of care while also overseeing fundraising and strategic partnership efforts for Eckerd Connects.

Amy serves as the Chief Development Officer at Eckerd connects where she leads the organization’s philanthropic team focused on government, corporate, foundation and individual engagement.

She is a lifelong nonprofit fundraiser with experience raising more than $300M by creating high-impact partnerships at local, national and international nonprofits. Her dedication to nonprofit work began as the daughter of a teacher and police officer in New Hampshire with a commitment to strengthening the communities she lives in.

Prior to joining Eckerd Connects, Amy was the first Chief Development Officer at Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit working at the intersection of education and workforce development where she built the first Development team, and in her first year as CDO exceeded the annual goal of $125M, a 30% increase over the previous year.

Before joining JFF, she was the Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations for the Obama Foundation where she created the institutional giving program with a focus on building out the team and strategy to implement the Corporate & Foundation pillar of the capital campaign, raising more than $150M. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was the Vice President of Development at the national housing and community development nonprofit Rebuilding Together where she led the creation of an individual giving strategy, launched a national cause marketing campaign; [Re]Build, and national fundraising training for more than 130 local affiliates around the country. Before that she worked in event and corporate fundraising at international nonprofit Africare, and local nonprofit Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries (Goodwill) in Boston. Amy is based in Boston, MA and has a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Union College in Schenectady, NY.

Nicole serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Eckerd Connects. Her career spans over 35 years of combined experience working in both the non-profit and public accounting environments. For the past 20 years, Nicole has been responsible for all of the company’s financial functions, including accounting, audit, treasury, and corporate finance. She also oversees and manages all payroll, compensation and benefit activities. She leads the organization’s budget development for a spectrum of diverse programs with revenues in excess of $215M.

Nicole has also been primarily responsible for the external financial and compliance audits consistently achieving unqualified opinions. She is highly collaborative across all functions to support the organization’s vision of transformative impact on the clients we serve through continual innovation in streamlining systems and processes. She has worked with leadership to implement cost saving strategies that reduced administrative expenses by over 10%. Nicole has a full command of all financial disciplines combined with absolute integrity, a strong work ethic and a collaborative nature.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to her career at Eckerd Connects, Nicole worked for 10 years in public accounting specializing in audits of non-profit organizations.

Ursula is a seasoned tri-sector executive with a longstanding commitment to advancing economic mobility and improving academic and life outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities. As Chief Strategy Officer at Eckerd Connects, she leads the organization’s strategy refinement process and long-term planning efforts.

Ursula is widely recognized as a systems thinker and strategist with deep expertise in designing and scaling initiatives that drive measurable, community-centered impact. Prior to joining Eckerd Connects, she served as a Senior Vice President at WestEd and a member of the executive leadership team, overseeing a division of over 300 people dedicated to bridging policy, research, and educator practice across the K–12 landscape.

Before her tenure at WestEd, Ursula co-led the Education and Youth practice at FSG, where she facilitated large-scale systems change and collective impact efforts across the country. She also served in the Obama Administration as the appointed Deputy in the Office of Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education. In that role, she directed policy efforts for major place-based and school improvement initiatives, including Promise Neighborhoods, Promise Zones, the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program, and the Race to the Top – District program. She also oversaw the federal Charter Schools Program and contributed to key interagency and White House initiatives.

Ursula began her social sector career at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS), where she played a central leadership role in transforming the organization from an early-stage start-up into a nationally respected advocacy voice. Earlier in her career, she built foundational skills in strategy, finance, operations, and marketing in the corporate sector.

Her commitment to strengthening communities extends to her board service, including roles with the Center for the Study of Social Policy, the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, Achievement Preparatory Academy, and the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Ursula holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She has also completed executive education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Chris started with ODLE on December 22, 2016  as a Corporate Finance and Administration Director. Since his hire date, Chris has been promoted to progressively-responsible positions, and this promotion represents his outstanding organization of the Finance and Administration Department, and his commitment, dedication and engagement during the Eckerd Connects-ODLE merger and the pandemic. Prior to ODLE, Chris served as the DOL Job Corps Regional Director for the Atlanta Region. He led a staff of 15 employees engaged in acquisitions and assessments for 27 Job Corps contracts in the seven southeast states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He also served as Special Assistant to Education and Training Administration’s Deputy Comptroller with the Office of Financial Administration (OFA) in Washington D.C. for one year.

Joshua embarked on his journey toward supporting individuals in reaching their full potential while studying at the University of Florida. He furthered his education with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of California, laying the foundation for his career as a behavioral health therapist specializing in positive change and strength-based practices.

Transitioning his expertise, Joshua applied these methodologies to aid leaders and teams within various organizations, broadening the scope of his impact. Presently, he serves as a Board Certified Executive Coach and Director of Staff Development at Eckerd Connects.  His expertise encompasses employee engagement, leadership coaching, and team development initiatives, all geared toward tangible outcomes that bolster business success.

His innovative approach has earned national recognition, including being featured in Training Magazine’s Top 125 for consistently revolutionizing traditional methods. Joshua’s commitment lies in fostering empowered organizations and individuals, encouraging them to leverage their strengths, envision new possibilities, and ultimately unlock their true potential.

Luisa serves as the Director of Strategic Planning and Board Relations at Eckerd Connects, where she has been a valued member of the team since 2020. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she is part of the Senior Leadership Team and plays a central role in coordinating organizational strategic planning as the liaison between Board members, staff teams, funders, and key stakeholders.

In her role, Luisa supports the Executive Leadership Team in planning and executing high‑priority administrative and operational initiatives on behalf of the President and CEO. She leads the development of critical Board-related reporting and collaborates across all organizational spokes to design and manage initiatives that inform, engage, and empower both internal and external audiences, advancing Eckerd Connects’ mission and driving organizational effectiveness.

Beyond her work at Eckerd Connects, Luisa is proud to serve as a Take Stock in Children mentor through the Pinellas County School System. She also volunteers as a trilingual assistant as an extension of her commitment to ensuring that young people of all backgrounds are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Ana serves as Vice President of Children & Family Services for Florida, Louisiana, and Kansas at Eckerd Connects, bringing over 20 years of experience serving children and families. In her leadership role, Ana provides strategic and operational oversight for a broad portfolio of services, including juvenile justice, Early Head Start, prevention, supportive visitation, family housing support, foster care, and wraparound care.

Ana began her career in public service with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where she spent nearly seven years in Gainesville, FL. Since joining Eckerd Connects over a decade ago, she has led a variety of impactful initiatives, including managing two Reentry programs in South Florida and launching the former Project Bridge program in Orlando, providing vital transition services to youth across Central and South Florida.

A native of South Florida, Ana holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida. Her deep knowledge of the juvenile justice system, combined with her recent expansion into early childhood and family services, makes her a vital asset to Eckerd Connects’ mission to empower children and families to thrive. She currently resides in the Orlando area with her husband and son.

Lauren is a dynamic finance leader with nearly two decades of experience turning numbers into strategy. As Vice President of Finance at Eckerd Connects, she drives budgeting, financial planning, and purchasing innovation across multiple divisions—keeping the organization fiscally strong and future-ready.

Lauren’s career journey spans roles from Controller to Senior Finance Director, where she mastered everything from audits and compliance to building high-performing teams. A proud University of Florida alum, she blends technical expertise with a passion for process improvement and leadership development.

When she’s not crunching numbers, Lauren is all about collaboration and continuous growth—whether through Eckerd’s Leadership Academy or community initiatives. Her track record speaks for itself: trusted advisor, strategic thinker, and champion for operational excellence.

Jessica serves as Vice President of Operations for Workforce Development at Eckerd Connects, bringing more than 25 years of expertise in creating and implementing robust, results-oriented workforce development programs. In this role, Jessica supports Eckerd Connects’ workforce development, out-of-school time, summer camp and reentry programs across 10 states, with responsibility for maintaining strong customer relations, ensuring fiscal responsibility, overseeing contract performance and compliance, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Her prior experience includes direct service and management roles focused on supporting individuals and families residing in income-based housing and those transitioning from incarceration. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from The Ohio State University.

Gina is the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director at Eckerd Connects, where she turns complex data into actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making. With over 10 years of experience in data analysis and project management, Gina has developed performance metric frameworks and implemented data integrity processes across community-based, residential, and workforce development programs. Gina’s commitment to data-driven decision-making stems from a belief that informed choices can change lives. Gina’s passion for empowering organizations through data began in child welfare and continues to shape her work today. Gina holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Robert Morris University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida.

Gina serves as Regional Director for Job Corps, where her focus is on strengthening campuses, supporting staff, and ultimately improving outcomes for the young people we serve. She brings over 25 years of experience in operations, finance, and compliance, all of which she leverages to help create safe, stable, and high-quality learning environments for students.

Gina became part of Job Corps in 2019 as Corporate Finance and Administration Director. Her strong background in risk mitigation, compliance, and process improvement has made her a reliable problem solver and partner to campus leadership. Prior to her work with Eckerd Connects, she held key roles in internal auditing, operational risk management, and financial management with organizations such as JPMorgan Chase and Treehouse Foods.

What drives Gina’s work is her commitment to using her skills to make a meaningful difference for participants in our programs. She believes deeply in the power of Eckerd Connects to change lives and emphasizes relationship-building, accountability, and community impact in everything she does.

Gina currently resides in the Phoenix area with her husband and two teenage sons.

Thomas serves as a Senior Vice President of Operations for Job Corps. He has over 18 years of Job Corps experience, currently providing direct oversight and management of operations for several Job Corps campuses. Thomas and his staff oversee operations within the areas of Safety and Security; Facilities Management; Health, Wellness & Disability; Food Services; and other key functions.

Thomas began his Job Corps career working at the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Campus . He spent the first six years serving as the campus’s Finance and Administration Director, and in 2008, he was promoted to Campus Director. During his tenure as Campus Director, Thomas strategically led the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Campus from a ranking of 104 in March 2008 to being the No. 1 Campus in the nation in July 2015.

Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and Accounting from Pikeville College, Kentucky.

Jason is a mission-driven leader with over 24 years of experience serving at-risk youth across public and private sectors, with deep expertise in residential group care operations, including secure and staff-secure settings. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations for Residential and Children & Family Services in North Carolina, where he leads a diverse portfolio of programs focused on youth safety, therapeutic care, education, and long-term stability.

Jason’s leadership encompasses strategic oversight of program performance, fiscal management, compliance with contractual obligations, stakeholder engagement, facilities planning, and talent development. He is recognized for building high-performing teams, implementing evidence-based practices, and fostering an organizational culture grounded in equity, accountability, and innovation. His approach prioritizes measurable outcomes, strong community partnerships, and youth-centered advocacy.

Jason holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Shippensburg University and an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Boston University.  His career reflects a sustained commitment to operational excellence and improving life outcomes for vulnerable youth and families.

Ken is the Regional Director for the Turner, Pittsburg, Pinellas, Jacksonville, and Kittell Job Corps campuses. He has previously served as the Campus Director for the Old Dominion and Tulsa Job Corps campuses, where he was responsible for student well-being and provided leadership to the staff of both high-performing campuses.

Ken served for 22 years in the United States Army, where he was deployed around the world before retiring. He earned an Associate of Arts in Counseling and Social Work Studies from Rose State College, a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with minors in substance abuse studies and criminal justice, and a Master of Education in Adult Studies and Gerontology from the University of Central Oklahoma.

With over 35 years of management and leadership experience, Ken prides himself on his ability to relate to students and provide excellent customer service.

Ray’s career spans more than two decades in the technology sector, where he has worked across multiple industries and platforms with diverse experience gained through leadership roles in the U.S. Navy, a large technical training organization, the nuclear power industry, and the non-profit world.  He currently serves as the Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer for Eckerd Connects. Ray is dedicated to leveraging his extensive background to drive innovation and efficiency throughout Eckerd Connects, honoring the company’s storied legacy while propelling it into the future through strategic technological advancements.

Family is Ray’s foundation, shaping his approach to work and life. He enjoys traveling; boating; spending time with family, friends, and his dogs; and fishing with his wife. An avid football fan, Ray also follows a wide range of sports—in particular the Florida Gators and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jonathan serves as the Senior Vice President of Operations for Workforce Development at Eckerd Connects.  Jonathan is an experienced professional with more than 25 years of experience developing and implementing effective, robust, and results-driven workforce development programming. Jonathan oversees all of Eckerd Connects’ workforce programs and is responsible for maintaining strong customer relations, fiscal execution of assigned programs, and overall performance. Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of South Carolina.