Our Team

Alex Knechtl

Manager, Revenue Operations

At one time or another, Alex was swimming 5k with hypothermia, hiking 500 miles through the Rockies, or exhibiting his paintings in Paris. For this next adventure, he brings an analytical mind to build more thoughtful partnerships. Outside the office, you can find him on his bike or sampling the next best thing Trader Joe’s has to offer.

Alexa Rivadeneira

Director, Program Delivery

Alexa has always been called to help others. In grade school, she helped other young people learn the craft of writing. She served the residents of the State of New York in the Senate office of Kirsten Gillibrand. Even now, in addition to her work at Catchafire, she volunteers as the Chief Marketing Officer of a community health service learning organization called Lori's Hands. When Alexa isn't working, you'll find her curled up with a good book, spending time near the water or hanging out with her family and friends.

Andrew Rothman

SVP, Marketing

Andrew is on a mission to mobilize people to support the social good. With roots in political campaigning, advocacy and fundraising, he brings a nimble marketing approach that's grounded in empathy, empirical observation and creativity. At Catchafire, Andrew oversees marketing and programming to bring our capacity-building services to more and more nonprofits and their constituents. Prior to joining Catchafire, he partnered on marketing strategy with organizations ranging from UNICEF and NAACP to Google and the Green Bay Packers. Outside work, Andrew enjoys gardening, cycling and spending time with his two small children.

Angelissa Paulino

Senior Associate, People Operations

Angelissa was born with a strong sense of mission, duty, and a pretty serious dog addiction. She has given her skills and talents to nonprofit start-ups for the last few years, working to empower people, uplift teams, and increase the good in the world. She's thrilled to be a part of Catchafire and the ripple effect it's having today. Born in New Jersey but raised in San Francisco, Angelissa considers herself bi-coastal. When she's not working, you can find her out for a stroll or sharing laughs and a good TV show with friends.

Ayleen Correa

Associate, Customer Success

A recent graduate from Lafayette College, Ayleen (she/her) is an active citizen in her community. She is determined to challenge the current power structure that feeds inequity. She loves learning about how nonprofit organizations dare to imagine a reality different from the status quo and is excited to help strengthen the world of social impact. Ayleen is described by other people as sharply curious and creative. Her day is easily brightened with a good bachata or a playful dog, and she loves exploring her Afro-latinx heritage. When she is not at Catchafire, you can find her going on photography excursions, volunteering as a dog walker at Best Friends Animal Society, or engaged in discussions about the intersection of memory and trauma.

Barbara Byrd

Special Assistant to the CEO

Barbara grew up with a deep commitment to helping others and has carried that into her adult life. She comes from a background in nonprofits and wants to continue to help them grow. Being a part of Catchafire helps bridge the gap. She believes in the power of direct action and radical kindness. You can catch Barbara laughing with friends, playing video games, singing, cooking something hearty or creating a new piece of art.

Betsy Enriquez

VP, Foundation Partnerships

With a passion for building community wherever she goes, Betsy strives to make others feel at home and to make a positive impact on the world. To that end, she spent the first 14 years of her career as a fundraiser in the non-profit sector, working with Foundations and Corporations to help organizations scale their programs and expand their impact. She’s excited to now help organizations meet their needs through Catchafire! As evidenced by her love for Halloween costumes, Betsy approaches life with energy and excitement, and invites others to join her. Outside of work, Betsy enjoys riding her bike with her kids perched (safely!) on the handlebars, watching documentaries, and doing HIIT workouts in her living room.

Brian Rentas

Senior Manager, Email Marketing

Brian’s (he/him) career has exposed him to a variety of unique experiences: producing large-scale conferences and events, managing digital marketing for consumer package goods (including coffee and healthy ice cream!), securing partnerships for an LGBTQ+ music nonprofit and most recently, building donor-centric email strategy for a children's health charity. He uses each of these experiences in his role as Senior Manager of Email Marketing at Catchafire.

Brian has a deep interest in the intersection organizational psychology and workplace equity for BIPOC and queer-identified people, and he hopes to pursue a doctorate in this topic in the near future.

Cesar Del Valle

Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement

From a young age Cesar developed an affinity for travel and cultural exploration. He grew up jumping back and forth between Mexico and the United States, and feels fortunate to have lived in 6 countries throughout his life. He loves meeting new people and exploring new cultures. He brings several years of entrepreneurial, startup, and non-profit experience to Catchafire, and is ecstatic about the opportunity to aid social good organizations in tapping into skills-based volunteers and maximizing their social impact. When not at work you can find Cesar dangling off the side of a cliff, exploring and evolving his passion for rock climbing.

Chandler Scyocurka

Associate Chief of Staff

Chandler’s passion– both personally and professionally– lies in discovering and reflecting on how we can better ourselves and the environments we exist in. She believes in the power of empathy and humility in all aspects of life and is excited to share this outlook with her teammates at Catchafire. When she’s not working, she is probably either spending time with her family, traveling, listening to rock and roll music, or a combination of the three.

Chris Salley

Sales Development Manager

Chris has always loved a challenge, but after completing his analyst stint in sell-side investment research, his biggest challenge was yet to come: using his skills from research to make the world a better place. He decided to dedicate a year of service to AmeriCorps and now looks forward to continuing his career in social good with Catchafire! Outside of work, Chris is a politics junkie who can often be found spending time with friends, watching a nature documentary, or at the local dog park with his furry partner in crime, Covu.

Corey Chang

Manager, End User Operations

Corey is passionate about social enterprises using technology to shape civic engagement and social innovation. He comes to Catchafire having worked as an urban economic development consultant and nonprofit program manager. Corey is guided by the idea that "you make a living by what you get, but make a life by what you give." A disciple of Bay Area sports and USC Trojan football, you can find him practicing his ambidexterity or crowdsourcing travel adventures both near and far.

Dan Jacob

Principal, Software Engineer

Hailing from the UK, Dan is a passionate software developer who has worked on sites for the British National Health Service, Channel 4 Television and high street brands in the UK. Currently based in Finland, Dan enjoys learning human as well as computer languages and speaks fluent Finnish and Russian. His other interests include history, psychology, linguistics, green technology and Celtic and Nordic folk music and mythology.

Dana Kopenhefer

Director, Foundation Partnerships

Seeking more meaning in her professional life, Dana left the entertainment industry to become a Partnership Manager at Catchafire. She loves advising amazing organizations of all shapes and sizes in how to use skilled volunteers to make the world a better place. When she isn't creating "Hollywood happy endings" for nonprofits, she's obsessing over a new television show on Netflix.

Divya Kantamneni

Impact Manager, Foundation Partnerships

Prior to joining Catchafire, Divya spent time consulting for nonprofits, coordinating logistics for the Obama White House, and developing policy for a rideshare startup. She believes that, when used responsibly, business can be a powerful tool for creating positive social change in our communities. She’s super excited to join the talented and impact-minded team at Catchafire in helping nonprofits maximize their impact within the communities they serve. Outside of work, Divya enjoys a good hike, exploring new music and TV shows, and brushing up on dinosaur trivia with her niece and nephew.

Dylan Stefanisko

Sr. Associate, Digital Marketing

Dylan is a native Californian and natural born designer. After leading the design on a variety of commercial projects including package design, marketing strategy, and ecommerce website design, he felt a yearning for a more mission-driven design challenge. In true serendipitous fashion, Catchafire found him, and it’s been a perfect fit to apply his design and marketing skills towards a cause that improves lives, not bottom lines. When he isn’t playing around in Photoshop he’s usually making music, cuddling with his dog, Buster, or perusing museums and art galleries.

Dylan Kirby

Senior Associate, Sales Development

Dylan joins Catchafire following short stints in media and corporate social responsibility, as well as a year teaching English to elementary schoolers in Spain. A Baltimore native, Dylan sharpened his research skills at Johns Hopkins and is excited to bring them to the Strategic Partnerships team at Catchafire. Outside of work, Dylan can be found playing indie video games, cooking something vegetarian, or brushing up on his Spanish.

Edmund Chitwood

Data Scientist

Edmund is a Virginia native and New Yorker of five-plus years. As a data analyst, he believes in the power of using data to investigate, explain and solve complex problems. As a lifelong volunteer, activist and student of politics, he is interested in addressing problems related to social, racial and economic injustice. Edmund is a fan of music, film or travel, and is always down to discuss Frank Ocean, the latest Paul Thomas Anderson movie or the best place in Chiang Mai for Khao Soi.

Edward Urgola

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Product Officer

Product guy by trade and musician by heart, Ed strives not to BE someone, but to DO something. He joined Catchafire to spend more of his time and energy on things that matter. Ed believes in diversity & inclusion, leaving no trace, the ever-looming dangers of Moore's law and that there should be more posters of Neil deGrasse Tyson (and less Justin Bieber) hanging on kids' walls. The poet in Ed leaves you with this quote… "People don't remember what you say or did... only how you make them feel." The musician in Ed leaves you with this one: "Your left hand is what you know and your right hand is who you are."

Emma Schrager

Manager, Program Delivery Operations

Emma comes to Catchafire with a background in education program management and experience across a variety of social sector organizations. With a passion for strategy and community, she is energized by creating partnerships that foster collaboration, build capacity, and drive social impact. Having grown up in Miami Beach, when not at work you’ll find her trying to soak up the sun outdoors or finding her way to the nearest beach.

Gerard Mcgeary

Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships

Gerard works hard, but he does not play hard. He plays easy. Why would you play hard? As someone who has constantly sought to find challenging and innovative opportunities, he was excited to join Catchafire where he combines his past experience serving the nonprofit and public sectors with more recent entrepreneurial and innovation focused endeavors. Gerard grew up in Connecticut and has made his home in the Lower East Side of New York for over 10 years where he spends his non-work hours perfecting his pour over coffee process and recipes through which he secures friends.

Greg Wilson

Product Manager

With a background in product, design, and innovation, Greg’s curiosity drives him to always keep learning and solving problems both in and out of the office. He comes to Catchafire to use his career to make an impact — something he tries to accomplish through many facets of his life including coaching at a hockey-is-for-everyone program in Harlem. In his free hours, he stays busy woodworking, traveling, playing hockey, and eating his way through Brooklyn, where he lives with his pet rabbit.

Hannah Vick

Manager, Foundation Partnerships

Hannah has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 10 years, primarily as a fundraiser and grant writer. Outside of work, Hannah daydreams about her nonexistent stand-up comedy career and checks out more books than she can read from the public library. More than anything else, Hannah loves to travel, has been to every continent, and enjoys experiencing the world from other people’s perspectives.

Harriet Gardner

Senior Vice President of Foundation Partnerships

After starting her working life with a brief stint in the record industry, Harriet made the switch to a career in social impact and hasn't looked back since! Having spent more than a decade building transformational partnerships for organizations including Save the Children and UNICEF, she's honed the skills needed to bring people together behind a common mission and nothing makes her happier. Harriet is thrilled to join the Catchafire team to deepen our strategic partnerships and ultimately connect more talented volunteers to organizations making a positive change in the world. When she's not at work, Harriet is usually immersed in the chaos and fun of life with her husband and two small children, or recharging with a good book, documentary or trashy TV show.

Heather Nannery

Head of Revenue Operations & Strategy

Heather comes to Catchafire after working in operations and communications at startups and nonprofits. She really enjoys figuring out how to build good systems and is known for always telling really bad jokes. In her free time, she loves to find awesome travel deals to cool places, discuss her latest philosophical musings, and try new breweries. You can typically find her in the park with a book or cheering on NYCFC and the New York Rangers.

Hefei Li

Head of Revenue; Head of Strategic Partnerships; and Head of Finance, Strategy & Operations

Hefei is deeply curious and a thinker. She loves to dissect problems and has a knack for understanding and improving complex systems, whether at high levels advising companies on strategic initiatives as a consultant, in the weeds building a machine learning based news service as an entrepreneur, or everywhere in between helping to drive Catchafire's strategies as it redefines philanthropy. She also loves to cook and experiment with new ingredients.

Ilana Fried

Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships

Ilana (she/her) is energized by the ways technology can enable positive change in the world. With a background in establishing partnerships with Corporations, she’s particularly inspired by the opportunity that Catchafire enables; to extend innovative solutions to those who could greatly benefit from access, all within the purpose-driven world of Philanthropy. She is a native New Yorker, who considers Chicago as a second home. Additionally, Ilana is a natural-food evangelist, and an aspirational urban farmer. You may find Ilana hiking, swimming, cycling, or attempting to maintain her youth through sports...whenever possible!

Jake Band

Manager, Strategic Partnerships

Jake comes to Catchafire from the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation in Baltimore, MD. He brings with him a passion for learning and understanding the behavior of individuals, organizations, and communities that he applies to his research every day. As a new resident of New York City, Jake can be found walking left when he should be walking right, taking the subway uptown instead of downtown, and trying every restaurant he possibly can along the way.

Jamie Badia

Director, Marketing & Communications

Jamie is a small-town Michigander turned New Yorker who started her career with Teach For America. She used her creative eye to recruit thousands of incredible college grads and career-changing professionals to teach in a high-need community, believing deeply that equity begins with education. Jamie loves to use design and stories to connect top talent with social-good organizations and will always be a mission-driven marketer. Her obsessions include, but are not limited to: puppies, college football, the dentist, and any/all ice cream. She's also very passionate about never running a marathon again.

Jamie Moon

Director, Partnerships

Jamie has always been passionate about setting things into motion and helping others realize their vision. In her past advertising career, she worked with brands to solve complex business problems through simple, creative solutions. She is excited to bring her passion and drive to Catchafire and help empower nonprofits with the talent they need. Outside of work, Jamie is usually eating, binge-watching TV or reading, or some sort of combination of all of the above.

Jane Bowers

Senior Associate, Revenue Operations

Jane was born in China, but raised in Asheville, North Carolina, as evidenced by her love of mountains, breweries, and Southern fried chicken. When not strategizing how to get things done as efficiently as humanly possible, she is rehearsing or performing with EPIC Motion Dance Company. Jane moved to New York to work in the philanthropic sector after receiving her master's degree (and eating way too many pierogies) in Pittsburgh. She currently lives with her house plants in Brooklyn, where she is mastering the art of cooking in small kitchens.

Jared Nuzzolillo

Tech Lead

Jared likes coding, kitties, Dungeons and Dragons, helping the homeless, studying 1st century Christianity, philosophy, scaling startups, leading software teams and muay thai. This leaves him well positioned to write software and run our Tech Team, and not so well suited to write biographies like this one.

Jay Grey (They/Them)

Manager, Nonprofit Engagement

Jay Jean Grey's top priority in life is to be as empathetic and welcoming as possible to others, particularly the least advantaged. From educating people on social justice issues, to supporting nonprofits through development and management, Jean is committed to community, inclusion, and understanding. They joined the Catchafire team to amplify their impact in the nonprofit sector. When Jay isn't working, they're dancing and teaching adults Latin dance through a consent and gender inclusive lens.

Joe Cravo

Senior Software Engineer

After 20 years working at for-profit internet media companies, Joe decided to change gears and use his skills to improve people's lives. It was a "Back to the Future" moment, since two decades earlier Joe spent two-and-a-half years in the peace corps teaching science and math in Africa. When not coding for Catchafire or coding pro bono, Joe enjoys amateur astronomy, which is just a grown up way of saying he's a giddy kid dreaming about the stars.

Jonathan Sandville

VP, Strategic Partnerships

Jonathan is laser focused on becoming an empowering agent of change for the greater good of our society. Joining Catchafire helps to ensure that it will happen. He studied international economics and international educational development, graduated from Columbia University, and worked for organizations such as the Ford Foundation, United Nations Development Programme, National Urban League, GLAAD, Liberty Science Center, and the Legal Defense and Educational Fund. His business development experience has enabled him to attract philanthropic venture capital, develop strategic partnerships, and leverage opportunities which combine public and private funding to achieve social innovations. Doing well by doing good is his mantra. Outside of work, you can probably catch him zipping through the city on his mountain bike.

Jordan Shalov

Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis

Jordan is a native New Yorker with a passion for helping to grow and support organizations. He spent the last eight years in Georgia, between studying finance at the University of Georgia and working in financial consulting in Atlanta. He is thrilled to bring his financial acumen and problem solving skills to Catchafire, where he supports the financial operations of an innovative platform that empowers nonprofits. In his spare time, Jordan enjoys playing the bass guitar and watching his favorite New York sports teams.

Jose Penarrieta

Software Engineer

With many years of experience in software development, José is our committed and enthusiastic Software Engineer from Perú. He also works as a teacher in the Department of Computer Science at a Peruvian University. He has worked in several projects involving very large databases and high performance web applications. Interested in world history and sociology (and also in Pokémon and Dragon Ball), he likes to work for social causes trying to satisfy his compromise to make the world a better place.

Jose Castro

Director, Procurement and Operations

Jose is passionate about scaling social impact through operational capacity. He comes to Catchafire having worked as an attorney and an operations consultant. Jose loves to iterate solutions to problems and indulges in curiosity with each step. When Jose takes a break from operations work, you can find him doodling over an art pad at a local café or park in his native Queens, New York.

Josh Harbaugh

Senior Frontend Engineer

Residing in the great state of Ohio with my wife and three children, I made the natural transition from a degree in animation to.... web development. When I'm not pushing pixels around on a screen as Catchafire's senior front-end developer you can find me in my wood shop making dust.

Juliette Cho

VP, Strategic Partnerships

Juliette reminds herself daily that she has the same amount of hours in a day as Beyonce. A lifelong public servant, Juliette has helped raise over $50 million for nonprofits including UNICEF, Pencils of Promise, Make A Wish Foundation, PBS and the American Red Cross. She joined Catchafire because her firsthand experience that few things are more powerful than the impact the right volunteer can make at the right time, which is what Catchafire helps nonprofits discover every day. She is a native born Washingtonian, child of Texas, and chosen Brooklynite.

Kanani Rose

Recruiting Manager

Born and raised in Honolulu, Kanani embraces the exchange of ideas through "talk story" and applies the concept of ho'olohe pono (“truly listening”) to her everyday life. She is inspired by the pursuit of personal and communal growth, and is fueled by meeting and working with people who represent a diverse range of life experiences and industries. Outside of Catchafire, some of her favorite things include morning walks through the park with her dog, Zane, rummaging through thrift stores, and dance classes with plenty of opportunity for improvisation.

Kate Varner

Director, User Experience

After a decade of working in digital advertising, Kate decided to come to the light and use her powers of exceptional user experience design for good. Kate's passion lies in uncovering user needs and finding answers to them through elegant and efficient digital interactions. She is a mom of two boys and when she's not working, she can be found serenading her sons with the help of a ukulele, hiking in the woods or building the next iteration of the ultimate pillow fort in the living room.

Katherine Brady

Chief People Officer & Chief of Staff

Kathy is the ultimate utility leader and is thrilled to help accelerate Catchafire’s growth and impact. Navigating seamlessly across industries (finance, media, commerce) and functions (business operations, marketing, sales, product and tech), she is a connector and an amplifier of the people around her. Doing good has always been a passion, and now at Catchafire, it’s her daily mantra. Outside of work, she’s an aspiring health nut, and cherishes each moment with her two precocious children and her talented husband.

Larry Eason

VP, Strategic Partnerships

For 36 years Larry has worked with organizations and leaders focused on making the world a better place. From nonprofits to foundations to social impact startups, Larry has a gift for helping change-makers tap the power of partnerships, technology, and innovation. At Catchafire Larry combines his passion for social change and strategic partnerships to help unlock the untapped potential of skilled volunteers. A surfer, potter, and painter, Larry lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and many rescue dogs.

Liviu Chiributa

Software Engineer

Being 30 minutes from Dracula's castle, Liviu is the self-learning vampire from Transylvania. With a deep experience in Python, and a hobby in programming, he is polishing the tools for Catchafire's changemakers as he learns more about how volunteering changes the world.

Louise Trezzo

Sr. Manager, Foundation Partnerships

A lifelong connector, Louise is passionate about bringing people together to share their strengths and drive social change. Prior to Catchafire, Louise developed skills-based volunteering programs between US college students and non-profits in Eastern Africa. After spending time living and working in Switzerland, Rwanda and Park City, Utah, Louise put down her roots in the San Francisco Bay Area. On the weekends, you’ll find Louise chasing the sun on her favorite mountain trails or biking the city in search of the perfect breakfast pastry.

Luis Herrada

Senior Software Engineer

Luis has been doing software engineering for more than a decade and is very passionate about creating technology that solves real human problems. He is also interested in astronomy, education, mental health, science, and the environment. When not coding, you’ll find Luis spending time with his wife and friends, playing the guitar, practicing chess, reading a book or improving his cooking skills.

Madhumitha Nagarajan

Quality Assurance Lead

Madhumitha (Madhu) studied engineering and project management in Boston, Massachusetts. Her primary focus for the past many years has been around software coding and quality assurance. Madhu strongly believes that "software code is your house and you have to live in it". Madhu believes that the customer is the most valuable asset and is driven by the unrelenting pursuit of customer-driven focus and user experience. She loves her kids, watching movies, cooking, and exercising.

Marissa Ferber

Director, Nonprofit Program Development

Marissa (she/her) is passionate about connecting others, from building the largest Massachusetts volunteer program to advising technology companies on recruiting and Diversity & Inclusion best practices. She joined Catchafire to get the best of the nonprofit and tech worlds. When she’s not working, Marissa is winning Broadway lotteries and on an endless search for the best chocolate chip cookie.

Megan Mccann

Director, Product

Megan is driven by the need to always understand why, and the satisfaction of a problem elegantly solved. With her background in public relations and education technology, she is a wizard at untangling complex challenges and she thrives on delivering products that help people do their most critical work more effectively. In her free time, she enjoys applying the discipline of product management to raising her beautiful and funny little daughter, with decidedly mixed results.

Morgan Mckeever

Content & Engagement Strategist

A natural born storyteller with a passion for helping people, Morgan has found her perfect match working with the marketing team at Catchafire. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied Communications and Consumer Psychology because of her fascination with people’s motivations and how to improve human experiences. In her free time, she volunteers at The Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, UPenn’s hub for research to improve our nation’s health and health care system. When she’s not working you can find her exploring the many different neighborhoods of NYC, painting, and trying to do more yoga.

Naeem Smith

Senior Frontend Engineer

Before joining Catchafire, Naeem spent years writing front-end code for corporate behemoths. Feeling jaded, he packed his proverbial backpack, and went on a nomadic journey through startup world until he found a rewarding position with Catchafire. When not entrenched in coding mayhem, he can be found online, engaged in the ultra-competitive world of full contact speed chess. He is also a cross-fit addict, closet writer, and autodidact of random disciplines.

Nava Friedman

Director, Product

Exploring the nooks and crannies of the social sector — and figuring out how to make it better and more efficient — is Nava's jam, and what motivates her to serve Catchafire's users every day. After solidifying her passion for international development and social enterprise at Princeton, Nava worked for non-profits in Washington D.C. and Kampala, Uganda, doing everything from communications and donor reporting to research and event planning. Now, she's excited to be pursuing her conviction that business approaches can and should be major drivers of social change. When not trying to evolve Catchafire's platform to better serve its incredible community of nonprofits and volunteers, Nava is on the lookout for the best vegetarian recipes, novels and bike paths, and thinks wearing bright colors should be mandatory, always.

Neyat Daniel

Senior Manager, Partnerships

Neyat's background is in the social sciences and public policy. Her work has spanned from the education sector to her partnerships supporting and guiding nonprofit organizations through their unique challenges. Neyat is passionate about problem-solving and creatively finding solutions that put people and their communities first. She's the first one you want to call when you move into a new apartment and don't know what to unpack first. When not working, she's probably scheming and plotting her next travel destinations (think: spices, sunshine, and beaches).

Nikita Scott

Director, Partnerships

Leaving Scotland to chase waves around the world, Nikita settled on New York City as her new home base. Nikita was eager to bring her flair for events, communications, and partnerships to Catchafire, having first-hand experience of the challenges faced by the nonprofit sector. Nikita is a passionate advocate for our ocean, waves, and beaches as seen through her role as Chair of Surfrider Foundation NYC, a grassroots environmental activist organization. An avid believer that we should protect what we love, when Nikita's not in the water, she dedicates her time to preserving our natural resources.

Olivia Maccioni

Associate, Volunteer Engagement

Olivia has always been passionate about social and economic justice, and believes that every individual deserves love, health, happiness, and success. Having worked for years in the nonprofit and museum world, Olivia is excited to share her experience in the field with volunteers who too feel called to give back. Originally from Las Vegas NV, Olivia loves the sun and the desert, and in her spare time, you can find her watching history documentaries or wishing it were warmer outside.

Paolo Campos

Interaction Designer

Rather than paying attention at school, Paolo was always drawing and doodling. He later realized that he wanted to be a web and graphic designer, which led him to work on different design agencies. But he could never learn enough, and he knows that he will learn a lot at Catchafire while helping to change the world. Paolo also enjoys singing opera, playing video games, reading, cooking, practicing yoga and astronomy.

Peter Catchings

Program Coordinator

Peter is an empathetic learner whose passion revolves around amplifying voices that have historically been muted by social, racial, and economic inhibitors. A politics enthusiast turned interdisciplinary strategist, Peter has paired his experience working on a presidential campaign with tactics gained in the corporate sector to create meaningful change within underprivileged communities. When not working, you can find Peter enjoying a hot cup of ginger tea by a lake, dunking a basketball with his siblings, or watching Avatar the Last Airbender.

Rachael Chong

CEO & Founder

The one quote that Rachael hangs by her desk says, "Be truthful, gentle, and fearless." She wants to leave this earth known as a leader who empowers others to be better than her. Rachael is described by others as gritty, hungry to learn, humble and visionary -- but her passion is what truly defines and elevates her. Whether she's talking about how amazing the spoken-word artist she saw last week was or a new social enterprise she just heard about, she can't help but gush. She's one of the lucky ones to be born with fire, and she works daily to channel it for good.

Rafael Nunes

Software Engineer

Passionate about learning, teaching, motorcycles and Brazilian music, Rafael spent the last decade writing software and teaching about it around Brazil. Before this, he spent his days volunteering in orphanages and with homeless groups. He found his dream job at Catchafire where everyday he gets to do what he loves while helping others.

Rekha Luciano

Senior Associate, People Operations and Recruiting

Rekha’s personal mission is to simply help make the world a more kind and just place for all, a mission which can be summed up through one of her favorite quotes, “Be the person your dog thinks you are.” Before joining Catchafire, Rekha worked as a Visual Arts Teacher in an elementary school and founded their Art & Activism program. After four meaningful and transformative years teaching, Rekha’s passion for social justice led her to pursue a Masters in Organizational Change Management and Civic Service Design at The New School. Working to solve complex problems through creative and collaborative approaches excites her. When Rekha is not working, you will find her either painting, filming music videos, or chilling in one of NYC’s gorgeous parks.

Ronald Bardalez

Frontend Engineer

Ronald is our front-end guy, coding with love a big part of everything you see and click. Since a child, he's always been into computers and electronics, and made his way into web development early on. Besides computer-stuff, his other skills include juggling, glowstringing, and playing drums. He's also a big fan of astronomy, science, psychology and eating pizza.

Sahm Lee

Associate, Graphic Design

Spending the majority of her formative years in Seattle, Washington, Sahm moved to New York City for the unmatched creative community. In broad strokes, she is interested in the intersection of design and the social sector. Outside of work, she can found listening to music, going on quick runs, or sipping on black coffee.

Sean Rose

Nonprofit Engagement Manager

Seán (he/him) is a highly skilled professional with over ten years’ experience of program management, strategic development, and innovation for mission-driven non-profit organizations of all shapes and sizes, all over the world. He is a proud non-profit nerd, passionate about strengthening the sector and building a more just, sustainable, and empathetic society. Seán has been immersed in a diversity of cause areas including education for social change, environmental justice, dialogue facilitation and mediation, community organizing, and mobilizing faith-based and cultural organizations. He loves Broadway musicals, obscure museum galleries, traveling to far flung destinations, and chocolate chip cookies.

Severine Koen

Director, Volunteer Engagement

For as long as she can remember, Séverine has been passionate about making the world a better place. Prior to joining Catchafire, she spent six years working in strategy and operations with One Acre Fund, a nonprofit social enterprise, in Rwanda. Séverine brings particular expertise in user-centered design and project management and is thrilled to be helping deliver the best volunteer experience to all the generous individuals giving their time and talents through Catchafire. In her spare time, Séverine is either out enjoying all the many activities New York City has to offer or is planning her next travel adventure with family and friends.

Sneha Sajan

Associate, Customer Success

As a recent graduate from the Macaulay Honors program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Sneha is deeply committed to issues of race equity and women’s rights. Driven by a desire to help marginalized groups, she’s excited to be a part of the Catchafire team and cultivate real social impact. When she’s not working, Sneha can be found visiting a NYC pop-up/gallery, binging a new Netflix show, reading a book, or creating Bollywood Fusion choreography.

Sonia Marton

Manager, Customer Success

Equally passionate about social justice and efficiency, Sonia loves helping Catchafire support non-profits to meet their needs and volunteers to invest in their communities. She brings a diverse array of experience to the team, including spending time on the Hill and at a mortgage startup in San Francisco, along with a deep passion for women’s issues and equality. She is always working to make sure she practices what she preaches with a healthy dose of enthusiasm and pragmatism. When she’s not at the office, you can find her bopping around the city looking for a new favorite yoga class, shopping at Trader Joe’s, and spending time with her wonderful community.

Sonia Aviv

Coordinator, Program Delivery

With a background in public policy, Sonia brings to Catchafire a passion for helping organizations that so often help push forward the work that current policies fail to address - whether this be for the climate, communities in need, racial equity and so much more. Drawing on her experience in both the corporate and nonprofit sector, she is eager and excited to work with Catchafire's partners to maximize the impact of their programs. When not working, you can find Sonia attempting to follow every political Twitter thread, reading books on behavioral economics, trying out new workout classes and exploring NY with friends.

Stephanie Adickman

Director, Foundation Partnerships

After a brief foray into finance, Stephanie focused her career on building sustainable partnerships in the international development space. Over the last eight years, Stephanie developed foundation partnerships to support innovative and scalable programming with UNICEF and CARE USA. She is excited to bring her experience working with social justice organizations and foundations to Catchafire, democratizing access to robust and flexible capacity for nonprofits both in the U.S. and around the world. When Stephanie is not at work (or working from home), you'll find her doting on her dog Cali, perfecting her gnocchi recipe, or re-watching the Office and scheming about how to befriend Mindy Kaling.

Tyler Manley

Principal, Product Evangelist

Tyler (he/him) grew up on a sheep farm in Western New York before graduating with a degree in Philosophy from The University of Buffalo. After two years with Americorps, he became the Marketing Director of a Food Justice organization that focused on Youth Education and Food Access. As Catchafire's Principal Evangelist, Tyler leads events and educational content for our funding partners and nonprofits. When he's not working, Tyler is either cooking huge meals for friends, playing the mandolin, or cheering/crying for his beloved Buffalo Bills.

Zoe Johannas

Director, People Operations

An impossibly cheery morning person, Zoë greets the day with 2 eggs and motivated to do something that matters. Packing her knapsack with her sneakers, a snack, and a true love of nonprofit capacity building, Zoë relishes in the challenge of turning positivity into practicality and being a part of a team focused on building meaningful and lasting impact. Zoë is originally from Richmond, VA, and will tell you all about it the first chance she gets.