The Team

We have assembled an extraordinary team

Dare Mighty Things is a Veteran-Owned Small Business that was founded and is led by President and CEO David Van Patten, a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and well known author, lecturer and entrepreneurial activist in social initiatives.

Our team represents a wealth of intellectual capital and experience in social sciences, human services, business, not-for-profit, government, and military leadership. The entrepreneurial and professional ingenuity of a combined 500+ years of thought leadership and action are embodied in our senior management and staff.  Independent consultants serving as DMT Associates provide subject matter expertise in variety of important areas.

Corporate Management
David Van Patten, MPA, President and CEO
Jim Seevers, MBA, Senior Vice President
Robert W. Flynn, MBA, Director, Finance and Administration

Professional Staff
Amber Armstrong, Associate Multimedia Designer
Karen Baetzel, Program Director
J. Jacqueline Bessette, MA, Analyst
Alicia Bowen, Senior Management Specialist
Caitlin Delaney, MPP, Associate Analyst
Alexandra Dunberger, Analyst
David McCullough, Associate Analyst
Harley O'Brien, Senior Multimedia Analyst
Catherine Plourde, Talent Manager / Executive Assistant
Dylan Post, Associate Multi-Media Technician
Brian Sales, MPS, Senior Consultant
Vincent "Butch" Schuck, Associate Consultant
Ariele Sieling, Associate Analyst
Avery Smith, Associate Analyst

Associates
Roger Allen, MA, MS, Senior Consultant
Nancy L. Baird, MS, Senior Consultant
Lisa Barnes Lampman, Senior Consultant
Mary Bergner, Consultant
Steve Blum, MS, Senior Consultant
Rhett Butler, MA, Senior Consultant
Holli Carpenter, Consultant
Gary Cyr, Consultant
James P. Desrosiers, MM, Consultant
Julie Golkowski, MA, Consultant
Rick Greenwood, MS, Consultant
Rosemarie Hasan, MM, Consultant
Lauren Hudson, Associate Analyst
Ted Kehr, Senior Consultant
Michael Kreinbring, Consultant
James Murray, MA, MS, Senior Consultant
Melissa Nemon, Ph.D., Senior Consultant
Pierre Perez, Consultant
Jean Rhodes, Ph.D., Senior Consultant
Jennifer Walper Roberts, MPA, Senior Consultant
Jim Shoenhard, Consultant
John White, MS, Senior Consultant

David Van Patten, MPA
President, CEO

Dave Van Patten founded Dare Mighty Things in 1991 to help public sector entrepreneurs launch large scale social programs that impact high risk populations. As President and CEO, Dave fosters relationships with key stakeholders and guides the life cycle of all client engagements. His expertise has been instrumental in the development of dozens of programs impacting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children and adults in nearly every state and several countries of the world. As a result, Dave has received national accolades for program innovations in mentoring high-risk populations, prisoner rehabilitation, new venture creation, and building faith-based organizations. Dave received his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the United States Coast Guard Academy, and earned his Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Dave has authored numerous reports, articles, and books, and has lectured at Harvard, Princeton, and other universities in social entrepreneurship, not-for-profit management, and volunteer management.

Jim Seevers, MBA
Senior Vice President

Jim’s thirty-six years of performance management experience touches all aspects of Dare Mighty Things projects. His primary contributions continue to be in program development and management, including strategic planning, organizational development, performance-based analysis, and change management. His experience with initiatives for vulnerable populations includes training and technical assistance for positive youth development, programs for military families and veterans, and capacity building for providers of faith- and community-based services. Jim has twenty-eight years of federal government experience, including service as the Manpower and Personnel Director for U.S. forces throughout the Pacific region. He has developed innovative methods and tools for successful outcome-oriented and process-based results in the public, nonprofit, and commercial sectors. Jim earned a BS in political science from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA with a focus on management science from Louisiana Tech University.

Robert W. Flynn, MBA
Director of Finance and Administration

Bob has over 35 years of finance, accounting, and program management experience. For the past twenty years he has held senior financial and program management positions at government contractors, including Dynamics Research Corporation and TASC, Inc. Bob began his career in public accounting and later was the chief audit executive for two fortune 500 companies. Bob is responsible for all of DMT’s corporate accounting, financial reporting and tax matters, and for ensuring that DMT has appropriate internal controls and thorough compliance with all laws and regulations. He holds a BA degree in economics from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and MS in Accounting and MBA degrees from Northeastern University in Boston.

Professional Staff

Amber Armstrong
Associate Multimedia Designer

Amber has attained four years of professional experience in the fields of Information Technology, Website Design, Website Development and Graphic Design before joining the Creative Solutions Learning team at Dare Mighty Things.  Amber offers a wide breadth of both personal and professional knowledge stemming from many years of being an active and integral part in the evolution of her small community and its families. She focuses her high energy and forward thinking to each project, to produce exceptional results for each individual client.  Proficient in all of Adobe’s design, web based, and interactive products, Amber creates and designs end to end solutions with standards compliant code with emphasis on cross platform browser compatibility, interactivity, accessibility, and search engine optimization. Amber designs and implements animation and interactive media that provides clients with paramount products in the leading and ever growing technology industry.  She is also fluent in CSS coding language as well as HTML and XHTML.

Karen Baetzel, MS
Program Director

Karen joined DMT in 2006 serving the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program as Senior Consultant and Program Director. After a thirty-year career in the United States Navy, her extensive leadership resume is impressive and unique. Karen retired as one of the Navy's most senior female aviators and one of the very few naval aviators of either gender to hold the Aircraft Commander qualification in Navy jets, propeller and helicopter airframes. She is a leadership development expert, serving an international client base of government and corporate clients, including NASA and the Johnson Space Center and Microsoft. She is also an author, keynote speaker and certified International Conflict Mediator. Karen holds a BA in Economics and a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, where she is also an Adjunct Professor.

J. Jacqueline Bessette, MA
Analyst

Jacqueline Bessette is a learning and development specialist with experience in instructional systems design and training program facilitation. She brings great knowledge to our team in the areas of communication, education, and training. As a member of the Creative Learning Solutions team, Jacqueline contributes to the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of client products. She served as training coordinator for Tamayo Consulting, Inc., where she specialized in presentation training, leadership development, and teambuilding and also taught public speaking at San Diego State University (SDSU). Jacqueline is an active member of Toastmasters International, serving as the Vice President of Public Relations for her local chapter and winning multiple speaking awards. She earned her BA in communication from Bryant University in Rhode Island and her MA in communication studies from SDSU.

Alicia Bowen
Senior Management Specialist

Alicia Bowen’s years as owner of a home-building business give her access to understanding the practical side of business while also enabling her to appreciate the abstract qualities that create success. Not only does she possess an in-depth knowledge of business, but she also has a keen interest in technology and its central role in today’s progressive business culture.  Alicia provides superior customer service and technical assistance to our National Guard clients. With a flair for organization, Alicia understands the importance of order and process, and relies on these skills to assist in the day to day management of the DMT office. She also coordinates travel and event details in support of more than forty National Challenge Institute events each year. She is on hand to cordially and efficiently host the dozens of events that take place at DMT’s state-of-the-art training facility in Portsmouth, NH, and she successfully manages the production, organization, and transport of materials and multimedia for numerous events conducted around the country.

Caitlin Delaney, MPP
Associate Analyst

As a member of the Creative Learning Solutions team, Caitlin develops learning products focused on strengthening client operations and performance. In creating these products, she draws on her own background in the nonprofit sector to help meet the needs of a diverse range of clients, including nonprofit organizations, foundations, and government agencies such as the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, Army OneSource, and Amachi Expansion for Military and Civilian Families. Caitlin earned her Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University, where she focused on nonprofit management and leadership, and has a BA in Political Science and Religious Studies from the University of New Hampshire.

Alexandra Dunberger
Analyst

Alexandra is an Analyst, specializing in performance measurement, at Dare Mighty Things, Inc. She earned her BS in Foreign Service and a Certificate in International Development at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she focused on Science, Technology and International Affairs. Alexandra attained four years of professional experience in the fields of International Development and International Health in Washington, DC. She brings a fresh perspective through her experience in international public service with government, non-profit and private sector organizations. She offers expertise in qualitative research, monitoring and evaluation, program management, event and training logistics, and communications. Alexandra served as a Program Specialist at the U.S. Agency for International Development for the Development Leadership Initiative, a fast-paced Foreign Service hiring and training program. She has also provided support in various areas for non-profit organizations overseas, including Grassroot Soccer, Inc. in Zambia and Family Health International in India. Most recently, prior to joining DMT, she served as an Analyst at Abt Associates, Inc. where she managed health programming in developing countries. Her career has afforded her with a global perspective, having worked in five developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia and she is passionate about bringing her expertise to domestic programs in the United States.

David McCullough
Associate Analyst

David McCullough brings with him specialized analytical training, as well as a diverse understanding of statistical practices in a variety of fields. He possesses valuable statistical software experience and the ability to present results in an interpretable, easy-to-understand format. David’s passion for statistics and his experience in multiple disciplines enables him to be a productive asset on any project. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Mathematics/Economics with a minor in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire.

Harley O'Brien
Senior Multimedia Analyst

With almost two decades of IT development and management experience, Harley is skilled at integrating technology, communications, and marketing. His background in Marketing and Communications gives him a special edge when it comes to web projects and multimedia applications, areas that usually require not only technical expertise but also design and visual skills. Before joining DMT as senior multimedia analyst and technology lead for the CLS division, Harley was an independent consultant with clients ranging from Fortune 500 firms, such as HP and Phillip-Morris, to non-profit agencies, such as the United Nations-International Labor Organization.

Catherine Plourde
Talent Manager / Executive Assistant

Catherine's passion for excellence and appreciation for people has driven her career in both not-for-profit and corporate arenas for the past two decades. Accomplished in communication, written, verbal and visual realms, her experience in human resource management, project development and marketing serve to fortify Dare Mighty Things' efforts in meeting client needs. As part of our corporate branch, Catherine's execution features her versatile fast-acting style to assist us in achieving and maintaining our people advantage in support of our clients and our personnel. A member of the Society for Human Resource Management, Catherine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire.

Dylan Post
Associate Multi-Media Technician

Dylan is a multimedia design specialist with ten years of freelance graphic design and six years working hands-on with consulting clients. His project successes include website concept design and production for the University of Maine Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI), working under the National Science Foundation grant, along with projects for the Marine Environmental Research Institute, maintaining their brand and transforming their multimedia capabilities and practices. In addition to his project work with DMT’s Creative Learning Solutions team, Dylan designs animation and video content while publishing and maintaining a training portal for distance education for IDEXX Laboratories. Dylan graduated from the University of Maine, Orono with degrees in Communications/Advertising and Digital Art.

Brian Sales, MPS
Senior Consultant

Brian has worked with youth service organizations for almost twenty years. He brings extensive practical knowledge of best practices in youth development from working with homeless youth, middle and high school aged students in after-school settings, at community centers, foster care and high school mentoring programs. Brian provides on-site technical assistance to grantees and serves an internal subject matter expert on mentoring. Additionally, he has direct experience providing strategies to first-generation college students. Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Hobart College and a Master of Professional Studies in Africana Studies from Cornell University. He also completed certification in Advancing Youth Development (AYD) Training and Mentor Program Coordination from the Maryland Mentoring Partnership.

Vincent “Butch” Schuck
Associate Consultant

Butch spent more than four years as a Marine Corps Reservist, followed by engagements as a counter-terrorism intelligence team leader and program manager for Threats to Higher Education with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. He has additional experience as a private boarding school dean, sales consultant, and as Segway Inc.’s north american sales manager for police and government business. His combined experience in consulting, client relationship management, education, program management, and the military, provide him with unique cross-functional knowledge and insight into the educational, public, and private sectors.

Ariele Sieling
Associate Analyst

Ariele graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she spent her time studying communication theory with a focus in interpersonal and organizational communication, as well as a wide range of literature and writing techniques. As a member of the Creative Learning Solutions team, Ariele brings a fresh perspective to learning products in support of multiple clients, including nonprofit organizations, foundations, and government agencies, such as the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, and Amachi Expansion for Military and Civilian Families.

Avery Smith
Associate Analyst

Avery Smith has twelve years of data analytics and process refinement experience with prior tenure at three Fortune 500 companies. In addition to serving as a Financial Analyst for Timberland Corporation and Nike’s hockey division, Avery also spent four years as an Underwriting Analyst at Liberty Mutual where he led several key personal market insurance initiatives. Over his career he has obtained substantial experience with large population data reviews, process refinement and documentation, and carrier relations as well as Government third party insurance analysis. Avery received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire.

Associates

Roger Allen, MA, MS
Senior Consultant

Brigadier General (RET) Roger L. Allen was the founding Director of Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy in February 1999 and remained the Director until 14 October 2010. He is a retired educator with experience teaching regular education and vocational education and he has administrative experience as a High School Principal, Special Education Director, and Alternative High School Principal. His military career spans over three decades with the Active Army and the Michigan Army National Guard. He retired as a Brigadier General of the Line in 2004. Roger holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Strategic Studies, from the United States Army War College; Masters of Arts Degree in Education from Central Michigan University with additional course work and certification as a secondary school counselor; and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Michigan State University.

Nancy L. Baird, MS
Senior Consultant

Nancy’s eight years of experience as the Director of the California Youth Challenge Program represents the heart of the National Challenge Institute mission and curriculum.  As a result of her organizational and leadership abilities, the California Program was awarded Best All-Around Program in 2005.  Nancy served in the California Army National Guard for twenty-three years in a variety of positions, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel,  Intelligence Officer,  with the 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized.)  In addition to her experience in the National Guard, Nancy has extensive experience working directly with youth, as a Court Investigator for Children’s Protective Services, as a Domestic Violence Counselor, and as the Director of the California National Guard’s first residential youth program, the Federal Youth Program. Consequently, Nancy provides relevant depth and expertise to a number of DMT's initiatives. She earned a BA in Psychology from the University of California at Davis and an MS in Counseling Psychology from National University.

Lisa Barnes Lampman
Consultant

With more than twenty-five years of experience in the political, public, and non-profit sectors, Lisa Barnes Lampman is a proven, results-oriented leader and organizational strategist. In her role as senior consultant, Lisa provides Dare Mighty Things with support for its work on the Compassion Capital Fund National Resource Center. Lisa has worked for U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander as a special assistant, and, in the non-profit sector, she has served as vice president of Prison Fellowship Ministries (PFM), an international ministry to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. She also was founder and president of Neighbors Who Care (NWC), a subsidiary organization of PFM that was the first national crime victim assistance ministry in the U.S. As a consultant, Lisa has come alongside non-profit, church, and public sector leaders to facilitate the design of realistic strategic plans, formulate fundraising strategies, and develop new program models for implementation.

Mary Bergner
Consultant

Mary’s eighteen years of Military and federal experience include her tour as a ground commander in Iraq, with the Army Reserve National Guard, and as a Yellow Ribbon Program Manager for the New Hampshire National Guard. She led development of a deployment cycle support initiative that has served as a best practice within the Yellow Ribbon Program, and served as Special Project Officer and key contributor to the outcome measurement report drafted for NH’s Military-civilian, state, federal, private partnership program. This report was published and referenced by Senator Ayotte to substantiate the effectiveness of reintegration programs when she addressed the Armed Services Committee. Most recently, Mary served as Director for an instrumental organization charged with treating Veterans and their Families. Mary’s record of success includes program management, program analysis, evaluation and measurement, all with a focus on supporting Service Members and their Families. Her range of experience has provided her a depth of understanding assessing and providing for needs faced in all deployment phases. She earned her BS in Health Sciences from Excelsior College. She is currently pursuing her MBA, with a focus in Marketing, from the University of Phoenix.

Steve Blum, MS
Senior Consultant

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Steve Blum served over 42 years in uniform, capping his career with two terms as Chief, National Guard Bureau and as the first Guardsman to serve as a Deputy Combatant Commander. As Chief, he oversaw the greatest expansion of NGYCP in its history and is a lifetime achievement award recipient from Maryland’s Youth Challenge Program. Gen. Blum holds a Masters degree in Social Science and a BA in History. He currently serves as Executive-in-Residence at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Division of Public Safety and Leadership. General Blum is a frequent consultant for private and government organizations on planning, training, and disaster response.

Rhett Butler, MA
Senior Consultant

Rhett Butler brings fourteen years of Federal government and consulting experience into helping Dare Mighty Things create new public-private partnerships, with a focus on workforce development strategies that target vulnerable populations. As a consultant, Rhett works closely with clients to strengthen their capacity to engage government officials, pursue federal funding opportunities, and achieve their public policy goals. After working on Capitol Hill for more than seven years, he spent the next five and a half years at the White House and U.S. Department of Labor developing national programmatic and policy solutions to help at-risk populations overcome barriers to employment, find jobs, and stay employed. Rhett earned a Master of Arts in government from Johns Hopkins University, a graduate-level certificate from the U.S. Naval War College, and a Bachelor of Arts in international politics from the Pennsylvania State University.

Holli Carpenter
Consultant

Holli Carpenter joins the DMT team with a lifetime of military experience. She brings a diverse skill set to her engagements, with talents that include creation of surveys and needs assessments, data analysis, and extensive knowledge of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP). In 2009, Holli served on the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Geographically Dispersed Task Force, where she traveled to YRRP events and interviewed YRRP coordinators, service members and their families. Prior to focusing her career interests on military family consulting, Holli spent more than ten years working in childhood education, managing learning centers, and coaching families on fine tuning parenting skills both in one-on-one sessions and group lectures. Holli graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, and a minor in psychology.

Gary Cyr
Consultant

Gary’s twenty-eight years as a USAF and Air National Guard officer served him well in his role as the first full-time ESGR Executive Director in the United States. His extensive experience with ESGR and employment best practices enabled him to assist the National Guard Bureau in developing the ESGR portion of the Joint Services Support (JSS) website and created the interface between JSS and the Defense Management Data Center (DMDC). He has served as the primary trainer for the ESGR Program Support Specialist (PSS) program and developed three National level PSS workshops. While serving on the ESGR staff, Gary designed and implemented the NASCAR marketing program and established employer outreach events in one hundred cities with a return on investment of 10-1. He was a USAF ROTC Distinguished Graduate from Norwich University with a BS in Business Administration and graduated from Air Command and Staff College.

James P. Desrosiers, MM
Consultant

Jim’s organizational consulting, executive training & coaching, performance management, and youth development experience equip him to serve our clients well. In addition to a vast array of management, supervisory, and soft-skills, he is an award-winning expert in employee and personal productivity, goal setting, time management, and motivation. Jim has implemented over 180 outcome-oriented programs to include his own goal achievement technology with organizations serving vulnerable populations, and benefiting over 18,000 people of all ages. Jim is passionate about his work, inspiring his audiences due to his own life experience 'at-risk’. He provides clients with real-world training and tools to achieve more potential and greater program results. Overcoming his childhood experience, Jim went on to serve in the United States Air Force, to found a for-profit training company and a nonprofit organization, and to earn his Master degree in Management, with a dual-concentration in Leadership in Human & Organizational Dynamics and Nonprofit Organization.

Julie Golkowski, MA
Consultant

Julie Golkowski has been working with youth and their families for over 25 years as a counselor in a program for H.S.dropouts, psychotherapist, supervisor, consultant, clinical coordinator of residential programs for youth, and as Director of Child Adolescent and Family Services in a community mental health center. She received her MA in Counseling from New York University and then received a Professional Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University. She has been an adjunct faculty member of University of New Hampshire and Antioch University. Julie has been a statewide and national presenter at conferences covering topics in the fields of resilience, trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, child and adolescent sexual abuse, suicide prevention, and the neuroscience of brain development as it relates to attachment theory. She's has also trained and supervised clinicians in evidenced based practices in children's mental health, in mindfulness based stress reduction and in adolescent substance abuse. She's trained and supervised direct care staff in therapeutic mentoring.

Rick Greenwood, MS
Senior Consultant

Colonel Greenwood comes to Dare Mighty Things as an adjunct faculty member following forty years of distinguished service in the United States Air Force and New Hampshire Air National Guard.  While the majority of his military career was in the Intelligence field, Rick’s last assignment involved the implementation and expansion of the NH Deployment Cycle Support Program.  An innovative military-civilian partnership to support military members and families, this program was recognized by members of the US Congress as a national model. Rick is an experienced and skilled team-builder, public speaker, and trainer. He has been a leader in strategic planning and program implementation in areas such as Personnel Management, Wellness, Counter-narco Terrorism, and Service Member/Family Support programs.  Additionally, Rick served in the position of Congressional Affairs Contact Officer for over fifteen years.  Rick holds undergraduate degrees in Education and Airfield Management, and master’s equivalents from the USAF Air War College and the Joint Forces Staff College.

Rosemarie Hasan, MM
Consultant

Rosemarie Hasan has worked with youth development programs and mentoring organizations for nearly sixteen years, bringing to Dare Mighty Things her extensive experience in strategic planning, project management, organizational development, team building, and program implementation. She has a wealth of knowledge about recruitment strategies, which have enabled her to engage some of the most hard to reach populations. Her direct experience includes working with youth offenders, students with learning disabilities, teen parents, runaway youth, and teens affected by parental incarceration. She has built networks and developed partnerships with community-based organizations, schools, religious institutions, correctional facilities, and within the juvenile justice system. Rose earned a Bachelor of Science and double majored in Sociology and Social Sciences with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Portland State University and received a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix.

Lauren Hudson
Associate Analyst

Lauren spent fifteen years in marketing, business management, executive assistant, and analyst roles and has experience with e-learning development, proposal writing and management, graphic design, and financial management. Lauren’s eye for detail ensures high quality in all project ventures. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of New Hampshire, with minors in Business Administration and Architecture, and has completed graduate coursework at Emerson College in Boston.

Ted Kehr, MS
Senior Consultant

Ted Kehr offers facilitation and training to several Dare Mighty Things and National Challenge Institute course offerings, both in Portsmouth and around the nation. He completed more than forty years of meritorious service in the U.S. Army and the New Hampshire National Guard, and retired in 2002 at the rank of Colonel. His civilian background, which includes fifteen years in public education at the secondary and collegiate level, allows him to excel as he continues to lend his collaborative skills to strategic initiatives within the DMT practice. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Findlay College in Ohio, and his Master of Science from Indiana University in Bloomington.

Mike Kreinbring
Consultant

Mike’s experience reflects over 30 years of experience in the US Army, as a member of the Active Army, the MN National Guard, and the US Army Reserve, and has been involved with the USAR YRRP program from its inception. As the Non-commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) for the 88th RSC’s Yellow Ribbon Program, he was responsible for all planning, implementation and follow-through of the program. He developed and put into place methods for contracting, event support, budgeting, and strategic planning. Mike was asked to represent the USAR as the NCOIC for the OSD Joint Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Event. In this capacity, he was also responsible for training the NCOIC’s from other components and was in charge of the operations center. Mike earned a BS in Criminal Justice from the Winona State University.

James Murray, MA, MS
Senior Consultant

Captain Murray is a decorated twenty-seven year veteran of the United States Coast Guard with extensive expertise in coastal command and operations. As a member of our adjunct faculty, he taps over twenty years of his experience in leadership development, education, and training. He has served on the faculties of the United States Coast Guard Academy, University of New Haven, Naval War College, and most recently as Department Head at the Naval Academy Preparatory School where he led a faculty team in the development of performance-based curricula for at risk students. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the United States Coast Guard Academy, Master of Science in Operations Research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Master of Arts in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.

Melissa Nemon, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant

Melissa Nemon has an extensive background in program/project management, strategic planning, performance measurement, impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and research methodology. Professionally, she has worked closely with nonprofits, for-profits, and government entities both advising and implementing impact modeling, logic models and frameworks, socioeconomic investment impact assessments, and community-based outcomes through evaluation. Academically, she has developed and taught program/project management, research methodology, and evaluation courses for graduate-level university programs. As a consultant, Dr. Nemon focuses on projects that seek to make better communities, address social issues, and create access to knowledge and resources in order to improve social conditions. She holds two Master’s degrees (Community Social Psychology; Community Economic Development) and a Ph.D. in Community Economic Development.

Pierre Perez
Consultant

Pierre Perez brings eight years of military experience and eleven years of experience with the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program’s Alaska Military Youth Academy to his role as a consultant on DMT’s training efforts through the National Challenge Institute (NCI). With five years as a mental health specialist in a behavioral systems hospital, Pierre is well-equipped to provide training to ChalleNGe staff. Pierre is certified as an American Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor, a certified Crisis Prevention Institute instructor, and he has received the Leadership Award at the Rehabilitation Training Instructors Course.

Dawn Pilkington, MS
Senior Consultant

Dawn’s career has been dedicated to designing and implementing human services and community development programs for high-risk populations. Dawn has directed complex human services programs and technical assistance centers in government, nonprofit and consulting environments. Her focus is on leading teams in the design, integration, and delivery of high quality, high impact services that demonstrate results. Dawn has extensive experience in nonprofit capacity building, community and stakeholder engagement, collaboration and partnerships and consensus building. Dawn earned a Master of Science in Organizational Development and Knowledge Management from George Mason University’s School of Public Policy.

Jean Rhodes, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant

Professor Rhodes completed her Ph.D. in clinical/community psychology at DePaul University and her clinical internship at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research and Community Action, and a Distinguished Fellow of the William T. Grant Foundation. Rhodes is also a member of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood and Chair of the Research and Policy Council of the National Mentoring Partnership. She sits on the Board of Directors of the National Mentoring Partnership and the Forum for Youth Investment on the Advisory Boards of many mentoring and policy organizations, and serves on the editorial boards of several journals in community and adolescent psychology. Her book, Stand by me: The risks and rewards of mentoring today's youth (Harvard University Press) was published in 2002.

Jennifer Walper Roberts, MPA
Senior Consultant

Jennifer has managed over twenty mentoring and internship programs for young people of color, both in New York City and London, and enhances Dare Mighty Things’ strength with more than a decade of experience developing and implementing mentoring and training programs to help close achievement and income gaps. Jen specializes in working across sectors and institutions to develop a shared sense of commitment toward assisting young people as they strive to realize their potential. Her experience includes working with a wide range of organizations, including community-based organizations, residential foster care agencies, schools, major corporations and investment banks. Jen graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Maryland: one in Government and Politics and one in Spanish. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the City University of New York at Baruch College, and a Certificate in Mentor Program Supervision from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America-Fordham University of Social Work. Additionally, she completed the Community Leadership course from the NYC Citizens Committee for Children.

Jim Shoenhard
Consultant

Jim has spent more than thirteen of his twenty-five years of Military Service in the Pentagon, working on the Chief of Air Force Reserve Staff, the Joint Staff, and OSD Reserve Affairs Staff. He has an in-depth understanding of Active and Reserve Defense programs and expertise in force management, programming, project facilitation, planning, program analysis, organizational analysis, data system development, and policy development. As an accomplished leader, manager, and analyst, Jim has served as a Regular Officer, Individual Mobilization Augmentee, and Air Force Reserve AGR. Jim is a disabled Veteran familiar with VA disability and medical programs.

John White, MS
Senior Consultant

John White has more than thirty years of experience in corporate accounting, financial services and technological consulting. This unique blend of experience in these fields enables him to provide expert consulting to Dare Mighty Things, and the clients we serve. His expertise serves DMT in a range of areas including corporate accounting, financial reporting (including government compliance), information technology and human resources. John earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and his Master of Science in Finance from Bentley College.