The Next Level Lab (NLL) Advisory Council brings together leaders, practitioners, and innovators from across the workforce development ecosystem. Each member contributes a wealth of experience, insight, and expertise drawn from diverse organizations, industries, and community-focused initiatives.
The Council serves as a collaborative space to:
- Build community across roles, organizations, and systems committed to workforce equity.
- Engage with emerging research on learning transfer, coaching, and AI in workforce settings.
- Share insights from the field—what’s working, what’s challenging, and what’s possible.
- Co-shape the future of research and practice, ensuring that our work remains grounded in real-world impact.
You can learn more about our current members and their contributions below.
Melody Brown
Vice President of People & Team Engagement,
NPower
Melody Brown has served as NPower’s Vice President of People & Team Engagement since March 2016. She has 30 years of experience primarily in the field of human resources but has also led teams in customer care and corporate social responsibility for a Fortune 100 telecommunications company.
During that time, she managed HR teams nationwide in support of 1,500 employees, responsible for DEI on the executive level, worked on numerous mergers and acquisitions, managed multi-million-dollar programmatic budgets, and spearheaded award-winning corporate responsibility initiatives.
Melody is invested in her community and has served on the national board of A Call to Men, and the YWCA of Union County. She was formerly on the board of trustees for the Morris County Urban League, and the advisory board of the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University. Melody has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Adelphi University and a master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in organizational leadership. She is married to Dr. Charles Brown and has three children.
Dr. Cheryl Camacho
Chief Learning and Program Officer,
i.c.stars.
Dr. Cheryl Camacho is a learning artist and transformational strategist committed to creating liberatory learning experiences that elevate confidence, dignity, and power—especially for those who have been underestimated or underinvested in.
As a learning artist, Cheryl blends strategy, creativity, and intention to design experiences that don’t just transfer knowledge—they transform people and systems. Her work lives at the intersection of strategy, soul, and structure, where learning becomes a vehicle for transformation.
With 23 years of experience spanning K–12 education, workforce development, higher education, government, and nonprofits, Cheryl brings deep expertise in building strategy, leading change, and designing immersive learning experiences. She is known for bringing structure to vision, turning insight into action, and cultivating environments that are both high in challenge and rich in care.
Cheryl currently serves as Chief Learning + Program Officer at i.c.stars, where she leads national program evolution to support non-traditional talent in launching tech careers. She also leads The Black Butterfly Collective, a consulting practice specializing in transformational program strategy, facilitation design, curriculum development, and staff learning strategy. As an adjunct professor, she teaches leadership along the full developmental continuum—from emerging leaders to executives. Cheryl holds a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University.
Whether coaching a CEO, designing a curriculum, or facilitating for a room of adult learners, Cheryl shows up with curiosity, clarity, and a deep commitment to excellence. She believes learning is how we build power. It’s how we break cycles. It’s how we fly.
Jacqueline Chernoble
Vice President of Adult Education and Workforce Development, Catholic Charities Boston
Jacqueline Chernoble is the Vice President of Adult Education and Workforce Development at Catholic Charities Boston. In her role she oversees all Adult Education and Workforce Development programs across the organization, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Adult Basic Education and High School Equivalency classes, and job training programs for Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, and IT Support.
Before joining Catholic Charities, Jacqueline served as the Vice President of Workforce Advancement and ESOL Services at Jewish Vocational Service. She oversaw a range of programs with the two-fold goal of supporting English language learners and frontline employees to build their language and digital literacy skills, perform their jobs more effectively, and advance to higher paying jobs; while helping their employers to develop, retain, and advance their workforce. She has presented at the regional and national level and has been quoted in several publications focused on building opportunities and equity in workforce development. Jacqueline holds a master’s in Nonprofit Management and Adult and Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University, and a BA in Psychology from Boston College.
Lauren Crain
Senior Advisor, Social Strategy Associates
Lauren Crain is a Senior Advisor at Social Strategy Associates, where she supports philanthropic and social impact organizations in advancing equitable workforce systems and immigrant inclusion. Her work focuses on strengthening pathways to quality work and fostering cross-sector collaboration that drives systems-level change.
Previously, Lauren was Director of U.S. Strategy and Programs at the World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund, the philanthropic arm of WES—a global social enterprise supporting international education and workforce mobility. She helped to establish and grow the Fund’s U.S. grantmaking program, developing strategies that advanced economic mobility, job quality, and leadership among immigrants and refugees
Lauren has served on the steering committee of Workforce Matters, a national network of funders focused on employment and workforce development, where she has also served as treasurer.
She has been a subject matter expert for the J.M. Kaplan Innovation Prize and a member of Welcoming America’s Welcoming Standard Content Advisory Board. Earlier in her career, she held program and partnership roles at the Aspen Institute and Scholars at Risk, where she helped strengthen institutional practices that uphold human rights, academic freedom, and inclusion. She holds a BA in Politics from New York University and an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University.
James Cryan
CEO & Founder,
Willow Education, PBC
Willow is a career exploration and planning platform for young adults. We support forward-thinking educators to help their students discover purpose and find their best fit, best-quality education next steps (both college and professional programs). Willow’s vision is a world where all learners find quality next steps that enrich their lives, through education, durable skills, and an economic return on their investment.
Before recently moving to Vermont, James was the founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Preparatory Schools (RMP), a growing network of high-performing, nonprofit, public elementary charter schools in Colorado. Today, RMP has 12 schools and serves ~5,000 students across the Denver Metro Area. Known for its rigorous and loving approach to supporting the whole child, Rocky Mountain Prep has been recognized by the State of Colorado, Denver Public Schools, and Colorado Succeeds for the exceptional growth and academic success of its students. The Denver Post named RMP as one of Denver’s Top 100 Workplaces three times during James’ tenure as CEO.
James is passionate about supporting others to achieve their full potential. He has been named one of Colorado’s “Public Education Game-Changers” by A+ Colorado and was named “Leader of the Year” in 2021 by the Colorado League of Charter Schools. Civically, he currently serves as the co-chair of the Middlebury Area Land Trust board. He was a co-founder and founding board member of Denver Families for Public Schools, has served as an elected leader to the Denver Public Schools Collaborative Council board and as the Board Treasurer of Reach out and Read Colorado, among others. Additionally, he has served as an entrepreneurship mentor, lecturer, and coach at MIT, Middlebury, and Champlain College. Before founding RMP, James received his MBA from the University of Denver, was a member of Teach for America, and graduated magna cum laude from Colby College. In their free time, James, Liz, and their kids Sophia, Caleb, and Emma love playing outside in all forms, be it hiking, biking, skiing, beekeeping, or gardening.
Mollie Dougherty
Senior Program Officer,
Charles Koch Foundation
Mollie is currently a Senior Program Officer at the Charles Koch Foundation, focused on helping people access educational pathways that lead to meaningful careers and greater economic mobility. For over a decade, she has served as a mission-focused strategic advisor and investor steward, cultivating collaborative partnerships, building organizational capacity, and advancing philanthropic initiatives. Her journey has been all about building strong relationships and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to create shared strategies and make investments that matter. Mollie lives in Washington, D.C. and holds an MBA and a BA in economics. Outside of work, you’ll often find her in nature, playing pickleball, cheering on the Caps, or enjoying time with her three adult children.
Bob Gerard
Learning Ingenuity Lead,
Accenture
Bob Gerard is a thirty-year-plus learning industry veteran who has held pretty much every role imaginable in the learning space at one time or another. Currently, Bob leads the Learning Ingenuity team within Accenture’s HR organization, which is essentially “research and development for how Accenture people learn better.”
Bob is also the co-host of The Learning Geeks podcast, a program that reaches thousands of learning professionals around the world. He lives in Long Beach, California with his wife Sherri, a cat, and a pretty cool home arcade.
Allison Gerber
Vice President, Center for Economic Opportunity
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Allison Gerber is vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Center for Economic Opportunity, where she leads efforts to create pathways to financial stability and economic mobility for children youth and families across the United States.
Gerber has spent more than 20 years driving economic and workforce development initiatives. She has been a leader at the Foundation since 2013, shaping its strategies on workforce development, apprenticeships and collaborations with public and private partners. As a senior associate, she developed several youth and young adult employment initiatives, including Generation Work and the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship.
As director of Employment, Education and Training, she played a pivotal role in expanding programs that make education and credentialing opportunities more accessible for young people, especially those who have faced barriers to success. Prior to joining the Casey Foundation, Gerber was the executive director of the District of Columbia’s Workforce Investment Council and a senior associate with the Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative. Gerber earned a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and public administration from Sweet Briar College and a law degree from Tulane University.
Jake Gittleson
Co-founder & Lead,
Research and Innovation Learning Lab, McKinsey & Company
Jake is a learning design and innovation leader with over 18 years of experience in the L&D profession. As the co-founder and leader of McKinsey’s Research and Innovation Learning Lab, Jake oversees a team specializing in experimentation, research, learning science, apprenticeship, and emerging trends. He is a passionate people developer dedicated to building top-tier experts who design cutting-edge upskilling initiatives that drive impact across the Firm.
Jake is also a co-host and producer of an industry-leading podcast, The Learning Geeks. He has written various articles for McKinsey.com and has served as a speaker, conference committee member, and contributor for various industry institutions, including the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and The Learning Forum.
Rhonda Harris
Chief People and Operating Officer,
The Door
As the Chief People and Operating Officer of The Door, Rhonda Harris works directly with the CEO as a thought partner and advisor to ensure that operations and human resources are aligned with agency strategy. Rhonda has direct oversight of the agency’s Compliance functions, Human Resources, and IT.
Rhonda’s expertise is in transforming departments, teams, and people into strategic business partners with the organizations they serve, yielding optimal performance and outcomes for all. She has provided and executed HR & Culture roadmaps and solutions that deliver results, transform organizations, and deliver a rich workforce experience to employees.
Rhonda Harris has more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources, Organizational Development, and Strategy. She has worked in various employment sectors throughout her career, including healthcare, hospitality, and entertainment. In 2013, she relocated to New York City to dedicate the balance of her career to nonprofit organizations. Since then, she has worked with organizations in HIV/AIDS, social change, and the arts. Former roles have included Chief People/Culture/Strategy Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.
Dana Koch
Learning Scientist
Dana Alan Koch is a seasoned learning scientist with more than 40 years of experience creating brain-friendly learning experiences. With background in neuroscience, cognitive science, and learning science, Dana led Accenture’s Institute for the Applied Learning Sciences for over a decade, focusing on designing learning programs informed by the latest research on learning and neuroscience. The Institute’s research led to learners who were empowered to optimize their brain’s ability to learn, retain, and apply learning, to improved faculty effectiveness, and to increased brain-friendliness of learning materials.
His leadership drove ongoing research on the principles of learning durability as well as the future of learning. The application of this research required developing innovative solutions for evolving business needs.
Dana has shared research insights at global conferences, authored numerous blogs and articles, chaired advisory boards, and holds patents for learning innovations. Currently, he co-hosts the Learning Geeks podcast, teaches study skills to missionaries, and remains actively engaged with learning, neuroscience, and wellness communities.
Dana holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, specializing in Cognitive Science, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University’s School of Organizational Communications, specializing in the Learning Sciences.
Anne Larkin
Senior Program Officer, Education Pathways,
Gates Foundation
Anne Larkin is a Senior Program Officer with the Education Pathways team at the Gates Foundation. Her work is focused on building momentum and alignment around the best ways to give students access to clear, structured, and affordable education pathways that prepare them for career success. Previously Anne led communications for the Aspen Institute’s higher education program, where she helped community college leaders center economic mobility in the national conversation about higher education. She has over a decade in strategic communications experience, which shapes her approach to systems change. Anne is based in Seattle, Washington.
Francisco Martinez
President & CEO,
Project QUEST
Francisco Martinez is the 7th President & CEO of Project QUEST, a nationally recognized workforce development organization based in San Antonio. Founded in 1992, QUEST was created through a community-driven effort to support displaced workers and today continues to equip underemployed and unemployed adults with training that leads to highdemand, family-sustaining careers. With a proven track record validated by independent research, QUEST has transformed thousands of lives while generating billions in wage gains and a strong return on investment for the region
As President & CEO, Francisco oversees all facets of the organization, including service delivery, community engagement, financial health, contractual commitments, and organizational culture. He works closely with the Board of Directors to provide strategic leadership that strengthens QUEST’s impact and ensures its mission of creating pathways out of poverty remains central.
A first-generation college graduate and the son of immigrants, Francisco embodies the transformative power of education. He brings over 25 years of experience spanning public policy, local government, education, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit leadership, always committed to expanding opportunity and equity. Francisco holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. He and his wife are the proud parents of two daughters and he embraces his role as a
dedicated “Girl Dad.
Abby Marquand
Managing Partner, Economic Mobility
New Profit
Abby Marquand is a Managing Partner leading New Profit’s economic mobility work. In this role, she leads New Profit’s core portfolio investment and ecosystem building approaches in economic mobility– supporting pipeline development, investment selection, capacity-building and the learning that comes from the proximity to leaders shaping a more equitable economic future. She also provides strategic advising and support to non-profit portfolio organizations. Abby’s career spans fifteen years in the private, public, and non-profit sectors– with an interest and commitment to economic opportunity and empowerment throughout.
She has held roles in corporate philanthropy, including at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and at Mastercard. Her passion for work focused on economic opportunity was cemented in the years she spent leading policy research and advocacy to advance basic labor protections for home care workers, and those spent within NYC government focused on aligning career pathway jobs to labor market demand within the City’s health care industry.
The lessons learned across sectors and systems have shaped Abby’s perspective on the need for investment in solutions that center the expertise of the people most directly impacted and those that change the conditions that hold social problems in place. Abby holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Barnard College and currently resides outside of Boston with her husband and two daughters.
Huw Newton-Hill
GM North America,
Attensi
Huw Newton-Hill leads Attensi’s commercial and operational teams in delivering cutting-edge, game-based simulation training solutions underpinned by behavioral science, latest technology, and game design. Since joining Attensi in 2017, he has been instrumental in driving the company’s international growth and product development —partnering with global organizations to transform how their people learn and perform at work.
With a background in strategy consulting at Boston Consulting Group and investment banking at Goldman Sachs, Huw brings a strategic and analytical perspective to the evolving intersection of learning and technology. He holds an MBA from London Business School and is passionate about enabling people and organizations to unlock their full potential and grow to be exceptional.
Jon Rogers
Deputy Director of Strategic Workforce Planning & Staff Development, Indiana Department of Child Services
Jon Rogers is a Deputy Director at the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) with responsibility for Strategic Workforce Planning and Staff Development for one of the State of Indiana’s largest agencies. DCS is more than 4,000 employees strong, staffed by compassionate people committed to the well-being of Hoosier families and children. Jon’s portfolio includes management of new and experienced employee training, resource parent training, hiring and retention initiatives, and recruitment, including scholarship- and internship-based opportunities.
A state employee for seven years, Jon previously served as Director of Strategic Workforce Planning at the Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) – the backbone of IT for the executive branch. At IOT, Jon founded and led the State Earn and Learn (SEAL) IT program, which reskilled adults with any background (and no prerequisites or degrees) into information technology and security careers. Under Jon’s leadership, SEAL IT was recognized with a 2023 National Association of State CIOs State IT Recognition Award for Enterprise IT Management Initiatives; 2022 and 2023 StateScoop50 awards for State IT Innovations; a 2023 Indianapolis Business Journal HR Impact Award for Talent & Recruitment; and a 2024 Indiana Chamber of Commerce Impact Award for Innovative Program of the Year. In addition to the program’s accolades, Jon won a 2023 TechPoint Tech25 Award for Tech Innovation Strategy & Community; a 2024 StateScoop50 award for State Leadership; and a 2025 Government Technology award for the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, & Drivers.
Prior to joining state government, Jon served as a legislative staffer for United States Senator John Warner (VA-Ret.) and in policy and workforce roles in the United States Intelligence Community. Jon is a Senior Certified Practitioner with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and he is proud to note that he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government from The College of William & Mary in Virginia and his Master of Business Administration (McCombs School of Business) and Master of Public Affairs (LBJ School of Public Affairs) degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He lives in Indianapolis with his family.
Melissa Smith
Vice President of Public Policy, Talent and Workforce Development, Strada Education Foundation
Melissa Smith joined Strada Education Foundation in 2023 as the Vice President of Public Policy, Talent and Workforce Development. In this role, she leads the development of Strada’s workforce education and skills development policy agenda. Melissa has over two decades of workforce and labor policy expertise, having held leadership roles at the US Departments of Labor and Commerce and having served on the White House Domestic Policy Council.