Current Board Members

We are happy to serve our community!

Astrid Emond

Co-Chair

AstridAstrid has been working in the legal field for two decades. Currently, she serves as Intellectual Property Prosecution Manager for one of the nation’s largest law firms. In previous roles, she has been responsible for leading a team of Legal Assistants/Paralegals, overseeing the Training Department and managing various other groups. Astrid was born and raised in Germany.

Astrid earned a Master of Science in Organization Development (MSOD) from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Columbia College. As a part of a consulting team she worked with a South African client on a culture change analysis and team development. Additionally, she has collaborated with a non-profit membership organization in the Washington, DC area on fostering team development and effectiveness. She also enjoyed performing a strategic assessment of a non-profit education and mentoring organization in North Carolina, specifically focusing on leadership practices and strategic planning.

Astrid is passionate about OD and enjoys making new connections. She is looking forward to meeting other members of the OD Community to engage and continue to grow in this field.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, running, and photography.  Contact Astrid

Christina Scott

Director of Social Media

Christopher Cotten

TBD, 2018

Christopher CottenChristopher Cotten is an experienced organizational development (OD) practitioner, facilitator, project manager and grant manager with a work history spanning a wide variety of countries and contexts. In January 2018, he began working as a Consultant with the Clearing, a consulting firm based in Washington, DC. Previously, he worked for nearly 10 years with the American Red Cross, where he focused on the provision of OD support to local and national partner organizations in developing countries and large-scale international disaster recovery programming.

Over the course of his career, Christopher has engaged in OD-related work with clients in the corporate and non-profit sectors, with the latter ranging from humanitarian organizations to legal support groups to arts organizations. His work has included efforts on strategy development, implementation and review; facilitation of organizational self-assessment, analysis and planning processes; internal communication; organizational culture; and team development. He has had the privilege to work or complete short-term assignments in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Southeast and Central Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. He presented at the 2017 OD Network Annual Conference on facilitating virtual, participatory sessions in OD processes.

Christopher obtained his BA from the University of Richmond, majoring in International Studies (with a concentration in World Politics and Diplomacy) and French. He finished the AU MSOD program in May 2017 as part of Cohort 72.

Gopinath Bloch

TBD, 2018-2020

Gopinath BlochGopinath Bloch moved to the United States in 2009 from India where he grew up as a barefooted wild-child in a village three hours outside of Delhi. He studied Corporate Communication at the University of Texas and then proceeded to work as a graphic designer and event planner for non-profits in Washington DC. Eventually, he realized that no matter how much he talked to his computer, that it didn't inspire him as much as working with teams of people did. OD found him and AU transformed him, giving him the gift of choices (that he hadn't realized he had) to live a more conscious and meaningful life.

Jen Ware

Jen Ware has over 18 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. She is currently a Senior Transaction Manager in the Global Workplace Solutions group at CBRE. In this role, she provides real estate consulting services to a Fortune 50 corporation

Throughout her career in commercial real estate, Jen has held leadership roles where she focused on organization development projects with her companies and her clients. She has a particular passion for developing highly effective teams which focus on addressing organizational challenges. These teams have designed and implemented training programs and new systems, processes and databases. An intended secondary impact of this work is the creation of a work environment which serves both the organization and the employee, yielding higher productivity and lower turnover.

While pursuing her Master of Science in Organization Development degree at American University, Jen had the opportunity to consult with two different organizations in Washington, D.C. and one in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. She is now pursuing deeper study into the concept and practice of Use of Self within corporations, most particularly how to retain your unique identity while helpfully participating in the system.

In addition to her MSOD degree from American University, Jen received her BA at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Matteo Becchi

Director of Learning & Development

matteo_becchiMatteo is a certified IT project manager (PMP, CSM) experienced in managing system and application implementations and migrations across a multitude of platforms for internal and external clients, including business process re-design. Matteo has been a change agent in information technology (IT) and business process (BP), using leadership and creativity in a variety of capacities in the public, private and higher-ed sectors for more than 15 years. Matteo completed his MIS at the George Washington University in 2007, his MSOD at American University in 2014, and is now pursuing his next career challenge: combining his project management experience, passion for all that is OD, and his budding interest in becoming a visual practitioner. Matteo is an active member of ODN and CBODN. In his spare time, Matteo enjoys lifelong learning, exercise (including becoming a certified yoga instructor) and cultivating meaningful connections both professionally and personally.

Olu Burrell

TBD, 2018-2020

Olu BurrellOlu Burrell's background includes working in Government, Not-for-Profit, the Private sector, as well as in Education at both the secondary and post-secondary levels.

He currently works as the Rapid Response & Trade Adjustment Assistance Programs Coordinator for Washington, DC. In this role, he counsels and coaches dislocated workers who have lost their jobs due to reductions-in-force (RIF), company/site closure, contract dissolution, and foreign trade.

In addition to my work with the D.C. government, Olu also does OD consultation and Coaching independently.  He counts storytelling and the spoken word as part of his strengths, and, where appropriate, includes them in his engagements. In doing so, Olu encourages clients to craft their own legend. A student of inquiry, he treats “the interrogative as the imperative,” in establishing connection and, more importantly, breakthrough.

Olu earned a B.A. in English from Howard University, a M.S. in Organization Development from American University, and a Graduate Certificate in Comprehensive Evidence-Based Coaching from Fielding Graduate University. Olu currently holds the ACC designation of the International Coach Federation.

Olu resides in Washington, DC with his wife Farran, and our two children, Samara and Solomon.

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Rosalind Spigel

Secretary, Director of Partnerships Outreach

Rosalind A. Spigel, MSOD, ACC, is Principal of Spigel Consulting, Inc., a firm that specializes in Organization Development, Leadership Coaching, and Hiring and supports engagement and alignment of organization, team, and individuals to achieve shared goals.

Rosalind leads organization development and capacity building for nonprofits and faith communities. Rosalind is author of The Sacredness of Change, an associate moderator for the Penn Project of Civic Engagement, and a Practicum Advisor for the American University Masters of Organization Development. A former nonprofit executive, she currently sits on two nonprofit boards.

Rosalind received her BA from George Washington University, a Masters of Science in Organization Development from the American University and was the recipient of the Hal Kellner Award for contributions to issues of diversity and social justice.  Rosalind received her coach training from the Gestalt International Study Center and is certified through the International Coaching Federation. She is certified to administer and analyze the TTI Insights assessments. In April, 2016 Rosalind completed the Art of Transformational Consulting intensive.

Scott Blanchard

Syreeta Evans

Syreeta EvansSyreeta is a social change expert with 10+ years of experience operating in dynamic organizational settings within both nonprofit and for-profit arenas. Syreeta specializes in elevating and innovating organizational development strategies through team development, change management, organizational structure, and business development. As the Associate Director of Training & Youth Development Practice at the DC Trust, Syreeta used her passion and dedication to infusing a positive youth development approach into the organizational consciousness, programming, and daily practices of community based organizations and DC government agencies during the last 9 years. She is an effective communicator and highly skilled in multiple environments-public speaking, facilitating workshops of large and small groups, and one-on-one. Syreeta’s mission to inspire, lead, and restore individuals and organizations to purpose so that they may use their passions, core competencies, and resources to inspire, lead, and restore others has led to the recent establishment of Intended Impact Consulting, LLC. She is a member of cohort 68.

Taylor Schaffter

TBD, 2018-2020

Taylor SchaffterTaylor is a recent graduate of the AU MSOD program who had the opportunity to be a part of both Cohorts 71 & 72. She has worked as an internal OD practitioner since 2009 when she applied to an OD Intern position at a DC-based international public health nonprofit. She had no idea what OD was at the time, but has fallen in love with the field and continues to practice her OD skills in her current role as Learning & Development Manager for Denver Public Library.

Her main interest lies in learning new techniques and adapting her skill set to align with customer needs. Outside of her work life, Taylor enjoys spending time with her family in Michigan and Colorado, binge-watching The Crown with her husband and 11-lbs. chihuahua, Dolly Parton, and exploring her new hometown of Denver.

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Ross Gruebel

Ex-Officio Member. Past Positions: Co-Chair, Acting Treasurer, Membership

Ross has over ten years of organizational leadership and consulting experience. Mr. Gruebel has consulted for a government agency in the Caribbean and non-profit LGBT organizations in the U.S. and Europe on leadership and strategy.  He also worked with two US federal agencies as an IT requirements and strategy consultant, and has served on the board of two non-profits in addition to the AUNTL Association. In addition, he coaches organization executives on leadership development and meeting facilitation, and he works on a team of IT consultants for clients in Europe and is based in Munich, Germany.

Mr. Gruebel graduated from American University / NTL Institute (C59) with a Master of Science in Organization Development (MSOD), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Master of Business Administration in Aviation (MBA-A), Master of Science in Management (MSM), and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Studies.

In his spare time, Ross enjoys cooking, traveling, and being in the outdoors with friends, especially in the mountains or near the water.  Contact Ross

Past Board Members

Thank you for the countless hours of dedication, service, and experience to all of our board members, who have made the Association the community we are today!  We are grateful for everything you have done, and will try hard to fill your shoes.

Danielle Ascione

Treasurer (2013-2014)

Danielle provides thought partnership for leadership and talent management learning and leadership coaching, including the design and development of leadership programs, performance management, and employee engagement strategies. Danielle has been on the board of the AU-NTL Association since 2012 and is currently the Treasurer.  Contact Danielle

Denise Rouse

Co-Chair, Director of Website (Co-Membership Chair, Co-Website Manager, 2014)

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Denise Rouse

Denise Rouse has provided training and sustainable organization-wide change management support to organizations across the globe for nearly two decades. She is an international organizational development, organizational change management and information technology professional who has worked with public, private, and non-profit organizations. She serves on the TRG team providing training for the IFC’s Personal Leadership Skills and Strengthening Personal Leadership Skills courses. She specializes in training, organizational change management strategies, executive leadership coaching, meeting facilitations, strategic planning and group development. She is also a Learning Community Facilitator in the Masters of Science-Organization Development (MSOD) program at American University.  Contact Denise

Jennifer John

Communications Chair (2013-2014)

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Jennifer John

Jennifer is an OD and HR Consultant based in Trinidad and Tobago where she supports clients to achieve sustainable change by improving their people practices.

Jennifer served as Secretary when she first joined the Association in 2013 and in her current role as Communications Chair, she re-introduced the quarterly newsletter to help keep members informed and engaged.  Contact Jennifer

 

Katie Rozner

Ex Officio Board Member (Treasurer 2015; Secretary, AU Program Office Liaison, 2014)

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Katie Rozner

After a successful government career working for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for ten years and a brief stint at the non-partisan U.S. Senate Office of Education and Training, Katie Rozner moved from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2014 to start her own business and be closer to family. She has been busy flexing her organization development (OD) muscles to launch made, a bath, body, and beauty business featuring handcrafted soap, scrubs, lip balms, candles, and much more.

With plans to follow the OD scholar-practitioner route, Katie serendipitously discovered that a post-MSOD hobby could be transformed into a career that leverages her undergraduate and graduate education, professional experience, and creativity. She remains passionate about helping organizations and individuals to increase their effectiveness and achieve excellence, and views her continued service on the AU•NTL Association’s Board as a vital connection to the OD community.

Katie is a proud member of AU MSOD Cohort 64, the first cohort to graduate without the NTL affiliation. She was honored as a Segal-Seashore Fellow and earned distinction on her practicum project with affiliate CEOs of a nationwide health care nonprofit. Katie earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and is certified to administer the MBTI Step I and II, FIRO-B, and PMAI.  Contact Katie

Melissa George Kessler

Director of Membership

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Melissa George Kessler

Melissa is an organization development consultant who uses both her process consultation skills and extensive background in advocacy-focused public relations to help clients discover and address core objectives at the staff, leadership and system levels. Kessler holds a master's of science in organization development (MSOD) from American University and a bachelor's of political science degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is a certified practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and EQi 2.0 instruments. Originally from Tulsa, Okla., Kessler now lives in Washington, D.C.  Contact Melissa

Nicole Sookdeo

Co-Chair (2013-2014)

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Nicole Sookdeo

Nicole Sookdeo is an Organization Development and Human Resources professional with more than 10 years of experience working with public, private, and non-profit organizations across industries as well as government organizations. She has worked with organizations in the U.S. and in the Caribbean. Her expertise includes managing change in mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, workforce planning, learning and development, performance management and executive leadership coaching. Nicole has a Master of Science in Organization Development from American University. She has been on the board of the AU.NTL Association since 2011 and is currently Co-Chair of the board.  Contact Nicole

Eric

Eric Connelly

Website

Having trained in and practiced chemical engineering, talent development, and organizational development, I offer organizations an uncommon skill-set that incorporates the best of a quantitative, system design approach to change with qualitative change strategies informed by decades of research in organizational behavior. I offer organizations my expertise in systemic change, talent development, and effective culture in organizations.

If you were a board member of the Association, please let us know by email what position(s) you held and the years your served, along with a short bio and headshot if you would like.  We will be happy to include you on our wall of gratitude for past board members.