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Our NIIT Board of Advisors & Staff

The NIIT Board of Advisors and Staff are seasoned professionals, who bring successful backgrounds in academe, government, and the private sector, and each dedicated to the NIIT Mission “to identify current and future roadblocks to innovation in strategic industry sectors and ensure they are eliminated”.

Our Board of Advisors

Mike Russo

Mike Russo

President & CEO

Nikki Zaahir

Nikki Zaahir

Executive Director

Melinda Woods

Melinda Woods

Board Director

Earl Wyatt

Earl Wyatt

Advisor

Charles W. Wessner

Charles W. Wessner

Board Director

Phil Singerman

Phil Singerman, Ph. D

Advisor

Our Staff

Mike Russo

Mike Russo

President & CEO

Martha Ponge

Martha Ponge

Director, National Apprenticeships

Stephanie Frederick

Stephanie Frederick

Manager of Outreach, Engagement and Communications

Nikki Zaahir

Nikki Zaahir

Executive Director

Pam Howze

Pam Howze

Director, National Workforce Strategies

Jesus Cabarero

Jesus Cabrero

Full Stack Software Engineer

Robert Weinman

Robert Weinman

Director, Workforce Innovation

Laury Ferguson

Laury Ferguson

Associate Director of Program Administration

and Marketing

Chloe Thornton

Program Administration and Data Specialist

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