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OUR TEAM

The People Behind
the Numbers

Our team blends deep financial expertise with a passion for education. Together, we help schools and nonprofits strengthen their foundations, build transparency, and focus resources where they matter most.

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Meet Our Team

Adam Kaeli

Adam Kaeli

Co-CEO

In Adam’s role as Co-CEO of Charter Impact, he is responsible for supporting core operations, leading strategic initiatives and driving long-term growth for the company.

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David Lueck

David Lueck

Co-CEO

David joins Charter Impact with over 20 years of government service and operations experience bringing years of expertise and leadership in mission-driven enterprises.

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Vireak Chheng

Vireak Chheng

Chief Technology Officer

Vireak brings 20 years of charter-specific data and tech experience to Charter Impact. In his current role, he oversees attendance, CALPADS, information technology and student data services.

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Dave Murphy

Dave Murphy

Chief Revenue Officer

Dave serves as the CRO of Charter Impact where he is responsible for aligning Sales, Marketing, and Client Success to drive growth in the Charter School

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Jason Sitomer

Jason Sitomer

Head of Client Finance

Jason is responsible for helping schools thrive financially, stay up-to-date on compliance, and succeed in the new
post-pandemic reality.

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Tricia Butler

Tricia Butler

VP of People and Culture

Tricia Butler, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is an accomplished people, culture, and operations leader with extensive experience building and scaling HR teams for high-growth organizations.

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Samantha Berman

Samantha Berman

Senior Director of Development

Sam brings a strong background in business management, charter schools, staff development and marketing and communications.

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Sam Burris

Sam Burris

Director of Accounting

Sam brings over a decade of non-profit accounting experience to his Director of Accounting role at Charter Impact, where he has been working with clients and leading internal teams since 2015.

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Kerilyn Nuetzhorn

Kerilyn Nuetzhorn

Director of Payroll and Retirement

Keri joins Charter Impact with over a decade of experience as a highly skilled Director of Payroll and Implementation.

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Jim Weber

Jim Weber

Managing Director

Jim Weber has been serving clients in a Director of Client Finance capacity at Charter Impact for over five years. He brings a strong background in education.

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Cathi Cohen

Cathi Cohen

Regional Director

Cathi Cohen brings over two decades of financial, operational, and compliance leadership in the education and nonprofit sectors.

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Jonathan-Gillen

Jonathan Gillen

Regional Director

Jonathan E. Gillen is a seasoned financial and operational leader with over 19 years of experience in the education and financial sectors.

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Dana Vignale

Dana Vignale

Regional Director

With over 25 years of experience in teaching and leadership across public, charter, and independent schools.

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Marie Arce

Marie Arce

Senior Director of Client Finance

Marie Arce is a dynamic finance leader with extensive experience in financial management, planning, and operations, specializing in public education and nonprofit sectors

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Jim Surmeian

Jim Surmeian

Senior Director of Client Finance

Jim Surmeian began his tenure at Charter Impact as an Accounting Manager leading a team of five accounting professionals, and transitioned into a Client Finance.

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Marisol Felix

Marisol Felix

Senior Director of Client Finance

Marisol comes to Charter Impact with over 16 years of financial and fiscal management experience spanning both the private and non-profit sectors.

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John Azzizzi

John Azzizzi

Director of Client Finance

John Azzizzi brings over 30 years of diverse financial leadership experience to Charter Impact, with a career spanning charter school operations, nonprofit administration, and corporate finance.

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Roger Castillo

Roger Castillo

Director of Client Finance

Roger joins Charter Impact with over 8 years of non-profit finance and accounting experience with restricted funds.

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Kate Eng

Kate Eng

Director of Client Finance

Kate brings a decade of planning and analysis experience to her Client Finance Director role at Charter Impact. Prior to joining our team.

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Christopher Fisher

Christopher Fisher

Director of Client Finance, Nonprofits

Christopher Fisher is a seasoned finance and operations leader with a proven track record of driving mission-focused impact and fostering sustainable growth across the nonprofit and corporate sectors.

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Annie Gilbert

Annie Gilbert

Director of Client Finance

Annie Gilbert is a highly accomplished Certified Public Accountant with an extensive, varied background that includes over two decades of working with charter schools.

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Rebecca Heinricy

Rebecca Heinricy

Director of Client Finance

Rebecca brings over 22 years of finance and accounting experience in accounting, financial reporting, and auditing to her Director of Client Finance role at Charter Impact. 

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Deborah LaHood

Deborah LaHood-Hmane

Director of Client Finance

Deborah LaHood-Heman brings over two decades of financial and operational leadership in public education, nonprofits, and government sectors.

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Richard McNeel Jr.

Richard McNeel Jr.

Director of Client Finance

Richard brings over two decades of proven success in public charter school fiscal management to his Client Finance Director role with Charter Impact.

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Prasanth Mudumby

Prasanth Mudumby

Director of Client Finance

Prasanth Mudumby is a mission-driven finance leader with more than a decade of experience guiding organizations through the financial challenges that come with growth and change.

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David Olson

David Olson

Director of Client Finance

David Olson brings a strong background in nonprofit and charter school finance, along with deep experience across multiple industries.

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Josephine Quach

Josephine Quach

Director of Client Finance

Josephine brings over 30 years of expertise in governmental finance and accounting to Charter Impact.

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Broc Bebout

Broc Bebout

Director of Client Experience

Broc Bebout is a strategic leader with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations deliver meaningful, measurable impact through better systems, stronger relationships, and a deep commitment to service.

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Maylen Naranjo

Maylen Naranjo

Director of Client Success

Maylen is responsible for leading Charter Impact’s efforts in maintaining process efficiency and transparency through hands on, in-depth, personalized support of our clients.

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kat

Kat Michiels

Director of Student Data Services

Katherine Michiels, Ed.D. is a seasoned education professional with over 15 years of experience, specializing in data management, assessment, and accountability.

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Kalia Lee

Kalia Lee

Director of Quality Control

Kalia serves as a technical conduit between Accounting and Client Finance, where she is responsible for overseeing Charter Impact’s quality control process for client services.

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Matt Ott

Matt Ott

Accounting Development and Support Manager

Danielle Vartanian

Danielle Vartanian

Senior Accounting Manager

Lola Adekoya-Lawal

Accounting Manager

Lindsey Chow

Lindsey Chow

Accounting Manager

Christina Davidson's

Christina Davidson

Accounting Manager

Yulia El Khoury

Yulia El Khoury

Accounting Manager

Anetta Grigoryan

Anetta Grigoryan

Accounting Manager

Julie-Ann

Julie Ann Reyes

Accounting Manager

coming soon

Jacqueline Sanchez

Accounting Manager

Jessie Arias-Organista

Jessie Arias-Organista

AP Manager

Loris-Khajehkian

Loris Khajehkian

Payroll Manager

Iris Benitez

Iris Benitez

School Data Manager

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Adam Kaeli

Adam Kaeli

Co-CEO

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In Adam’s role as Co-CEO of Charter Impact, he is responsible for supporting core operations, leading strategic initiatives and driving long-term growth for the company. He is passionate about building high performing teams and empowering clients to manage their schools and non-profit organizations with the confidence that they are on sure financial footing.

Prior to joining Charter Impact, Adam spent 15 years leading both for-profit and non-profit organizations focused on delivering services in regulated industries. Adam served as Senior Director of Strategy for DaVita, where he was responsible for growth and operations of integrated care plans across the country. Before joining DaVita, Adam worked as a Senior Consultant with Deloitte and Kaiser Permanente, driving operational efficiency for Fortune 100 organizations in the education and healthcare industries.

Early in his career, Adam cut his teeth as a Naval Officer leading divisions of 20-40 sailors aboard the USS Pinckney, a guided missile destroyer, where he was responsible for the safe operation, navigation, and self-defense of the ship.

Adam graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Carnegie Mellon University and earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina while serving as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science at The Citadel. In his free time, Adam is active at his CrossFit gym and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Abby and daughter, Claire.
David Lueck

David Lueck

Co-CEO

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David joins Charter Impact with over 20 years of government service and operations experience bringing years of expertise and leadership in mission-driven enterprises. As Co-CEO, he supports client operations through team building and process excellence to ensure best-in-class service.
 
Prior to Charter Impact, David specialized in the research, analysis and optimization of small and midsize businesses. Before his work in the private sector, David completed over 20 years of service in the US Navy including numerous tours of duty and seven overseas deployments. For his final tour he served as the senior director of training and readiness for Destroyer Squadron 23 where he oversaw training, compliance and certification requirements of six guided missile destroyers comprising 1,800 personnel as well as directed the tactical employment of seven surface ship assets with Carrier Strike Group Nine onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt.
 
Previously, David completed tours assigned to USS Freedom, USS Fort Worth, USS Halsey, and USS Wyoming. Additionally, David was a Naval Science Instructor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) NROTC where he trained and mentored future military leaders from MIT, Harvard, and Tufts for several years in between operational tours.
 
David holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Jacksonville University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Outside of work, David enjoys time with his wife and son, cooking for family and friends, running, tennis, and hiking.
Vireak Chheng

Vireak Chheng

Chief Technology Officer

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Vireak brings 20 years of charter-specific data and tech experience to Charter Impact. In his current role, he oversees attendance, CALPADS, information technology and student data services.
 
Vireak began his career with charter schools in 2002 at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy (CNCA), a community of high-performing public schools serving students in historically underserved neighborhoods of Central Los Angeles. Vireak spent 5 years working as a Data Systems Administrator and Information Technology (IT) Coordinator.
 
After his time at CNCA, Vireak joined the Alliance College-Ready Public Schools. The Alliance is currently the largest charter school network in Los Angeles, and larger than 75% of all school districts in California. During his 10 years at Alliance, he served multiple roles in which he oversaw technical design, data collection, reporting, and analysis functions for the organization.
 
In his most recent role, as Senior Vice President of Technology, he was responsible for developing strategic priorities and operating plans for IT, Student Information Systems (SIS) and Research, Assessment and Data teams.
 
As the accountability landscape becomes more demanding, charter schools must demonstrate their student information and achievement in more sophisticated ways. A key part of Vireak’s work with Charter Impact is focused on guiding clients to make data-informed decisions to impact and highlight the success of their schools and students. Vireak is passionate about ensuring that all students have an opportunity to experience high-quality education and is thrilled to use his expertise to continue serving the charter community.
 
Vireak earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from California State University, Northridge.
Dave Murphy

Dave Murphy

Chief Revenue Officer

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Dave serves as the CRO of Charter Impact where he is responsible for aligning Sales, Marketing, and Client Success to drive growth in the Charter School and Non-profit markets empowering leaders to focus on what matters most, student and constituent outcomes. He is passionate about building great organizations that deliver for their clients and employees alike.

Prior to joining Charter Impact, Dave served as SVP of Revenue at Source Advisors where he drove high double-digit growth in the specialized tax advisory space building relationships with CPAs and helping their business clients maximize cash flow and reduce risk.

Before Source Advisors, Dave spent 10+ years at Forrester operating in a multitude of roles and industries delivering professional services to C-Suite leaders enabling them to thrive in highly disruptive environments. His roles included sales leadership, solution engineering, strategy consulting, and research on emerging technologies. The 5 years in strategy consulting focusing on marketing, strategy, and client experience afforded him the ability to serve Fortune 100 brands across the globe from Singapore to Argentina to Belgium.

Dave graduated from the University of Richmond with concentrations in Marketing and FinanceIn his free time, Dave enjoys golf, skiing, and spending as much time as possible with his family – Wife (Ali), Son (Bode) and Daughter (Scottie).

Jason Sitomer

Jason Sitomer

Head of Client Finance

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 Jason is responsible for helping schools thrive financially, stay up-to-date on compliance, and succeed in the new post-pandemic reality. Jason oversees a team of ten directors assisting over 70 organizations, 100 schools, and 50,000 students. He takes pride in being a strategic partner with Charter Impact’s clients and aggregating best practices from across the industry to drive successful outcomes.
 
Jason joined Charter Impact with over a decade of experience in finance, process improvement, planning and analysis. Most recently, he was Senior Director of Finance for Lifelong Learning Administration Corporation (LLAC), providing financial services to the Learn4Life network of charter schools. During his tenure, he was responsible for the financial projections, cash management, banking relationships, funding determination form applications, and ad hoc analysis and reporting for 20 California charter schools.
 
While there, Jason found his passion and drive for giving back to the community by helping charter schools utilize the resources available to them and create the most robust charter school programing possible. He is a strong advocate for school choice for all those looking for additional options outside of the traditional public schools currently available to students.
 
Prior to LLAC, Jason worked at a variety of entertainment companies (Sony, Fox, Universal, and Disney) in various roles focused on analysis and process improvement. He brings his working knowledge from the for-profit world to ensure that the same principles can be applied to the non-profit educational world so its leaders and organizations can achieve sustainable long-term success.
 
Jason earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Francisco State University and his Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
Tricia Butler

Tricia Butler

VP of People and Culture

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Tricia Butler, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is an accomplished people, culture, and operations leader with extensive experience building and scaling HR teams for high-growth organizations. With a proven track record of aligning human resources strategy with business goals, Tricia is a trusted partner to executive teams and a catalyst for organizational success. 
 
Most recently, Tricia served as Chief of Staff and Vice President of People & Culture at Hunt A Killer, a subscription-based entertainment company. Over her tenure, she guided the company’s strategic planning as a member of the executive team, implemented innovative HR initiatives, and expanded the people team. Tricia developed programs to enhance employee engagement, streamlined performance reviews, and established a comprehensive job leveling and salary structure aligned with industry benchmarks. 
 
Prior to Hunt A Killer, Tricia held leadership roles at Grove Collaborative, where she scaled the people team from three to 15 members while growing the company to over 1,000 employees across multiple locations. She reduced recruiting costs by $900,000 by bringing recruitment in-house and was instrumental in driving employee engagement and equity programs. 
 
Her earlier career highlights include leading the human resources function at Francesca’s during its rapid expansion and transition to a public company, and serving as Director of Human Resources at eatsa, where she developed HR infrastructure for a tech startup. 
 
Tricia holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and is certified as an SPHR and SHRM-SCP. Known for her strategic vision and people-first approach, Tricia thrives on fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures that drive business success. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and embarking on adventures with her beloved dog. 
Samantha-Berman

Samantha Berman

Senior Director of Development

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Sam brings a strong background in business management, charter schools, staff development and marketing and communications. She is responsible for supporting Charter Impact’s team and service offerings to facilitate smart, thoughtful growth and sustainable, long-term success.
 
In her current role, Sam supervises Business Development, Business Support Services, Human Resources and Internal Operations. She works to develop a strategic perspective — based on both client and staff needs — in organizational direction and decision-making to ensure the overall health and vitality of the firm.
 
Prior to Charter Impact, Sam was the Director of Ladybug Music, an L.A.-based arts education program bringing a diverse and interactive music curriculum to families with young children. While there, she managed day-to-day operations and marketing, and was responsible for fostering growth strategies with business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships.
 
Prior to Ladybug, Sam spent several years in Marketing and Development at EdTec, another social enterprise committed to improving public education through the support of charter schools. She was primarily responsible for expanding the organization’s impact through increased and enhanced visibility to new and existing schools. Before that, she worked for a handful of raucous years in entertainment production, making commercials and independent films.   
 
Sam is devoted to smart, imaginative organizations that foster opportunities for learning, joy and wonder. She has a passion in education that is partly due to her own unique school background and partly due to now raising two young kids of her own. Sam has volunteered her time and service on both the School Site Council and in the classroom at her kids’ public elementary schools.
 
Sam earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Journalism/Communications from the University of Oregon. 
Sam Burris

Sam Burris

Director of Accounting

Sam brings over a decade of non-profit accounting experience to his Director of Accounting role at Charter Impact, where he has been working with clients and leading internal teams since 2015. Sam has held several roles at Charter Impact in Accounting, Compliance and Analysis, and currently leads all accounting and reporting related functions for an accounting team of 30+ professionals with a focus on team leadership, mentorship and development, quality, timeliness, and process improvement.
 
Sam first began to hone his accounting skills with internship positions during college in accounts payable and internal audit departments. His interest in non-profit accounting began while participating in a course dedicated to the sector.
 
Sam was able to translate his interest into a staff accountant role with The Salvation Army. While there Sam assisted roughly seventy volunteer-run service units across Northeast Ohio with their financial statements and compliance requirements. When not assisting the service units, he was fortunate to have opportunities to assist with payroll and financial consolidation tasks for the organization.
 
Sam’s desire to give back to his community through his career comes from his parents: his father is a teacher, and his mother is a social worker. He is excited to follow their lead, lending his experience to staff, educators, and mission-driven organizations across the country with his work at Charter Impact.
 
Sam earned both his Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Accounting degrees from Baldwin Wallace University. He is an actively licensed CPA.
Kerilyn Nuetzhorn

Kerilyn Nuetzhorn

Director of Payroll and Retirement

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Keri joins Charter Impact with over a decade of experience as a highly skilled Director of Payroll and Implementation. She is a dynamic professional known for her unwavering commitment to excellence in managing and implementing payroll solutions. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a proven track record of success in team leadership, ensuring payroll compliance with laws and regulations, and optimizing operational processes.
 
Keri’s journey in the payroll management industry began at Paychex, where she served as the Payroll Operations Manager. In this capacity, she led a team of payroll specialists within a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) setting overseeing 500+ clients with over 10,000 employees, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and adherence to stringent processes and procedures. Her strategic approach to setting performance goals and standards for the team resulted in a notable improvement in payroll processing and overall organization.
 
Subsequently, Keri oversaw the successful implementation and management of Makai HR’s PEO solution as their Executive Director of Payroll and Implementation. Keri worked closely with clients, internal teams, and local partners across multiple industries including blue collar, education, restaurants, hospitality, and healthcare, she ensured that the end-to-end delivery of Human Resources, Benefits Administration, and Payroll solutions exceeded expectations.
 
Keri’s dedication to building strong working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders has been a driving force throughout her career. Her innate ability to connect with others has played a vital role in fostering collaboration and achieving outstanding results in every endeavor. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Keri finds profound meaning in the work she does, particularly in the positive impact payroll and human resources have on the lives of individuals and communities. In Keri’s free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her family, going camping, boating, and exploring trails in her side-by-side.
Jim Weber

Jim Weber

Managing Director

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Jim Weber has been serving clients in a Director of Client Finance capacity at Charter Impact for over five years. He brings a strong background in education, public accounting, and audit services, with extensive charter-specific experience in financial accounting, analysis and management, most notably from his prior role as Assistant Controller at Rocketship Education, a multi-state non-profit charter management organization. 
 
During his six-year tenure at Rocketship, Jim was responsible for the preparation and presentation of financial statements and packages for the organization and related real estate entity during growth from 5 schools in the Bay Area (2011–12) to 18 schools in four states (2017–18), exceeding $100 million in revenue. In that role, he also provided accounting management for federal, state and private grants; managed year-end and month-end close and annual audits, and prepared continuing disclosure reports for Rocketship’s Obligated Group bond financed facilities.
 
Prior to Rocketship, Jim spent several years in public accounting with Plante Moran in Ann Arbor, MI, where he prepared audit documentation, tests of internal controls, financial statements and related disclosures, and reviewed and prepared federal, multi-state and local returns for various business entities. Additionally, he has over a decade of experience as a GL and Staff Accountant with private agricultural firms in California’s Central Valley.
 
Jim earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from U.C. Santa Cruz and a Master of Science in Accounting from Eastern Michigan University. He is an actively licensed CPA.
Cathi Cohen

Cathi Cohen

Regional Director

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Cathi Cohen brings over two decades of financial, operational, and compliance leadership in the education and nonprofit sectors, with deep roots supporting schools and community-based programs across Texas, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. She has led large-scale initiatives in both the public charter and traditional public school space, with a proven track record of aligning fiscal stewardship with student-focused outcomes. 
 
Prior to joining Charter Impact, Cathi served as Executive Director of BCFS Education Services, overseeing a multi-site Head Start program. She later held roles as Controller and Interim CFO at the Southwest School of Art and as Director of Business Operations and Procurement at San Antonio ISD, where she managed cross-departmental operations, procurement strategies, and compliance oversight. Her experience also includes leading fiscal operations and strategic partnerships in workforce development, K–12, and higher education settings. 
 
As Regional Director, Cathi leads client service delivery and regional growth across Texas and neighboring markets, partnering with schools to ensure financial clarity, regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability. She is known for her strategic mindset, collaborative leadership style, and ability to build trusted relationships that support mission-driven results. 
 
Cathi is Lean Six Sigma certified and holds a master’s degree in accounting. She approaches her work with a servant’s heart, a sharp analytical lens, and an unwavering commitment to empowering schools and the communities they serve. 
Jonathan Gillen

Jonathan Gillen

Regional Director

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Jonathan E. Gillen is a seasoned financial and operational leader with over 19 years of experience in the education and financial sectors. Most recently serving as Chief Financial and Chief Operations Officer for the West Ada School District, the largest school district in Idaho, Jonathan managed a $500 million annual budget and oversaw critical divisions, including finance, procurement, transportation, and information technology. His leadership impacted over 40,000 students and more than 725 employees.  
 
Jonathan has been instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency, revising capital and facility budgeting processes, and improving student transportation and nutritional services. His innovative approaches have led to increased transparency, efficiency, and cost savings across various sectors of the district. His previous role as CFO at West Ada focused on financial management, where he successfully navigated the complexities of federal grant compliance, legislative changes, and budget reductions.  
 
Before his time at West Ada, Jonathan was the Director of School Finance for Athlos Academies and CFO of Treasure Valley Community College. At both organizations, he implemented strategic financial processes, enhanced operational efficiency, and developed training programs to improve financial understanding and compliance.  
 
Jonathan earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southern Oregon University, and both his MBA and Master’s in Education from Northwest Nazarene University. He is also the President of the Idaho Association of School Business Officials and continues to serve as an active member of various community and professional organizations, contributing to the fields of education, finance, and human resources. 
Dana Vignale

Dana Vignale

Regional Director

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With over 25 years of experience in teaching and leadership across public, charter, and independent schools, Dana brings a deep understanding of effective educational practices and school operations. Her career includes leadership roles at the school site level—serving as both a charter school principal and an independent school Head of School—where she focused intently on academics and programming.
 
Beyond instructional leadership, Dana has held senior roles in the business side of education, giving her a deep appreciation for the delicate balance between maintaining sustainable operations and delivering innovative, high-quality academic programs.
 
In her back-office leadership, she served as Executive Director for district-managed charter schools, leveraging the expertise and resources of the nation’s third-largest school district to provide academic, operational, and financial management for a portfolio of eight independently operated charter schools—while respecting each school’s independence and autonomy.
 
Dana also served as CFO for a network of seven schools in Florida, supporting 9,000 students and 900 employees. Most recently, she led the Florida Charter Institute’s Support Unit, delivering technical assistance, professional development, and services to charter schools throughout the state under a Florida Department of Education contract, with a focus on building strong financial systems for long-term sustainability and growth.
 
Through these diverse roles, she has developed extensive expertise in school start-up, academic leadership, operational oversight, and financial management—always honoring each school’s unique mission and culture.
 
She now brings her expertise to Charter Impact, serving as the senior financial leader in Florida, dedicated to supporting charter schools with high-quality financial and operational guidance.
 
Dana holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Secondary English Education from Florida International University and a Master’s in Private School Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Marie Arce

Marie Arce

Senior Director of Client Finance

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Marie Arce is a dynamic finance leader with extensive experience in financial management, planning, and operations, specializing in public education and nonprofit sectors. She has successfully managed multimillion-dollar budgets, overseen complex funding streams, and led financial planning initiatives that drive strategic decision-making and fiscal responsibility. 
 
Before joining Charter Impact, Marie served as Director of Finance for Amethod Public Schools, where she provided leadership for a $45 million charter management organization, overseeing business and finance operations for six local education agencies. Her work optimized business planning, contract oversight, and financial audits to enhance fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency. 
 
Earlier in her career, Marie held key finance roles with UU Justice of California and Mt. Diablo UU of Walnut Creek, where she sharpened her expertise in financial policy development, audit management, and compliance with state and federal regulations. 
 
Marie has a proven track record of securing substantial funding, including federal grants and multimillion-dollar loans, to expand capacity and services. She excels in fostering collaboration across finance, technology, and operations teams to improve efficiency and accountability. Her ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights has been instrumental in helping organizations achieve financial stability and maximize resources. 
 
Beyond her professional roles, Marie serves as Finance Committee Chair for the East Bay Regional Parks District and in advisory roles for the City of Antioch. 
 
Marie’s passion for empowering schools and nonprofits through strategic financial stewardship, coupled with her commitment to lifelong learning, makes her an invaluable partner in advancing educational and community outcomes. 
Jim Surmeian

Jim Surmeian

Senior Director of Client Finance

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Jim Surmeian began his tenure at Charter Impact as an Accounting Manager leading a team of five accounting professionals, and transitioned into a Client Finance Director role overseeing the fiscal operations of several non-classroom-based and classroom-based charter schools.
 
Jim brings over 20 years of non-profit and for-profit financial management experience to our team. Previously, Jim served as Director of Finance and Administration for a Los Angeles-based cancer research foundation. During his tenure, Jim led the budgeting and forecasting process, created and trained a new Accounting Department, and spearheaded the development of the Foundation’s fiscal policies and procedures. He was responsible for all banking relationships and restricted fund accounting and served as the primary contact for annual audits. 
 
While there, Jim also led the HR and IT functions and was responsible for the creation of revised hiring policies, a new Employee Handbook, health insurance and general and professional liability insurance policies, and oversight of both increased network security and the installation of new data center servers.
 
Prior to that, Jim served as the Controller & Accounting Manager for the Electrical Training Institute, an apprenticeship for IBEW Local 11, where he implemented a new accounting system, saving the school more than $100K in implementation costs. Jim established all internal controls, wrote policies and procedures for the school, and presented reports to the Board of Directors. By request of the school’s Executive Director, Jim also began teaching a Personal Finance course to incoming apprentices so they could learn how to manage the income they would soon be making in the field.
 
Throughout his career, Jim has used his Six Sigma background to increase efficiency, eliminate non-value-added functions, and bring down overhead costs for both his internal teams and external clients. He especially enjoys applying this experience for non-profit entities so they can operate more efficiently and better serve their stakeholders.
 
Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Accounting from California State University, Northridge.
Marisol Felix

Marisol Felix

Senior Director of Client Finance

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Marisol comes to Charter Impact with over 16 years of financial and fiscal management experience spanning both the private and non-profit sectors.
 
She began her career with LPL Financial, one of the largest independent broker-dealers in the US, working with Prism Financial Resource providing comprehensive financial service to businesses, governmental institutions, and families.
 
While there, she was responsible for servicing one of the largest accounts with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, providing worksite financial education for over 10,000 employees, overseeing the SEC audit filing, and managing over $20M invested funds combined.
 
Prior to Joining Charter Impact, Marisol was Director of Planning and Budget for UC Riverside Library where she oversaw all fiscal, procurement, and facility functions of the library, managed government contracts, monitored endowment investment funds and led A-133 audits.
 
Prior to UCR, Marisol served as the Director of Finance for Girls Inc. of Orange County, a 501(c)(3) where she was instrumental in turning around the financials of the organization to reporting positive net income by incorporating efficient technology and updated systems, streamlining procedures and aiding in cutting costs During her tenure, Marisol established performance measurement to ensure long-term program sustainability for K-12 girls to better navigate gender, economic and social barriers.
 
Her professional background working with both higher education and local non-profits has led Marisol to highly value promoting and fostering a collaborative learning environment for children of all economic backgrounds. She has an unwavering passion to support and partner with institutions with the same mission so that children can grow into healthy, educated, and independent adults.
 
Marisol earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Literature and Culture with a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Professional Accountancy degree with an emphasis in Finance from the University of California, Irvine.
John Azzizzi

John Azzizzi

Director of Client Finance

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John Azzizzi brings over 30 years of diverse financial leadership experience to Charter Impact, with a career spanning charter school operations, nonprofit administration, and corporate finance. Before joining Charter Impact, John dedicated 12 years to serving in finance and operations leadership roles within California charter schools, first as Director of Finance and Operations for a single school and later as Director of Finance for a consortium of three independent schools. In these roles, he provided strategic financial oversight, ensuring fiscal stability and compliance while working closely with school boards, authorizers, county offices, auditors, and other stakeholders.

John’s expertise extends across finance, HR, IT, facilities, insurance, and risk management, making him a valuable asset to schools navigating complex operational challenges. Prior to his work in the charter school sector, he co-founded a nonprofit foundation focused on education and consulting, serving as its CFO and Board Treasurer.

His early career was rooted in corporate finance, where he spent 13 years at General Electric, progressing through leadership roles in GE’s prestigious Financial Management Program and ultimately serving as Finance Director for major divisions in the U.S. and abroad.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Yale University and pursued a Master’s in Waldorf Education, an experience that deepened his appreciation for the teaching profession—though he humorously admits that facing a Board of Directors is far easier than managing a second-grade classroom. A world traveler, he has lived and worked in Spain, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong before settling in Northern California.

At Charter Impact, John is committed to leveraging his extensive financial and operational expertise to support charter schools in achieving their missions with financial clarity and sustainability.

Roger Castillo

Roger Castillo

Director of Client Finance

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Roger joins Charter Impact with over 8 years of non-profit finance and accounting experience with restricted funds. Most recently, he spent 4 years building his charter knowledge in a Senior Special Programs Accounting role at Green Dot Public Schools, a charter management organization operating 28 schools across three states, where he was responsible for reporting to the schools’ respective authorizers, stakeholders and state auditors.
 
During his tenure, Roger oversaw all fiscal compliance and reporting requirements for Title I, II, III & IV and Special Education in California, Tennessee, and Washington, all producing clean A-133 audits. By collaborating directly with LAUSD’s Division of Special Education, Charter Operated Programs, Roger was also pivotal in revising the Special Education funding methodology to be better balanced based on need and severity.
 
Prior to Green Dot, Roger served as a Financial Analyst at Children’s Institute, where he oversaw Foster Care, Adoption Promotion Support Services, Family Preservation, Child Abuse Treatment, and the Domestic Abuse Response Team programs in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles.
 
While there, he created program-specific zero-based budget models with plug and play functionality to automatically account for multiple variables and scenarios. These budget models were not only flexible and accurate, they significantly reduced costs while maintaining compliance requirements.
 
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Roger has a deep passion for education and mission-driven organizations committed to helping kids from the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder. He believes that education is essential for people to achieve their full potential and to stop the cycle of poverty. Leveraging his determination and multifaceted experiences, Roger has developed the ability to build analytics and establish processes and efficiencies to help school leaders and their teams focus on their mission and the students they serve.
 
Roger earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from California State University, Northridge.
Kate Eng

Kate Eng

Director of Client Finance

Kate brings a decade of planning and analysis experience to her Client Finance Director role at Charter Impact. Prior to joining our team, Kate worked at a number of entertainment studios, including Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, and Paramount Pictures. While at Warner Bros., she provided financial forecasts, content curation, and analytics for retail clients including Walmart, Target and Google, representing over $330M in annual revenue. There, she spearheaded global reporting on launch titles, synthesizing worldwide data to enhance timeliness and accuracy in assessing performance and market potential.
 
Before her time with Warner, Kate worked in Trade Marketing for Disney, managing multiple facets of account-specific promotions from conception to delivery in store. She specialized in building scenario-based forecasts, post-program audits, and recommendations that achieved cost savings and sales velocity. Her role at Disney blended Finance and Operations, where she planned and reported on promotions that generated $61M+ in revenue. While there, her efforts to improve ROI resulted in $200K in cost savings and reduced returns liability, and she was responsible for extensive training of the Retail Analytics team in real-time reporting.
 
Across her career, Kate has leveraged technology to distill data and deliver insights to diverse stakeholders to optimize their strategies. She is excited to apply her background in support of education so that school leaders and the teams who support them can build confidence in their financials to focus on their students and local communities.
 
An immigrant to the U.S., Kate is a firm believer in opportunity through education and is an advocate for the charter school mission of providing choice and accountability. Outside of Charter Impact, Kate has served as a mentor at the Asian Youth Center and volunteered for various organizations, including Toys for Tots and Habitat for Humanity.
 
Kate earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Loyola Marymount University.
Christopher Fisher

Christopher Fisher

Director of Client Finance, Nonprofits

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Christopher Fisher is a seasoned finance and operations leader with a proven track record of driving mission-focused impact and fostering sustainable growth across the nonprofit and corporate sectors. With over a decade of experience, he has developed expertise in strategic financial management, operational scaling, and data-driven decision-making, earning a reputation as a trusted advisor dedicated to creating efficient and impactful organizations.
 
Most recently, Christopher served as Director of Finance at Union Rescue Mission, the largest privately funded homeless shelter in the United States. In this role, he oversaw a $45 million annual budget, managed a nine-member finance team, and transitioned the organization to advanced cloud-based financial systems. His leadership efforts significantly improved efficiency, shortening the monthly close process by 10 days and completing audits two months ahead of schedule. Christopher also strengthened the organization’s operational foundation by implementing innovative tools and fostering a culture of accountability.
 
Previously, Christopher spent a decade at MobileCause, a SaaS company focused on empowering nonprofits to amplify their fundraising efforts. He progressed through multiple roles, culminating as Director of Finance. During his tenure, he successfully led the company through Series A and B fundraising rounds and played a key role in its acquisition. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to doubling new customer acquisitions, boosting cash flow, and enhancing overall business resilience.
 
Christopher holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Pepperdine University and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine’s Straus Institute. He is passionate about leveraging financial insights, fostering collaboration, and implementing innovative solutions to advance the missions of purpose-driven organizations.
Annie Gilbert

Annie Gilbert

Director of Client Finance

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Annie Gilbert is a highly accomplished Certified Public Accountant with an extensive, varied background that includes over two decades of working with charter schools. Her professional journey has been marked by a passion for education and financial expertise that has left a lasting impact on the field.
 
Annie began her public accounting career at Deloitte in San Francisco, and after many years in public accounting and raising four children, Annie was invited to join the Governing Board at her kids’ charter school, which proved to be the starting point of a twenty-plus year career in charter school finance. Annie spent many years serving as the Senior Director of Finance and Operations for Ball Charter Schools, a network of K-8 charters in the Phoenix Metro area. Her financial acumen and strategic leadership contributed significantly to the success and growth of this strong charter organization.
 
In addition to her extensive charter school experience, Annie worked for the Arizona Department of Education for three years as Director of Innovative Learning, served on the Governor’s Classroom First Council and the Charter School Program grant review team for the Department of Education. She is a founding member of the Highland Prep Governing Board, where she contributes her expertise to the development and implementation of visionary educational programs, fostering an environment that nurtures the innovators of tomorrow.
 
Annie loves the ability to assist educators in finance and compliance so that they can focus on their students and partner with them to improve educational outcomes. The opportunity to provide the financial expertise to allow charter schools to innovate and improve is why Annie is excited to be part of the Charter Impact team.
 
Annie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Rebecca Heinricy

Rebecca Heinricy

Director of Client Finance

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Rebecca brings over 22 years of finance and accounting experience in accounting, financial reporting, and auditing to her Director of Client Finance role at Charter Impact. She began her career performing audit work at a middle-tier public accounting firm, which is where her passion for non-profit agencies emerged.
 
Rebecca then joined Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC), where she spent 19 years in positions with progressively increasing responsibility up to the role of Financial Officer. Fresno EOC is one of the largest Community Action Agencies in the country, offering over thirty programs – including a charter high school – with the goal of obtaining equality of opportunity in education, employment, health and living conditions for underserved populations.
 
In her role, Rebecca provided oversight, strategic planning, analytical review, and reporting of all financial transactions for the approximately $160M of funding received from sixty distinct funding agencies within 120 grant/contractual agreements operated by the Agency’s 1,200 employees.

In her most recent role prior to Charter Impact, Rebecca served as the Chief Financial Officer at a community development non-profit agency in rural Oregon. This opportunity brought valuable experience with balancing internal controls and workload with a smaller workforce while bringing financial transparency to the Executive and Board leadership.  
 
Rebecca is excited to now be serving children and adults in their quest for an education aligning with her belief that education is an empowering investment in yourself which no one can ever take away from you.
 
Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Denver. She holds an active CPA license in the states of California, Colorado and Oregon.
Deborah LaHood

Deborah LaHood-Hmane

Director of Client Finance

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Deborah LaHood-Heman brings over two decades of financial and operational leadership in public education, nonprofits, and government sectors. In her current role, she partners with clients to provide strategic financial oversight, compliance management, and forward-thinking operational support. Her approach is hands-on, solutions-oriented, and deeply rooted in building sustainable systems that align with each client’s mission.

Prior to joining Charter Impact, Deborah served as Chief Financial Officer for Quest Charter Academy and Director of Budgets and Compliance for Peoria Public School District 150. She has managed budgets exceeding $300 million, led complex grant reporting for state and federal programs, and strengthened internal controls to enhance accountability and transparency. Her experience spans every aspect of school business operations—from board reporting and audit readiness to payroll, HR, and facilities oversight.

Known for her collaborative leadership style, Deborah has earned the trust of school boards, executive leaders, and teams through clear communication, financial clarity, and a strong commitment to shared success. She works closely with boards and leadership to develop long-range financial plans, analyze performance trends, and present accessible, actionable data that supports strategic decision-making.

In addition to her finance expertise, Deborah has led comprehensive HR operations, including compensation modeling, retirement plan management, onboarding, performance evaluation, and compliance with federal and state employment law. Her work has helped organizations attract and retain talent while ensuring legal compliance and a positive workplace culture.

Deborah holds an MBA with a Human Resources endorsement and a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois Springfield. She is recognized for her leadership, integrity, and deep understanding of the financial and operational challenges facing mission-driven institutions.

Richard McNeel Jr.

Richard McNeel Jr.

Director of Client Finance

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Richard brings over two decades of proven success in public charter school fiscal management to his Client Finance Director role with Charter Impact. Richard has a passion for the mission of charter schools to provide all students access to a world-class education and provide all families with an excellent alternative to traditional public schools.
 
Most recently, Richard served as the Controller at Quest Preparatory Academy, a charter school located in Las Vegas, where he spent more than three years managing financial reporting, budgeting, financing, accounts payable, audits, contracts, risk management, facilities, and the food service program. When Richard came into the role, Quest was in poor financial standing with a negative operating fund balance. When he left, the school was in a positive financial standing with a positive fund balance exceeding $500K.
 
Prior to Quest, Richard spent thirteen years as the Director of Finance at Education for Change, a charter management organization based in Northern California. While there, he was responsible for the organizational financial reporting, financing, budgeting, audits, contracts, and risk-management and oversaw the accounting, accounts payable, and financial reporting departments.

During Richard’s tenure, the organization grew from three schools with a fund balance of $1.2MM to seven schools with an fund balance exceeding $6MM.
 
For the five years prior to Education for Change, Richard served as the Business Services Manager for Edison Charter Schools in Las Vegas. At the outset, he was responsible for the financial and facilities management of two schools, where he achieved the coveted five-star school financial target rating for them each year. With that success, he transitioned into the role of Business Manager of Non-Personnel Expenses over all seven Edison schools located in Las Vegas, where all sites continued to meet the five-star financial target.
 
Richard earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Prasanth Mudumby

Prasanth Mudumby

Director of Client Finance

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Prasanth Mudumby is a mission-driven finance leader with more than a decade of experience guiding organizations through the financial challenges that come with growth and change. As Director of Client Finance at Charter Impact, he partners with schools and nonprofits to strengthen financial sustainability, improve operations, and ensure leaders have the clarity they need to stay focused on their mission.

Prior to joining Charter Impact, Prasanth served in multiple finance leadership roles at one of California’s largest fiscal sponsors. There, he supported more than 45 nonprofit ventures, leading budgeting, forecasting, and compliance efforts while training and mentoring teams across finance and operations. He later managed a dedicated Client Services team, where he developed tools, templates, and training resources that helped more than 150 organizations adopt new financial systems and streamline their reporting.

 Earlier in his career, Prasanth worked at HTC Global Services, where he gained deep experience in corporate finance, systems implementation, and post-merger integration. Collaborating with teams across the U.S., India, and Europe, he helped align financial operations during major transitions and built cross-border partnerships that shaped his collaborative approach to leadership.

Prasanth’s expertise spans budgeting and forecasting, risk management, financial analysis, grants management, and systems transformation. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, where he also received an Academic Excellence International Masters Scholarship, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Madras University in Tamil Nadu, India.

Outside of work, Prasanth is an enthusiastic traveler and language learner. Based in Los Angeles, he enjoys spending time with his dog and can often be found hiking in Griffith Park and exploring the vibrant cultural communities that make this city home.

David Olson

David Olson

Director of Client Finance

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David Olson brings a strong background in nonprofit and charter school finance, along with deep experience across multiple industries. At Charter Impact, he works closely with school leaders and boards to strengthen financial systems, improve strategic planning, and ensure that resources are aligned with mission and compliance priorities.

David has worked with charter schools in multiple states, providing hands-on support with multi-year budgeting, audit preparation, and board reporting. He has advised school clients through major financial milestones, including a $40 million bond acquisition for a new facility. He also led the organization-wide implementation of the ASC 842 lease accounting standards, helping dozens of mission-driven organizations maintain compliance while strengthening transparency. David has facilitated internal trainings on accounting topics, supported cross-functional project teams, and served as a trusted advisor to nonprofit leadership teams navigating change and growth.

Prior to focusing on the nonprofit and education space, David held leadership roles in the private sector as a Controller and Accounting Manager for companies in hospitality, retail, and professional services. His ability to bridge technical expertise with operational insight allows him to bring clarity and structure to complex financial environments.

David holds a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Denver. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Colorado.

For David, the work is deeply personal. He finds purpose in supporting charter schools and nonprofits because it means contributing to student success and community impact. His approach is rooted in service, collaboration, and a belief that strong financial operations allow educators and school leaders to focus on what matters most.

Josephine Quach

Josephine Quach

Director of Client Finance

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Josephine brings over 30 years of expertise in governmental finance and accounting to Charter Impact. Previously, as Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for Alhambra Unified School District, Josephine managed an annual $500M budget, ensuring compliance with federal and state programs and led a team of 900 employees across accounting, payroll, procurement, risk management, food services, and operations. 
 
In this role, she implemented district-wide financial policies, led initiatives that secured over $30M in grant funding, and consistently maintained zero audit findings for over 15 years. Her collaborative approach to labor negotiations and ability to work closely with legal and district leadership fostered a strong culture of fiscal responsibility and teamwork.  
 
Josephine also served as Director of Fiscal Services at Whittier Union High School District, where she developed budget processes, guided district administrators on fiscal matters, and managed cash flow and asset initiatives. Her earlier experience as Chief Business Officer for East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program further strengthened her skills in risk management, facility operations, and business administration while supporting over 9,000 students.  
 
Josephine is dedicated to fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment where teams can excel. She combines her technical acumen with a hands-on approach to training and development, enhancing both employee capabilities and organizational outcomes. Throughout her career, Josephine has consistently leveraged her leadership skills to support financial efficiency, regulatory compliance, and operational success in the education sector.   
 
Josephine earned her MBA from California Coast University, her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from California State University, Los Angeles. Additionally, she holds a Certified School Business Management certificate from the University of Southern California and is a certified member of the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). Josephine continues to stay active in professional organizations to bring best practices in finance and administration to her work.   
Broc Bebout

Broc Bebout

Director of Client Experience

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Broc Bebout is a strategic leader with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations deliver meaningful, measurable impact through better systems, stronger relationships, and a deep commitment to service. As Director of Client Experience at Charter Impact, he draws on a career spent building and leading Customer Success teams across finance, SaaS, and AI—often from the ground up—and guiding clients through complex operational transitions with clarity and care.

 Broc has supported a wide range of organizations, from global banks to emerging tech companies, and consistently delivered exceptional results, earning client satisfaction scores above 95% and helping teams achieve strong retention and revenue growth. At Workiva, he led a national team of client managers supporting regulatory compliance and reporting needs, while launching a structured executive engagement program that helped identify new growth paths and deepen client partnerships. At Vic.ai, he helped accounting firms and finance departments adopt AI tools with confidence by creating high-touch onboarding and success models that boosted satisfaction and adoption.

What drives Broc is simple: a belief that the right partnerships make all the difference. He’s seen the impact charter schools have had in the lives of his family and community, and he’s proud to help school and nonprofit leaders stay focused on their mission while Charter Impact handles the business complexities behind the scenes.

Broc holds degrees in Finance and Accounting from Iowa State University and is a CPA (inactive). He’s also a lifelong learner and coach, with certifications in leadership development, communication, and permaculture design, because all thriving systems, whether financial or educational, require thoughtful stewardship.

Maylen Naranjo

Maylen Naranjo

Director of Client Success

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Maylen is responsible for leading Charter Impact’s efforts in maintaining process efficiency and transparency through hands on, in-depth, personalized support of our clients.
 
She has been working with charter schools in several capacities for over 15 years. In 2007, she joined the charter world as a payroll administrator at Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC), a non-profit charter school organization consisting of 16 schools serving the Northeast San Fernando Valley and Northeast Los Angeles. While there, she advanced to become the manager of PUC’s Accounting department.
 
After her time at PUC, Maylen joined the team at a financial management services provider specializing in charter schools, where she played a leading role in managing both client services and personnel.
 
She continues that work at Charter Impact today, where she oversees and implements efficient operational systems, processes and policies in support of our growing company’s mission and our expanding team. She is passionate about providing excellent service and personalized support to the great organizations we serve, and is confident that the work we do helps these schools offer the best possible education to underserved students.
 
Maylen earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Katherine Michiels

Katherine Michiels

Director of Student Data Services

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Kat is a seasoned education professional with over 15 years of experience, specializing in data management, assessment, and accountability. At Charter Impact, she leads student data services, empowering schools to harness data for informed decision-making and measurable outcomes.
 
Kat’s career has been defined by her ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. In her previous roles, she developed predictive models for school and district performance scores with remarkable accuracy, designed early warning systems to identify at-risk students, and implemented district-wide processes for managing $300M in ESSER and state pandemic relief funds. She also created dynamic data visualizations and tools that guided schools in setting instructional priorities, improving student performance, and achieving strategic goals.
 
Prior to joining Charter Impact, Kat served as the Manager, School Support and Accountability in the Department of Research, Assessment and Data at Denver Public Schools, and before that, spent six years serving as Supervisor, Data & Accountability for Caddo Parish Public Schools in Shreveport, Louisiana.
 
Her expertise spans statewide accountability systems, assessment administration, and data analytics. She has worked collaboratively across departments to enhance data quality, improve reporting accuracy, and support school leaders in using data to drive decisions that align with both academic and operational priorities.
 
Kat graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Elementary Education from Centenary College of Louisiana, earned her M.A. in General Counseling from Louisiana Tech University, and completed her doctoral program in Leadership Studies from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. Her doctoral research explored the relationship between job demands, leadership, and teacher burnout, reflecting her commitment to organizational improvement. Now based in Denver, Colorado, Kat has embraced the mountains and the low humidity. In her free time, Kat enjoys spending time with her spouse and dog, hiking, baking, and playing video games.
Kalia Lee

Kalia Lee

Director of Quality Control

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Kalia serves as a technical conduit between Accounting and Client Finance, where she is responsible for overseeing Charter Impact’s quality control process for client services and supporting the Accounting team as client requirements arise.
 
Kalia has been working with charter schools and non-profits for the last nine years. Prior to her current Director role, she served Charter Impact clients in Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, and Staff Accountant capacities, where she took ownership for timely financials and compliance reporting and served as a liaison between clients and independent auditors. Kalia is very proud of both the professional relationships she has cultivated over the years with her clients and the fulfillment she has gained mentoring other team members to ensure continued growth within the organization.
 
Prior to Charter Impact, Kalia held accounting and business services roles in various industries. Her duties have included payroll processing, accounts payable, client service, and direct administrative support to C-level staff.
 
Coming from an underprivileged family who immigrated to the United States, the importance of education and the opportunities it could provide were instilled in Kalia from a young age. She is thrilled to be working with mission-driven organizations whose focus is to provide the best possible education for their students, regardless of background.
 
Kalia earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy from California State University, Fresno.