The BUILD Team

BUILD's Big Idea is that all students have the potential to graduate from high school and attend college - if they have the access to the right support, resources and people. Thanks to BUILD's talented and committed staff, our Big Idea is becoming a reality for young people across the country 

What's your Big Idea? (Read our complete ideas by clicking on team names at left!)


Suzanne McKechnie Klahr

CEO and Founder


Lyndsey Ballinger

Site Director, Peninsula


Alexis Bayley
Academic Program Manager, Peninsula


Diane Bezucha

9th Grade Program Manager, NW Oakland


Sarah Bloem

Systems Administrator


Erin Brannan

Site Director, NW Oakland


Christopher Brown
Regional Executive Director, Metro D.C.


Catherine Chavez

Business
Program Manager, NW Oakland

 
Ashleigh Cooper 

Business Program Manager, Metro D.C.


Yancie Davis 

Academic Program Manager, NW Oakland


Shannon Gaggero
 
College Advisor, Oakland


Elizabeth Gardner
Development Operations Manager


Adriana Garcia 
Site Director, East Oakland


Jessica Graham
Director of Strategic Partnerships 


Joseph Grassia
Business Program Manager, Boston 


Michelle Heath 
Human Resources Manager


Ajuah Helton 
Sr. Director of Programs and Evaluation


Rod Hsaio 

Sr. Director of Strategic Operations


Nicole Huguenin 
9th Grade Program Manager, Peninsula
 


Angelica Juarez 
Director of Finance and Operations 


Roz Klann 
9th Grade Program Coordinator, Metro D.C.


Larisa Marinas 
Chief of Staff


Lori McCormick 
College Advisor, Peninsula


 
Daniel McLaughlin
Regional Executive Director, Bay Area

 
Alice O'Herin
Development Associate  



Ryan Oliver 
Site Director, Greater Boston



Stacey Palevsky 
Development and Communications Manager
 


Alia Peera
Site Director, Metro D.C.

Julie Quintero
Finance Account Specialist

 


Jahvita Rastafari
Digital Engagement Specialist


Alex Ramirez

Academic Program Manager, East Oakland


Nicole Ramos 
National Education and
Curriculum Specialist
 

 

  
Levi Rivers
9th Grade Program Manager, Metro D.C. 


Christa Roth 
Sr. Director of Talent, Finance and Field Management
 
 


Mike Shumann 
Regional Grant Writer, Metro D.C.

 
Ayele Shakur 
Regional Executive Director, Boston


Dominique Ta 

Business Program Manager, Peninsula


Lily Tapia 
9th Grade Program Coordinator, Peninsula



Alex Teitel 
9th Grade Program Manager, East Oakland

 

Khalilah Ummah
Academic Program Manager, Metro D.C.

 
 Vincent Vallente
Program Coordinator, NW Oakland 


Chrystine Villarreal
National Development Officer 



 

Get to Know Us

Senior Management Team
Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, CEO
Christa Roth, Sr. Director of Talent, Finance & Field Mgmt.
Ajuah Helton, Sr. Director of Programs and Evaluation
Rod Hsiao, Sr. Director of Strategic Operations
Christopher Brown, Regional Executive Director, DC
Daniel McLaughlin, Regional Executive Director, Bay Area
Ayele Shakur, Regional Executive Director, Boston 

National Headquarters Team
Angelica Juarez, Director of Finance and Operations
Larisa Marinas, Chief of Staff
Julie Quintero, Finance Accounts Specialist
Tom Tang, Operations Manager

Michelle Heath, Human Resources Manager
Sarah Bloem, Systems Administrator
Nicole Ramos, Nat'l Education & Curriculum Specialist  
Jessica Graham, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Chrystine Villarreal, National Development Officer
Stacey Palevsky, Development Communications Manager
Jahvita Rastafari, Digital Engagement SpecialistAlice O'Herin, Development Associate

Greater Boston Team
Ayele Shakur, Regional Executive Director

Ryan Oliver, Site Director
Joseph Grassia, Business Program Manager

Nitita Pongsanarakul, Program Assistant

Metro D.C. Team
Christopher Brown, Regional Executive Director
Alia Peera, Site Director
Levi Rivers, Ninth Grade Program Manager
Roz Klann, Ninth Grade Program Coordinator
Khalilah Ummah, Academic Program Manager
Ashleigh Cooper, Business Program Manager
Mike Shumann, Regional Grants Writer

East Oakland Team
Adriana Garcia, Site Director
Alex Teitel, Ninth Grade Program Manager
Hope Lehman, Ninth Grade Program Assistant
Alexandrea Ramirez, Academic Program Manager
Shannon Gaggero, College Advisor
Jackie Vu, College Advising Coordinator

North/West Oakland Team
Erin Brannan, Site Director
Diane Bezucha, Ninth Grade Program Manager
Yancie Davis, Academic Program Manager
Catherine Chavez, Business Program Manager
Shannon Gaggero, College Advisor
Jackie Vu, College Advising Coordinator
Vincent Vallente, Program Coordinator 

Peninsula Team
Lyndsey Ballinger, Site Director
Nicole Huguenin, Ninth Grade Program Manager
Lily Tapia, Ninth Grade Program Coordinator
Alexis Bayley, Academic Program Manager
Dominique Ta, Business Program Manager
Lori McCormick, College Advisor

 

BUILD Headquarters: 2385 Bay Road •  Redwood City, CA 94063

T: 650.688.5840    F: 650.631.4990