Leadership
In a nod to MADD’s beginning as a grassroots organization, board members serve as volunteers during their tenure. During the three-year term, national board members oversee MADD’s road map to reaching No More Victims®.
We salute our board members for donating their time, talents and energy to the MADD mission and thank each and every one of them for their integrity, dedication and vision.
Traci McMillan
VP, Mission Operations
Traci McMillan
VP, Mission Operations
Traci McMillan is a Vice President of Field Operations for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Traci joined MADD as a member of the Field Relations Team in March 2016 and has guided field leadership with budgeting, program services, capacity building, fundraising and personnel management. Her proudest accomplishment is the impact she has made with Executive Director Staff Development and Team Building.
Before joining MADD, Traci spent 16 years with The Muscular Dystrophy Association. She held many different roles including Health Care Services Coordinator & Camp Director, State Executive Director, Regional Field Representative and Divisional Director. She brings expertise in the planning and the execution of special events, sponsor development and analytical problem solving. Beyond her professional skills and accomplishments, Traci has a strong passion to end drunk driving and is dedicated to serving those impacted by drunk and drugged driving.
In her free time, Traci enjoys spending time with her family, reading and cheering for the Arizona Cardinals. She is currently pursuing continuing education at Western Governors University.
Brianna Schreiner
Chief Revenue Officer
Brianna Schreiner
Chief Legal Officer
Brianna Schreiner serves as Chief Legal Officer at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), where she leads the organization’s legal strategy and risk management efforts. Her appointment marks a pivotal step in strengthening MADD’s operational foundation and advancing its mission to eliminate drunk driving and support victims of this violent crime.
With over 13 years of experience as a commercial transactional attorney, Brianna brings a dynamic blend of nonprofit and corporate legal expertise. She began her career in the nonprofit sector before transitioning to General Counsel at LifeStraw, a company known for its innovative water filtration products that serve communities in developing nations and emergency response scenarios.
Most recently, Brianna led the commercial contracts team at Choice Hotels, a global hospitality company whose portfolio includes Comfort Inn, Cambria, Country Inn & Suites, and Radisson.
Brianna holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two young sons, and proudly embraces her role as a hockey mom—often found cheering from the sidelines of a chilly ice rink.
Alan Brogdon
Chief Technology Officer
Alan Brogdon
Chief Operating & Technology Officer
Alan Brogdon is our Chief Operating & Technology Officer. With over 20 years of strategic leadership experience in technology, operations, and shared services, Alan is a seasoned executive recognized for driving transformative initiatives that enhance organizational efficiency and operational effectiveness in nonprofit and mission-driven organizations.
In his recent role as Chief Operating Officer at the Progeria Research Foundation (PRF), Alan spearheaded key initiatives that streamlined operations, strengthened internal systems, and positioned the organization for sustainable growth. Under his leadership, PRF enhanced its use of technology, modernized internal processes, and laid the groundwork for data-driven decision-making.
Before his tenure at PRF, Alan served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the March of Dimes, following a successful period as the organization’s Chief Technology Officer. There, he led a comprehensive overhaul of the IT infrastructure, implemented an e-commerce framework that generated over $40 million in online revenue, and significantly reduced operational costs while improving service delivery. His innovative approach to marketing and technology-driven fundraising strategies played a pivotal role in revitalizing the foundation’s brand and driving substantial revenue growth.
Alan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Georgia and pursued his MBA studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina. He is passionate about building high-performing teams and leveraging technology to achieve meaningful impact. His expertise includes optimizing financial operations, enhancing talent management, and leading digital transformations that align technology with strategic goals.
Katie Alvino
Chief Marketing Officer
Katie Alvino
Chief Marketing Officer
Alvino brings a strong history of marketing experience and transformational leadership. She has dedicated her career to developing strong brands and building and coaching marketing individuals and teams.
Katie has a proven track record of bringing structure, process and strategy to marketing teams. Most notably, she led a complete modernization and centralization of marketing and communications at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Then she kept a steady hand on the brand during the strong integration of those two iconic institutions and the refinement of an identifiable joint brand.
Katie can blend consumer insights and creative to uncover strong new brand directions. She has a wonderful ability to take beloved brands with devoted followings and make them relevant to new audiences.
Her professional career began at Daymon Worldwide/Kroger and SuperValu, where she worked in brand management and product launches. She then spent two tours at International Dairy Queen and Orange Julius, separated by time spent at Phillips Distilling Company. All of these roles gave her consumer-packaged goods experience. But more importantly, she gained hands-on experience working with, strengthening and sometimes reviving powerfully established brands.
In 2021 she was hired by the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University to serve as the institutions’ first joint chief marketing officer. She was the driving force in completely overhauling not only the marketing and communications functions within the two colleges, but also shifting the way marketing and branding are perceived, appreciated and understood.
Alvino holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Northern Kentucky University. She has also earned a master’s degree in leadership from Augsburg University. That involved study in areas like strategic communication strategies, crisis communication management, cultural competence and transformational leadership strategies.
Stephanie Manning
Chief Government Affairs Officer
Stephanie Manning
Chief Government Affairs Officer
Stephanie Manning has specialized in traffic safety policy for twenty-five years. She has worked on both behavioral safety and vehicle safety-related policy, including the establishment of a national .08 Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) standard, and more recently legislation to mandate advanced drunk driving prevention technology. Stephanie began her career working with another traffic safety organization, and in that capacity worked alongside MADD on .08 BAC. It was during the latter stages of the successful .08 BAC campaign – back in 1999 — that MADD recruited Stephanie to open its Washington, DC office and serve as the organization’s Director of Federal Affairs. During her time at MADD, Stephanie worked closely with Congress and the Administration to strengthen policies for victims’ rights, and to secure funding for drunk driving and underage drinking prevention.
In 2004 Stephanie was recruited to serve as a Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Stephanie’s portfolio included the authorization of programs for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and safety programs within the Federal Highway Administration. Her proudest achievements as a Committee staffer, acting on behalf of her boss Ranking Member and then Chairman Jim Oberstar, were securing increased funding for NHTSA’s traffic safety programs, and the establishment of the first long-term authorization for high-visibility law enforcement mobilizations.
In 2007, Stephanie left Capitol Hill to spend time with her family. For fourteen years Stephanie provided transportation consulting services to just a couple of clients at a time. As a consultant for MADD, she played a major role in securing Congressional endorsements in MAP-21 – and via the appropriations process – for the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. This included the authorization and funding for a research program on drunk driving prevention technology, incentives to states to adopt all-offender ignition interlock laws, and high visibility law enforcement programs. More recently Stephanie has led efforts for MADD to mandate advanced drunk driving prevention technology on new vehicles.
In January 2021, Stephanie rejoined the MADD family as an employee, now serving as MADD’s Chief Government Affairs Officer.
Stephanie lives in Loudoun County, VA, with her husband Drew, and their three kids Clara, Owen, and Vivian. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys hiking, live music, and spending time with family and friends.
Kenneth H. Ceaser
Chief of Staff, Chief People & Culture Officer
Kenneth H. Ceaser
Chief of Staff, Chief People & Culture Officer
Kenneth Ceaser is the Chief People & Culture Officer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. In his role, Kenneth leads the development and execution of people strategy to support the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization. He closely oversees recruitment, compensation & benefits, diversity, talent management, employee relations, and culture. Kenneth’s diverse professional background spans more than two decades of experience in human resources strategy, talent management, leadership development, organizational design, diversity and inclusion, and employee engagement.
Prior to his role at MADD, he has held various HR leadership positions for companies such as Boy Scouts of America, Walgreens, AmerisourceBergen, and Boeing. Kenneth is passionate about serving others and believes his skills will contribute to the overall mission and community impact. He serves on the Project Transformation board which is a nonprofit on a mission to transform communities by engaging children and college-age young adults in purposeful relationships.
Kenneth served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force with a focus on Human Resource Management and Advanced Leadership Studies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Business Management and an Executive Certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. In his free time, he loves to spend time with his wife Kristen, and three kids, Brooklyn, Natasha, and Nicolas.
“I’m truly honored and excited to be a part of a great organization whose mission is to greatly impact lives with no more victims.”
Kevin Byrne
Chief Financial Officer & Administrator
Kevin Byrne
Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Byrne serves as Chief Financial Officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), where he oversees the organization’s financial strategy, operations, and stewardship in support of MADD’s mission to end drunk and drugged driving, support victims, and prevent underage drinking.
Kevin brings more than 35 years of corporate and nonprofit leadership experience, including over 25 years in senior financial and accounting roles. Prior to joining MADD, he served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Great Hearts Texas and previously spent six years as Chief Financial Officer of The Wesleyan, a continuing care retirement community in Georgetown, Texas. His career also includes leadership positions with McKesson, DJO, Argo Group, USAA, and KPMG LLP, along with consulting engagements for both for-profit and nonprofit healthcare organizations.
Kevin is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and communications from the University at Albany, State University of New York.
Kevin lives in Georgetown, Texas, with his wife and is the father of three adult children.
Stacey D. Stewart
CEO
Stacey D. Stewart
CEO
Stacey D. Stewart is the Chief Executive Officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), where she is redefining how the nation confronts impaired driving through innovation, cross-sector partnerships, and a future-ready public safety strategy. Since joining MADD in 2023, she has led one of America’s most recognized nonprofits through a comprehensive transformation, strengthening financial performance, modernizing the brand, and positioning the organization at the forefront of technology-enabled prevention.
Under Stewart’s leadership, MADD is advancing one of the most ambitious safety agendas in its history. She is a national champion of the HALT Drunk Driving Law, a landmark federal mandate requiring impaired-driving prevention technology in all new vehicles. Through her leadership, she has mobilized policymakers, technology innovators, and automotive leaders to accelerate the adoption of this life-saving advancement, helping position MADD as a leading voice in the future of vehicle safety, smart mobility, and prevention technology.
At the same time, Stewart has expanded MADD’s victim services infrastructure, increasing access to counseling, legal support, and community-based resources for families impacted by impaired driving. Her leadership is grounded in compassion and equity, ensuring services are responsive to the diverse communities MADD serves.
A defining strength of Stewart’s leadership is her ability to build high-impact, cross-industry partnerships. She has forged national collaborations with organizations including Uber, Diageo, AAA, Smart Start, and leading insurance, technology, and mobility companies, aligning corporate influence with mission-driven outcomes. She also launched MADD Sports, a pioneering national initiative that leverages the power of college and professional athletics to reach millions of young people with prevention, mental wellness, and responsibility messaging, reshaping how the next generation engages with public safety.
Prior to MADD, Stewart served as President and CEO of March of Dimes, where she led a nationwide transformation focused on improving maternal and infant health outcomes and reducing disparities. She previously served as U.S. President of United Way Worldwide, overseeing a network of more than 1,200 local organizations and driving national impact across education, financial stability, and health. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles at Fannie Mae, leading investments in housing and community development.
In April 2026, Stewart was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees for The King Center, where she plays a key role in advancing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King through purpose-driven leadership, social impact, and community transformation. As a native of Atlanta, she is deeply committed to preserving and extending this legacy through action, equity, and service.
Stewart serves on the corporate board of PennyMac (NYSE: PMT) and is a respected national voice whose insights have shaped conversations at the intersection of public safety, health, and social impact. Her work has been featured in leading national media outlets, and she is frequently called upon to advise on strategies that drive innovation and large-scale change.
She holds an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown University. A mother of two, she resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Stacey Stewart’s leadership is transforming MADD into a modern, data-driven organization, one positioned not only to reduce impaired driving but to help eliminate it and protect future generations.
Meghan Carter
Director of Field Operations
Meghan Carter
Director of Field Operations
Meghan Carter currently serves as a Director of Field Operations for the Midwest / DC region. In this role, she leads and strategizes with field leadership, employees and volunteers in fiscal responsibility, grant management, fund development, delivery of victim services, underage drinking prevention programming, and capacity building efforts.
Meghan began her career with MADD in August 2008, starting as the Executive Director of the Gateway Affiliate of MADD, overseeing programs, events, growing revenue, and managing staff and volunteers in St. Louis region. In September 2012, she was promoted to the Missouri State Executive Director and was responsible for the overall operations of the entire state. In her role, Meghan grew Missouri, expanding to five service regions including four staffed offices and one volunteer chapter.
In 2020, Meghan was honored as a NHTSA Public Service Awardee. She along with Lt. Scott Roach of the St. Louis County Police Department were recognized for their efforts in creating MADD’s high visibility enforcement campaign, Saturation Saturday, a campaign that was first launched in Missouri in 2016 and has since grown to a national campaign.
Meghan is a graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and Media Management and Sales. She loves spending time with her large family to include her three beautiful children, Cole, Liam and Audrey.
David Pinsker
Senior Director, Field Operations
David Pinsker
Senior Director, Field Operations
Dave Pinsker is Senior Director, Field Operations. Dave will lead his Regional team in the building and development of Strategic plans, staff development and also drive revenue development in an effort to drive the mission of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving forward.
In 2011 Dave joined Mother’s Against Drunk Driving as Florida State Executive Director and quickly took the State of Florida in many new and exciting directions. Dave helped to create a new Regional Structure in the State which has led to better Statewide communication and Results. Today MADDD Florida has 7 Regions which work together synergistically to create a world of NO MORE VICTIMS. Dave was also instrumental in expanding the Walk Like MADD presence in Florida from 4 events in 2011 to the current 13 events in 2021. Walk Like MADD is the organizations premiere fundraising and awareness event and provides vital funding to help accomplish the organizations mission. These funds are used to provide staff and recruit volunteers for the free programs and services offered by MADD which include Victim Services for families affected by drunk driving crashes as well as youth prevention programs which help to explain the dangers of Underage drinking.
Dave has spent the last 30 years as an innovative leader in the non-profit arena. Dave was with the YMCA of Broward County from 1989 -2010 and spent the last 9 years of that tenure as District Executive Director helping to lead a 8.5 million dollar Capital Campaign for construction of a 42,000 square foot membership facility in Weston. The facility opened in 2005 and Dave was instrumental in launching the programs and services provided at the new facility. Dave was responsible for the day-to-day operations for 4 + years. The facility today remains a pillar of the community it serves in Weston, Florida.
In November of 2020 Dave was promoted to Senior Director of Field Operations where he now works closely with 10 States across the country. This new role is part of MADD’S National Regionalization strategy also implemented in 2020.
Dave resides in Weston, Florida and is married to his beautiful wife Caroline and they have three daughters Carli, Kate and Sofia.
Tony Pham
Tony Pham
Tony Pham is currently the Vice President of Marketing at SuperLayer, the leading web3 venture studio with investors such as Marc Andreeseen, Chris Dixon, Paris Hilton, Joe Montana, and Nas. His responsibilities at SuperLayer include branding, communications, community development, content marketing, digital, events, social, and integrated marketing strategy. Prior to joining SuperLayer, he led marketing at Kadena, a scalable proof-of-work blockchain company. Previously, Tony was VP of Marketing at TrustToken (now Archblock), whose TrueUSD stablecoin is one of the world’s top 100 cryptocurrency tokens.
Tony began his career in Silicon Valley by running product and community marketing at Slide (founded by PayPal inventor Max Levchin, acquired by Google). After Slide, he was the first VP of Marketing at Life360, a popular family safety app used by over 35 million monthly active users around the world (IPO on ASX). Tony is recognized as a technology industry leader, having won a Webby Award and a Data-Driven CMO Growth Award. He has been an expert source and on-the-record spokesperson to media such as Bloomberg, CNN, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, Forbes, and USA Today.
Outside of work, Tony teaches meditation and compassion classes at Tibet House US. He also serves on the board of directors of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and volunteers as a grief group facilitator for young adults that have lost loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tony has received training in nonviolent communication and completed the teacher certification for Compassion Cultivation Training ©.
He graduated from Grinnell College and is a Fulbright Scholar.
Jeffrey Glover
Jeffrey Glover
Governor Katie Hobbs appointed Colonel Jeffrey D. Glover as Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety on January 17, 2023. Colonel Glover began his career with the Tempe Police Department and has over 25 years of law enforcement experience. He worked his way through the ranks, serving the Tempe Police Department in a variety of capacities. Colonel Glover worked as a Field Training Officer, Narcotics Detective, Crime Prevention Detective, Media Relations Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Mobile Field Force Commander, Detention Manager, Acting Commander over 21st Century Policing, Professional Standards Commander, Commander over both Criminal and Special Investigations Divisions to include Homicide, Narcotics and the SWAT Team.
In February of 2020, Colonel Glover retired from the Tempe Police Department with more than 20 years of service. He returned to Tempe Police Department later that year, as Interim Chief of Police and was appointed as permanent Chief of Police in August of 2021.
Colonel Glover places an emphasis on community involvement and education, and provides instruction on various topics including leadership, ethics and professionalism, team dynamics, fair and impartial policing, health and wellness, and safety through communications training.
Colonel Glover is currently the National First Vice President for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He is a National Board Member for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and is the Co-Chair of the MADD Traffic Safety Committee. Colonel Glover also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Additionally, Colonel Glover serves as a commissioner on the Governor’s Commission for African-American Affairs.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University as well as a Master’s in Public Administration through the University of Phoenix. Colonel Glover is a graduate of the Arizona Peace Officers and Standards Arizona Leadership Program (ALP #8), the FBI National Academy Command School Session 265, and the Senior Management Institute for Policing (SMIP) Session 86. He has also earned certificates from the University of Arizona, Eller School in Government Leadership, and Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion.
David Esmie
David Esmie
David Esmie brings over 25 years of established Capital Market experience in the areas of Hedge funds, Venture Capital and Private Equity. He started his career at Paloma Partner in Greenwich, CT working with the likes of Steven A. Cohen and Paul Tudor Jones. He was also instrumental in the early stages of Dune Capital, a Hedge Fund ran by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Formally served as Vice President of Morgan Stanley Fund Services.
Currently, David runs his own family office investment banking firm focusing on buying and selling business, funding projects in all industries including agriculture, real estate development, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, healthcare and ecommerce.
Natalie Furniss
Natalie Furniss
Natalie Furniss is Senior Vice President, Nationwide Property & Casualty Legal and member of Nationwide’s executive leadership team, responsible for overseeing the execution of critical business priorities. Her primary responsibilities include leadership of the team responsible for providing legal and regulatory advice to Nationwide’s Property Casualty businesses and serving as liaison to key regulators.
Prior to joining Nationwide, Natalie was partner in a mid-size, Columbus-based law firm, focusing her practice on commercial litigation.
Safety behind the wheel is something that Natalie cares about deeply. Her professional experiences have exposed her to the tragedies associated with unsafe driving, including impaired driving. However, the cause is also deeply personal, she is a mother of three, including a soon-to-be new driver, and sister to a law enforcement officer, whose safety while on the job is always a concern. For these reasons, and many others, Natalie is passionate about serving on the National Board for MADD.
Natalie enjoys active memberships in many professional organizations and enjoys supporting several nonprofit organizations, particularly those that support the arts, women and children, and those in need. She is the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees for Star House, a drop-in residential facility for homeless youth; and serves on the board of directors for the Fairfield Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital, and the Lancaster Port Authority, which is focused upon generating innovation and development to drive economic growth.
Natalie received her B.A. in in Political Science from Ohio State University and her J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Eric Ebenstein
Eric Ebenstein
Eric Ebenstein is a Senior Director of Public Policy at TikTok where he is responsible for US strategic policy initiatives and government affairs at the federal, state and international levels. He has more than a decade of experience working on regulatory and policy issues for technology companies.
Prior to joining TikTok, Eric was Head of North America Public Policy at DJI–the world’s leading civilian drone company. During his tenure, he led DJI’s advocacy efforts for regulatory and legislative issues on the federal and state level as well as internationally for Mexico and Canada. Before this, Eric was at POET, a sustainable energy company where he built the state Government Affairs team and mandate. He also served as Chief of Staff for Government Relations at Hewlett Packard where he advised on the North American government affairs program.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Lehigh University, from which he graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa and a Juris Doctor degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He is based in TikTok’s Washington, DC office and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and two children.
Nathaniel “Nat” Beuse
Nathaniel “Nat” Beuse
Nat Beuse is the Head of Safety for Self-Driving in Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group and he was formerly an Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety Research at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He brings a unique understanding of federal policy and how policy relates to broad public acceptance of new technology, such as self-driving. His connection to the MADD mission stems from a drunk driving crash that significantly impacted his family.
Marc Benardout
Marc Benardout: MADD Leadership
Marc Benardout is a writer/producer/director whose career in the entertainment and advertising world spans over 37 years on both sides of the Atlantic. A creative entrepreneur, rainmaker and strategist, Marc has lived in Los Angeles since 1997 when he left his native home in London, England for the sunnier shores of California for his ‘American Dream’. Unfortunately that dream scenario became a nightmare when on the night of August 1st, 2019, his beautifully talented 24 year old son Noah was killed instantly by a speeding drunk driver, as Noah waited as a pedestrian to cross Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.
“That night, my entire family’s life was destroyed, upended and dramatically changed forever. Every parent’s nightmare of being woken up at 3am by two police officers to tell us our son has been tragically killed became a reality. From that moment onward the only way I could process my grief was to immerse myself into why and how this could have happened. I immediately set up a Foundation in Noah’s name to help in any which way to prevent this horror perpetuating for other parents and began working very closely with MADD. I am very honored and motivated to have been invited to the National Board to bring my conviction and determination as a victim to finally stop DUI tragedies forever in the honor of those that are no longer with us and for the legacy of my son, Noah.”
Matthew Bretz
Matthew Bretz
Matthew Bretz is a personal injury attorney in Kansas who has seen the devastation caused by drunk drivers in the numerous cases he has handled over the years. He has served on the boards of the United Way and the Red Cross and TECH for over 10 years and has a passion for helping the community by volunteering for local and national non-profits. He is motivated by the devastation and loss which he has seen his clients experience at the hands of drunk and drugged drivers, and is dedicated to preventing further loss of life and to holding drunk and drugged drivers accountable for their actions.
Erika Bennett
Board Vice Chair
Erika Bennett
Board Vice Chair
Erika joins Essence Ventures as its first-ever Chief Marketing Officer where she will shepherd marketing across Essence Ventures portfolio of businesses including Essence Communications, AfroPunk, Beautycon and more. Erika brings to EV years of experience driving results for some of the world’s most prestigious entertainment and consumer brands through insights-driven campaigns that have created meaningful and mutually beneficial brand/consumer relationships. She was recognized in 2018 as one of AdAge’s 40 under 40 and in 2016 as one of the Holmes Report’s Innovator 25.
Prior to joining Essence Ventures, Erika served as Instagram’s Global Culture and Community Marketing lead where she helped drive the development and growth of a new department at Instagram designed to activate, enable and amplify emerging culture on the platform by supporting underrepresented communities who are often at the epicenter of culture but do not often get the credit for it. She led the lionshare of creative output for the department and was instrumental in developing Instagram’s community marketing strategy.
Prior to joining Instagram, Erika served as Global Head of Entertainment, Education and Diversity Creator Marketing for YouTube where she oversaw YouTube’s creator marketing programs in the entertainment, education and diversity and inclusion verticals. This includes working cross-functionally to drive business strategy, product innovation and developing diversity marketing programs that super-served these audiences against business and creator goals. She recently led the successful global integrated launch of the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund as part of YouTube’s $100M commitment to uplifting and illuminating Black Voices on- and off-platform.
Also while at YouTube, she was the Global Head of Social and Influencer Marketing, where she oversaw global digital marketing and influencer strategy for YouTube Originals (globally) and YouTube TV. In her tenure, she delivered YouTube Original’s first breakout scripted hit, Cobra Kai, while leading social and influencer efforts in support of YouTube TV’s tentpole sports marketing sponsorships of the NBA and MLB.
Previously, she was senior vice president of Allied Moxy, a division of Allied Integrated Marketing, dedicated to developing and executing best-in-class marketing campaigns that speak to the full diversity of the African-American consumer. Under her nearly five-year leadership, she shepherded the division to unprecedented year-over-year growth in new business and helped drive groundbreaking campaigns that delivered record-breaking results for such successes as ABC’s “black-ish”, NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” Netflix and Marvel’s “Luke Cage” and theatrical phenoms HIDDEN FIGURES, FENCES, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, RIDE ALONG and the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise. The unparalleled evolution of the division was driven by innovation where Erika worked to expand the department’s capabilities across a spectrum of marketing disciplines including content creation, digital, influencer marketing and social strategy.
Other career highlights include launching the PR campaign for Call of Duty’s Black Ops 2, supporting key product launches for Beats By Dre and launching the most successful iteration of the wildly popular “Get Crackin’” Campaign for Wonderful Pistachios
Erika attended Northwestern University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in communications with a focus on radio, television and film.
Sophia Toh
Board Chair
Sophia Toh
Board Chair
Sophia Toh is an executive coach and leadership trainer.
Before her coaching career, Sophia was the Vice President of Finance
Transformation and Chief Financial Officer for a multi-billion-dollar business
unit at Kraft Heinz Company. She spent fifteen years at Procter & Gamble,
where she held various finance leadership positions, including Chief Financial
Officer of Walker & Company Brands, a P&G subsidiary. Additionally, she
led finance and accounting teams in brand commercial delivery for Braun &
Crest, supply chain, cybersecurity, purchasing, information technology,
retailer finance, global business services, and accounting policies.
Sophia is an ICF-credentialed Professional Certified Coach
(PCC) and currently serves on the International Coaching Federation’s
Professional Coaches Board. She is also a Certified Management Accountant,
Certified Finance Manager, and certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis.
Sophia earned her MBA from Purdue University and her Bachelor of Business
Administration degree, majoring in Accounting from Clayton State University.
She also holds a Nonprofit Leadership Executive Certificate from Harvard Kennedy
School, an Executive Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell
University, and a Diversity Coaching Certificate from Howard University and
Coach Diversity Institute.
Sophia’s current focus is threefold: her career as a coach,
trainer, and speaker, her role as a volunteer and leader who gives back to
global, national, and local communities, and cultivating quality time with
family and friends.
