Meet the Staff
ALEX DONAHUE, JD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Alex leads the IAC staff in supporting the Commission and in implementing the IAC’s policies in support of its mission. He comes to the position after serving on the IAC staff for five years including nearly three years as the IAC’s Deputy Director for Field Operations. Previously, Alex worked for the National Council on School Facilities, where he analyzed trends and best practices in school construction across the nation. He also served as a principal and district administrator for a large public school district.
CASSANDRA VISCARRA
Deputy Director
Cassandra leads the IAC’s administrative, finance, and
policy staff to ensure smooth operation of all agency programs and initiatives.
Cassandra has served on the IAC staff in several roles, most recently as Chief
of Staff, and her previous experience includes working in legislative service
and field operations for school construction.
JAMIE BRIDGES, AICP
PLANNING MANAGER
Jamie serves as Planning Manager while also serving as the primary liaison between IAC staff and Baltimore City Public Schools. Jamie provides organizational and technical expertise to maximize the outcomes of state programs in Baltimore City; and supports the implementation of best practices in facilities and portfolio management in Baltimore City and across the state.
ARABIA DAVIS
FUNDING PROGRAMS MANAGER
Arabia monitors and is responsible for the management of the administrative processes associated with the IAC’s various funding programs. Her experience with the IAC and her prior experience working within several State Agencies on policy-related issues helps to provide the level of expertise needed to critically evaluate, and analyze project submissions.
SCOTT SNYDER, FMP
aSSESSMENT AND mAINTENANCE GROUP Manager
Scott serves as the manager of the Assessment and Maintenance Team, tasked with assessing Maryland School Facilities supporting maintenance best practices throughout the LEAs. Scott has hands-on experience with the critical nature of maintenance during his tenure with the Maryland Department of Corrections.
NABHODIPTA SIL UPADHYAY, PMP, PMI-ACP
Director of Information technologies
Nabhodipta (better known as Sil) supervises all Information Technology initiatives and support for the IAC Staff. He has more than 30 years of experience in Information Technology in the industry in multiple domains and different IT roles. He specializes in providing innovative and agile IT solutions to fluid business challenges, from conception to execution.
MELISSA WILFONG, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Capital Projects Director
Melissa is the leader of the IAC’s Capital Projects Manager Team, which works closely with Maryland’s Local Education Agencies to guide and support school facility planning, design, and construction activities.
DAVID BAILEY
LEAD MAINTENANCE ASSESSOR
Dave brings eight years of project management experience in commercial construction. He managed general trade packages of K-12 schools, universities, and multifamily residences. Prior to that Dave spent 17 years as an architectural woodworking project manager and manufacturing engineer.
MICHAEL BITZ
FACILITIES ASSESSOR
Michael is the IAC’s longest serving member of the Assessment and Maintenance Team, which assesses school facilities for maintenance effectiveness, providing important feedback and recommendations to school systems. Mike brought to the team 12 years experience in residential home inspections and 2 years in building maintenance for Target Corp.
LOLITA CARTER-ROSS
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
Lolita serves as the IAC’s HR Manager, leading recruitment and employee relations services for the IAC.
KYLE CONNOLLY
Maintenance ASSESSOR
Kyle is a Facility Assessor for the Assessment and Maintenance Team, which assesses school facilities for maintenance effectiveness, providing important feedback and recommendations to school systems. Kyle previously worked in the construction field for over 15 years as an electrician and foreman. In 2018 he became a Master Electrician. He has also worked as a general maintenance repair contractor.
ROBERT DAVIS
Software Engineer
Robert is a member of the IAC’s Information Technology team, working to plan, design, and develop new IT systems and make improvements to existing IT systems. Robert has over 10 years experience in software development and full-stack web development.
JOSH FABY
fACILITIES ASSESSOR
Josh is part of the Assessment and Maintenance Team, which assesses school facilities for maintenance effectiveness, providing important feedback and recommendations to school systems. Previously, Josh worked in the construction field for over 10 years as a foreman and project superintendent, most recently serving as Director of Engineering for the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in Baltimore. In 2005 he became a Master Electrician.
BROOKE FINNERAN
MAINTENANCE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Brooke coordinates and supports the Assessment and Maintenance Team, including the creation of individual LEA maintenance reports and the IAC’s Annual Maintenance Report. Brooke’s experience in State Government with the Department of Transportation and her natural affinity for data collection and analysis provides the agency with the information needed to reveal trends and provide insight or answers to potential issues.
LAQUAY FLEMING
FIELD OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR
LaQuay administers and coordinates the daily and long term operations, workflow, dataflow, and reporting of the Field Operations Division. A crucial function of her position here at the IAC is data development and visualization to support decision making and communications. LaQuay comes to the IAC with extensive administrative, database, and office coordination experience.
ROBERT GOETZ
SYSTEMS TRAINER
Robert is responsible for the development and rollout of training programs for the IAC’s internal staff and external customers. He also provides general IT support to IAC Staff and external customers. Robert has served with the IAC for multiple years in a financial capacity and continues to provide general administrative support with his institutional knowledge.
SHERONDA GORDON
Finance Administrator
As a member of the IAC’s Finance Team, Sheronda supports the financial side of the IAC’s operations and funding programs, including corresponding with LEAs, and reviewing construction contract awards and other financial transactions.
ASHLEY HICKS
Finance and Operations Assistant
Ashley supports the operations finance section of the IAC, working as a financial liaison between the IAC and the Maryland State Department of Education and LEAs, creating financial reports, and assisting with office management for the IAC. Ashley comes to the IAC with seven years of State service and 10 years of administrative support and office operations experience.
VICTORIA HOWARD
POLICY ANALYST
Victoria serves as the IAC’s Policy Analyst, supporting the Policy and Communications Division through the Legislative cycle. Before coming to the IAC, Victoria gained experience navigating education and school district policy by participating in the Green Mountain Education Summit in the state of Vermont.
JASON JOHNSON
Facilities ASSESSOR
Jason serves as a Facilities Assessor, working to assess the condition and educational sufficiency of public PK-12 school facilities across Maryland. Jason comes to the IAC with experience in project management, condition assessment, portfolio analysis, and facility planning of federal government facilities, including NASA and the United States Navy.
KENNETH JOHNSON, PE
Lead FACILITIES ASSESSOR
Kenneth serves as the IAC’s Lead Facilities Assessor and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Maryland. He comes to the IAC with many years of experience in assessing Maryland schools for physical condition and educational adequacy.
SHERON JOHNSON
Funding programs assistant
Sheron assists in the administrative processes associated with the IAC’s various funding programs. Her prior experience working with several State Agencies on policy-related issues helps to provide the level of expertise needed to help the department run efficiently and effectively.
BEN KAPLAN
Assessment Data Coordinator
Ben is the IAC’s Statewide Facilities Assessment data coordinator and an assessor, working to assess the condition and educational sufficiency of public PK-12 school facilities. Ben joined the IAC team with 12+ years of experience managing and conducting facilities assessments, performing facilities portfolio analysis, and planning facility programs for NASA, the US Navy, and the US Marine Corps.
DANIEL McBEE
Facilities ASSESSOR
Daniel serves as a Facilities Assessor, working to assess the condition and educational sufficiency of public PK-12 school facilities across Maryland.
MICKEY MEREDITH
IT PROJECTS MANAGER
Mickey joins the IAC as an IT Projects Manager, provides technical project management for the developing of new IT systems and improvements to existing IT systems.
SOULIHE NIDA
Facilities Assessor
Soulihe serves as a Facilities Assessor, working to assess the condition and educational sufficiency of public PK-12 school facilities across Maryland. He comes to the IAC with experience in assessing facilities in K-12 schools, higher education, commercial, and multifamily. In the past five years, Soulihe has conducted estimating, coordinating, and portfolio analysis of assessed facilities in various industries across the United States.
POPI PARAGIOS
FINANCE Manager
Popi is part of the IAC’s Finance division and works to develop, implement, and oversee financial procedures for the IAC’s programs. Popi brings her unique blend of accounting and real estate experiences to her Finance Manager role at the IAC. Throughout her career, she has had the pleasure of working with a diverse group of people entrusted to work together to grow and prosper. She looks forward to helping her IAC team succeed.
DETERRION SIMS
Funding programs assistant
Deterrion assists in the administrative processes associated with the IAC’s various funding programs, including the development of reports and initial programmatic eligibility determinations for a number of school construction funding programs.
GENE SHANHOLTZ, CDT
LEAD CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGEr
As an CPM for the IAC, Gene works to guide and support school systems in their facility planning, design, and construction activities to help them maintain an educationally sufficient and fiscally sustainable portfolio of facilities. Gene comes to the IAC with over five years of experience in construction management primarily focused on phased occupied renovation and addition projects for various public school systems in Maryland.
BRETT STEVENS
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Assistant IT Manager Stevens supports every IT function of the IAC. With his more than fifteen years in State services as a database specialist and a Technical Specialist, he brings a wealth of experience to every aspect of the IAC’s technology systems.
MARK STEVENS
MAINTENANCE & fACILITIES aSSESSOR
Mark joins the IAC team as an assessor for both the IAC’s Maintenance Effectiveness Assessment and Statewide Facilities Assessment. Mark brings more than 30 years of
industry experience in construction and commercial building maintenance. Mark’s building experience began as an engineer for higher education where his passion for maintaining and assessing commercial buildings grew to managing maintenance for public housing and K-12 public schools. Mark is excited to share his passion with the IAC and its mission.
HANNAH STURM
Administrative Services Manager
Hannah is responsible for IAC communications, including the IAC’s website, publications, and more. She also supports special projects, agency efficiency, and new employee onboarding.
Hannah is also the IAC’s Records Manager and the staff representative for Public Information Act (PIA) requests. Contact Hannah or use this form to submit a PIA request.
TATYANA TATE
funding programs & finance assistant
Tatyana joins the IAC team in an administrative role supporting both the Funding Programs division and the Finance division.
GRAHAM TWIBELL, GISP
REGIONAL PLANNER
Graham is part of the IAC’s Planning Group as a Regional Planner. He is a certified GIS Professional (GISP) and comes to the IAC with a decade of experience as a geospatial consultant for architecture, engineering, and construction projects around the region. Graham’s work with the IAC supports the educational sufficiency and fiscal sustainability of school facilities by delivering technical assistance to local education agencies and providing program support.
LISA VAUGHN
Capital Projects Manager
As a CPM for the IAC, Lisa works to guide and support school systems in their facility planning, design, and construction activities to help them maintain an educationally sufficient and fiscally sustainable portfolio of facilities. Lisa joins the IAC with 8+ years of experience in project management and estimating for commercial construction. She estimated and managed general trade packages of K-12 schools, universities, and multifamily residences.
SEAN VORSTEG
CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGER
As an CPM for the IAC, Sean works to guide and support school systems in their facility planning, design, and construction activities to help them maintain an educationally sufficient and fiscally sustainable portfolio of facilities. Sean joins the IAC with 15+ years of experience in construction management primarily focused on heavy civil and building energy efficiency renovations.