Board of Advisors

KID-GRIT BOARD OF ADVISORS (2022-23)

Dr. Edgar Barron

Dr. Barron is an accomplished organizational consultant, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader, and executive coach with over 30 years of experience partnering with small non-profits, higher education institutions and large complex organizations. An expert systems analyst, Edgar is well known for leading executive teams through processes that transform their strategy and culture, lead to continuous improvement, improve organizational effectiveness and increase customer satisfaction. In other words, he helps companies be better so that they can do better.

Dr. Katherine Bihr

Dr. Bihr is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Academic Solutions group. With over 30 years in education working in both K-12 public education and the non-profit sector. Kathy’s expertise ranges from program development, leadership, and creating sustainable, equitable learning environments for youth. She also serves on the board of directors for Project Tomorrow, which supports the innovative uses of STEM resources in K-12 schools and communities; advises a entrepreneurs through an EdTech accelerator; and, provides coaching to non-profit leaders working in the sports and entertainment field. In addition, Dr. Bihr serves as adjunct faculty for the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

Lorenzo Frati

Lorenzo is a business consultant based in New York City who started his career at the intersection of education and strategy. He is passionate about sharing perspectives on growth and brings experience in go to market strategy and organizational effectiveness. Lorenzo is also a junior board member of a not for profit focused on professional development of underrepresented students interested in careers in professional services, as well as a general board member of the young alumni association at his alma mater, Columbia University.

Julia Gabor

Julia is co-founder and CEO of kid-grit. Her passion and expertise are in program development and implementation in areas of 21st-century skills, social-emotional learning, and youth development. Julia designs, trains and facilitates workshops for educators, small businesses, mentor volunteers, and student workshops. She loves to create unique implementations for educational communities that enhance student success and aid them towards a productive future.

Grace Giovannetti

Grace Giovannetti has breath of experience ranging from being an executive for luxury brands to financial planning for a digital media startup to being an accredited sommelier, and entrepreneur. She is the Senior Account Supervisor at Moontide Agency. Grace’s personal and professional life have taught her that to put the customer at the center, how to focus on developing and executing new business, seek data to confirm decisions, connect businesses to the best resources from people to technology, to review past results to build future goals and always to learn and never stop.

Jeffrey L. Jordan

Jeffrey is co-founder of kid-grit and Associate Director of Athletics for New Jersey City University. A passionate social entrepreneur, Jeffrey has built several businesses, including a holistic health, wellness, and life-coaching practice in New Jersey. His passion is centered on holistic youth development, mentoring, and kinetic life coaching.

John O’Rourke

John spent more than 25 years in capital markets, where he focused on corporate finance, analysis, sales, and trading. John has excelled at many firms, including Goldman Sachs, Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder, Sanford C. Bernstein, FTN Capital Markets, and Comerica Bank. Over his career, John has analyzed, bought, and sold global companies in media, banking, real estate, and pharmaceuticals. John is currently a principal and managing member of RJ Primo LLC, a private equity firm based in California and New York.

Susanne H. Thompson, Ed.D.

Dr. Susanne H. Thompson is the President of Moreland University of the Teacher Education Ecosystem at the Colibri Group. Susanne’s 30+ year career spans K-12 education, Higher Education, and the Ed Tech industry.

Presenting at the Launch of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank in Cairo, writing for the Teach Secondary publication in the UK, serving as the keynote presenter during the National Digital Week in Ireland, and teaching in Australia are some of Susanne’s career highlights. Most recently, Susanne also presented the keynote address to the Buckeye Association of School Administrator’s Annual Women in Leadership Conference, supported the work of the NY Council for School Superintendent’s focusing on leadership and transformational change, and has presented at numerous education conferences.

Amber Wright

Amber L. Wright is a communication expert and founder of Words Well Said, a personal development company that helps organizations do a better job at making their people feel seen, heard, and valued. As an executive coach and speaker, she guides leaders toward expressing their highest selves with confidence and grace. Her popular TEDx Talk entitled, “Ask Better Questions to Build Better Connections,” has inspired people all over the world to take become stronger communicators. She has been mentioned in Fast Company, Essence, and Mashable, and is currently enrolled in the Organizational Change and Leadership doctoral program at the University of Southern California.