Meet the Education Team

Dr. Pamela Rosa is an Educational Consultant and Senior Consultant for Effective Professional Practices at the Danielson Group. Dr. Rosa has supported schools nationally in the design, development, and implementation of Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching evaluation and professional growth process. As an educational consultant for the past 14 years, Dr Rosa specializes in teacher and principal evaluation and professional growth processes as well as teacher mentoring/coaching.

Dr. Ann Johnson is an independent consultant who works extensively with organizations internationally on implementing curriculum and assessment reform, developing high-quality leadership teams, and developing training and implementation plans. Her practical approach to design and alignment is based on her 30 years’ experience as a classroom teacher, associate superintendent, building principal, and adjunct professor having implemented long-term curriculum alignment and mapping initiatives.

Helen Graves With a diverse background in education, Adlerian psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and marketing, Helen Graves is fascinated by how people think and learn. She has taught all age levels both in formal classrooms and in workshops, conferences, and online seminars. She has recently moved into the field of content development and instructional design, and enjoys bringing her passion for clear communication and innovative solutions to the learning environment.

Dr. Pamela Enders is a psychologist and peak performance coach. While a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, she also served as a teacher and supervisor at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston. With three decades of experience, she works with high-performing professionals to project confidence and poise in high-visibility, high-pressure situations.

Ellen Smith has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education and several years of classroom experience. She works with the NFEC to produce and edit smart, easy-to-use educational resources. She is experienced in implementing and adapting curricula to meet critical needs of the learners.

Kristina McCormick has extensive experience in developing curricula and educational programs from inception. Ms. McCormick was instrumental in the NFEC’s project-based learning program for teens and young adults. She was able to apply classroom teaching methodology and curriculum models to promote active student learning through the integration of technology in order to address the varied learning needs of all students.

Vince Shorb is the CEO of the National Financial Educators’ Council, and leads the NFEC’s Advisory Board and workplace financial wellness initiative. Before becoming one of the council’s original founders, Shorb spoke with over 20,000 people about their financial situations and reviewed the personal financial statements of more than 10,000 clients across the country. He has been instrumental in developing over 500 hours of financial literacy curriculum and was recognized as the “leading youth financial literacy expert” by the Orange County Register. He remains involved in educational development and raising awareness for the financial literacy movement. Shorb has over 20 years of investing and financial industry experience.

Stan Webb has been a steady beacon in the financial education world. In addition to obtaining his professional securities licenses, Stan is a Certified Fund Specialist and a Certified Senior Advisor. Stan attained these designations in order to better help his clients achieve their financial goals. He leverages his real-world experience to contribute to the NFEC’s Curriculum Advisory Board. Stan has a passion for improving the financial capability of his clients and community, and has hosted financial literacy promotions and provides a variety of financial education services throughout Kansas.

Laura Adams is the award-winning author of the 2010 best-seller Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich, and produces a weekly podcast that receives more than 500,000 monthly downloads. She won the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award and is considered one of the leading financial literacy experts in the country.

Peter Rasmussen, former Program Director to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, is a current bank auditor. He is dedicated to sharing financial literacy with his community and is actively involved in the Money Smart Week promotions held during financial literacy month.

Gary Jaeckel is the author of Teaching Personal Financial Education and NFEC Instructor. His passion for improving people’s financial capabilities took him from the corporate world to the financial literacy industry. He brings real-world experience to the academic side of the financial literacy field with his background in the financial and securities industries and corporate finance. He is a recognized expert in teaching personal finance and is known as an advocate promoting personal finance education as a stand-alone course in all schools across the country.

Diane Larsen is an award-winning economics teacher and NFEC Instructor. Diane is a 26-year teaching veteran whose awards include being selected Jump$tart Coalition Outstanding Educator for 2008 as well as being the only California teacher chosen by CEE and the U.S. State Department to travel to South Africa as part of an international economics teacher exchange program. Her students have won high honors in the California State Stock Market Simulation, placing first in 2008, 2009, and twice in 2012.

Steven Alexander has more than 27 years of financial experience working in different capacities with major financial institutions, including Bank of America Private Wealth Management, Wachovia Trust Nonprofit and Philanthropic Services, Bank of New York/Mellon, and TIAA/CREF Wealth Management. He embraced the importance of financial literacy education early in his career by obtaining his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 1990.

Victor Ricciardi teaches Financial Management at Goucher College and has earned his BBA, MBA, and APC designations. Professor Ricciardi teaches a variety of subjects related to financial literacy for individuals and organizations, with special expertise in behavioral finance.

Amy Jo Johnson is President of the North Dakota chapter of the Jump$tart Coalition. She works for the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas as Director of Learning. Both Ms. Johnson and the organizations she represents provide personal finance resources to credit unions across the Dakotas. She is chairperson of the annual financial education conference hosted by the Jump$tart Coalition.

Erica Jackson served as Director for the Center for Financial and Consumer Outreach (at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College) and holds certification as a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI). Ms. Jackson has also served as the inaugural Executive Director for Junior Achievement’s Northwest PA Regional Office. Over the years, Erica has partnered with several agencies and organizations to advocate for financial capability, including: National Financial Educators Council, Pennsylvania Treasury, Pennsylvania Department of Banking, and Jump$tart Coalition.

Steve Repak is a Certified Financial Planner™ and author of Dollars & Uncommon Sense: Basic Training for Your Money. Steve is an advocate for financial literacy and a 15-year veteran in the financial services industry. He has demonstrated expertise as an educator from how his presentations are well-received by the audiences, and from the post-surveys collected which showed that the material made an impact.

Yamila Constantino is an award-winning journalist with two decades of experience in the financial realm. She has been included twice on Hispanic Magazine’s “One Hundred Top Latinas in the U.S.” list.

Dianne Jennings is the executive producer of the radio talk show “Mine Your Business” and a co-host on the Tim Ridley Radio Show, which airs on the popular Sirius XM radio network. Dianne serves as an instructor for Brookshire Professional Training Institute, a continuing education resource center for the legal profession. Dianne’s lifelong career has been to assist others with their financial needs, thus allowing them to live lives of financial freedom.

Somya Munjal has been tackling the issue of financial literacy since she graduated from college. She realized quickly how fortunate she was to earn Bachelors and graduate degrees in Accountancy completely free of personal debt, due to her work experience and scholarships. She is now a Certified Financial Accountant and holds Bachelors and Master’s Degrees from Northern Illinois University.

Meka West grew up with humble beginnings which taught her money lessons that shaped her future. She brings more than 10 years of experience working with non-profits, government, and corporate agencies in an accounting and business capacity. In addition, she has volunteered more than 900 hours to financial literacy education over the past two years in her community by teaching, conducting outreach, and raising awareness.

Ornella Grosz is a personal finance expert and publisher of a book titled Moneylicious: A Financial Clue for Generation Y. Ms. Grosz has been a featured financial expert for top radio shows on CBS, NBC, and ABC and is a personal finance writer.

Nick Jacobs served five years in credit and housing counseling (at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling) and now works at Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE). Mr. Jacobs is dedicated to helping people improve their financial capabilities and overcome financial challenges.

Natasha Riley-Noah has been active in the financial services industry for more than 10 years. Ms. Riley-Noah brings diverse experience to the advisory board with experience in insurance, securities, debt management, and financial planning.

Danny Kofke is a teacher of 12 years and a personal finance expert. Mr. Kofke has authored two financial books: How to Survive (and perhaps thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary and A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach yourself (and your kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money.

Lee Aubry has been in the financial industry for over 20 years. A top producer in real estate loan origination and private banking/fund investments, Ms. Aubry spent five years as a financial analyst for a global oil company and five years in Washington, D.C. as a legislative analyst and lobbyist. She possesses an MBA from Santa Clara University and graduated first-in-class, Beta Gamma Sigma.

Amy Lemasters is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Family Financial Planning. The FFP coursework is designed to cover all areas of the financial planning industry – from investments to financial education, from counseling to retirement and estate planning.

Nick Jacobs served five years in credit and housing counseling (at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling) and now works at Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE). Mr. Jacobs is dedicated to helping people improve their financial capability and overcome financial challenges.

Dave Straube, a father of teenagers, has a passion for helping youth avoid the financial problems he experienced after college. He served as treasurer of Vashon Partners in Education and has given money talks at Vashon High School. He is author of Someday is not a Plan – A Guide to Understanding Money in Plain English.