Our Team

Our dedicated staff and board are experts in the fields of business building and trauma-informed care. Each person on our team is committed to our vision of flourishing communities where trauma survivors find healing in safe workplaces and provide for themselves and their families.

Staff

Dorothy Douglas Taft

Executive Director, Board Member

Bio

Dorothy has decades of experience engaged in US and international policy to advance human rights protection and advocate for the most vulnerable, as well as engage with issues related to trauma healing. She has worked in the United States Congress and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and in partnership with a variety of nonprofit organizations. Representing the US Government and Members of Congress, she has defended the human rights and dignity of men and women in virtually every continent around the globe. Dorothy in 2021 completed the Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery course from Harvard Medical School’s Program in Refugee Trauma, and in 2014, Missio Seminary’s Global Trauma Recovery Institute CE training. She and her husband James Taft live in Alexandria, Virginia.

Edmund Brett

Business Development Advisor, Uganda

Bio

Edmund brings six years of leadership experience delivering construction and training projects across Uganda, including in northwest Uganda and the refugee settlements. As Area Manager at Haileybury Youth Trust (HYT), he contributed to tripling HYT’s construction capacity over five years, scaling operations while deepening partnerships with local communities, the private sector, UNHCR and the Ugandan Government. Consistently integrating both local capacity building into program design and sustainable, low-carbon building methods, he has overseen projects funded by the UK (UKAID), Germany (GIZ) and Belgium (ENABEL). Edmund holds a Master’s in Conservation Science and Policy from the University of Exeter, UK, and is passionate about context-driven solutions that equip young people with practical skills and contribute to long-term development outcomes. He and his wife live in Uganda. .

Susan Edwards

Bookkeepeer

Bio

Sue is an experienced program budget analyst and bookkeeper. She takes pride in providing the best service and outcome possible. She has a passion for working on projects that change lives and supporting her colleagues. As a Financial Assistant, her goals include attention to detail, timeliness, and responsiveness.

She is based in Alexandria, Virginia. When she isn't busy providing financial assistance to The Market Project, you can find her designing and sewing various projects, including quilts, hosting friends, and honing her golf swing.

Rebecca Hickey

Senior Advisor

Bio

Becky has over 30 years of experience applying strong analytical, organizational and operational skills and sensitivities to create economic growth and successful programs in both the non-profit and for-profit environments. For over a decade she worked in the Community Development Financial Institution field where she helped establish new programs that involved State and/or Federal Governments, lending institutions, and community development organizations. Becky began her business career in retail and holds a BA in English Literature from Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, and a Master in Urban Planning from New York University, Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Becky volunteers as a court-appointed special advocate for children in the foster care system. She and her husband live in Lititz, PA. They have two grown children.

Tyra Jackson

Communications Director

Bio

Tyra is a communications consultant who uses her love of words and storytelling to shape messages that help organizations reach their audiences in impactful ways. During her more than 10 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications, Tyra has promoted the organizational goals of a diverse array of private sector businesses, government entities including the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and non-profits across the DC Metro area.

Tyra received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Marketing from Hampton University, in Hampton, Virginia. She held the position of Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for Comunidad, a community-based non-profit in Falls Church, VA and recently received her Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown Univeristy. Raised in Northern Virginia, Tyra currently resides in Alexandria.

LJ Phillips, Jr.

Operations Manager, Research Fellow

Bio

LJ Phillips serves as Operations Manager for TMP. Driven by a passion to serve and love others well, he takes his job seriously and applies his passion in his work. LJ has a BA in Mathematics and Philosophy from Davidson College. He comes from the First State, Delaware and when he isn't working, he loves watching movies, cooking for family and friends, and reading a nice book. He is also Season 19 Capital Fellow.

Shelley Smith-Thames

Organizational Development and Operations Consultant

Bio

Shelley serves as a consultant coming alongside early-stage nonprofit leaders to help operationalize a vision and provide practical guidance and tactical execution along the way. Prior to beginning her consulting career, Shelley served for over 17 years with International Justice Mission (IJM). There Shelley provided leadership and support for a nonprofit start-up of five employees through various stages of organizational growth and maturity, ultimately being a senior advisor to an international organization of nearly 1,000 employees, $50m budget, and over a dozen foreign locations. Shelley led the strategic planning function, the content planning and supervision of the organization’s service to the Board of Directors and served as a utility player covering various functions and gaps for the organization. Prior to IJM, Shelley served with World Relief Atlanta, recruiting and training church sponsors for new refugee families from Somalia, Bosnia, and Iraq. Shelley has a BA in Social Work from Baylor University and a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University. She and her family live in Falls Church, VA.

Philip Zoshak

Director of Advancement and Storytelling

Bio

Phil has dedicated his career to support those in need. With 14 years of nonprofit experience, particularly with small, agile organizations, he is excited to lead the development efforts at The Market Project. Phil’s favorite aspect of nonprofit work is engaging with partners and getting them excited about the mission. He thrives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Elaina, and their dog, Leela, enjoying the outdoors and pursuing his nerdy passions.

Board of Directors

Eleanor Nagy

Board Chair

Bio

As chair, Eleanor Nagy supports and empowers Board members to champion TMP's vision to build flourishing communities where trauma survivors can heal in safe workplaces and provide for themselves and their families. Eleanor's 25+ year experience as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and at U.S. Embassies around the world informs her approach. During her diplomatic career, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Burma (Myanmar) and in Macedonia. Other postings included serving as Director for the Office of Refugee Assistance for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, and as Director for the Office of Global Hunger and Food Security. She also served for two years as a Senior Director of Strategy at World Vision International’s Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs. Eleanor is currently on staff with the Department of State Office of Inspector General where she evaluates the policy and management effectiveness of embassies worldwide. Eleanor lives in Annandale, Virginia.

Wade Channell

Board Member

Bio

Wade Channell is an economic growth specialist who has spent most of his career working to remove unnecessary barriers to businesses in developing countries. He has worked extensively in Africa and Eastern Europe, where he concentrated on issues of business regulation, entrepreneurship, and access to finance. For the past ten years, he has concentrated on addressing economic barriers that women face, whether as investors, entrepreneurs, or employees. He feels most alive when working with others to understand and address problems that they care about. As a Director, Wade hopes to help identify and pursue opportunities for expanding TMP’s market approach to improving lives and livelihoods. Previously, Wade worked as a retail manager, a business lawyer, and an international development specialist (for USAID) which has given him the privilege of working in over 60 countries on four continents. He has lived in Brazil, Guinea-Bissau, Croatia and Belgium, and currently resides within walking distance from his granddaughter in the Washington, DC region. Wade is an avid reader, guitarist, occasional poet and sketch artist.

Catherine Johnson

Board Member

Bio

Catherine Johnson advises The Market Project on project design, development, and management. A Senior Foreign Service Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (retired), Catherine served as Country Representative in Albania, led USAID’s democracy and governance offices in Pakistan, Romania, and Georgia, and championed women’s rights globally. Prior experience in African rural communities and low-income areas in Latin America reinforced her passion for working with those of limited means. Her commitment to assisting survivors of human trafficking recently led her to complete a credential in teaching trauma-informed yoga. Currently the founder of the women’s Centre for the Healing Arts in Hürtgenwald, Germany, Catherine teaches yoga, holistic healing, meditation, and contemplative prayer in international settings.

Peter Stahl

Board Member

Bio

Peter Stahl is a certified financial planner™ with over 30 years in the financial and healthcare industries, serving in sales, marketing and executive roles. He is an author, small business owner and sought-after industry speaker. As a Director, Peter hopes to support the Market Project in developing new business and overall support for the mission of TMP. Peter and his wife Elizabeth live in Pennsylvania and have five children. When not tending to his business, he is active in the local church. You can also find him enjoying golf, tennis or reading a good book.

Soojung Smith

Board Member

Bio

Soojung is a highly experienced business executive and entrepreneur with a strong background in the tech industry, having worked with Fortune 500 companies and nimble startups. In addition to her exceptional business acumen, she is also dedicated to promoting financial literacy and supporting young entrepreneurship through her co-founded organization, KuriousMinds. She is a change agent who passionately works towards providing educational opportunities to underprivileged youth. On Medium, she regularly shares her insights on industry trends, parenting, and leadership. She is based in Seattle, Washington, where she lives with her husband and two children. She loves outdoor activities, which help her balance her strategic mindset with her love for nature and adventure.

Sharon Cohn Wu

Board Member

Bio

Sharon Cohn Wu has partnered with governments and led international teams for more than 20 years to strengthen effective responses to end violence, measure them and promote human flourishing. She currently serves as Regional President of North America for International Justice Mission (IJM), leading the strategy and teams responsible for IJM's constituent, government and corporate partnerships in the United States and Canada. Prior to her current role, Sharon served as Principal Advisor on Violence Against Women and Children, where she led IJM’s center of excellence in addressing violence against children, trafficking, and intimate partner violence, and developed globally applicable best practices for IJM’s extensive programs worldwide. Her passion lies at the intersection of government support and survivor strength. Prior to joining IJM, she clerked for Hon. Richard L. Williams and was a corporate litigator for Arnold & Porter. Sharon lives in Washington DC with her husband, John, and their three children.