Online Master's in Project Management
Advisory Board
Zorina Alliata
Principal AI Strategist,
Amazon
Currently a Principal AI Strategist with Amazon, Zorina Alliata works with global customers to find solutions that speed up operations and enhance processes using artificial intelligence and machine learning. Ms. Alliata is also an Adjunct Professor at OPIT and Georgetown University SCS, creating and teaching AI courses for graduate students.
Ms. Alliata is involved in AI for Good initiatives and working with non-profit organizations to address major social and environmental challenges using AI. She also volunteered with the Zonta Club of Fairfax and as a Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Committee at AnitaB.org, both organizations that encourage women's participation in STEM programs and jobs.
Silvia Bianchin
Consultant/Project Manager,
Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), World Bank
Silvia Bianchin is a Consultant and Project Manager with the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) at the World Bank. She pursued her undergraduate studies in political science and international relations at the University of Trieste, in Italy, centering her thesis on international cooperation. In May 2021 she received her master’s degree (MPS) in project management from Georgetown University, where she has been actively advocating for professional development and mentoring initiatives. Ms. Bianchin is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and served as VP of Marketing and Communications for the Project Management Institute chapter of Washington, D.C. (PMIWDC).
Marcus D. Butler
Director of Logistics for the Electronic Health Record Modernization,
Integration Office (EHRM IO)
Marcus D. Butler brings over 22 years of expertise in portfolio, program, and project management. As the Director of Logistics for the Department of Veterans Affairs' $16 billion Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office (EHRM IO), he oversees logistics, transportation, facilities, and equipment operations to improve healthcare for Veterans. He also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Southern California, teaching in the Master of Science in Project Management program.
An alumnus of Georgetown University’s Master of Professional Studies in Project Management program, Mr. Butler also holds a bachelor of science in aeronautical industrial technology and is pursuing a doctorate of education in organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he has successfully managed multi-billion-dollar portfolios and advanced system integration across federal healthcare operations.
Simon Cleveland
Managing Partner,
Simeris Alliance LLC
Dr. Simon Cleveland brings over 20 years of expertise in managing complex technological projects for organizations such as NASA, the Department of Education, Homeland Security, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and leading firms like Accenture and General Dynamics. A certified professional (PMP, DASM, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, Six Sigma Black Belt), he has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications in project management, information systems, and computer-mediated communication. Dr. Cleveland teaches graduate courses at Georgetown University and serves as Associate Editor for multiple international journals in technology and project management.
He holds a Ph.D. in information systems, an Ed.D. in organizational leadership, and several master’s degrees in project management, strategic management, and leadership from prestigious universities. A three-time recipient of the Dr. Harold Kerzner Scholarship and an NSF grant, Dr. Cleveland also serves on editorial review boards for international journals, contributing to advancements in project management, ICT, and knowledge management.
Maria Conner
Scientific Project Manager,
National Institutes of Health
Maria Conner specializes in clinical project management with a focus on international clinical trial planning, execution, and logistics in the U.S. and across Africa. Since 2016, she has worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is also an adjunct professor of biology at Mount St. Mary’s University, her undergraduate alma mater, where her early research focused on RhoGTPases using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology. Ms. Conner earned her MPS in project management from Georgetown University in 2021. She went on to earn her PMP® in 2022.
Ms. Conner combines her background in biology and chemistry with her project management expertise to advance malaria vaccine development through clinical trials. She has built a career exploring multidisciplinary applications of science and regularly hosts speaking engagements about this topic.
Dora Gougoufkas
Managing Vice President, Head of International Talent Expansion,
Capital One
An energetic and dynamic leader, Dora Gougoufkas specializes in guiding large enterprise teams through transformational programs, strategy development, and complex initiatives. With expertise in change management and analytical problem-solving, she excels in building and restructuring organizations, recruiting top talent, and delivering in fast-paced, matrixed environments. As Managing Vice President at Capital One, she currently leads Technology’s international expansion.
Previously, she served as leader of Commercial Transformation and the Office of the President, driving strategic planning for a $3B+ revenue line of business with a $1.5B budget; she’s also served as Vice President of Capital One’s Bank Risk Office. Ms. Gougoufkas has held project management and leadership roles at Freddie Mac and JP Morgan Chase. A passionate advocate for community engagement, she chairs the Advisory Board for the Washington, D.C., chapter of BUILD, a nonprofit supporting under-resourced youth through entrepreneurship. Ms. Gougoufkas’ educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and master’s degree from Bayes Business School at City University of London.
Richard Jenny
IT Portfolio Program Director and Product Manager,
Research and Development Solutions
As an accomplished IT technical Programs Director, Richard Jenny is currently working in the Human Data Sciences field and teaching University graduate school courses. An Agile practitioner and DevOps IT Portfolio Leader, he has successfully contributed to product and solution deliveries across numerous organizations, including product development, operations, IS/IT, project management, and more. His educational background includes a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University, and a master’s degree in business administration. Mr. Jenny's professional journey is marked by certifications that underscore his expertise: Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), Product Management Professional (PMP), and Professional Engineer (NC-PE).
Mr. Jenny resides in Cary, NC, with his wife. Their family bonds remain strong, with three married children also residing in the state.
Dominic Lepore
President,
Terrapin Consulting
Dominic Lepore has over 30 years of experience managing projects to improve business and IT operations. He is an expert in all aspects of project management using both waterfall and agile techniques. He served on the Board of the Project Management Institute, Washington, D.C., Chapter from 2014 -2019, culminating as the Board Chair.
He has educated over 2,000 students at Georgetown University since 2014. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in information systems from the Stevens Institute of Technology.
Keisha Lewis
Chief Enterprise Project Officer,
Montgomery County Government
Keisha Lewis, a certified project professional with over 25 years of technology experience, has worked across industries such as public utilities, higher education, nonprofits, media, and government. Transitioning from mainframe programming to web development and project management, she specializes in leading complex digital, web, and e-commerce projects. Currently the Chief Enterprise Project Officer for Montgomery County Government, she oversees high-impact technical projects, implements project management best practices, and ensures alignment with objectives and timelines.
In addition to her professional role, Ms. Lewis is an entrepreneur passionate about project management, technology, and marketing. A dedicated community advocate, she provides training on related topics and holds multiple certifications, including PMP®, Agile Hybrid Project Pro™, Certified Scrum Master, Professional Certified Marketer, and Certified Digital Marketing Professional.
Lisa Mathews
Managing Director, Ethics and Compliance,
KPMG
Lisa Mathews is the Managing Director, Ethics and Compliance and the Head of Government Contract and Special Compliance Programs at KPMG, LLP, one of the "Big Four" accounting firms. Her career in ethics and compliance is preceded by a background in project and program management, project planning/scheduling, earned value management, financial analysis, and data analytics. With KPMG since 2018 and Georgetown SCS since 2017, Ms. Matthews was previously with Booz Allen Hamilton (VA), Thales Communications (MD), Northrop Grumman (MD), and Raytheon Missile Systems (Tucson, AZ).
Daniel McCombe
Head of Strategy - Orbital Launch,
Blue Origin
Daniel McCombe is a seasoned executive with 15 years of leadership experience in finance and strategy roles spanning aerospace and technology sectors. In his current role as Head of Strategy - Orbital Launch at Blue Origin, he steers the business strategy for the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle program. His work includes a focus on innovation and developing new business models that support Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space for the betterment of Earth.
Prior to joining Blue Origin, Daniel spent a decade at Airbus in roles spanning commercial aircraft, space systems, and defence in various international markets, including India, Germany, and the United States. Highlights of his tenure at Airbus include his leadership role in helping Airbus secure the acquisition of the Bombardier CSeries commercial aircraft program, now the Airbus A220 aircraft. He holds a master’s degree in global business and a bachelor’s degree of in commerce from the University of Victoria, Canada, and currently resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and two children.
Franklin Ortiz
Head of Finance,
Airbus Services NA
Franklin Ortiz currently serves as the Head of Finance for Airbus’ Services Division in North America, he manages revenue operations of +$1.5B USD of Airbus’ Services fully integrated package of businesses including training, flight operations, maintenance, upgrades, dismantling, and recycling, covering the entire aircraft life cycle from entry into service to end-of-life.
Mr. Ortiz has been with Airbus for the last seven years across various functions including cost optimization; mergers and acquisitions; trade policy negotiation; and transformation and partnerships. Franklin is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in the School of Continuing Studies.
He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Georgetown University, with a bachelor of science degree in finance and a master of science degree in project management, respectively. Professionally, Mr. Ortiz has worked in various industries including aerospace; oil and gas; technology; defense and intelligence; and academia. He is from Texas and calls Washington, D.C., home.
Martin Reed
Adjunct Faculty,
Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
Dr. Reed, a retired IBM executive, has extensive experience in engineering, IT, business development, and program management. He specializes in full lifecycle management, enterprise systems integration, and using earned value management to optimize cost and schedule performance. Dr. Reed has also led successful Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) assessments. Currently an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University, he develops and teaches graduate courses in project management and was honored with the 2018 Georgetown Tropaia Award for Outstanding Faculty.
Dr. Reed holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from The Catholic University of America, along with degrees in electrical engineering and operations research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A PMP®-certified member of the Project Management Institute, he is also a dedicated IEEE volunteer, contributing to accreditation activities with ABET and earning the IEEE Meritorious Achievement Award. Additionally, he has served as a proposal reviewer for the National Science Foundation’s Education Directorate.
Michael Spead
Principal, Enterprise Program and Risk Management,
MITRE
Michael Spead brings over 20 years of experience transforming organizational strategies into actionable projects, programs, and portfolios that deliver measurable results for commercial, nonprofit, and government entities. He specializes in leading organizational change and innovation, including scaled agile transformations that drive value-, product-, and customer-centric operations. Currently, he is a Principal in the enterprise program and risk management division at a global consulting firm, where he leads agile transformation initiatives.
With expertise spanning industries such as financial services, IT, healthcare, and government, Mr. Spead has over 15 years of experience coaching and teaching professionals at all levels, including C-suite executives. An Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, he was honored with the 2019 Tropaia Outstanding Faculty Award. Mr. Spead previously served as a Vice President and Board Member for PMI’s Washington, D.C., Chapter. He holds a BBA from George Washington University, an MBA from George Mason University, a JD from The Catholic University of America, and certifications including PMP, SAFe SPC, CSPO, CSM, and Six Sigma.
Jeffrey Warner
Executive Director of Professional Education,
Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
With over 25 years of experience in higher education following a career in manufacturing, Jeffrey Warner brings a blend of academic and industry expertise to his work. Before joining Georgetown University, he served as the Academic Director for Digital Design at the Art Institute and as the Director of Continuing Education at Penn State York. In these roles, Mr. Warner focused on fostering innovation, supporting intellectual property transfer and licensing, and cultivating collaborations among university researchers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to advance the commercialization of technology. Additionally, he has taught management information systems for the past 25 years.
Currently, Mr. Warner serves as the Executive Director of Professional Education at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. In this capacity, he oversees a portfolio of 35 noncredit professional certificates, ensuring alignment with industry demands and a commitment to educational excellence.
Mr. Warner’s contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Dean’s Service Award from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, the ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award - Northeast from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, and the Mid-Atlantic Alexander Charters Outstanding Continuing Educator Award from UPCEA.
Mr. Warner holds a bachelor of arts from Gettysburg College and a master of science from Johns Hopkins University.