Staff

Sally T. Prouty
President/CEO

Ms. Prouty was appointed President and CEO of The Corps Network in 2002 and leads its work focused on assuring quality, advancing policy, and building partnerships in support of Service and Conservation Corps.  Through leadership in policy and practice, The Corps Network promotes national and community service as a strategy to revitalize communities, preserve and restore the environment, prepare young people for responsible, productive lives, and build civic spirit through service.

Immediately prior to appointment, she served four years as Deputy Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and seven years as Director of the Ohio Civilian Conservation Corps operating two residential and six non-residential programs. OCCC was recognized for effectiveness by USDOL and by the Annie E. Casey Foundation as "one of the premier youth programs in the nation" for serving youth exiting the juvenile justice system.

In addition to working 30 years in the public and private sectors, Ms. Prouty has nearly an equal number of years of experience in volunteer non-profit positions at the local, state, national, and international levels including serving on a public school Board of Education and on the founding board of a faith-based Charter School. As a Registered Nurse, she worked as an administrator, supervisor, and teacher in medical settings. Ms. Prouty also holds a degree in Organizational Communication from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Currently, Ms. Prouty serves on the Board of the Emerald Cities Collaborative and the Continental Divide Trail Alliance, The Steering Committee of Voices for National Service, and is co-chair of the National Campaign for Youth.  She also serves on advisory councils for the Center for Energy Workforce Development and the Workforce Readiness Council.  Ms. Prouty received the Apollo Alliance “Right Stuff” award in November 2009. 

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Marty O'Brien
Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Operations

At The Corps Network, Marty oversees project management, budget and administration, government relations, communications, fund development and marketing, strategic planning and serves as liaison to the Board of Directors.

Marty has been with The Corps Network since 1993 and has worked in government relations, technical assistance, event planning and project management prior to assuming his current position.

Before joining The Corps Network, Marty served on the Washington staff of U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger of Minnesota. He holds degrees from Saint John's University (MN) and The George Washington University.

Marty currently serves on the Disaster Protocol Committee advising the Office of Emergency Management at the Corporation for National and Community Service. He also serves on two local community boards of directors.

Contact Marty O'Brien

Judy Karasik
Vice President, Communications and Development

As The Corps Network's Vice President, Communications and Development, Judy is charged with cultivating foundation, corporate, and individual support, directing grants writing, and providing strategic thinking and writing support for marketing The Corps Network and the Corps community.

Judy has consulted to and designed and delivered trainings for nonprofits, educational institutions, and governmental organizations on issues including fundraising and organizational development.

In national service, her clients have included State Commissions, as well as Community HealthCorps and YouthBuild. She is the author of studies for nonprofits and foundations and has written widely on national service, beginning with a 1990 study for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation on young people working in the public interest and continuing with work including opinion pieces in The New York Times and Chronicle of Philanthropy. During the start-up for AmeriCorps, she served as Senior Training Officer at the Corporation for National and Community Service; later she returned to launch the State Administrative Standards project.

Her professional life began in trade publishing, where she was the acquiring editor for novels by Louise Erdrich and Julius Lester, among others. She is the co-author with the graphic novelist Paul Karasik of the award-winning dual format memoir The Ride Together: A Brother and Sister's Memoir of Autism in the Family.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Tanya Simpson
Vice President, Program Quality and Innovation

Tanya is the Vice President, Program Quality and Innovation and works on the Inclusive Crew Project, Excellence in Corps Operations (ECO), Civic Justice Corps, MLK Day of Service and other grants.

Tanya has been committed to transforming communities by serving with community-based, national and international organizations focused on strengthening access and opportunities for youth and families.

She has expertise in program design and implementation in the areas of youth development and workforce development. She also has expertise in volunteer engagement and organizational development.

Prior to joining The Corps Network, Tanya was a Development Associate with The Family Place, a Washington, DC community based organization offering family support services to recent immigrants from Central and South America. Tanya also served as a Project Manager with World Vision Laos, where she helped design a youth development program aimed at providing workforce training and supportive services to disadvantaged youth . Tanya has also worked with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), United Way for Southeast Michigan, and the Greater Lansing Urban League.

Tanya played a key role in the programmatic expansion efforts of World Vision Laos by authoring several successfully funded proposals on topics including HIV/AIDS awareness, food security, community based disaster management, unexploded ordinance (UXO) clearance, child sponsorship, and youth development.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Souraya Apikian
Staff Accountant

As a Staff Accountant, Souraya is responsible for all the day to day accounting functions i.e. utilizing the accounting software, entering accounts payable into the general ledger, assembling and presenting invoices to the authorized check signers, preparing and submitting invoices for grants and projects that require it, reconciling the monthly checking account to be submitted to the Director of Finance and Senior VP for final review and petty cash.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


 
Mary Ellen Ardouny
Director of Government Relations

In the role of Director of Government Relations, Mary Ellen directs all The Corps Network's advocacy work, including work with Capitol Hill, Federal Agencies and grassroots outreach. 

Mary Ellen has an expertise in government relations with a focus on the areas of education and workforce development.

Mary Ellen brings ten years of experience on Capitol Hill, including two years on the House Committee on Education and Labor handling post-secondary education, training, and life-long learning programs. During her time on the Hill, Mary Ellen worked for Representatives Matthew G. Martinez (D-CA) and Nydia Velazquez (D-NY). Before joining The Corps Network, Mary Ellen was Vice President of Government Relations at the Education Finance Council, the national trade association for non-profit and state based student loan providers. Prior to that, she spent two years as the Assistant to the President of the University of Montana.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Sean Garcia
Government Relations Associate

As Government Relations Associate, Sean is responsible for helping coordinate the Corps' advocacy efforts with legislators and federal agencies, as well as organizing communications with Corps throughout the country.

Sean has experience working in electoral politics as campaign manager of statewide and local races, as well as knowledge of the non-profit area, having worked as Policy Associate with the Alliance to Save Energy.

Sean has worked in the volunteer and service areas extensively. His family helped found a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which he was deeply involved with through college. Additionally, he was involved in mentoring at local schools in his hometown in Oregon.

Sean holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Portland. He also studied through American University, focusing on American politics and government.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Carol Huls
Executive Assistant

Carol Huls joined The Corps Network in July 2009. As Executive Assistant, Carol provides administrative support to Sally Prouty, President and CEO. Her duties include managing calendars and workload, compiling materials for meetings and routing information among the Management Team. Carol also provides general office support for The Corps Network's Washington, DC office.

Carol has supported executives at public and private corporations in Washington DC for the past eight years. Her previous experience includes work in the legal, printing, and real estate industries. She has also worked with the museum field.

Carol received her undergraduate degree in History and English from Calvin College and a masters degree in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University. She is active in the Washington, DC community and is a Licensed Washington, DC Tour Guide. She volunteers at the National Gallery of Art.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sarah Kirschenbaum
Grants and Projects Coordinator

In the role of Program and Projects Associate, Sarah's projects include Excellence in Corps Operations (ECO), MLK Day of Service, Civic Justice Corps, and the Education Awards Program. Sarah has experience coordinating large-scale days of service and has a strong knowledge of volunteer recruitment and management.

Prior to joining The Corps Network, Sarah was a member of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps in Washington DC where she worked at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center. She was the Coordinator of Behrend Builders, a shelter repair program and worked to renovate and repair low-income housing, schools, shelters, and parks.

Sarah graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and had the opportunity to study abroad at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. While at the University of Michigan, Sarah was also an active member of Project Community, where she tutored at a local Ann Arbor elementary school. She also participated in Amirim where she spent her summer volunteering in Israel.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Levi Novey 
Communications Manager

As The Corps Network's Communications Manager, Levi is responsible for crafting external messaging, development and design of all print and electronic publications, media outreach, managing social media, coordinating the Annual Corps profile, and maintaining the website.

Prior to joining the Corps Network, Levi worked for the U.S. National Park Service for 10 years as a park ranger, social science researcher, and science communication specialist for 20 different national parks.

He has received a master's degree in Conservation Social Sciences from the University of Idaho and a bachelor's degree in History from Tufts University.

In addition to having authored several guidebooks to U.S. national parks, he has written scholarly papers and over 200 articles as an environmental journalist while living abroad with his family in Peru. He writes for numerous publications and groups including The Huffington Post, Live Oak Media, and Greenopolis. 

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nancy Siegal
Director of Finance and Administration

As the Director of Finance and Administration for The Corps Network, Nancy's activities include, but are not limited to budget and finance (including all grants awarded to The Corps Network), general office administration, meeting planning, and human resource functions.

Nancy has over 30 years of Washington association experience and has built a network of financial, human resource, and hotel resources within the community. Prior to joining to The Corps Network, Nancy served as Assistant Vice President for Finance and Administration at the Association of Academic Health Centers. Nancy is a graduate of Lesley University and holds a Masters degree from Central Connecticut State University.

She most recently served on the Board of Directors of the Finance and Administrative Roundtable, an organization comprised of over 200 Washington area nonprofit organizations and the vendor companies who service the non-profit financial and administrative markets.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Leslie Wilkoff
Senior Project Director

As Senior Project Director at The Corps Network, Leslie leads The Corps Network's Corps Respond program, AmeriCorps Education Award Program and AmeriProCorps for Corps staff. Leslie also manages The Corps Network's Health Insurance Plan for Corpsmembers and AmeriCorps members.

Leslie began with the Human Environment Center in 1984 and transitioned to The Corps Network when it was created in 1985. Leslie is an expert in Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) grants management. In her capacity at The Corps Network, Leslie has planned numerous conferences, wrote and edited a quarterly newsletter and directed member services.

In the past eight years Leslie has emerged as one of the leaders of the Education Award Program serving on numerous working groups for CNCS. Leslie also provides training to subsites for the CNCS' Web-based Reporting System (WBRS).

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it