Our Team and Board of Directors
Our Team
Jessica DeGroot - Founder and President
Melissa Davidson – Director of Operations and Programs
Melissa oversees internal operations and learning programs, including leading our Integrated Life Advocate community – the professionals individuals and families turn to when they need help around their work-life balance goals. 
Lindsay A. King – Director of Marketing and Community Relations
Lindsay helps ThirdPath expand and strengthen its community connections and oversees the execution of key processes that promote ThirdPath’s growth and success. Prior to ThirdPath, Lindsay earned a PhD from the UCLA Department of History, where she researched the history of masculinity, journalism, and European Jews. She then worked for multiple nonprofit organizations, supporting programming, fundraising, and community building projects.
Lindsay became involved with ThirdPath after “accidentally” choosing to share care of her children with her husband, after which she became interested in meeting more families and individuals who were making the same decision. In addition to her work at ThirdPath, she is an arts and culture writer, with a particular love for dance, and she writes the blog Double Fourteen about her experience working from home and sharing care. Lindsay lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two young sons.
David Rogers – Process Manager and Executive Assistant
David provides a wide array of critical support, making sure operations run smoothly, expanding ThirdPath community connections and helping Jessica manage a thriving organization. In addition to his role at ThirdPath, David is a Stay-At-Home Dad—he is primary caregiver of his two children to support his wife’s career as a Human Geneticist. During his time as an At-Home Dad, David has held various roles on the board of The National At-Home Dad Network, a non-profit serving families where the father is the primary caregiver. David is also active in his children's PTSA, serving as treasurer, vice president, and president.
David is committed to working for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and has served on related committees for both the NAHDN and the PTSA. Prior to having children, David was a Developmental Geneticist with an MS in Developmental Genetics, BAs in Biology, Psychology, and Theater, and a BS in Psychology. He and his family live in San Diego, CA.
Mike Jackson - Development Manager
Michael provides support to ThirdPath's strategic growth and partnership initiatives. With a management background spanning most of his career, Michael brings a wealth of experience from both the hospitality and finance industries. Following a health setback in 2011, he pivoted to pursue a career in health and wellness. As a board-certified health coach with a bachelor's degree in Holistic Health Sciences, he takes great joy in helping clients achieve positive outcomes for enhanced well-being. Through his transformational coaching practice, Michael empowers individuals and organizations to strike a better balance between work and personal life. He also serves in a leadership role for The Institute for Strengthening Families, a non-profit organization in North Carolina that supports fatherhood and youth mentorship programs. Michael resides in Charlotte, NC. with his wife, Karla. They are proud parents of three adult children and two grandchildren.
Our Board of Directors
Ellen Ostrow – Board Co-Chair, Washington, DC
Ellen is a psychologist, consultant, and ICF certified professional coach. She is the founder of Lawyers Life Coach LLC, a firm providing executive coaching services to attorneys, with an emphasis on enabling women and attorneys from underrepresented groups to succeed in their legal careers without sacrificing those things that give their lives meaning. Lawyers Life Coach LLC also works with legal employers to create inclusive work environments, free of biases that block the retention and advancement of women and attorneys of color. When Ellen and her husband became parents, they arranged their work schedules to minimize the need for child care. When Matt started school, one parent would leave work to greet Matt, help with homework, and participate in after-school activities. Matt’s bedtime became the beginning of the third part of Ellen’s day during which she wrote many published articles about the unconscious biases and “ideal worker” norms that undermine the advancement of women. Matt is now a proud union member and active in the Democratic party in Las Vegas. Ellen also has a step-daughter, Angela, and through her, a son-in-law Kevin, and two grandchildren. Jake just graduated from high school and entered the Marines. Ashley has one more year of high school and then will attend Queens University in Charlotte, NC on a lacrosse scholarship.
Matt Schneider, New York, NY
Matt is an at-home dad, living with his wife and two boys in New York City. Matt is the co-founder of City Dads Group, a nationwide community of dads navigating fatherhood together. He also hosts the Modern Dads Podcast, a show for dads and moms engaged in the trials and tribulations of parenthood. Matt completed a Bachelors degree in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Mercy College. Prior to fatherhood, Matt was a teacher and a product manager for a major telecommunications company.
Brett Goldblatt, Los Angeles, CA
Brett is a partner and co-head of the Corporate Department of Milbank’s Los Angeles office. He represents investors, sponsors, funds and companies in a wide variety of business matters, including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, fund formation, restructurings, and general corporate and contractual matters. At Milbank LA, Brett’s attempting to create an environment where associates can be passionate about both work and their outside activities through formal and informal measures. He completed a BA in Philosophy & Psychology at Rutgers and his JD at University of Pennsylvania. Brett was an Adjunct Professor at UCLA Law School from 2002 through 2015. His wife is an ex-labor attorney who currently is a mindfulness and self-compassion teacher for adults and children.
Tonya Horton, Cherry Hill, NJ
As Chief Operations Officer, Dr. Tonya Horton leads EL Education's internal operations across finance, legal, people, real estate, and technology and ensures that the organization has the systems and structures that support its employees towards its vision. In her personal life, Tonya spends her time reading, writing and volunteering in areas focused on advancing equity. She is a North Carolina native currently living in Cherry Hill, NJ with her fiancé and her cats. She holds a BA in history education and MA in history from North Carolina Central University; an MEd and EdD in educational leadership from the University of North Texas and a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University.
Michelle S. Hickox, McKinney, TX
![](https://thirdpath.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Michelle-Headshot.png")
Michelle serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Financial Bankshares. As a member of the executive management team, she oversees the investor relations, treasury, financial reporting. Prior to her banking career, Michelle was an audit partner with RSM, where she was a designated financial institution specialist. She was the first woman audit partner in the Dallas office and attained that position while working a flex year schedule, which allowed her to hang out with her daughters during the summer months when they were younger. Over her 22 years career in public accounting, Michelle provided audit, financial reporting, internal control assistance and training to community banks and not for profit organizations. She received her BBA in accounting from Texas A&M University where she also serves on the board of the 12th Man Foundation. She and her husband Rob, spend much of their free time in College Station supporting Aggie sports.