Our Team and Board of Directors
Our Team
Jessica DeGroot - Founder and President
Jeffrey Bernstein – Director of Marketing
Jeffrey is not just an expert; he’s a passionate advocate for transformative change, eager to inspire everyone to lead balanced and fulfilling lives in his role as Director of Marketing. From his impactful tenure as Research Director at NutriSystem to leading groundbreaking protein research initiatives, Jeffrey’s career is marked by diverse experiences and a commitment to improving lives. His vision is to empower individuals to embrace self-care, a philosophy deeply intertwined with his own journey and professional background in food science, behavioral science, and a heartfelt passion for lifestyle medicine.
Jeffrey’s path to self-care also began with becoming a licensed fitness instructor and yoga practitioner, experiences that have enriched his understanding of holistic health. His commitment to wellness extends to all aspects of his life; it’s a core part of who he is. Currently, Jeffrey enjoys the tranquility of rural Pennsylvania with his supportive husband, their lively elementary-aged twins, and his mother. Together, they embody the principles of work-life integration that Jeffrey is excited to champion personally and in his work with ThirdPath.
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. 
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.
Karen Clark Salinas - Operations Partner
Karen partners with Melissa on all internal operations and learning programs. She is a certified ILA (Integrated Life Advocate) and facilitator of ThirdPath learning events. Karen is the founder of Rebalance Wellbeing and a national board certified health and wellness coach. As the creator of the MindRebalance Accelerator, she helps high-achievers manage mental load to optimize their life and career. With expertise gained from navigating diverse personal and professional transitions, Karen empowers professionals to thrive by reclaiming time and energy for life without sacrificing career success — on their terms. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she finished a 30-year career in higher education as the communications manager for the Office of Work, Life and Engagement. Motherhood, marriage, chronic illness, divorce, blended families, and caring for aging loved ones contribute significantly to her story.
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 an experienced career and leadership coach and Ph.D. psychologist. She is the founder of Lawyers Life Coach LLC, a firm providing executive coaching services to attorneys, with an emphasis on enabling women, first generation and lawyers from historically underrepresented groups to succeed in their legal careers without sacrificing those things that give their lives meaning. 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. More recently, Ellen was a caregiver for both of her parents as they declined from dementia. Integrating work and life has been central to her identity and sustains her commitment to TPI. Now, as her step-daughter and son-in-law become empty nesters, Ellen's relationships with her 2 grandchildren, her adult children and her husband will evolve and she will continue doing the coaching work she loves.
Amy Feagin, McKinney, TX
Amy joined Independent Financial in 2006 as a Financial Analyst and served as Controller from 2010 to 2017. As the company and her responsibilities grew, it became apparent that changes were needed in order to continue to perform at the highest level professionally, while still maintaining a healthy and balanced home life. In 2017, she moved from the Accounting Department to assume the role of Treasurer and oversee the creation of a new Finance Team within the organization. It was a challenging, yet very rewarding, step in her career which allowed her to create a team and work culture that supported an integrated lifestyle. Amy has a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University and an MBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University. She and her husband, Curt, live in Melissa Texas with their two children, Rylee (15) and Cole (12). The majority of their “free” time is spent with the kids playing softball/baseball, showing livestock, and participating in activities with their church.
Brett Goldblatt, Los Angeles, CA
Brett is a partner at arpinine, a private investment firm based in Los Angeles targeting technology and media investments. For the 26 years prior to joining arpinine in 2024, Brett was a partner and co-head of the Corporate Department of Milbank’s Los Angeles office where he represented investors, sponsors, funds and companies in a wide variety of business matters, including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate and contractual matters. Brett was also an Adjunct Professor at UCLA Law School from 2002 through 2015. In addition to ThirdPath, Brett currently serves on the board of Graywolf Press, a non-profit publisher, and Progression Sports Performance, the first non-profit taekwondo studio in Los Angeles, and has previously served on the board of Insight LA, a non-profit Buddhist meditation center. Brett completed a BA in Philosophy & Psychology at Rutgers in 1994 and his JD at University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1997. Brett’s wife, Angelike Dexter, is an ex-labor attorney who currently is a mindfulness and self-compassion teacher. Brett and Angelike have two children, a 16 year old and 19 year old.
Christopher Veal, Mission Viejo, CA
A former Marine officer, combat veteran, TEDx speaker and Black man, Christopher leverages all this and his 25 years of experience in executive and leadership development to be a global influencer and speaker on vulnerability and masculinity as the author of The Whole Man: Evolving Masculinity. Christopher works with executives, leaders, and teams, to enable them to lead with authenticity and vulnerability which then leads to deeper trust and connection. In particular he enjoys working with clients to customize thought-provoking engagements that leave participants inspired to apply what they’ve learned to improve their professional and personal relationships and be better leaders and influencers at work and at home. When he’s not busy with these other pursuits, he loves spending time with his amazing daughter, listening to music, playing piano and (a little) guitar, mountain biking, riding his motorcycle, and somewhat successfully training their Boxer, Apollo.
Kutu Baker, Chicago, IL
Kutu Baker is a former HR leader with over 18 years of experience working in various industries. With a strong passion for helping individuals and organizations navigate transitions and achieve their visions, Kutu now serves as a consultant and coach. In addition to her professional experience, Kutu holds a coaching certification from Northwestern University, a Masters in Human Resources Management from North Park University, and an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Trinity Christian College.
Kutu’s connection to ThirdPath’s mission started years before she joined the ThirdPath Community as she was exploring what it would look like to achieve greater balance in her own life. This eventually led to seeking other like-minded individuals and finding a community that inspired her to embark on a personal sabbatical. Now a member of ThirdPath’s board, Kutu’s hope is that she can continue to learn, as well as contribute to ThirdPath’s mission and use her journey to inspire others on a similar journey.
Pilar McDonald, San Francisco, CA
Pilar recently graduated from Brown University with a self-designed major in "Caregiving and Care Infrastructure in the US.” She wrote a senior honors thesis focused on the Wages for Housework Movement of the 1970s and current efforts to compensate unpaid care labor. Pilar is the co-founder and co-director of Project Matriarchs, where they are fighting to create a system that allows caregiving and career responsibilities to co-exist. Project Matriarchs launched in September 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of providing relief to low income working caregivers in the form of free time. Since then, Project Matriarchs has piloted and scaled a free-to-affordable service matching college students with families to provide virtual academic support and childcare. While maintaining the service, they have since founded their advocacy branch, working to activate their generation around issues of caregiving.
Matt Schneider, New York, NY
Matt is an at-home dad, living with his wife and son in New York City, and supporting his oldest child who is now off at college. Matt is the co-founder of City Dads Group, which is now part of Fathering Together, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to creating community for dads. 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.
Tonya Horton, Cherry Hill, NJ
As Chief Operations Officer, Dr. Tonya Horton oversees EL Education’s internal business functions including legal, finance, human resources, business operations, technology and real estate and ensures that the organization has the systems and structures that support its employees to end educational inequity. Outside of work, Tonya spends her time volunteering in the areas of health equity and social justice. She is a North Carolina native currently living in Cherry Hill, NJ. 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.