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. 
Mary Dowd - Community Development Manager
Ready for a change, Mary joined ThirdPath September 2026, drawn to a mission she has been living at home for the last 15+ years. Mary supports the learning groups and Integrated Life Advocate community and is partnering with our community around engagement in The HUB and ThirdPath's Pioneering Leader Summits.
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.
Our Board of Directors
Matt Schneider, Interim Chair, 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.
Amy Feagin, Treasurer,McKinney, TX
Amy is the CFO/COO of Method Bank, a privately held financial institution based in Dallas, Texas. 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.
Heather Cluley Bar-Or, Ph.D. Wynnewood, PA
Heather is the Associate Director and an Associate Teaching Professor of the Graduate Program in Human Resource Development at Villanova University. She teaches courses on organizational development and change, strategic human resource management and work, family, and career considerations in organizations. Heather earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Her dissertation research looked at the ways that different types of dual-income couples manage the work-family interface and make work-family decisions. Heather is married to a busy neuroscientist. It’s important to her to support his meaningful work researching and treating multiple sclerosis. They have a theatrical, adventurous and clever daughter, named Liora. Liora is one of the pioneering females to join Boys Scouts of America (on track to earn her Eagle Scout rank in the next couple of years!), so we do a lot of camping in all kinds of weather!
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. She now works as a predoctoral fellow for a project called The Care Board run through the University of Kansas. She is also 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.
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.
Ian Sohn, Chicago, IL
Ian is the VP of US Marketing for Hawksmoor, a London restaurant group with locations in Chicago, New York, and others to follow. Ian’s served on both the client side and in advertising agency leadership roles, delivering top- and bottom-line gains, championing bold and effective creative ideas, and developing exceptional talent. He brings a broad, strategic perspective, having worked across multiple marketing disciplines, including PR/comms, digital, social, traditional advertising, and CRM.
When he’s not working, he tries keeping up with his teenage boys (18, 15) and dog; reads anything he can find on Muhammad Ali, Carl Sagan, and big wave surfing; chases fresh powder in the Rockies; and runs a few miles on the Chicago lakefront in preparation for his next marathon.
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.