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.
Sergio A. Rosario Diaz – Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Sergio’s activities with ThirdPath encompass marketing and communications. In particular Sergio is helping grow ThirdPath’s social media presence and building a strong network in the virtual community. Sergio is a musician, educator, and entrepreneur, husband to an U.S. Army officer and proud father of a school-aged daughter. Director of Proyecto Piquete, a band who focuses on folkloric rhythms from Puerto Rico and oral history through music. All of Sergio’s projects rely heavily on the support of the social media community.
In addition to sharing in the care of his daughter and the work he does with ThirdPath, Sergio will continue to lead a few projects including, Soy Super Papa, a community with the mission of empowering fathers that focus on highlighting their roles in society and within the family, “Drumming with Vets”, and drumming workshops for dads and kids.
David Rogers – Administrative Coordinator 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 childrens’ PTSA, serving as treasurer and vice 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
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.
Mary Bliss Conger – Board Co-Chair, New York, NY
Mary is a writer, caregiver, and consultant. A former international educator and entrepreneur, her professional work centers on systems, leadership, learning, conflict, and care. She and her partner Adam are intentionally unmarried and equal co-parents of four young kids. At home and in the world, Mary is committed to creating social systems that are healthy, just, adaptive, and compassionate. One of her first jobs as a teenager was Certified Nursing Assistant at a hospital and long-term care facility. In that role, Mary often conversed intimately with people who were sick or dying; she noted their regrets were never about working too little or caring for others too much. Mary holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MSEd and EdD from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a New Yorker at the moment yet always a Minnesotan at heart.
Elizabeth Hall, Seattle, WA
Elizabeth is the Vice President of Employee Experience for Cambia Health Solutions, a consumer-oriented health care technology and insurance company. Together with her team, she helps create an award-winning work environment for Cambia’s employees. In her 20+ years in the human resources field, Elizabeth has worked for Microsoft and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A, serving in a variety of roles focused on organizational development and talent management. Elizabeth began her career by concentrating on work/life navigation in the corporate setting, and she has a passion for ensuring that work adds meaning to employees’ lives. In her personal life, Elizabeth has a blended, multi-generational family. Elizabeth holds a BA from Pomona College and an MPP from Harvard’s Kennedy School.
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
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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.