MEET THE TEAM
Trusted Advisors. Innovative Leaders. Experienced Professionals.
WHO WE ARE
Founded within Ancient Greece in the 4th Century B.C., the strategoi were a political party comprised of Athenian generals. Due to the socioeconomic and political nature of the time, these generals began to influence the Athenian political front. Like the strategoi of Ancient Greece, we at Strategos Group are trusted advisors who serve the community through humility and principled-leadership.
Adam Giery
Managing Partner | Market Analyst | Catalyst | Entrepreneur | Leader
A former educator turned education advocate, joined Strategos Group in 2014 after a successful tenure as the Policy Director at the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Tampa, Florida
Doug Mesecar
Partner | Former EdTech Senior Executive & U.S. Department of Education Deputy Chief of Staff
Doug ranks among the small number of education consultants who have worked as an education policymaker, entrepreneur, and executive in the private sector.
Washington D.C.
Jim Horne
Partner | Former Florida Education Commissioner & National Education Reform Policy Advocate
Jim Horne served as Florida's first appointed Commissioner of Education under Governor Jeb Bush. During his tenure as a FL State Senator, Jim was the leader on education policies and budget reforms.
Tallahassee, Florida
Tara Reid-Cherry
Partner | Education and Juvenile Justice Advocate | Campaign Consultant
Tara Reid joined Strategos Group in 2015 to focus on state and federal education advocacy. In her tenure with the firm, she has successfully helped pass legislation relating to computer science, social-emotional learning, and more.
Tallahassee, Florida
Todd Dallas Lamb
Partner | Former White House Appointee to the U.S. Department of Education
Todd Lamb has spent 15 years working with education companies and non-profits across the country at the district, state, and federal levels. As an advisor, Todd is an expert in a variety of sectors.
Annapolis, Maryland
Tom Luna
Partner | Former Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction & President of Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
Tom Luna was elected Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2006 and served two terms during which Idaho passed arguably the most comprehensive education reforms laws in the country.
Boise, Idaho
Vance Aloupis
Partner | Former Legislator |
National Advocacy Management
Vance Aloupis joined Strategos Group in March 2023. He served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 115, from 2018 to 2022, and was chairman of the House’s Early Learning and Elementary Education Subcommittee.
Miami, Florida
Johnny Key
Partner | Former Education Commissioner |
State Superintendent Engagement
Johnny Key joined Strategos Group in March 2023. He served as secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education from 2019 to 2023 and as commissioner of the department from 2015 to 2019, overseeing the state’s 237 school districts and 18 charter school systems.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Addison Davis
Partner | Former District Superintendent |
Business Transactional Advisory
Addison Davis joined Strategos Group in July 2023. He is an accomplished education leader with a wealth of experience in the field. As Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) from March 2020 to July 2023, he made significant contributions to one of the largest school systems in the country.
Fleming Island, Florida
Gregory A. Haile
Partner | Former College President |
Harvard Kennedy School Fellow
Gregory A. Haile joined Strategos Group in January 2025 to lead the firm's Higher Education and Workforce Advisory practice. He is the former Broward College president and a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. His work focuses on the intersection of economic mobility, engaging low-income and marginalized communities to support our nation's workforce needs, and AI.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Dr. Rod Berger
Senior Advisor | Global Education Media Personality
Dr. Rod Berger is a communication strategist and on-air personality engaging with global and iconic companies, individual brands, celebrities, professional athletes, and award-winning entertainers.
Nashville, Tennessee
Sajeela Padder
Chief of Staff
Sajeela is a seasoned operations and strategy leader with over a decade of experience helping tech startups streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and scale for growth. As Chief of Staff, she excels in transforming ambiguity into structured, data-driven outcomes.
Mark Herron
State Engagement Manager | Enterprise Development Specialist
Prior to joining the Strategos Group in 2020, Mark served as the Vice President of LobbyTools, Florida's most prominent legislative tracking company.
Tallahassee, Florida
Kevin Jenkins
Director of Enterprise Growth & Investments
Kevin Jenkins joined Strategos Group in 2023, bringing more than a decade of experience working in various strategy, finance, and corporate development roles in the financial services, public sector consulting, crypto and EdTech industries.
Tampa, Florida
Antonio (Tony) Hebert
Sr. Manager of Strategic Communication & Brand Development
Antonio (Tony) Hebert uses his background in journalism, political science, and non-profit marketing to serve Strategos Group and its clients through the creation and management of engaging content.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Sydney Wingate
Director of Strategic Initiatives | K-12 Education Market Strategist
Sydney Wingate joined Strategos Group in 2019 with over 20 years of consulting experience.
Annapolis, Maryland
Nicholas Mortellaro
Director of Strategy & Market Advancement
Nick joined Strategos Group in 2017. He focuses on the policy and market dynamics that influence education, healthcare, and technology companies. A fifth-generation Floridian, he attended Florida State University where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Tampa, Florida
Emily Petersen
Education Solutions Manager |
Former Educator
Emily Petersen is a former educator, having taught for nine years in public, private, and charter schools. Now she advocates for teachers and students as Education Solutions Manager at Strategos Group.
Jacksonville, Florida
Melisa Taylor
Director of Operations | Client Success Manager | Enterprise Systems Optimizer
Melisa Taylor joined Strategos Group in 2015 and helped to establish the company’s first brick and mortar office. Currently, Melisa serves as Director of Operations for the entire enterprise.
Tampa, Florida
Allyson Johnson
BTA Project Manager
Allyson Johnson joined Strategos Group in May 2024 as the BTA Project Manager. With a rich professional background characterized by a profound understanding of the educational landscape, Allyson has consistently demonstrated a drive to enhance service delivery and foster community engagement.
Jacksonville, Florida
Sarah Katherine Massey
Manager | Government Advocacy
Sarah Katherine joined as Strategos Group’s Government Advocacy Manager in May 2024, bringing a wealth of legislative experience. Sarah began her career working in the legislature, where she adeptly navigated the complexities of state governance and played a pivotal role under the leadership of then incoming House Speaker, Danny Perez.
Tallahassee, Florida
Jes Fowler
Government Advocacy Advisor |
Early Education and Public
Policy Expert
Fowler’s career in education began in 2014 at the Florida Department of Education where she served as a program coordinator, spearheading special projects across early learning programs within the Division of Early Learning.
