Hello, from Team Mizzen! 

Connect with Carlos

Carlos Santini (he/him/él), Mizzen’s CEO, is on a mission to enhance the quality of out-of-school-time programs for young minds. With a passion for youth development dating back to his days at the University of California, Los Angeles, Carlos has been a driving force in the field since 2002.

Through collaborations with school districts, foundations, corporations, and community leaders, he's been instrumental in expanding and improving OST opportunities for youth. Carlos's journey began with After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles serving in many roles from admin assistant to interim executive director before he assumed responsibilities as the Executive Vice President of Programs for the national office of After-School All-Stars. He joined Team Mizzen in 2021. 

Carlos immigrated from Honduras at age 7 and credits his experience as an English language learner for paving his path in education. Married to Alejandra, a dedicated elementary school teacher and former nonprofit executive, Carlos is a proud father of two daughters. He spends his free time cycling through the Santa Monica Mountains, hanging with his dog, DJ, and whipping up creations in his kitchen.

Connect with Janine

Janine Krause (she/her/ella), the Director of Operations at Mizzen, is the powerhouse behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly. 

Before joining Team Mizzen in 2023, her journey started with creating and teaching engaging inclusive activities for elementary school students in an afterschool program. Since moving to the U.S., Janine has put her operations management skills to work in various fields, from a community-based language school to a mental health services center and an environmental organization.

Born and raised in Magdeburg, Germany, Janine holds a degree in educational science with a focus on intercultural, adult, and special education, as well as human resources, and communications. Janine's passion for making a positive impact extends to her volunteer work with a canine rescue, where she received a Top Dog Award, and clean ups. Outside of work hours, you can find Janine exploring the wilderness, enjoying the chocliest of chocolate ice creams, and spending time with her husband, Eric.

Connect with Alex

Meet Alex Jergensen (he/him/él), the creative force behind Mizzen Education's product evolution! With a knack for blending research and design thinking, Alex crafts intuitive and impactful products. As the Head of Product, he's on a mission to catapult the Mizzen platform to new heights, delivering a consistently helpful, rewarding, and lasting experience to our vibrant Mizzen community.

Before joining Team Mizzen in 2024, Alex orchestrated product magic as the Head of Product at R65 Labs. Fun fact – he's not just a product expert; he's also a pioneer of some of the earliest iPhone apps! From doctors to scientists, educators to students, Alex's designs have touched diverse professional realms.

Outside the tech world, Alex doubles as a superhero dad to twin daughters. And when time permits, catch him in his home studio, weaving musical wonders (and listening to anything with high energy), or planning his next big travel adventure.

Connect with Sandra

Sandra Havelka (she/her/ella), Mizzen's Operations Manager, is dedicated to making incredible things happen for our OST community through efficiently and intentionally structured operations.

Joining Team Mizzen in 2025 and with 17 years of experience in operational roles—12 of those spent championing youth-centric organizations— Sandra is a master of streamlining chaos into harmony. Equal parts human-centered and detail-obsessed, she's got a superpower for building systems that make life easier, teamwork smoother, and organizations more impactful. 

Outside of Mizzen, Sandra swaps spreadsheets for sourdough and systems for new challenges. A foodie with a flair for adventure, she's recently tackled the art of croissant-making (because why not master buttery layers, too?). You'll also spot her crushing it on the pickleball court, striking a yoga pose, cuddling with her sweet tuxedo cat, camping under the stars, or volunteering for causes close to her heart.

Connect with Hailee

Hailee Moehnke (she/her/ella), Mizzen’s Community Engagement + Experiences Manager, is all about making sure out-of-school-time educators have a blast and feel connected to the Mizzen community.

Before joining Team Mizzen in 2022, Hailee was the National Program Operations Manager at After-School All-Stars. Hailee holds a master's degree in kinesiology, sport, and exercise psychology, plus a bachelor's in kinesiology and a minor in child psychology from the University of Minnesota. She coached competitive youth volleyball and worked as a teaching assistant and lead instructor at the University of Minnesota. She's also certified as a methods trainer by the Weikart Center for Youth Programs. 

When she's not working her Mizzen magic, you'll find her staying active outside with her dog, Fudge, watching all the sports (loudly cheering for her Houston Texans and Minnesota Golden Gophers), and drinking a quad espresso latte.

Connect with Angelina

Angelina Garner (she/her/ella), the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Mizzen, enjoys creating opportunities that build bridges and expand horizons for young people and out-of-school time professionals and educators. 

Angelina has over 30 years of experience developing enriching and research-based environments within the youth development field. Before joining Team Mizzen in 2022, Angelina served as a program officer with Charles Stewart Mott Foundation's Education Program. At the Foundation, she managed partnerships and initiatives with an emphasis in out-of-school-time and college & career exploration. Prior to that, she was Senior Manager of National Advancement Initiatives at the Forum of Youth Investment where she designed and implemented quality improvement systems for national youth-serving organizations across the country. She's an alumna of the American Express Leadership Academy for Not-for-Profit Leaders and serves as an advisory member for the Michigan Department of Education State Summer Learning Network. 

A graduate of the University of Kansas (Rock, Chalk, JayHawks!), Angelina is a lifelong learner with a passion for African American women's studies. She loves to groove to all genres of music, is a connoisseur of culinary delights, and has a passion for learning about cultures and history! 

Connect with Sarah

Sarah Mellon (she/her/ella), Mizzen’s Manager of Resource Innovation, is all about finding the best resources for the out-of-school-time community and forging fantastic partnerships to bring dynamic content to Mizzen users.

Before joining Team Mizzen in 2020, Sarah worked in postsecondary education, assisting students with career exploration and postsecondary planning.She was also a valuable resource for students with children, first-generation students, and adult learners, building strong networks to connect students with programs and resources that supported their success.

A true Michigander, Sarah earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Siena Heights University. She then completed her master's degrees in higher education from the University of Toledo and rehabilitation counseling from Michigan State University. Away from her desk, Sarah enjoys the simple pleasures of life, whether it's browsing the local record stores, trying new recipes , or relaxing with a good book. She’s always looking for a new book, so send in your recommendations! 

Connect with Kristin

Kristin Stayer (she/her/ella), Mizzen’s Vice President of Engagement & Educator Experiences, is committed to growing Mizzen’s practitioner community, championing out-of-school-time leaders, and creating inspiring spaces for youth learning and staff development.

Before joining Mizzen in 2021, Kristin served as the National Manager of Curriculum and Content Development for After-School All-Stars, where she empowered students for 21st-century learning and careers through comprehensive afterschool programs. Prior, she spent a decade at the helm of Park Place Community Center in Anderson, Indiana, working with the community to address educational, health, and food access needs.

With a bachelor's degree in social work from Anderson University, a master's in urban studies from Eastern University, and a creative placemaking certificate from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, Kristin is well-equipped to make a positive impact and is a passionate advocate for education and community development. Married to Eric, they are foster and adoptive parents to five amazing children and an adorable puppy named Pepper Jack (“PJ”). Kristin is known for her love of color, all things smores, and cold brew.

Connect with Anton

Meet Anton Nikolov (he/him/el), Mizzen’s Head of Engineering! Anton’s been obsessed with computers since he was a kid and hasn’t stopped tinkering yet. He’s all about lifelong learning, managing awesomely effective teams, and building tech that stands the test of time. Partnering with the Head of Product, Anton is on a mission to make Mizzen a go-to platform that OST educators love.
 
Before joining Mizzen in 2024, Anton was hands-on in architecting and building all sorts of products—like building mobile platforms for health and behavior or training machine learning models to diagnose canine gut health (yep, you can do that with an iPhone!). He’s even been known to break a few things along the way, in true engineering fashion.
 
When he’s not knee-deep in code, Anton’s usually out exploring new places, especially if there’s amazing food involved. And don’t be surprised if you spot him with a camera (or a drone), capturing incredible landscapes or street scenes on his travels. Anton’s always up for a good adventure—whether it’s tech, travel, or photography!

Connect with Richa

Richa Langella’s journey has never been a straight line, but one thing has stayed constant – her love for storytelling, access to opportunity, and learning in unexpected moments. From launching a youth tutoring program at 14 to leading marketing for mission-driven organizations, she’s always been drawn to work that sparks curiosity and connection.

Born in India and raised in Michigan, Richa grew up navigating two cultures and finding common ground through stories. That passion led her to an unexpected detour – acting in Indian cinema during college after winning a national pageant. But behind the scenes, she became even more fascinated by how narratives take shape, how audiences connect with ideas, and how creativity fuels strategy. Taking a bold leap, she stepped away from the industry to pursue her MBA, blending her creative instincts with a strategic mindset.

Since then, Richa has led marketing and brand strategy across industries, always focused on community, equity, and impact. She’s built campaigns that uplift underrepresented voices, developed engagement strategies that connect people with meaningful missions, and ensured that storytelling both inspires and drives action.

Now, joining Mizzen in 2025 as the Marketing + Communications Manager, she’s excited to amplify educators’ voices and champion out-of-school learning experiences that help young people thrive. She believes the best learning often happens beyond the classroom - something her own journey proves. If you’re looking for someone to masterfully blend data with storytelling for impact, Richa is your person.

Richa holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her partner and young son. Find her exploring the city’s food scene (Thai food, anyone?!), adventuring in the Oregonian outdoors, getting lost in books, hosting loved ones, or indulging in a good reality TV binge.

Connect with Lauren

Lauren González has spent her career moving through classrooms, afterschool programs, and leadership roles, always anchored by the belief that learning should be joyful, a little messy, and full of wonder. She began in school operations at 18, from processing lunch applications and greeting families at the front desk to leading afterschool programs and teaching mixed-age groups at a local daycare. She went on to teach middle school ELA in Brooklyn before returning to Miami to chair a 6-12 English department. At every stage, her work has been about helping young people see themselves as capable, curious learners who can find magic in the process.

A proud Miami native and daughter of Cuban immigrants, her upbringing was shaped by a culture of family, resilience, and possibility (she’s also fluent in Spanglish!). Lauren will soon become the first in her family to earn a doctoral degree, completing her Ed.D. in Applied Learning Sciences at the University of Miami this December.

Teaching sparked a lasting passion for curriculum design that invites empathy, play, and rigor into the learning process. Her experience bridges classroom instruction, school operations, and program leadership, giving her a broad perspective on how to create environments where students feel safe to take risks, explore, and grow.

In 2025, Lauren joined Mizzen’s Strategic Innovation & Product team as the Manager of Educational Solutions to help bring bold, engaging resources to educators across the country. For her, the work is about opening doors, sparking curiosity, and showing students that learning can be a lifelong adventure.

Lauren earned her bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Florida International University and her master’s in English Education from New York University. She lives in South Florida with her partner, Matt, and their dog, Chopper. Outside of work, you might find her leading a spin class, browsing the farmer’s market for fresh finds, getting lost in a novel, tending to her garden, or belting Disney songs completely off-key (Chopper is her biggest fan).

Connect with Lauren

Lauren González has spent her career moving through classrooms, afterschool programs, and leadership roles, always anchored by the belief that learning should be joyful, a little messy, and full of wonder. She began in school operations at 18, from processing lunch applications and greeting families at the front desk to leading afterschool programs and teaching mixed-age groups at a local daycare. She went on to teach middle school ELA in Brooklyn before returning to Miami to chair a 6-12 English department. At every stage, her work has been about helping young people see themselves as capable, curious learners who can find magic in the process.

A proud Miami native and daughter of Cuban immigrants, her upbringing was shaped by a culture of family, resilience, and possibility (she’s also fluent in Spanglish!). Lauren will soon become the first in her family to earn a doctoral degree, completing her Ed.D. in Applied Learning Sciences at the University of Miami this December.

Teaching sparked a lasting passion for curriculum design that invites empathy, play, and rigor into the learning process. Her experience bridges classroom instruction, school operations, and program leadership, giving her a broad perspective on how to create environments where students feel safe to take risks, explore, and grow.

In 2025, Lauren joined Mizzen’s Strategic Innovation & Product team as the Manager of Educational Solutions to help bring bold, engaging resources to educators across the country. For her, the work is about opening doors, sparking curiosity, and showing students that learning can be a lifelong adventure.

Lauren earned her bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Florida International University and her master’s in English Education from New York University. She lives in South Florida with her partner, Matt, and their dog, Chopper. Outside of work, you might find her leading a spin class, browsing the farmer’s market for fresh finds, getting lost in a novel, tending to her garden, or belting Disney songs completely off-key (Chopper is her biggest fan).

Connect with Sandra

Sandra Havelka (she/her/ella), Mizzen's Operations Manager, is dedicated to making incredible things happen for our OST community through efficiently and intentionally structured operations. With 17 years of experience in operational roles—12 of those spent championing youth-centric organizations— Sandra is a master of streamlining chaos into harmony. Equal parts human-centered and detail-obsessed, she's got a superpower for building systems that make life easier, teamwork smoother, and organizations more impactful. 

Outside of Mizzen, Sandra swaps spreadsheets for sourdough and systems for new challenges. A foodie with a flair for adventure, she's recently tackled the art of croissant-making (because why not master buttery layers, too?). You'll also spot her crushing it on the pickleball court, striking a yoga pose, cuddling with her sweet tuxedo cat, camping under the stars, or volunteering for causes close to her heart.

Connect with Sandra

Sandra Havelka (she/her/ella), Mizzen's Operations Manager, is dedicated to making incredible things happen for our OST community through efficiently and intentionally structured operations. With 17 years of experience in operational roles—12 of those spent championing youth-centric organizations— Sandra is a master of streamlining chaos into harmony. Equal parts human-centered and detail-obsessed, she's got a superpower for building systems that make life easier, teamwork smoother, and organizations more impactful. 

Outside of Mizzen, Sandra swaps spreadsheets for sourdough and systems for new challenges. A foodie with a flair for adventure, she's recently tackled the art of croissant-making (because why not master buttery layers, too?). You'll also spot her crushing it on the pickleball court, striking a yoga pose, cuddling with her sweet tuxedo cat, camping under the stars, or volunteering for causes close to her heart.

Connect with Carlos

Carlos Santini (he/him, él), Mizzen’s CEO, is on a mission to enhance the quality of out-of-school-time programs for young minds. With a passion for youth development dating back to his days at the University of California, Los Angeles, Carlos has been a driving force in the field since 2002.

Through collaborations with school districts, foundations, corporations, and community leaders, he's been instrumental in expanding and improving OST opportunities for youth. Carlos's journey began with After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles serving in many roles from admin assistant to interim executive director before he assumed responsibilities as the Executive Vice President of Programs for the national office of After-School All-Stars. He joined Team Mizzen in 2021. 

Carlos immigrated from Honduras at age 7 and credits his experience as an English language learner for paving his path in education. Married to Alejandra, a dedicated elementary school teacher and former nonprofit executive, Carlos is a proud father of two daughters. He spends his free time cycling through the Santa Monica Mountains, hanging with his dog, DJ, and whipping up creations in his kitchen.

Connect with Joe

Joe Davis has served as the Executive Director for the Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs since 2019, supporting the nonprofit’s 36 membership organizations and more than 228,000 school-aged youth through high-quality afterschool programming. As the primary policy leader for the Alliance, Mr. Davis collaborates statewide with other out-of-school time stakeholders to secure resources on behalf of Florida’s Boys & Girls Clubs. During his tenure, Mr. Davis has led efforts that have resulted in the Florida Legislature appropriating over $50 million to Florida’s BGCs and the Alliance providing the guidance to Clubs being competitively awarded over $31 million in federal afterschool funding. Mr. Davis has also emphasized the development of new community partnerships in support of additional resources and funding to the Alliance and its membership organizations. 

Mr. Davis’ career in education, health and children’s advocacy has spanned nearly 30 years, with a focus on developing and promoting high-quality afterschool programming for Florida’s youth. He previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Florida Healthy Kids promoting affordable children’s health insurance and prior to that served nearly a decade at the Florida Department of Education, primarily as the Chief of the Bureau of Family and Community Outreach at the Florida Department of Education, overseeing Florida’s $67 million 21st CCLC program, appropriated state funded grant projects, as well as the offices of Dropout Prevention, Safe Schools, School Volunteers, and Faith-based Initiatives. He is proud to be a founding board member and former Executive Director of the Florida Afterschool Network, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for out-of-school time programs and providing opportunities to Florida’s youth to access quality afterschool programming. 

Mr. Davis is an active member of his community, participating on local non-profit boards, volunteering, and mentoring. He and his wife Elle reside in Tallahassee, Florida, where they enjoy the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family. 

Connect with David

David Wong (he/him, él) is a partner and national leader of BDO’s Business Incentives Group practice. He has nearly 20 years of professional experience consulting with businesses to identify and optimize tax credits and incentives that increase cash flow and lower total tax liability. David also oversees the firm’s Accounting Methods practice.

Prior to BDO, David spent many years in the R&D Tax Credit Practice at a Big Four firm. He has experience helping both large and small companies identify and document their R&D credits as well as assisting them in defending those credits upon IRS and/or state taxing authority exams. He has worked with companies ranging from the development stage to those with over $20 billion in revenues. David has identified and defended over $2 billion of R&D tax credit claims, and has achieved, on average, a 95% allowance on R&D claims for many of his clients on exam or at appeals. 

David has advised companies in a broad range of industries, with a particular focus on private equity and portfolio companies. Serving as a tax lead for private equity clients, he combines his technical knowledge with a consultative approach to help portfolio companies improve EBITDA through innovative tax planning strategies. David has experience with a range of tax credits and business incentives, including R&D tax credits, FDII tax planning, Employee Retention Credit and other CARES Act legislation, sustainability and green energy incentives, capital investment credits, and various payroll tax credit planning opportunities.

David has also published various articles in technical journals such as The Tax Advisor (May 2010), Gamasutra.com (October 2012), ShaleMag.com (July 2018), BizJournals.com (December 2018), and is actively involved in developing industry and tax thought leadership for BDO.

Connect with Benita

Benita Melton (she/her/ella), director of the Mott Foundation’s Education program, has worked for the Foundation for nearly 30 years. She joined Mott as an associate program officer in 1995, was promoted to program officer in 2000 and program director in 2015. She has worked primarily on federal and state budget and tax policy issues, as well as strategies to help low- and moderate-income families save money and build assets. A Michigan native and graduate of Michigan State University, Melton earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. She is a member of Asset Funders Network Executive Committee and active in other grantmaker affinity groups.

Prior to joining Mott, she worked for the Pistons-Palace Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Detroit Pistons basketball franchise.

Connect with Jennifer

Dr. Jennifer Berry (she/her/ella) is a seasoned education industry leader and working mom with nearly 30 years of experience. Jennifer is currently the CEO of SmartLab, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between today’s classrooms and tomorrow’s workforce through innovative, career-focused STEM education solutions.

Before joining SmartLab, she served as COO of Presence, an education technology and direct service organization that empowers all who serve children with diverse needs. She also held executive leadership roles as COO of the national nonprofit After-School All-Stars and of Quantum Learning Network, a national educator and student program organization. Earlier in her career, Jennifer led sales and general operations as Vice President with SCORE! Educational Centers, Kaplan Test Prep, and Kaplan Bar Review, and spent 15 years in general management and various sales, customer success, and operations roles in industry-leading retail organizations.

Jennifer received her Doctorate in Education, Organizational Change, and Leadership from the University of Southern California, and she serves on several education and arts-focused boards, including West Valley Playhouse and now Mizzen Education, Inc. She lives with her wife and their daughter in San Diego, California.

Connect with Omekia

Omekia Snider (she/her/ella), CPA, MBA, MT is currently the Vice President of Tax for the Americas Region for Infineon Technologies Americas Corporation.  Her role includes full responsibility for tax planning and strategy, tax controversy, government funding and credits, all global direct and indirect tax matters of Infineon Technologies Americas Corporation which includes legacy Infineon Technologies North America, International Rectifier Corp. (now IFAM) and its subsidiaries and Cypress Corporation and its subsidiaries.   In addition to her daily responsibilities, she currently she serves on the Board for the Global Business Alliance (“GBA”) an organization that supports equal protection in the US for global investment.
During a career that spans more than two decades, Omekia has been referred to as a resourceful, innovative, and professional executive, with deep experience in the accounting lifecycle, coupled with expertise in taxation, compliance, finance, audit and consulting for multinational, multi-state corporations. 

Currently, she enjoys partnering with a number of not for profits organizations to support youth including but not limited to St Jude’s, Bridge Builders Foundation and Mizzen Education.  

Connect with Richard

Richard Reyes (he/him, él) is the Founder and Executive Director of PLUS ME Project. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Critical Theory & Social Justice from Occidental College and his master’s degree in Educational Foundations from California State University, Los Angeles. He is a social justice advocate who believes every story matters and has shared his narrative of becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree with over 150,000 students across the country. As a storyteller, entrepreneur, and executive director, Richard finds his passion in connecting and inspiring others through narrative and supporting youth from low-income communities to build confidence as they pursue their college, career, and life goals.

Ridgway White (he/him, él) became president of the Mott Foundation in 2015, as the Flint water crisis was still unfolding. White led the Foundation’s swift approval of a $4 million grant to help the city reconnect to the Detroit water system and begin the process of bringing clean water back to the community. He subsequently led the charge on Mott’s commitment in 2016 to provide up to $100 million over five years to help the city recover and rise from the crisis — a commitment that was fulfilled in just over four years and subsequently exceeded.
 
White is a vocal champion of the Foundation’s support for a “one-water” approach to managing the nation’s drinking water, storm water and wastewater systems. He is an ardent believer in the power of community foundations to be local leaders of positive change, both in the U.S. and around the world. He also has been the driving force behind the development of Mizzen by Mott, an app that aims to deliver outstanding content to afterschool providers nationwide — at no cost to them.
 
As part of White’s earlier program work for the Foundation, he served as a loaned executive for the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, a nonprofit organization focused on revitalizing Flint. Over the course of a decade, he oversaw the development of more than 1 million square feet of mixed-use space, paving the way for new businesses and restaurants to open. Notable projects included the creation of the Flint Health and Wellness District, a four-block area that’s now home to the Flint Farmers’ Market and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. The Urban Land Institute Michigan and University of Michigan recognized the project with their Development/Redevelopment of the Year Award in 2014.
 
In a spirit of social entrepreneurship, White took it upon himself to build two schools that share a campus in the city of Flint. The project resulted in a state-of-the-art home for the Michigan School for the Deaf, which is operated by the state of Michigan, and Powers Catholic High School.
 
White is a graduate of Hobart College, where he studied architecture, economics and urban planning. He serves as chair of the board of directors of U.S. Sugar and also serves on the boards of the Council of Michigan Foundations, Council on Foundations, The C.S. Harding Foundation, Isabel Foundation, Detroit Regional Partnership and Ayablu, a licensee of Burt’s Bees doing business as Burt’s Bees Baby. He is a member of YPO, the global leadership community of chief executives. He is past chair of the National Center for Family Philanthropy and the Sloan Museum governing council. He also served on Gov. Whitmer’s Return to School advisory committee and as co-chair of CMF’s COVID-19 Working Group.