Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization with day-to-day and project-based HR needs.
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Meet the Team

We are a diverse team of learners, activists, HR professionals, trainers, recruiters, and consultants dedicated to supporting nonprofits nationwide.

Our Team

At Positively Partners, our team reflects the diversity and perspectives of our clients, bringing extensive experience in working for and supporting nonprofit and social impact organizations.

Consultant

She/Her/Hers

Jung Yun is a consultant at Positively Partners, where she leads and supports search efforts for nonprofit organizations. She works closely with hiring managers to find exceptional talent and is committed to ensuring a positive, inclusive candidate experience with transparent

HR Analyst

He/Him/His

Arka Bandyopadhyay works with our clients to offer counsel on projects centered around compensation, organizational development, employee engagement, and communication strategies. He serves as the lead analyst, providing financial insights and recommendations on all compensation based project offerings. He brings

HR Generalist

She/Her/Hers

Kaitlin is the part-time Human Resources Generalist at Positively Partners. Her philosophy is to use her background in research methods to understand human needs in the workplace and create an excellent human resource experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in

Executive Consultant

She/Her/Hers

Positively Partners has entered into a strategic partnership with MTB Leadership Labs, led by Myra T. Briggs, a recognized expert in executive search and leadership strategy. This collaboration marks an important milestone in our mission to deliver innovative, high-impact solutions

Director of Talent & Recruitment Services

She/Her/Hers

Mary Carlton is the Director of Talent Recruitment Services at Positively Partners. She is passionate about ensuring organizations hire incredible leaders. Mary loves connecting with people and is passionate about working with hiring teams to create selection processes that mitigate

Consultant

She/Her/Hers

Rose specializes in direct sourcing, recruitment, and talent management at Positively Partners. Her work focuses on human capital, building diverse pools of talent for partner clients, and engaging candidates throughout the recruitment process. She loves meeting new candidates and exploring

HR Business Partner

She/Her/Hers

Leila El-Badawi is an equity-focused HR professional and Lead Relationship Manager at Positively Partners. She manages client relationships and oversees HR services, driving strategic planning and service quality while aligning HR practices with organizational goals. Leila is passionate about improving

Vice President of Client & Community Partnerships

She/Her/Hers

Alissa Farber is Vice President of Client and Community Partnerships at Positively Partners. She has over 20 years of professional and pro-bono experience within public schools, small businesses, and local and national social impact organizations. Alissa holds a bachelor’s degree

Chief Executive Officer

He/Him/His

Adam Francis-Maurer is passionate about co-creating workplaces that empower individuals to do their best work and remain highly engaged. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Positively Partners and is one of the organization’s founding members. Earlier in his career,

HR Generalist

She/Her/Hers

Sariah Grace is a dedicated Human Resources Generalist at Positively Partners, where she contributes to the success of the organization by managing key HR functions such as benefits administration, onboarding, employee relations, and compliance. Passionate about fostering a positive and

Payroll Manager

She/Her/Hers

Kristy Greiner is the Payroll Manager at Positively Partners. Her career spans various industries including education, entertainment and manufacturing. Kristy has a robust background in managing payroll systems and ensuring compliance with federal, state and local regulations. With over 20

Employee Support & Compliance Officer

She/Her/Hers

Adrienne Machado works hand-in-hand with our clients to identify and implement sound, efficient and business-relevant HR practices that promote employee engagement, retention and productivity. She also brings a wealth of legal and regulatory compliance experience at city, state, federal and

HR Systems & Operations Manager

They/Them/Theirs

As HR Systems & Operations Manager, River (they/them) enhances HR processes and systems in a thoughtful, data-driven way that empowers clients to meet their goals efficiently. River brings a rich background in nonprofit leadership, communications, and project management. They are

Senior Vice President

She/Her/Hers

Jill Smerkers, our resident HR practitioner, specializes in scalable performance management, people development, and workforce training that leverage positive psychology to drive peak performance. Previously, Jill led Human Resources at Citizen Schools, enhancing staff engagement and performance through innovative HR

Vice President of HR Systems & Operations

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Rory Smith is our resident people technology practitioner with a proven ability to transform conceptual ideas into systematic processes. Rory specializes in finding creative solutions to complex problems, even with the often minimal resources available to schools and nonprofits, maximizing

Senior Consultant

She/Her/Hers

Phoebe is the Senior Consultant, Organizational Development and Design at Positively Partners. Phoebe supports our clients in building sustainable Human Resources practices so staff can focus on their critical work serving communities and making change, and organizations can focus on

Director of Organizational Development & Design

She/Her/Hers

Claytoya is a native New Yorker who has spent over 14 years in the non-profit sector serving in human resource, talent management, and program leadership roles. Passionate about organizational development, community impact, and leadership success, Claytoya specializes in designing and

Director of Finance & Business Operations

He/Him/His

Jake Tumas serves as Positively Partner’s Director of Finance and Business Operations, contributing expertise to both internal and client facing operational infrastructure. As a financial leader, he prioritizes making financial data accessible and actionable for all stakeholders and believes that