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Lisa Tarantino has 25 years of experience designing, managing, and evaluating complex global health and development programs. She has managed global, regional, and national initiatives for health finance, system strengthening, and private sector financing in 20+ countries. Lisa is a thought leader in sustainable approaches that enable transition from development partner support. Lisa has been a professor and advisor to the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs’ Economic and Political Development program and the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies’ International Development program.

Tarekegn Abate Biru has more than 25 years of experience working in the Ethiopian health, finance, and economic development sectors. He has held senior positions on USAID projects and in government.As a health care financing expert, Biru has provided technical support in planning, implementing, and assessing the implementation of health care financing reforms throughout Ethiopia. This includes training and supportive supervision to strengthen the capacity of decision-makers and front-line implementers at all levels of the health system.

Cheryl Doty is an economic growth specialist with more than 25 years of experience managing and implementing donor-funded programs across 15 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. She has provided technical leadership to programs focused on enterprise development, trade & competitiveness, market system strengthening, agribusiness, food security, and resilience. Doty excels at managing high-profile USAID programs, including indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, and blanket purchase agreements (BPAs). She is skilled at establishing strategic relationships with high-level government officials, implementing partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. Doty has a strong track record of leading the capture, design, and development of winning USAID proposals. 

Leulseged Ageze is an economist with nearly 20 years of experience directing health sector reform and health care financing technical assistance activities in Ethiopia. His technical expertise includes health insurance, fiscal decentralization, strategic planning, and policy development.Leulseged has provided technical assistance and leadership for four USAID health financing and health systems strengthening projects. One of his most significant contributions has been supporting the introduction and expansion of community-based health insurance and other health care financing reforms in Ethiopia. These reforms have mobilized resources to the health sector, strengthened health facility governance, and improved the quality, accessibility, and utilization of health services.

Nimish Jhaveri specializes in business solutions for economic development. He blends more than 15 years of experience implementing economic development programs with 15 years of private sector consulting with global corporations worldwide. He has worked in 16 countries in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, insurance, energy, fashion, textiles, consumer products, banking, transportation, and high technology. He co-founded an investment firm that partnered with private financial investors to establish several inclusive agricultural businesses with high socio-economic impact in developing countries.

Susan Longley has 20 years of experience leading large-scale policy implementation and change management efforts for numerous federal clients such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Named a top healthcare exec to watch in 2023, she has collaborated with key stakeholders to maintain mission-critical initiatives in areas such as health care quality, public reporting, performance measurement, and domestic preparedness. She has implemented growth and diversification strategies across multiple sectors, including health and homeland security.

Julia Watson is an economist and health systems specialist with 25 years of experience working on both developed and developing country health systems. She has extensive experience managing people and programs and collaborating with a wide range of partners. Her work focuses on improving health financing systems and strengthening the stewardship role of governments in mixed health systems.

Lauren Pittenger comes to Abt with more than 20 years of experience working in or as a consultant to federal government agencies. She has strong grounding in research and research-based consulting to government clients. She also has extensive experience leading and growing business, managing technical and scientific projects, and coaching and supporting account teams. She has served as a director at Guidehouse, scientific program manager at Booz Allen Hamilton, and lab manager at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She has worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network, the Gates Foundation and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.