Meet Our Board
The driving force behind 3DA, dedicated to fostering growth and innovation in our community.
Sam Shepherd
Sam Shedpherd graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminology in December 2020. During his time at UMD, he was involved in the UMD Student Association, gaining valuable experience in advocacy and governance.
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Throughout his college years, Sam worked as a Direct Support Professional at various facilities, including Customized Options and The Carlson House, where he developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with developmental disabilities.
Inspired by these experiences, Sam founded 3DA to advocate for and improve the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities nationwide.
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Currently residing in Arizona, Sam works at a restaurant in Scottsdale while dedicating himself to advancing 3DA's mission. Sam was also recently appointed to the Arizona Developmental Disability Advisory Council (DDAC), which is a Governor appointed council.
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Raul Saldivar
Raul Saldivar got an Associates Degree in Arts from McCook Junior and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Special Ed & Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
He is married and has four children, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild and live in Omaha, Nebraska. Raul has a grandchild with a rare genetic disorder, Angelman Syndrome, that causes intellectually disability, epilepsy and eating disorders.
Raul had a 35 year career in Executive Leadership at Mosaic, a nonprofit serving over 3,000 people with intellectual disabilities in 10 states and internationally. Served as Executive Director, Senior Vice President of Human Resource and retired in 2016 as Chief Operating Officer of Mosaic.
He also completed two Mosaic fundraising events raising over $50,000 to support people with special needs internationally. He has also consulted internationally at Great Britain, Latvia, Germany and Romania. Raul is currently the Nebraska Coordinator of the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, a nonprofit, fundraising organization, to find the cure for ASF.
Raul is also the Owner of RSaldivar LLC, a Consulting Company that provides consultation on Human Resources best practices, leadership mentoring, and organizational development.
Peter Jones
Peter Jones has over 50 years of experience in various leadership roles within the manufacturing industry. During that period, Peter and his family moved from Canada to the United Kingdom and then several states in the USA. He has been responsible for multi-site operations in several countries. Prior to retiring in June 2023, Peter was Vice President of Operations and the Aftermarket business for Morgan Truck Body located in Morgantown, PA. He currently volunteers at Paoli Hospital in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) which he thoroughly enjoys.​ Peter has been the past campaign chair and board member for the United Way of Central Kentucky and was also a member of the board for the Elizabethtown Chamber of Commerce. Both positions allowed Peter to give back to the community and make a difference.
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Peter is married and has an adult daughter with Asperger's Syndrome, part of the Autism spectrum. They live in the small town of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania. Their daughter has performed very well in her studies graduating Summa cum laude with a degree in Psychology. She has applied to hundreds of open positions and does get some positive responses to her resume and cover letters. The interview process proves difficult for someone with Aspergers; thus, she has great difficulty verbally promoting her skills and abilities. This is common for people with Asperger’s syndrome.
Lilit Kirsh
Lilit Kirsh's career includes notable roles such as Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at R.W.C., VAALCO ENERGY, and Chief of Staff at the World NGO Day Foundation. Throughout her career, Lilit has demonstrated a commitment to driving organizational success and implementing strategies to support business objectives.
With a history of leading organizations through periods of growth and navigating challenges. Her expertise extends to collaborating with diverse stakeholders across multiple geographies, facilitating positive change within organizations.
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Outside of her professional endeavors, Lilit has volunteered with organizations such as Nissi House in Gabon, West Africa, providing support to children with disabilities and those who have experienced abuse. She has also dedicated her time to Krause Children's Center and Junior Achievement Houston, contributing to initiatives aimed at empowering youth and promoting education in underserved communities.
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Lilit holds an MBA in HR Leadership/Organizational Development from Post University, providing her with a solid foundation to contribute to the organization's mission of advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities nationwide. With her deep understanding of technical implementations, strong management skills, and emphasis on building relationships, Lilit is a valuable addition to the Board.
Barb Hegge
Barb Hegge graduated from Concordia College with a degree in Education and Special Education. ​
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Barb worked as a special education teacher for 12 years before founding Customized Options in 2004. Customized Options is a nonprofit day program that serves adults with developmental disabilities in the Twin Cities area. She still currently serves as the CEO. ​In addition, Barb has certifications in Nonprofit Business Management as well as a yearly 245D licensing. ​
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In addition to working with Neurodiverse individuals for over thirty years, she is also a proud mother of Kyle, her son with Autism. Kyle is the focus of her work and is her passion in life.
Ashley Swestyn
Ashley Swestyn holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA with a Master of Science Degree in Special Education that focused on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the collaborative laws and processes of special education. Her graduate action research project focused on support for elementary students on the autism spectrum and prompting. She was the very first recipient of the Michel Miller Award of Excellence in Special Education at Drexel in 2016 for her work and dedication to the field.
Ashley lives in St. Augustine, Florida, but was born and raised an hour south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has two daughters and two sons. She is the parent of children with Autism, ADHD, and PTSD. Her love of special education started with her grandfather. He could not read or write, but created family businesses that are well known in the tire and professional motocross arenas. These businesses still exist today. She has seen that people with disabilities can do big things, despite the barriers that their disability creates. She has spent many years advocating for the needs of her children.
She has 13 years of experience in the field of special education. Most of her experience is as a self-contained special education teacher in the secondary setting teaching students with intellectual disabilities English, reading, and history. She is the sole proprietor of Specially Designed Education Consulting, LLC. Since transitioning out of the classroom, she has been pursuing her dream of working with families of individuals with disabilities. She has helped families navigate the special education process, understand their rights, and has assisted families with dispute resolution processes. She has successfully helped many families and schools come to agreements that are in the best interest of the children they serve. She strongly advocates for a free and appropriate public education, per the law, for all of her clients. She has served in this role as advocate for 4 years total. She utilizes her experience as a parent to work with families.
Marissa Johnson, Esq
Marissa Johnson is a highly skilled corporate attorney, dual-qualified in the U.S. and UK, with substantial expertise in corporate governance, cross-border transactions, and regulatory compliance. Currently a corporate and commercial attorney at a large law firm in New York City. Marissa advises both private and public entities on high-value M&A and securities matters, handling complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions across global exchanges such as NYSE and Nasdaq. Her experience as a strategic advisor to diverse boards and executive teams, coupled with her role on the boards of a UK-based startups and nonprofits, enables her to provide 3DA with insightful governance guidance, risk assessment, and innovative legal solutions. Marissa’s commitment to fostering impactful, community-driven change aligns with 3DA's mission, and she brings a balanced perspective to our board.