Jason Saul is one of the nation's leading experts on measuring social impact. He is the founder and CEO of Mission Measurement, a strategy consulting firm that helps corporations, nonprofits and public sector clients create value through social change. He has advised some of the world's largest corporations, government agencies and nonprofits, including: Walmart, Starbucks, McDonald's, Kraft, Levi Straus & Co., Easter Seals, American Red Cross, the Smithsonian and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Prior to founding Mission Measurement, Jason practiced as a public finance attorney at Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago.

Jason serves on the faculty of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he teaches corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management. He also serves on the CMO Council's Academic Liaison Committee. Jason is the founder of the Center for What Works, a national nonprofit focused on benchmarking and performance measurement. He is the author of numerous books and articles on social strategy and measurement, including: Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Manage, Measure and Improve Performance (Fieldstone Press 2006); Social Innovation, Inc.: Five Strategies to Drive Business Value through Social Change (Jossey-Bass, October 2010); and The End of Fundraising: How to Raise More by Selling Your Impact (Jossey-Bass, February 2011). Jason was awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship for leadership and public service and was selected as a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow. In 2008, Jason was recognized as one of Crain's Chicago Business “40 under 40” business leaders, and in 2010, he was named by BusinessWeek as one of the Nation's 25 Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs.

Jason holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a B.A. in Government and French Literature from Cornell University.

Pranav Kothari believes a high-quality education provides the greatest opportunity for individuals and families to dramatically improve their lives. As Managing Director of Mission Measurement, Pranav is an expert on measuring the social impact of organizations and programs.  Pranav advises leading funders, education initiatives and nonprofit organizations on measurement and program strategy.  His current and past clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Education Pioneers, Cristo Rey Network, USA Funds and School Leaders Network.

Pranav has been working in the philanthropic sector for 14 years.  In addition to his consulting work, he speaks and conducts workshops on measuring social impact, national nonprofit effectiveness and education philanthropy.  Pranav also serves as a guest lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management Executive Education and MBA programs at Northwestern University.

Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Pranav served as a Program Director at KnowledgeWorks, a Cincinnati-based education enterprise.  There, he worked to ensure that philanthropic dollars were reaching those most in need of support to succeed in postsecondary education.  The Ohio College Access Network and the Ohio Appalachian Center have recognized his distinguished work in postsecondary education access.

Pranav is board president of the National College Access Network and is a board member of the Educational Policy Institute and Associated Colleges of Illinois. He also serves on the Chicago Advisory Board of Education Pioneers. He holds an A.B. in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA in Corporate Strategy and Organizational Behavior from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

For more than 12 years, Kim Silver has been working to increase the effectiveness of nonprofits and corporate and private funders. As a Director with Mission Measurement, Kim collaborates with nonprofits and grantmakers to articulate goals and showcase results. Kim's work spans youth development, education and healthy lifestyles programs and her clients include Kraft, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children's Home & Aid and the Levi Strauss Foundation. In addition, Kim serves as a guest lecturer at the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. She is frequently sought after to lead speaking engagements on measuring social impact.

Kim brings a unique perspective to Mission Measurement, having worked on every side of philanthropy, as a grantmaker, grantee and consultant. Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Kim spent four years creating new community initiatives for El Pomar, one of the largest grantmaking foundations in Colorado. In her role with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Kim secured nearly $1 million in private funding to create statewide youth programs and policy initiatives. At Grenzebach Glier & Associates, an international fundraising consultancy focused on higher education and healthcare clients, Kim managed the client services team and oversaw benchmarking and feasibility studies. Throughout her career, measurement has remained a central focus, and her role at Mission Measurement truly brings that expertise to the forefront.

Kim has been active with numerous boards and committees. She is a member of the Colorado College's City Champion Committee for Chicago, and has participated in board committees for the Employment Project and Women Employed. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Colorado College.

Cheryl Davenport acts as a catalyst between the corporate and the social sectors. As a Director with Mission Measurement, Cheryl assists corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits in creating strategies that not only improve their organization but also their community. She helps corporate clients committed to social change find a way to make a measurable difference that is relevant to their business. Some of her recent clients include Wal-Mart, Pepsi Refresh Project, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Cheryl worked at Monitor Group, a global strategy consulting firm. There, she served a variety of domestic and international clients, and specialized in areas such as marketing strategy, sales force effectiveness, pricing and general management strategy. Cheryl also worked with the Monitor Institute and Inspire, helping nonprofit clients build growth plans and develop organizational design to support expansion. Her position with Mission Measurement has given Cheryl the opportunity to use her corporate and marketing strategy skills in a socially meaningful setting.

Cheryl is a member of the Marketing Institute Advisory Council at the University of Iowa, and serves on the Metropolitan Board and the Development and Communications Committee for Chicago Youth Centers. She holds a B.B.A. with honors and highest distinction in Economics from the University of Iowa, where she minored in Spanish and German. Cheryl has lived and worked in Germany, Mexico, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

Avery Ouellette knows first-hand the challenges large organizations face trying to capture their social value across a wide variety of programs and activities. For over twelve years, she has worked in several international organizations to improve the effectiveness of their development programs and build institutional capacity to adopt new approaches to common development problems. As the Director of our Washington, DC office, she helps international organizations and public sector institutions to more effectively and efficiently drive social change and increase their impact. Her clients include NetHope, USAID’s Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance, Cisco and MIT Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship.

Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Avery worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a Senior Alliance Advisor in the Private Sector Alliances (PSA) Division. She provided guidance on identifying and negotiating strategic alliances; and specialized in building alliances around climate change, impact investing, and scaling social enterprises. Prior to USAID, she worked as a consultant for the Global Environment Facility evaluating the catalytic role of its programs; with the Poverty Action Lab on impact evaluations in East Africa; and served as a non-governmental representative to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Avery received her bachelor's degree in international relations from Mount Holyoke College and a master's degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University. She has lived and worked in over 60 countries across 6 continents.

Shawn Basak approaches his work from the perspective of a consumer: Who in the marketplace values the social impact his clients aim to create? How can his clients better understand social drivers of consumer behavior to more efficiently deliver the benefit of social change? As an Engagement Manager with Mission Measurement, Shawn leverages this consumer perspective for  corporations, government agencies and nonprofit clients. To do so, he works with clients to determine the kind of impact they are uniquely positioned to create and then develops socially meaningful business strategies to maximize this impact. His prior client work includes PricewaterhouseCoopers, Starbucks Coffee Company and  the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Shawn worked at The Cambridge Group, a growth strategy consulting firm. He served numerous Fortune 500 companies across the retail, consumer products and financial services industries, providing his clients with a deep understanding of unmet consumer demand. Now, he's able to apply an expertise in consumer behavior, brand positioning and analytical consulting to help his clients create real business value and lasting social impact.

Shawn serves as the Director of Measurement for Fields of Growth International, a sport-based community development organization and has previously served on the executive board of Pivot Nonprofit Consulting, a volunteer organization providing pro-bono strategy consulting to nonprofits. In addition, he has interned with One Economy Corporation, Teach For America and the Office of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Shawn graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Social Policy and Political Science.

Before he can tell the story of an organization's social impact, Rick Groves must first measure it. As an Engagement Manager at Mission Measurement, Rick works to bring to life the narrative of each client through designing and implementing the best ways to measure social impact. Rick helps his clients collect data and produce reports that allow them to better communicate their impact and further their mission. With an eye for data visualization, Rick strives to keep Mission Measurement reports rich in content yet easily accessible. Rick's clients include Travelers Insurance, NativityMiguel Network of Schools, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Rick got his professional start analyzing data with Grenzebach Glier & Associates, an international fundraising consultancy in Chicago. There, he worked in the Analytics Division for four years, providing philanthropic performance analysis, prospect screening and benchmarking for more than 200 clients in areas such as higher education, healthcare and social services. He joined Mission Measurement in 2008, and enjoys working closely with clients, using measurement to increase their social impact.

Rick received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Sociology and Political Science, with a concentration in Analysis and Research.

Ariana Klitzner stands at the crossroads of the business and social sectors. As an Engagement Manager, she is uniquely positioned to understand the inner workings of non-profits while also applying business principals to help sharpen and strengthen their missions. Known for her strong communication skills and rich non-profit experience, she works closely with clients to help them solidly define their identity and goals before measuring their impact.

Ariana began her career working in a small, community-based non-profit focusing on health care for children. While implementing programs and leading community advocacy groups, she learned about non-profits from the ground floor. After three years in the non-profit sector, Ariana wanted to make an even greater impact, but knew that in order to do so, she had a lot to learn. She enrolled in Harvard Business School, earned her MBA and accepted a job as a consultant with Bain & Co. She worked with Fortune 500 and mid-market companies in the areas of organizational design, strategy and analytics, applying what she’d learned in school. Armed with a new perspective, Ariana came to Mission Measurement, energized. Here, she’s able to apply business principles and strategy while leaving a lasting social impact.

In addition to her MBA from Harvard Business School, Ariana holds a BA, cum laude, in Latin American Studies from Pomona College in Claremont, California. She speaks fluent Spanish.

Jenna White understands that in the corporate world, profitability and social responsibility are not mutually exclusive. As an Engagement Manager, she works with corporate clients to help them define their social impact as a strategic and measurable business initiative. She is particularly interested in a corporation’s environmental impact. Since joining Mission Measurement, her clients have included Altria, BMO Harris Bank and Water for People.

Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Jenna worked with the Keystone Group, a strategy consulting firm, where she developed a toolkit of strong project management and analytical skills. Using a collaborative approach, she worked with clients in the manufacturing and distribution industries to improve profits. Her position at Keystone Group awakened a passion in Jenna for measurable results, but she also wanted more. At Mission Measurement, she works with clients to improve the bottom line while also making a tangible difference.

Jenna is passionate about sustainability issues, including the local food movement. She graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in finance and a B.S. in business administration. She speaks fluent Italian and has lived and worked in Italy and Sweden.

Where Paul Katsen sees numbers, he also sees a three-dimensional story. As an Associate with Mission Measurement, Paul works with clients to define their social impact by helping them first recognize their goals and then use data to quantify their results. Armed with a consulting background and entrepreneurial mindset, he works to analyze the present status of clients as well as devise creative solutions for the future.

Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Paul worked at ZS Associates, a marketing and sales strategy consulting firm. Advising clients ranging from global leaders in pharmaceuticals and medical devices to young biotechs, Paul gained a deep understanding of how to create strategies in both data-rich and not-so-rich environments. Now, at Mission Measurement, he's able to put his skills to use by measuring the impact of companies committed to making a social change.

In his free time, Paul provides pro-bono consulting to nonprofits in Chicago with the group Pivot Nonprofit Consulting. He also helps local technology startups and small businesses with their marketing and sales strategies. Paul received his B.S. in finance with high honors and B.S. in general engineering with honors from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He speaks fluent Russian.

Ali Sher knows that understanding the link between consumer opinion and action is critical to the success of social innovation strategies among B-to-C companies. Which is why in her role as an analyst at Mission Measurement, she focuses on market research and consumer insights. Ali combines extensive experience in data-driven marketing—including brand tracking, focus group management, market segmentation and message and ad testing—with a passion for solving social problems.

Before she joined Mission Measurement, Ali worked as a senior analyst at the market research powerhouse Penn Schoen Berland in New York, turning data into actionable recommendations for her clients. At PSB, she managed a multimillion-dollar brand tracker and conducted qualitative and quantitative market research, ranging from survey creation and strategy development to data analysis and communication. Outside of her tenure at PSB, Ali has worked on consumer-facing campaigns for corporate leaders like Nickelodeon, FedEx and Procter & Gamble.

Ali holds an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University’s Medill School, with concentrations in brand and advertising strategy and direct and interactive marketing. She also holds a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Consumer Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sasha Tuzel sees the bigger picture strategy implications that can often be missed in reams of data. As an associate at Mission Measurement, Sasha puts herself in her clients’ shoes in order to understand their needs and approaches, and help measure and maximize their impact. She brings deep experience in data aggregation and analysis, and a passion for social change to her work with Mission Measurement.

Sasha joined Mission Measurement from Chicago Public Schools, where she oversaw the charter and contract school renewal process for the City of Chicago. Using both qualitative and quantitative metrics, she evaluated the effectiveness of schools and programs and advised senior leadership. She now contributes her rich knowledge of the education sector and strategic school improvement efforts to her work with Mission Measurement’s nonprofit practice.

Prior to her time at Chicago Public Schools, Sasha worked with the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs to reduce discrimination against low-income and immigrant renters. She earned her B.S. in Sociology and Political Science from Northwestern, during which time she was a member of the highly competitive Northwestern Debate Society, studied abroad in Beijing and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Urban Debate League.

Sophie Walker is focused on combining the strengths of the public and private sectors. As an Associate at Mission Measurement, Sophie fuses data and research expertise to help clients understand how their work produces a broader social impact. She is particularly engaged in the role of measurement and evaluation in international development. Since joining Mission Measurement, her clients have included USAID and Cisco.

With a passion for foreign policy, Sophie began her career as a research assistant at a nuclear policy think tank in Washington, DC. She first applied her investigative skills as an analyst at Hanover Research, a custom research consulting group, providing data-driven strategic recommendations on programming, marketing, and development to a number of international higher education clients. At Mission Measurement, Sophie is able to combine her analytical experience with her strong interest in addressing social issues across the globe.

Sophie is an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, helping to build homes both locally in Washington, DC and on a Global Village trip to Nepal. She earned a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with an emphasis in International Relations from the University of Oxford.

Wendy Lazar is passionate about bringing increased efficiency to the social sector and knows that that begins with the way an office is staffed and run. As Human Capital Manager at Mission Measurement, Wendy oversees human resources and recruiting.

Prior to joining Mission Measurement, Wendy worked as a Convention Associate with SmithBucklin, the world's largest association management company, where she was responsible for planning and executing events for a number of professional trade associations. She also has experience in event planning and fundraising with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Cleveland Browns Foundation. In addition, Wendy worked as Assistant to the Director at the ASPIRE Program, a tuition-free academic leadership program for under-resourced public schools Cleveland, Ohio. These skills have helped Wendy in her work at Mission Measurement, where she works behind the scenes to ensure a positive work environment.

While earning her B.A. in Human Services from The George Washington University, Wendy co-founded Socialize with a Conscience, a community service organization in Washington, D.C. During her time at George Washington she studied social work at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, an experience that has shaped her career. Wendy is pursuing her Master's degree in Human Resources at Loyola University Chicago and will graduate in 2012.

Jed Levine believes that good communications and marketing work should not only support the growth of Mission Measurement—it should help drive strategy and, ultimately, influence social change. As the manager of marketing and communications, Jed is responsible for communicating who we are, what we do and why we matter to the outside world.

Before joining Mission Measurement, Jed spent four years at GBCHealth, a non-profit organization focusing on the unique role of business in global health action. In his most recent role at GBCHealth, he developed and managed a series of social marketing partnerships that brought private-sector marketing skills to bear on the U.S. HIV epidemic. Prior to that, he was responsible for many of GBC’s communications and marketing initiatives, including serving as editor of the organization’s magazine, Business Action. In his previous life, Jed was an award-winning freelance journalist, serving as UN Correspondent for a non-profit media outlet, editor-in-chief of the nation’s largest collegiate LGBT newsmagazine, and African political affairs correspondent for a DC-based policy magazine.

Jed holds a B.A. in International Development Studies from UCLA, with a focus on corruption and development. He is a recipient of the Marin County Commission on Human Rights' Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. Jed has lived and researched in both Thailand and Kenya and is proficient in Thai and French. In his spare time, Jed volunteers as a mentor with recently resettled Burmese refugees and provides pro-bono communications support to the orphan and vulnerable children’s charity The Guardian Angels Projects.

Ashley Shea brings organization and efficiency to a fast-paced and lively consulting work environment. As Special Assistant to CEO Jason Saul, Ashley manages Jason’s external presence and coordinates Mission Measurement’s administrative functions.

Ashley comes to Mission Measurement with almost a decade of experience in office management and administrative support. She is an accomplished opera singer, having served as a Young Artist with the Opera Training Institute of Chicago (OpTIC) and Chicago Opera Theater. Ashley has a Professional Diploma in Opera Performance and a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University.