Our Team
BILL BRANTLEY, Ph.D.,
serves as the President and Chief Learning Officer at BAS2A, with a focus on leadership theory, digital transformation, and project management. He has earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management along with three master's degrees. Dr. Brantley holds 30 certifications in project management, coaching, and talent development. He has authored three books and is an instructor at the University of Louisville and the University of Maryland. He has created massive open online courses in project management and digital technologies that have attracted over 25,000 students.
TANIA DIAZ, Psy.D.,
is a licensed psychologist in the states of Florida and Georgia. In addition, she is certified as an Inter-jurisdictional Compact Psychologist authorized to provide national telemental health services. Dr. Diaz is a Heartmath® Certified Trainer, qualified board approved clinical supervisor with 27 years of clinical experience in the mental health field. She serves as a content expert, consultant, and workshop facilitator working with leadership, administrators, executives, medical doctors and educators. Her areas of specialization are: Panic Disorder, Trauma, ADHD, Depression, and Mindful Mental Health Hygiene. Special emphasis and training in Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Heartmath Certified Instructor and Integrated Behavioral Health and Wellness. Served as a DSM5 Field Trail researcher during its development. Most recently she provides customized quality counseling and life coaching to chief executive officers (CEOs) and their families.
AUBREE M GUIFFRE, Ph.D., RYT 200, RCYT-200 (she/her/Dr),
trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist (The University of Rochester Medical School 2004) and as a Counseling Psychologist (West Virginia University 2009, Fellowship University of Rochester 2011). She is licensed as a Psychologist in NYS and provide therapy in private practice, support trainees in clinical supervision, and teach formal classes and didactics for local universities. Dr. Guiffre has extensive training in mindfulness practices (Certified Mindful Schools Teacher 2017, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction-Teens 2020, Trained Instructor-Mindful Sports Performance Enhancement, 2024) and Yoga (RYT 200 Yoga Works 2019 and RCYT 200 YogaEd 2020).
JEAN TRUJILLO (she/her), M.S.,
is a professional coach, and partners with individuals, including teenagers and young adults, who feel overwhelmed and stuck, to create a clear plan of action and get moving again. Through an inquiry process, Jean helps clients get clear on what they want, and what they don’t want in their lives, identify what gets in the way, and strategize a path forward. This personalized roadmap serves as a guide to relieve stress and anxiety and take action towards creating a life they love. Jean also leads workshops on topics such as well-being, stress management, resilience building and leadership. She holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation, and she is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certified Practitioner. Her professional development includes working towards certifications in health and wellness coaching, teaching Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and financial coaching. Jean earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree and a Master of Science in Engineering degree, and previously worked as a mechanical engineer in the defense and telecommunications industries. She currently volunteers her time as a member of the local school board and as trustee of an education foundation.
TEN'NIQUWA NIKKI BRYAN,
is an accomplished Industrial Organizational Psychology Practitioner, certified coach, and author with extensive experience in talent, leadership, and organizational development. She has successfully collaborated with companies to enhance workplace productivity and employee satisfaction, emphasizing a healthy work-life balance. Nikki's expertise spans diverse industries including healthcare, social services, financial services, and food services. She excels in designing instructional training programs, conducting employee engagement assessments, and implementing effective interventions. As an instructional designer and course facilitator, Nikki is dedicated to bridging the gap between leaders and their teams through intuitive coaching and evidence-based consulting.
KELSEY HENNESSEY,
is an educator with over a decade of experience in early childhood education and culturally responsive teaching. Originally from Minnesota, she now lives in Tulum, Mexico, where she leads the "Preschool for Adults" workshop. This immersive experience helps adults reconnect with their inner child, rediscovering the joy of preschool.
Her work blends play and creativity to support both children and adults in expanding possibilities, connecting to emotions, and igniting joy. This journey began with her own healing process, acknowledging the effects of stress and realizing the need for joy over suffering. Kelsey is passionate about guiding others in their self-discovery, helping them connect to their inner creative to foster meaningful change in their lives.
SERHAT ERCAN, Ph.D., M.S.,
is an accomplished educator and computer engineer with 20 years of experience in teaching STEM disciplines in middle and high school. He holds a Ph.D. in K-12 STEM Education, an M.S. in Science Education, a B.S. in Science Education and a B.S. in Computer Engineering. Dr. Ercan's expertise lies in the integration of STEM concepts, serious gaming, and game development, with a focus on creating engaging educational experiences through digital games. He has led projects developing youth's 21st-century skills and interest in STEM fields, serving as both an instructor and expert. He is currently designing curriculum teaching computer science to young learners through game development.
TEKESHIA AUSTIN, Ph.D.,
is a dedicated and compassionate leader who brings over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry. With a focus on healthcare business optimization, she brings a wealth of knowledge in areas such as operations, process improvement, and leadership development. She has worked in large healthcare organizations helping to enhance efficiency and program scalability. Through various leadership roles, she has had the opportunity to mentor and develop individuals from all walks of life and is passionate about motivating others to become their best selves through personal and faith-based development. Dr. Austin has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master's degree in Community Health Education, and a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration. Earlier this year, Dr. Austin founded Executive Level Consulting, a firm focused on driving the improvement of healthcare operations and leadership development.
TARA FISHLER,
is the founder and CEO of Customized Training Solutions, established in 2003. www.tarafishler.com Through her company and work with non-profits, she has taught trauma-informed/resilience-based conflict resolution and related skills to thousands of adults and students in schools and organizations. Tara is a facilitator, circle-keeper, strategic planning expert, and passionate defender of individuals with special needs. As an Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) leader, Tara has served on the executive committees of ACR (Association for Conflict Resolution), ACR-GNY and NYSDRA (New York State Dispute Resolution Association). She has authored articles and recently published her memoir, “Up-Rooted: Climbing Through Family Chaos,” through WoodHall Press, which details her life as the divorced mother of four children, including two daughters adopted from Ukraine.
MICHELLEA “REDBIRD” MILLIS RUCKER, M.S.,
is the Founder and CEO of Transforming Our Practice, LLC., and BrownSTEM, INC. Her expertise is in transformational leadership coaching, facilitation, leadership development, and thought partnership (consulting). Her coaching stance and philosophy lean into leader identity aligned with beliefs, behaviors, and ways of being. She has over 21 years in Education, 10 years in Non-Profit Administration, and 10 years experience as an Edupreneur. She is an experienced Instructional, Leadership Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coach. In addition, she is an ICF ACC specializing in Transformational Leadership and Performance Coaching and Diversity Equity, Inclusion Certified (DEIC). She has a BA Degree in Organizational Management, MS in Managerial Leadership, Harvard Graduate School of Education Alumni with a focus on Leadership and Data and completing another Master’s in Educational Leadership and Ed.D. Doctoral Candidate in Leadership (anticipated graduation date 2024). Recently, she was featured in the September 2020 edition of the Excelligent Magazine as a Global Education Influencer. She is also a LEGO® SERIOUSPLAY® Methods Facilitator, Forbes Coaches Council Member Leader of BIPOC Coach Connect, and Catalyst ED DEI PRG Facilitator.
ARI BLOOMEKATZ (he/him),
is an organizer, journalist, and movement publisher. Ari is currently the executive editor of In These Times and previously spent five years as managing editor of Rethinking Schools. Ari was also the managing editor of the Jewish social justice magazine Tikkun, and spent several years as a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times. He is an active organizer with various justice movements including Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, IfNotNow, Jewish Voice for Peace and Center for Jewish Nonviolence. Ari’s passion is also producing, publishing, and sharing books that tell stories that help fuel movement work and organizing. At Rethinking Schools, Ari was the production editor for the book Teaching for Black Lives, he also helped found Jewish Currents Press, the book publishing arm of Jewish Currents magazine. He most recently served as production editor for The Israeli Black Panthers Haggadah, and he previously worked with author and poet Tom Haviv on A Flag of No Nation.
TERRI JO SWIM, Ph.D.,
is a professor of early childhood education at Purdue University in Fort Wayne in Indiana. She has taught in higher education institutions for over 25 years in addition to working in private child care centers, university-based laboratory programs, and summer camps. Terri is the author of the national bestseller Infants and Toddlers: Caregiving and Responsive Curriculum Development (10th ed.). Her current research interests include how teachers' principles influence their work in infant-toddler and preschool classrooms. Most importantly, she is the parent of three young adults who constantly tested her application of theories in real-world situations.
SERKAN ERCAN, MACC,
is a licensed associate mental health counselor in New Jersey. He has received his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Moravian University. He has mentored youth and families in building more positive lives for the last 20 years through educational and mentoring programs. In addition, he has taken in several leadership roles in business varying from manager, salesperson, and owner of several service companies. His professional interests include developing youth and families to better their mental health and life quality, and development and wellness of educators and leaders. His topics of expertise include depression, anxiety, ADHD, and relationship coaching.
ZEYNEP ISIK-ERCAN, Ph.D.,
is a professor of early childhood education at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. She has taught in P-12 levels and higher education institutions for over 20 years in addition to mentoring private child care centers, university-based laboratory programs, summer camps, and coaching educational practitioners and leaders. Her research regularly appears in academic journals on topics such as culturally and linguistically diverse children, teachers, families and communities, immigrant families with young children, culturally responsive teaching and intellectual development, and professional development of educators and leaders. She actively works with state organizations, schools, and educators through coaching and training programs. She has two boys and two cats, all with rhyming names!
