Leadership

Meet our executive team, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council.

Ayan Kishore

CEO
Full Bio

Ayan Kishore is an experienced social entrepreneur and leader in technology for social impact and international development. He has a successful record in building and growing tech organizations that have helped millions globally– particularly minorities and the disadvantaged –to learn and secure jobs. As CEO, Kishore is tasked with unlocking opportunities for large-scale systems change and driving innovation through technology to transform how students, jobseekers, and older adults across the globe read, learn, and work through inclusive and equitable access to information. Prior to joining Benetech, Kishore founded and directed a digital social innovation lab at Creative Associates International focused on global literacy and peacebuilding. He served as EVP, Operations and Technology, and helped lead the IPO at Professional Diversity Network (PDN), an organization focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the American workforce. He also founded and served as CEO for CareerImp, providing career improvement tools for jobseekers and college students to understand and overcome algorithmic biases in recruiting. Since 2008, Kishore has served as the Chairman of the Board for Development Solutions Organization, a volunteer program for top-tier college students and private sector professionals to provide pro bono consulting to racial justice and international development nonprofits. Kishore received a BSS in Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MS in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University.

Ayan Kishore Headshot

Lucy W. Reckseit

General Counsel
Full Bio

Lucy has extensive experience counseling mid-stage to late-stage companies. In 1998, she pioneered the “fractional” general counsel model to address the in-house legal needs of emerging growth companies; and since 1998, she has worked in that capacity in a variety of technology sectors, including pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, interactive media, and mobile applications. Prior to establishing her fractional general counsel model, Lucy served as Vice President, Legal Affairs for a national behavioral managed care company.  Before her tenure in the managed care sector, she had been in a general corporate practice with Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. Lucy is active with the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel and is also Chair of the chapter’s Pro Bono Committee. Throughout her career she has devoted her time and expertise to various not-for-profit organizations.  Before law school, while working as Deputy Director of the Seventh Step Foundation and, then, as a Research Associate in the San Francisco office of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, she served on the Boards of Directors for both the San Francisco Child Abuse Council and the Center for Applied Local Research.  She later served as Director, Outreach and Alliance Development for a non-profit microfinance investment vehicle, which mobilized private capital to provide loans to microfinance institutions in developing countries. Lucy received her baccalaureate degree in psychology from Vassar College, an interdisciplinary master’s degree in education and psychology from Tulane University, and, then, her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Lucy W. Reckseit Headshot

Tia Jeffress

VP of Finance & Administration
Full Bio

Tia serves as the VP of Finance and Administration at Benetech. She is responsible for financial reporting and planning, People and Culture, and IT functions for the organization. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit arena, working for both public accounting firms and nonprofit organizations. Tia has a passion for accounting and streamlining processes to help reduce costs and improve efficiency. Before coming to Benetech, Tia served as the financial leader at various nonprofits including the Stimson Center, National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), and the American Institute in Taiwan. Tia spent the first half of her career working at CPA firms whose focus was on nonprofit and government organizations. Tia holds a B.S. in Accounting and Information Systems and a B.S. in Management from Virginia Tech. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Longwood University.  

Tia Jeffress, Headshot

Matthew Yip

VP of Product & Engineering
Full Bio

Matt leads Benetech’s Technology Group which includes engineering, product and user experience. Matt is a seasoned tech executive with a 16-year track record of building successful products for consumers and enterprise customers around the world. Prior to joining Benetech, Matt served as VP of Product at Rosetta Stone, where he oversaw the development of an immersive language learning platform that has helped millions of learners worldwide. He has also held senior product and executive positions at leading startups and public companies, including TripAdvisor and Microsoft. Matt is deeply committed to using technology as a driver of innovation and transforming user experiences. In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. 

An asian person posing with a smile and glasses and black hair.

Candace Brady

VP, Development
Full Bio

Candace Brady is an experienced fundraiser with over 20 years in non-profit management within higher education and cultural organizations raising transformative funds for scholarships, access for underserved students, sustainability projects, and expanded campuses. Prior to joining Benetech, Candace served as the inaugural Vice President of Advancement at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, where she was charged with overseeing all fundraising, membership, and development initiatives. Candace’s responsibilities included building the Museum’s regional and national fundraising network through recruiting Board Members, individual and corporate memberships, philanthropic donations and innovative partnerships. Candace is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University. She continues to give back to the communities that shaped her as a Chrysalis Community Development Agency Board member, Be The Match Ambassador, Patient Champion at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Content Committee Advisor for the American Alliance of Museums. 

Candace Brady, headshot.

Lisa Wadors

VP, Programs
Full Bio

Lisa oversees outreach, community, and advocacy work for Benetech’s Bookshare initiative. Lisa is an expert on special education policy and law, inclusion, and family and school collaboration, especially as it relates to accessible educational materials. She has a PhD in Special Education and Policy from UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University as well as a MA in Special Education from Santa Clara University.

Lisa Wadors

Michael Johnson

VP, Content
Full Bio

Michael Johnson is a seasoned executive with almost 40 years of experience in the technology, publishing, and education markets. Michael speaks regularly around the world on the need for content that is Born Accessible, meaning designed from the beginning in digital formats that are compatible with all key book reading platforms and accessibility features. Michael also works directly with the publishing industry to implement Benetech’s Global Certified Accessible program which empowers organizations to create, distribute, sell and offer fully accessible ebooks. He fervently believes in the importance of providing equal access to written information for people with disabilities and is using his long-standing relationships in the publishing industry to lead to systematic change.

Michael Johnson

Tanya Borshov

Director of People & Culture
Full Bio

Tanya brings over two decades of Human Resources expertise to her role at Benetech. Her extensive experience spans both private and non-profit sectors, with a particular focus on organizations dedicated to aiding individuals with disabilities. Tanya is deeply committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace environment for all staff. She has traveled extensively around the world and throughout the US, which has reinforced her firm belief in promoting diversity and fostering global perspectives. Tanya holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Human Resources and Labor Relations. She enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends. 

Mario Oliveros

Director of Growth
Full Bio

Mario is a mission-driven marketer with over 20 years of experience helping teams to create impact. At Benetech, he leads product marketing, user growth, and loyalty, leveraging data and customer insights to design and execute campaigns. Prior to Benetech, he worked as a brand strategist for B2B and B2C tech startups and Fortune 500 clients. Mario has a Master in Public Administration from Baruch College, a Master in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Chicago.

Mario Oliveros Headshot

Charles LaPierre

Principal, Accessibility and Content Quality Architect
Full Bio

Charles has over 25 years’ accessibility development experience and has been a pioneer in accessible product development since 1993. Charles currently is an active member of multiple W3C Standards working groups. Charles is the technical architect of our new Global Certified Accessible (GCA) initiative at Benetech to certify publisher content as conforming to the EPUB Accessibility Specification. Charles has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

Charles LaPierre Headshot.

As of February 2024:
Board of Directors

Gerardo Capiel

Chair of the Board

Rayanne Darensbourg

Children’s Museum Houston

Kris Espiritu

Learneo, Inc

Timothy Elder

TRE Legal

Theresa Fay-Bustillos

Jim Fruchterman

Benetech & Tech Matters

Pallavi Gondipalli

Capital Formation and IR Specialist

Rick Johnson

VITALSOURCE TECHNOLOGIES

Amanda Keton

Wikimedia Foundation

Dr. June Rumiko Klein

Fielding Graduate University

Yoko Nakao

Netflix

Barbara Pape

Learner Variability Project, Digital Promise

Dr. Katherine Schneider

Advisory Council

Anthony Bloome

Mobiles for Education (mEducation) Alliance

Radhika Shah

Illumen Capital Fund of Impact Funds

Susan Charles

Six Seconds

Samuel Johnson

San Mateo Union High School District

Ky Vu

Outschool

Shawn Anthony Robinson

International Dyslexia Association

Mark Wolfe

Reading Rainbow

Tracy Weeden

Neuhaus Education Center

Jim Vanides

California Science Project

Ellen Moir

New Teacher Center

D’Andre J. Weaver

Digital Promise

Joseph South

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)