Friendship fuels success

For over two decades, Phil has led cross-functional teams across sectors, spearheading large-scale initiatives that drive meaningful change. He has successfully overseen the rollout of $100M+ state-level government programs, working closely with federal agencies, departments, and governors’ offices.

At a leading educational non-profit, Phil helped run the annual "Olympics of educational assessment." He managed the timely and accurate assessment of 25 million exams within a tight three-week window—a logistical feat that required the recruitment, onboarding, and travel coordination of over 20,000 staff worldwide. This included orchestrating large-scale contracts with convention centers, hotels, transportation providers, and vendors across five cities. Phil also ensured the secure and high-quality delivery of 2 million high-risk exams annually, working with 4,000 test centers worldwide to uphold stringent quality standards.

But for Phil, success isn’t just about professional achievements—it’s about giving back. A dedicated volunteer, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Credit Union of New Jersey, is a Trustee for the Somerset Hills Learning Institute, and actively contributes to The Pennington School’s Professional Leadership Council and Alumni Association Board. His past service includes roles with the Veterans of Foreign War Post 3022, Ewing Little League, Hopewell Valley Soccer, and the Trenton Health Team.

Phil’s academic credentials reflect his commitment to continuous learning and leadership. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) from Rider University, an MBA from La Salle University, a Master’s in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Computer Information Science from Manhattan College. He is also a certified Six Sigma Green Belt and a Professional Scrum Master, bringing a data-driven, agile mindset to everything he does.

Residing in Pennington, NJ, with his wife, three kids, a goldendoodle, and a flock of backyard chickens, Phil is always on the move—whether it’s tackling complex operational challenges or pushing his limits in endurance sports like marathons, triathlons, and Ironman competitions. For Phil, every challenge is an opportunity to improve, inspire, and make a lasting impact.

For over 25 years, Shara has served as a teacher, leader, tutor, mentor, and advocate. It was her time working one-on-one with students as a classroom teacher and running an SAT tutoring program that galvanized her passion for building relationships. Coupled with her natural curiosity and tenacity for searching the depths of academic and scientific material to unearth nuggets of useful wisdom, Shara is adept at designing and delivering impactful research-driven learning experiences for nonprofit, healthcare, and education clients.

Shara believes that optimal educational environments are a necessity for learners of all ages to thrive. Prior to joining The Prassas Group, Shara put this passion into practice as an independent educational consultant, focusing on equity and social justice in the K–12 and healthcare spaces. She has led projects ranging from community mental health awareness, to care for patients with opioid use disorder in the emergency department, to LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula in middle and high schools.

Extending her skills into the non-profit world, Shara served as an Internal Communications Manager at a leading educational organization. During her tenure there, Shara honed her skills at developing motivating content and communications plans that reached thousands of employees worldwide. Not only was she tasked with bringing the organization’s strategic vision to life, but she also worked tirelessly to encourage engagement. Shara took special pride in serving as communications lead for the organization’s philanthropic arm, often volunteering her personal time to support efforts to inspire change.

While Shara was born with a love of learning, it was her time in academia that helped it grow. She spent her school-age years in Wilmington, DE and then earned her first higher education degree, a BA in Anthropology, from Binghamton University (formerly SUNY Binghamton). From there, Shara earned an EdM in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Rutgers University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from Rider University. Shara currently lives in Bucks County, PA where you can find her doing some of the same activities she’s enjoyed her whole life—reading, watching documentaries and movies—along with baking, and hanging out with family and friends.