Our Staff
Every member of MAG is grounded in the unique culture and context of social action, reflecting our extensive experience -- a combined total of more than 100 years -- with public-interest organizations.
INCA MOHAMED
Executive Director
Internationally recognized for her group facilitation and training skills, Inca Mohamed has over 25 years experience of working with and managing nonprofit organizations addressing gender equity, sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth development and diversity. Inca has served as a senior manager at Planned Parenthood in San Francisco, the Hawaii Department of Health, and The Door youth center in New York City. During her tenure at the YWCA of the USA, Inca provided leadership development and management consultation to YWCA affiliates across the country. Prior to joining MAG, Inca was a program officer at the Ford Foundation, where for seven years she was responsible for both domestic and international youth development programming. Among the organizations she has assisted are American’s for a Fair Chance, The Funders Network for Population and Reproductive Health, and Rights, Common Ground Community, International Human Rights Law Group, International Center for Transitional Justice, Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights Under the Law, and the Ford Foundation.
Susan Gross has been helping nonprofits to become structurally and organizationally stronger for over 25 years. Beginning as a civil rights activist in the early 60's, Susan Gross has devoted her life to advancing progressive social causes. After learning the art of political and electoral public opinion analysis as an aide to pollster Louis Harris and then political commentator Samuel Lubell, Susan spent 10 years learning about public interest organizations from the inside -- as a manager, executive director, and board member of several groups. She began consulting on management issues in 1977, co-founded MAG in 1980, and is now a nationally recognized authority on how to define, structure, and manage social-justice organizations so that their programs and people succeed. Susan has written several articles on managing people and on the importance of clear purpose, values, and rigorous planning and priority-setting, to an organization's effectiveness. Among the organizations she has assisted are the American Civil Liberties Union, Physicians for Human Rights, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Human Rights Watch, the National Immigration Forum, the Economic Policy Institute, Center for Health, Environment, and Justice, many state-based groups such as the Center for Public Policy Priorities of Texas and the Michigan League for Human Services, and many community-based groups such as Washington's Latin American Youth Center and New York's Common Ground Community.
Karl Mathiasen has had a lifelong commitment to helping organizations grow stronger, dating from his early years at USAID where he provided technical assistance to organizations abroad. When he returned to Washington, he became a board member and trusted advisor to numerous nonprofits, including Wider Opportunities for Women and the New World Foundation. This led to his establishment, in 1972, of the Planning and Management Assistance Project, which eventually evolved into MAG. Karl is one of the nation's leading experts on board/staff dynamics and board development. He has written frequently about boards and served on the boards of over 35 nonprofits. He has a special fascination with faith-based groups, such as the Religious Partnership for the Environment, and Jubilee Enterprise of Greater Washington. Among other groups he has assisted is the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Gay Men's Health Crisis and other AIDS groups, and many community foundations.
ROBBIE ROSS TISCH
Senior Consultant
Robbie Ross Tisch began her public interest career in 1973 working for prisoner's rights and legal services for the poor. She has had 30 years of staff management, leadership, and fundraising experience at such organizations as the Children's Defense Fund, National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Center for Marine Conservation, and the International Youth Foundation, where she worked with partners in 10 countries. Robbie has served on numerous boards and has consulted with hundreds of state and national organizations, including the Education Trust, National Immigration Forum, Earth Share environmental federation, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the National Women's Law Center, Equal Justice Works, the Lawyers’ Committee of Texas, and Voices for Illinois Children.
MARK LEACH, Northeast
Senior Consultant
A consultant, researcher, and writer with 25 years of experience, Dr. Mark Leach has worked with numerous not-for-profit, for-profit, and governmental organizations in the areas of public health, the environment, international development, and human rights. His main areas of expertise are organizational diagnosis and change; non-profit governance and strategy; inter-organizational relations across cultural differences; and the creation of inclusive organizations and systems. He has significant experience coaching individuals and groups in the resolution of high-stakes strategic questions and in the promotion of inter-organizational collaboration. His formal training includes a Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University and Doctorate in Organizational Behavior from Boston University. Mark has worked with clients such as the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, ACLU Massachusetts, and Heifer Project International. Mark's writings include: Models of Inter-organizational Collaboration in Development; Governance, Structure, and Control in Values-Based Organizations;Formulating Strategy; and Organization Development for Social Change.
NANCY FRANCO
Adjunct Senior Consultant, West Coast
Nancy Franco's career in public interest work
had its start in the 1970's, with pioneering assignments for the National
Council on Hunger and Malnutrition, the National Citizens Committee on
Broadcasting and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She served as executive
director of the Citizens Policy Center/Open Road, a California youth-development
organization she helped to establish. After four years at its helm, Nancy
began providing management consulting to the leaders of other social purpose
organizations. She joined MAG in 1981, and has helped numerous community
development corporations, community organizing and legal advocacy groups
to grow stronger. She has a special affinity for Native American and women's
organizations and has served on many nonprofit boards. Groups she has
assisted include the Family Violence Prevention Fund, ACLU of Northern
California, Equal Rights Advocates and Southern California Association
of Nonprofit Housing.
ROBIN KATCHER
Staff Consultant
Robin Katcher has nearly 10 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, as an activist, trainer, organizer, and board member. Before joining MAG, she spent three years as the Legislative Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence where she advocated for federal policy, developed a national coalition, and supported the development of local organizations. As an adjunct faculty member of the Gill Foundation, Robin has led trainings in fundraising and organizational development for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community groups. Robin also served as a founding board member of Jews United for Justice. At MAG, she has provided assistance to numerous organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union – Washington National Office, Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, DC Prisoners' Legal Services Project, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Homeless Persons Representation Project, Land Trust Alliance, and Nebraska Appleseed Center.
MÓNICA PALACIO
Senior Consultant
Mónica Palacio brings over 15 years of experience as a community leader, non-profit director and cutting edge management consultant. In her work with community building and social justice projects, Mónica has become a thought leader in the areas of organizational development, training design, facilitation, cultural competency and leadership training. Before joining MAG she served as the Director of Training and Technical Assistance with the National Crime Prevention Council and since 1993 has launched a number of successful programs serving people of color, including the NCBI Latino Leadership Development Project and Public Allies. Mónica is a dynamic instructor and enjoys the art of teaching and learning. She has served as a master trainer with the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) since 1995 and has provided training for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the U.S. Department of Labor and within varied settings such as high schools, labor unions, police departments, and seminaries. Mónica is a 1993 graduate of the Georgetown Law Center and in 2004 was awarded a fellowship with the National Hispana Leadership Institute.
NEEL MASTER
Program Development Manager
Neel Master is Program Development Manager for the Management Assistance Group. In this capacity, he is heavily involved in both research and writing, and is one of the lead authors of MAG’s recent publications, Boards Matter and Advancing Your Cause Through the People You Manage. Additionally, he oversees MAG’s marketing, communications, and data management functions. Neel received a BA in Economics from Franklin and Marshall College, where he was a National Merit Finalist. Throughout his education, he was active in social justice causes, leading a campaign to rid the college’s logo apparel of sweatshop labor, serving on the Executive Board of the Women’s Center, and helping to found a strong progressive organization on campus.
LORI GREEN
Office Manager
Lori Green has 15 years experience assuring the efficient functioning of offices for both private corporations and non-profit organizations. Lori's work includes assistance to our Executive Director and making sure that all of MAG's office and technological systems are functioning effectively.
DOROTHY BETTS
Administrative and Finance Assistant
Dottie Betts has over 30 years experience managing offices including owning and running her own courier business, Shaw Transport Services, and administrating the East Friendship Baptist Church. Dottie welcomes visitors and callers, helps track financial data, maintains office systems, and provides administrative support to the consulting staff.
