Meet Our Team

Ryan drives the development and execution of marketing strategies across VELA, leveraging her leadership experience in a marketing agency supporting entrepreneurs and start-ups. She is inspired by the passion of the VELA Founder Network and the refreshing ways in which VELA is reimagining education to serve families and children. Ryan lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband, three children, and the family cat.

Darien supports VELA’s investment capability, ensuring the team meets ambitious goals to grow the Founder Network, and contributes to exceptional community experiences. Bringing her background in nonprofit programming, business management, communications, and strategic engagement, along with a passion for K-12 education transformation, she is thrilled to serve and grow this vibrant community of entrepreneurs. Darien lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband and two kids where she is constantly planning the next family adventure, drinking iced lattes, and exploring book stores.

Lauren leads the implementation and management of VELA’s investment programs. She’s a fan of lifelong learning, engagement, and being genuinely thrilled about learning. She is excited to use her background in philanthropy to drive programming and opportunities designed to support programs and founders that give learners and families agency over their education. Lauren lives in West Michigan and embraces spending time outdoors in all four seasons.

Alex supports VELA’s grants and community programming. Her background in museums, classrooms, and libraries has illuminated the many ways that youth learn, grow, and contribute to thriving communities. Alex believes in the power of people and takes pride in supporting VELA’s growing community of entrepreneurs. She is based in Denver and enjoys making art, watching television, raising chickens, and thrifting.

Meredith leads VELA Education Fund, where she is determined to serve brave, creative people who are boldly reimagining education in their communities and beyond. Meredith is inspired by everyday entrepreneurs who are willing to let go, listen, and learn from children as they discover their magic spark. Meredith and her husband are raising their family of four children in Wichita, Kansas.

Sydney oversees the integration of VELA’s development operations to streamline workflows, automate processes, and ensure efficient collaboration to maximize VELA’s reach and impact. She is passionate about demonstrating how our shared experiences connect us to our communities and is thrilled to continue using her background in the non-profit sector to make a difference in the lives of learners and their families. Sydney is based in San Diego, California where she regularly enjoys going to farmers markets, trying new coffee shops, and buying more plants that she doesn’t need.

Katie Powell leads VELA’s efforts to steward and grow the VELA Founder Network by facilitating community connection, knowledge sharing, and mutual support across the thriving ecosystem of unconventional educators reshaping the landscape of K-12 education. Katie brings her experience as a microschool founder, a deeply held belief in people, and a passion for social change through education to VELA, and she is grateful to be able to support the work of VELA Founders who show up each day to make a difference in the lives of the children and families in their communities. Katie lives with her husband and two sons in Grand Rapids, MI, where she enjoys reading, gardening, biking, and day trips to Lake Michigan.

Ashley leads the implementation of product development, helping VELA to achieve its reach and impact objectives. She is motivated by the VELA community and their relentless dedication to improving unconventional learning opportunities for children in their lives. Ashley calls upon her background in business strategy and as an entrepreneur to optimize VELA’s efforts. She lives in Wichita with her two sons and two puppies.

Beth leads operations for VELA, ensuring that its bold vision for the future of education is translated into action through its team, investments, and programming. After 20 years in the education reform and school choice space, Beth is passionate about enabling an alternative education market where parents and community members can implement education solutions that work best for them. Beth lives outside of Chicago with her husband and three kids, where she enjoys running, cooking, and Saints football — WHODAT!