U-ROC Leadership™ Advisory Council and Leadership

Dana has been an entrepreneur and leader of businesses since 1994, when she bought, owned, and operated a plastic fabrication business. In 1997, she started Riker Opportunity Institute, Inc., an organizational development business that has been working with CEO’s and HR Professionals for over 26 years to develop high performing Leaders, Teams, and Cultures.
Dana is passionate and skilled at bringing out the best in people and organizations. She has helped companies across all industries, ranging in size from privately owned small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, including non-profits and educational Institutions.
In 2013, Dana was the recipient of the International Athena Award given to women in recognition for their excellence in business, leadership, and service to their communities. In 2016, she was among the top finalists for the Delaware Valley HR Consultant of the Year Award. 

Dana Riker Jackson

Founder and CEO of Riker Opportunity Institute/Creator of U-ROC Leadership™ Gap Year Program

Janet Lloyd Murphy

U-ROC Leadership™ Project Manager

Janet has worked in the non-profit field since 2009, when she joined Dana in running programs for Healthy Communities Initiative, Inc., a youth development, and mentoring organization serving the Media area and surrounding communities.  Janet has also worked as a substitute teacher and aide with youth of all ages, demographic, and ability levels; as a workforce development career coach; and as a case manager for a WIOA-funded youth education and employment program in Chester County.

Janet also has extensive experience in writing and editing – as an assistant editor of a Delaware County weekly newspaper and as a freelance correspondent.  Through the years, she has served a number of community organizations as a volunteer publicist and community relations coordinator. She also volunteers at Chester Eastside, Inc., an organization addressing food insecurity, access to healthcare and legal assistance, and the need for youth to have a safe and nurturing place to go after school and during the summer.

Donna Northern

Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Chester

Donna Northern has worked in the Human Service field for more than 38 years possessing over 29 years of management experience coupled with 20 years direct services experience. For the past 10 years, Ms. Northern has worked as the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Club of Chester. Most recently, Donna received the Superhero award from the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey in recognition of her work at the Boys & Girls Club of Chester.

Dane Yoder

Senior Manager, Assurance Services Ernst & Young LLC

Dane Yoder is a finance and accounting executive who has worked for EY for 13 years – rising through the ranks from an Assurance Senior to now Senior Manager. In his current role, he leads multiple EY teams working with clients focusing on accounting, auditing and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting.  Dane has worked with some of the Philadelphia area largest companies through complex  and challenging business and accounting changes, including transformation through (M & A activity), leadership changes, adoption of new significant accounting standards and refresh of internal control structure, including implementation of digital audits, and other significant transformation to drive sustainable audit quality.

Dane is certified in lean six sigma and passionate about using those tools to improve processes, and improve the work experience for both employees and clients.
Dr. John H. Wilson is a business leader, entrepreneur, and scholar with more than 20 years’ experience in the software and services industries. He’s the founder of Strategic Collisions International, LLC and a Teaching Professor in the Drexel University Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship. Dr. Wilson formerly held senior leadership positions at Vertex, Inc. in Sales, Product Management, and Global Technologies. He also teaches a workshop on Entrepreneurship and Leadership for the U-ROC Leadership™ Program

John Wilson

Founder, Strategic Collisions Teaching Professor, Drexel University Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship

Vincent Gordon

Founder and President, Gordon Policy Group

Vincent Gordon is the Founder and President of the Gordon Policy Group. Vince’s focus is on the Healthcare Industry providing project, management, and business consulting services. Formerly he served as a Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. In the community, Vince was the Past President of the Upper Darby School Board, and currently serves on the board of the Philadelphia OIC, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and the Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County.  He is also Vice Chair of the Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Board of Directors

Mary Feeney

Manager of Internal Communications QLIK Technologies

Mary Feeney is Manager of Internal Communications for QLIK Technologies, a role she has held for 10 years. Mary has also  been a Communications Specialist for Paragon; as a Communications Specialist for Springhouse Education and Consulting Services; and as a Communications Consultant for Merck. In her roles, Ms. Feeney has provided strategic communications that support new technology initiatives and consult with teams on the best approach to market new initiatives and services.

Rip Tilden

Partner, Makarios Consulting

Rip Tilden is a Partner in Makarios Consulting where he has worked since 2009. The full-service management consulting firm works with business owners and entrepreneurs who want to grow their companies and execute more effectively every day. Mr. Tilden is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Andesa Services, Inc., a life insurance, and annuity administrative management firm. He has served as Chairman for two years and has served on that company’s board as a member since 2015. He was a Project Faculty Member at The Wharton School of Business at the University of PA for 9 years, working with graduate business students who consult with small businesses in developing countries to help them build their strategies and find new markets. He is also the co-author of Leading on Purpose: Sage Advice and Practical Tools for Becoming the Complete Leader published by Greenleaf Books in 2014.

Danielle Mariano

Vice President of Compliance, CCA Cyber Charter School

Danielle Mariano has lead Commonwealth Charter Academy Cyber School as Vice President of Compliance since October 2021. Previously, she held leadership roles in government for more than 12 years, including as the Deputy Secretary for Administration at the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Danielle has coached diverse teams from various disciplines to reach their full potential. She has achieved ambitious goals and solved novel challenges even in environments uncomfortable with change. Danielle sees opportunities that others miss. This skill has allowed her to spearhead changes that have enhanced collaboration, reduced expenses, expanded capacity, and improved coherence; changes crucial to addressing the disruption of the pandemic, which required constant transformation and adjustment.

Robert L. Givens, III

Owner and Founder of RG 360 Consulting

Robert L. Givens III spent over a decade building and leading cross-sector coalitions to address a variety of longstanding community challenges throughout the U.S. In January 2022, he founded RG 360 Consulting, a social venture that exists to foster cultures of collaboration in communities throughout the U.S. by providing leadership training and capacity building services to coalitions and participating organizations. It is his belief that unity is the key to achieving this collaborative dream.  He is an advisory council member for Expressive Path and the Committee Chair for Montgomery County Multi-Faith Coalition.

Mark Mariano

Financial Literacy Educator, Experienced Auditor

Mark Mariano has been working in the financial field since 2001, as the Team Leader of Global Processing for Genworth Financial Trust and as a Compliance Auditor for Merchants Express Money Order Company. Mr. Mariano is the Financial Literacy consultant and educator for U-ROC Leadership™. He is a chartered organizational rep for the Boy Scouts of America, Council Member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hershey, PA, and a Finance Committee Member for the Friends of the Hershey Public Library. Mark also teaches Financial Literacy at the Tri-County OIC.

Mike Leary

Owner and Founder of One Fifteen Films

Michael Leary is an award-winning Video Producer with over 20 years of experience in many types of visual media including short and feature films, commercials, corporate videos, and podcasts. After receiving a degree in communications and freelancing for many production companies, he founded one fifteen films; a media production company specializing in commercials, branded content, and corporate videos. Michael takes pride in developing personal relationships with his clients resulting in a fun, yet professional, working environment. Michael is also a Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of CollegeCast, a podcast production company which specializes in producing high-quality video podcasts for nonprofits looking to increase their impact, engagement and reach. He is also a commercial director repped by London-Based Two Of Us worldwide excluding the US.