Meet Our Board of Directors
Jahera Otieno, Chair/President
Principal, PAYO Collaborative
Jahera Otieno is a mission-driven professional with experience working in the public sector, international development, and community health to drive strategic growth and implement effective organizational and program management. Ms. Otieno is entrepreneurial-minded and a strategic and innovative thinker and leader. She is experienced in client and stakeholder management, including working with corporate partners, philanthropic donors, and government with experience in program operations, grant management, and communications and resource development.
David Goldfarb, Treasurer
Director of Financial Security Policy, The Arc of the United States
David Goldfarb is The Arc of the United States Director of Financial Security Policy. Previously, he spent nearly 8 years at the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where he oversaw NAELA’s advocacy initiatives. His successful advocacy campaigns include passing the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act and extending Medicaid’s spousal impoverishment protections to home and community-based service (HCBS) waivers through September 2023.
He currently co-chairs the Disability and Aging Collaborative and the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Social Security and Financial Security Task Forces.
David began his public policy career as the Economic Policy Fellow for Senator Bill Nelson of Florida. He holds a J.D. from the Seattle University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Colorado. He was inducted into the National Academy of Social Insurance in 2017.
Ryan King
Self-Advocate, Project ACTION!
Ryan King is a determined, strong self-advocate and is active with Project ACTION!, the District’s self-advocacy coalition. He presents locally and nationally at advocacy conferences. He co-presents with self-advocates and attorneys on a variety of advocacy topics but he is most passionate about supported decision-making (SDM) and people getting to make their own choices and decisions. He wants to make sure others know this can become a reality for them also. Mr. King has been featured in The Washington Post and other national publications on his personal story of having the DC Court over-turn his guardianship in favor of SDM. He has been a Board member with Lifeline Partnership for four years. They support and nurture people with developmental disabilities to grow socially and spiritually. Mr. King has been employed by Safeway Corporation for 21 years. He is a resident of Ward 4 and enjoys cooking, attending sporting events, listening to music and advocating for others.
Robin Shaffert, J. D.
Senior Policy Associate and Research Instructor, Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Robin Shaffert has advocated on District of Columbia policy issues that affect people with and at risk for developmental disabilities, their families, and other supporters since 2019. She testified on the importance of increasing employment opportunities for DC residents with disabilities before the DC City Council and has lectured in the Georgetown University Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program on disability employment issues, with a focus on racial and ethnic disparities in the employment of people with disabilities.
Robin served as Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for the American Association of People with Disabilities where she led AAPD’s initiatives to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. She also served as Senior Executive Officer, Individual and Family Support at The Arc of the United States where she spearheaded the creation of The Arc’s Center for Future Planning and as the policy director of the Caring Across Generations campaign. Robin served as Deputy General Counsel and Associate General Counsel of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., as an associate at Latham & Watkins, and as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Norma L. Shapiro (E.D. Pa.). Robin received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and her A.B., magna cum laude, from Dartmouth College.
Mariana Roig
Co-founder and VP of Strategy for ROIG Communications
Mariana Roig is a visionary leader with over 15 years of experience in the field of communications. Mariana holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland and a master’s degree from The Georgetown University in Communications and Public Relations. Her work and expertise developing multilingual marketing and public relations initiatives have ensured high-impact results in various fields. Mariana is known for her creative talent to plan, lead, and implement communications strategies of regional, national and global scope. She has positioned her company as a leading cross-cultural strategic communications agency based in DC, in only six years.
Jackie Spainhour
President & CEO, Gettysburg Foundation
Jackie Spainhour is a writer, fundraiser, nonprofit professional, and mom of kids with disabilities. She is an alum of Old Dominion University and Louisiana State University, where she received graduate degrees in History and Nonprofit Administration, respectively. In addition to the Quality Trust, she serves as the President on the Board of the Victorian Society in America and is an active member of the Junior League.
She has published three books in the history and museum studies spheres and spent over a decade in museums prior to becoming the President & CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation. In her spare time, she uses her voice as an advocate for the creation of a more inclusive world for people living with autism and other disabilities in honor of her sons Declan (8) and Ethan (3).
Sherry Teycer
HR Professional, Giant Food
Sherry Teycer is a dedicated HR professional at Giant Food, leveraging her expertise to promote inclusivity and diversity within the organization. As a passionate advocate for both her profession and her community, she actively serves as a communication chair for Giant’s Business Resource Group (BRG) Thrive for People of Color, spearheading initiatives aimed at empowering underrepresented voices.
A proud alum of the University of Maryland Global Campus, Sherry holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Management, grounding her strong foundation of knowledge and skills. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to education and mentorship, working tirelessly to empower people leaders across the organization to cultivate inclusive work environments where every individual feels valued and respected.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Sherry is deeply invested in advocacy work , particularly for individuals with invisible disabilities. Inspired by her daughter, Lorena, who bravely navigates autism, Sherry utilizes her platform and voice to champion awareness and support for this community. Through her advocacy efforts, she strives to create a more compassionate and understanding society for individuals like Lorena.
Keith Wright
Self-Advocate
Keith Wright is a strong self-advocate and is active in his community. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Mitchell College where he majored in Business Administration and minored in Graphic Design. Mr. Wright is industrious, determined and is eager to apply his graphic design skills to local nonprofits and businesses. Mr. Wright works part-time at Twisted Pretzel in the District. Mr. Wright is a member of Project ACTION! and is getting more involved in advocacy work and training. He presents at local and national advocacy conferences with Project ACTION! members.
