
Role at CSBM
As Founder and CEO, Raj is the driving force behind all of CSBM’s current and future initiatives and is responsible for the growth and sustainability of the company. Widely regarded a national expert on charter school finance, Raj has presented at conferences and workshops across the country and has been featured in numerous publications. In February 2013, he graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, designed to help small businesses grow and create more jobs. He was named Small Business Person of the Year for the NY district by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2011 and 2018, and under his leadership, CSBM was also awarded Small Business of the Year for Eastern Region of the U.S. by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2009 and 2017. Raj was named a 2013 Top Entrepreneur by Crain’s New York Business. He was also recognized as one of 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business by the Asian American Business Development Center. Never losing sight of CSBM’s mission, Raj maintains strong ties with all of our clients to ensure that our work is enabling them to focus on student achievement.
Prior Experience
Before founding CSBM in 2006, Raj served as the Chief Financial Officer for Explore Charter School.
NYU Stern School of Business, MBA in Finance
Hofstra University, BS in Engineering Science
The CSBM Team
Altagracia “Alta” Taveras
Finance Manager
Althea Cope-Reid
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
BRITTANY GREEN
SENIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER
Christopher Daniels
Senior Financial Manager
Chrystal Moore
FINANCE ASSISTANT

CLAUDIO PADILLA
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Collin Raymond
Director of Growth
Dana Burton
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
DAVID OLSON
FINANCE MANAGER
Dawnisha Lane
Finance Manager
Elaine Schmiedeshoff
Finance Manager
Elijah Smith
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Gretchen Wagner Liga
Director of Development Services
Harolyn Baez
Senior Financial Consultant
Heather Blumberg
DIRECTOR
Javonn Wright
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Jenny Geesaman
Senior Financial Consultant
Kamilah O’ Brien
Associate Director
Karen Daniels
President & COO

KAREN PETERS
SENIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER
Kayla Butler
Finance Manager
KAYTI PORTER
FINANCIAL MANAGER
KIM JOHNSON
SENIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER
Laron Walker
Senior Financial Manager
LAUREN BURDEKIN
SENIOR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Lauren Torres
Finance Manager
Leslie Cruz
Senior Financial Manager
Leslie Roper-Thomas
Associate Director
LISA LEVANGER
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Lola Barbarash
DIRECTOR
Maria Campo
Development Manager
Marianne Howe
SENIOR FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
MARKISHA BAKER
FINANCE MANAGER
Melissa Weissenberger
Talent Program Manager
MELONY REED
SENIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER
MELYNDE CHRISTENSEN
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Michelle Lopez
DIRECTOR
Nelson Chiu
Senior Financial Consultant
Patricia Malone
VICE-PRESIDENT OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
Perry Shandal
Senior Financial Consultant
Raj Thakkar
Founder & CEO
Raymond Alston
Finance Manager
Ronald Rodriguez
Senior Financial Consultant
RYAN GIBSON
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
SALLY NEELY
GROWTH SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Sharon Denson
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
SHEILA BROOKS
FINANCE MANAGER
SHERLA THERMITUS
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Stephen B. Reid II
CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER
SUSAN STRANO
SENIOR FINANCIAL MANAGER
Svetlana Gnesina
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Tia Murphy
Associate Director
