Staff and Board

Monica joins TradesFutures with over a decade of experience in nonprofit management with a strong focus in leading and growing workforce development programs. Prior to joining TradesFutures, Monica was a program director at Merit America, a national nonprofit that facilitated technical skills training to adults without college degrees. She also served as the regional director for StreetWise Partners in Washington, DC and as the community program manager at HandsOn Bay Area.

Outside of work, Monica is highly involved with the DC chapter of Dress for Success, supporting internal operations and client support. She loves all outdoor activities including gardening, hiking, and camping. Originally from Oakland, CA – she has now lived in the DC area for about a decade.

Allison brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit, creative prowess, and strategic marketing expertise to our team. As a seasoned digital marketing specialist and the founder of two businesses, Allison’s innovative approach has consistently driven impactful results.

As the founder of Driven Women Publishing, LLC and Allison Balanc Productions, LLC, Allison has demonstrated her passion for cultivating creative communities, providing creative direction, digital content strategy and driving collaborative initiatives. Her talent has led to contracts with esteemed organizations such as Viacom International Inc., The District Cup and many others.

Allison brings a unique blend of artistic insight and strategic understanding to her role. Her nearly decade long career has been grown through hands-on, in the field experience. In her spare time, Allison is an active member of the GRAMMYs/The Recording Academy- D.C. Chapter community, performing musician, certified voice instructor, and a teaching artist in underserved communities. She also enjoys hiking, trying new restaurants and time with loved ones.

Monique joins TradesFutures with several years of experience leading workforce development, enrollment management, and higher education initiatives. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology. Throughout her career, she has built and strengthened programs that expand access to education and career opportunities while improving program quality and outcomes for learners. Her expertise includes program management, strategic partnerships, admissions and enrollment, process improvement, and team leadership. Monique is passionate about creating systems that support both learners and staff, fostering collaboration, and ensuring programs deliver meaningful, measurable impact.

Outside of work, Monique enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and mentoring others. A lifelong learner, she’s always looking for new ways to grow personally and professionally. When she has downtime, you’ll often find her reading, listening to podcasts and enjoying quality time with those who matter the most

Sahar serves as the Data and Insights Manager at TradesFutures, where she helps the organization leverage data to strengthen programs and maximize impact. She manages core data systems, tracks performance outcomes, and supports timely reporting for internal teams and external partners.

Prior to joining TradesFutures, Sahar served as a Data Administration Specialist at a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, where she administered Salesforce and FormAssembly and developed Tableau dashboards to support data-driven decision-making. She also worked as a Data Specialist at a Baltimore nonprofit, managing database systems and analyzing data to improve economic and family outcomes for formerly incarcerated African American fathers. Earlier in her career, Sahar led the Economics and Employability Department for the USAID-funded Karachi Youth Support Network in Pakistan, overseeing workforce development initiatives that expanded employment opportunities for underserved youth through skills training and employer partnerships.

Sahar holds a Master’s in Development Economics from City, University of London, and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the Institute of Business Administration in Pakistan. Her experience across nonprofits in Pakistan and the United States has shaped her belief that data is most impactful when it tells a clear, mission-driven story. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, baking, and traveling with her family to London and Pakistan.

Micah is a dedicated business operations professional from Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he has lived his entire life. Growing up, Micah initially pursued basketball but later discovered a passion for football. He has a strong affinity for tasks that involve teamwork, finding great satisfaction in seeing multiple people collaborate to achieve a common goal. A fun fact about Micah is that he studied French in high school.

With a proven career in empowering individuals through education, Marselina is dedicated to creating pathways to success within the trades. A Northern Virginia native, she holds an undergraduate degree in Multicultural Education and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management with a specialization in Executive Leadership. Marselina is passionate about connecting apprentices with opportunities that support their goals and personal growth through TradesFutures programming. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs and exploring new restaurants, hiking trails, and record stores.

Aleem serves as Operations and Grants Specialist at TradesFutures, where he manages financial and administrative operations, as well as proposal development and grant management.

Prior to joining TradesFutures, Aleem held finance and program management roles with organizations including North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the Solidarity Center, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). In these roles, he managed complex, multi-million-dollar budgets, oversaw audits and regulatory compliance, designed financial systems, and supported programs focused on workers’ rights, political party development, and union strategic growth across Europe, Central Asia, and Asia.

Before relocating to Washington, D.C. in 2019, Aleem lived in London, where he worked in the defense and security policy space. He holds a Master of Science in International Politics from SOAS, University of London, and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Political Science from Northeastern University. Aleem has lived in five countries and enjoys learning languages and traveling in his spare time.