Bridges Leadership

Tad Asbury became executive director in 2003. In this role, Mr. Asbury oversees and directs Foundation operations, ensuring adherence to the Foundation’s mission and underlying principles, achievement of established goals and objectives, and meeting long term organizational stability and growth. Mr. Asbury has a B.A. from Albion College and an M.A. from Georgetown University. [email protected]

Linda Bender is a 34-year Marriott veteran and has been serving the Bridges program for the last 18 years. Ms. Bender provides administrative leadership, direction and guidance at our headquarters and to local program offices across the country. She also manages all aspects of the annual employer recognition events and oversees administrative activities in local markets, including human resources, technology and social media management and corporate standards and policies. [email protected]

Linda Bender is a 34-year Marriott veteran and has been serving the Bridges program for the last 18 years. Ms. Bender provides administrative leadership, direction and guidance at our headquarters and to local program offices across the country. She also manages all aspects of the annual employer recognition events and oversees administrative activities in local markets, including human resources, technology and social media management and corporate standards and policies. [email protected]

Allen Brown researches, develops, organizes, and curates content for grants and other Bridges communication. He writes and submits unsolicited and solicited proposals to public and private funders. Allen holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an M.S. from Mercer University. [email protected]

Allen Brown researches, develops, organizes, and curates content for grants and other Bridges communication. He writes and submits unsolicited and solicited proposals to public and private funders. Allen holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an M.S. from Mercer University. [email protected]

Justin Down is responsible for assisting Bridges’ staff with technology planning, implementation, and maintenance. Justin is a 16-year Marriott veteran with experience in nearly every management position on property including General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Operations Manager, and Food & Beverage Manager. Most recently, Justin was part of the Global Workplace Service’s team at Marriott HQ providing Technical Support for Marriott associates and the infrastructure team.  Justin has a B.A.S in Cyber Security from George Mason University. [email protected]

Justin Down is responsible for assisting Bridges’ staff with technology planning, implementation, and maintenance. Justin is a 16-year Marriott veteran with experience in nearly every management position on property including General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Operations Manager, and Food & Beverage Manager. Most recently, Justin was part of the Global Workplace Service’s team at Marriott HQ providing Technical Support for Marriott associates and the infrastructure team.  Justin has a B.A.S in Cyber Security from George Mason University. [email protected]

Mark Hearn manages Bridges’ financial operations, overseeing budgeting, accounting, fiscal tracking, reporting and contract invoicing. Mr. Hearn supervises the Bridges annual audit and governmental agency audits conducted at Bridges sites. He regulates grant compliance and state non-profit registration requirements. Mr. Hearn is a graduate of Auburn University, holds a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a CPA in the state of Virginia. [email protected]

Mark Hearn manages Bridges’ financial operations, overseeing budgeting, accounting, fiscal tracking, reporting and contract invoicing. Mr. Hearn supervises the Bridges annual audit and governmental agency audits conducted at Bridges sites. He regulates grant compliance and state non-profit registration requirements. Mr. Hearn is a graduate of Auburn University, holds a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a CPA in the state of Virginia. [email protected]

Kelly Pavich joined Bridges in 2007 as an Employer Representative in the Chicago office, progressing into roles including Senior Employer Representative and Team Lead. Throughout her Bridges career, Kelly has been at the leading edge of positive change for our organization, co-facilitating our three-day new hire training for 11 years, developing and now serving as advisor for the Bridges National Curriculum. Recently, Kelly opened and served as Director for Bridges’ 12th office in New York City, home to the nation’s largest school district. Kelly holds a B.A. in Secondary Education from St. Norbert College and an M.A. in Sociology from DePaul University. [email protected]

Chairman Richard E. Marriott is also the chairman of the board of directors of Host Hotels and Resorts. A leader in the creation of Bridges, Mr. Marriott remains closely involved. He visits each of the local offices annually, hosts events in each Bridges city as well as the organization’s annual gala in Washington, DC. Mr. Marriott, the younger of the two sons of company founders J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, is a graduate of the University of Utah and holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Jennie Blumenthal is an entrepreneur, a guest lecturer at the University of Virginia, an executive coach for female entrepreneurs, a non-profit board member, and a former partner at PwC. She thrives at the intersection of entrepreneurship, customer insights, innovation, and tech.

With over 20 years of experience across hospitality, technology, entertainment, public sector, and telecommunications industries, Jennie’s specialty is counseling executives in sales, marketing, and digital transformations. She started her career in consulting to non-profit organizations – working with Bridges from School to Work as her first client! She’s thrilled to come full circle and continue to serve this important mission as a member of the board of trustees. Jennie earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the George Washington University.

Jennie Blumenthal is an entrepreneur, a guest lecturer at the University of Virginia, an executive coach for female entrepreneurs, a non-profit board member, and a former partner at PwC. She thrives at the intersection of entrepreneurship, customer insights, innovation, and tech.

With over 20 years of experience across hospitality, technology, entertainment, public sector, and telecommunications industries, Jennie’s specialty is counseling executives in sales, marketing, and digital transformations. She started her career in consulting to non-profit organizations – working with Bridges from School to Work as her first client! She’s thrilled to come full circle and continue to serve this important mission as a member of the board of trustees. Jennie earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the George Washington University.

Mark R. Donovan was instrumental in the creation of Bridges and served as the organization’s executive director from its launch in 1989 through 2000. From 2000 to 2022, he spearheaded the Bridges annual gala fundraiser held each year in June. Mark participates on several related boards around the country and is a recognized advocate for issues and opportunities surrounding the employment of people with disabilities. Mr. Donovan is a 1972 graduate of Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. 

Mark R. Donovan was instrumental in the creation of Bridges and served as the organization’s executive director from its launch in 1989 through 2000. From 2000 to 2022, he spearheaded the Bridges annual gala fundraiser held each year in June. Mark participates on several related boards around the country and is a recognized advocate for issues and opportunities surrounding the employment of people with disabilities. Mr. Donovan is a 1972 graduate of Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. 

​Debbie Harrison retired from Marriott International in 2019 and now holds the title Global Cultural Ambassador Emeritus. Debbie serves on Marriott’s board of directors, as a trustee for the J.W. and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, and a director of the JWM Family Enterprise. Debbie is also grandmother to 11 grandchildren, a role she relishes more than any other.

Debbie formerly served as the Company’s Global Officer, Marriott Culture and Business Councils from October 2013 to May 2019, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Company from June 2007 through October 2013, and as Vice President of Government Affairs from May 2006 to June 2007. Ms. Harrison is an honors graduate of Brigham Young University.

Debbie formerly served as the Company’s Global Officer, Marriott Culture and Business Councils from October 2013 to May 2019, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Company from June 2007 through October 2013, and as Vice President of Government Affairs from May 2006 to June 2007. Ms. Harrison is an honors graduate of Brigham Young University.

Dr. I. King Jordan made history in 1988 when he became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, the world’s only university with all programs and services designed specifically for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. An inaugural member of Bridges’ Board of Trustees, Dr. Jordan serves as an international spokesperson for deaf and hard of hearing people, as well as an advocate for all persons with disabilities. Much sought after as a public speaker, Dr. Jordan continues to challenge the American public to examine their attitudes toward people with disabilities. Dr. Jordan earned his doctorate in psychology from the University of Tennessee, he holds many honorary degrees and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Citizen’s Medal.

​Ellen Ryan Mardiks leads Golin’s global consumer marketing practice, the agency’s largest and its historic strength. Over the years she has created and led communications campaigns for iconic yet game-changing brands including Walmart, Nestlé, Unilever, Crayola, Purina and Mattel. She’s known for her ability to find and articulate the “aha” insight that is the foundation of successful marketing campaigns. Ellen is a sponsor and catalyst for the development of strategies and tools to advance the practice of marketing public relations. She also leads the agency’s client management efforts. Ellen graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and also studied at the University of London.

Ellen is the parent of a former Bridges participant: “I believe in the mission of Bridges–to make a difference in the lives of challenged young people who want more than anything else what most of us take for granted: a job. My own son, Matthew, has an intellectual disability and was impacted so positively by his Bridges experience in Chicago. The people (Employer Representatives) there believed in him as we did—and, importantly, they didn’t fill his head with pipedreams. Instead, they helped him appreciate his value in the work place, reinforced that a good job is a great thing, and steered him toward some opportunities that he enjoyed and succeeded at.”

Ellen is the parent of a former Bridges participant: “I believe in the mission of Bridges–to make a difference in the lives of challenged young people who want more than anything else what most of us take for granted: a job. My own son, Matthew, has an intellectual disability and was impacted so positively by his Bridges experience in Chicago. The people (Employer Representatives) there believed in him as we did—and, importantly, they didn’t fill his head with pipedreams. Instead, they helped him appreciate his value in the work place, reinforced that a good job is a great thing, and steered him toward some opportunities that he enjoyed and succeeded at.”

Julie Marriott has long been engaged in her community through non-profit work and philanthropy. She serves as a Director on both the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation and the Marriott Daughters Foundation Boards. Julie is currently on the Board of Trustees at Newton-Wellesley Hospital where she serves as the Board liaison to the Community Collaborative of which she is a founding member. She also serves on NWH’s Community Benefits and Development Committees, having co-chaired their 2023 Gala. Julie is on the Board of Directors of the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, WI where she serves as Chair of the Development Committee and a member of the Compensation and Executive Committees. Having served for many years on Wellesley’s Tenacre Country Day School and Dana Hall School Boards, she continues her service as a Corporator for both schools. Julie also served as Co-chair of the Self-Reliance Initiative for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Boston area.

Julie is a cum laude graduate of Brigham Young University.

Julie is a cum laude graduate of Brigham Young University.

Jimmie Walton Paschall is responsible for developing strategies, initiating action and driving organizational change in support of the company’s diversity and inclusion priorities. This includes providing transformational thought leadership and guidance to help the company develop and maintain a diverse and inclusive culture, leading the company’s Enterprise Diversity Council and Team Member Network program, and advising executive management on direction and progress. Paschall joined Wells Fargo in January 2012 from Marriott International where she served as the company’s global diversity officer and senior vice president of external affairs. In this capacity, she spearheaded the company’s domestic and global diversity outreach, broadening the footprint of Marriott’s award-winning diversity initiatives among the company’s workforce, owners and franchisees, suppliers and customers. Paschall also played a primary role in the company’s Board of Directors’ “Committee for Excellence,” which was established in 2003 to set significant diversity objectives and monitor progress.

A graduate of Howard University, Ms. Paschall serves on the Consortium of Chief Diversity Officers at Georgetown University and Patton Boggs’ Diversity Advisory Board, is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and the Conference Board’s Council of Global Diversity and Inclusion Executives and is a graduate of Leadership Washington. She was also selected as one of Black Enterprise’s Top Executives in Diversity and Uptown Professionals’ Top 100 Executives in America.

A graduate of Howard University, Ms. Paschall serves on the Consortium of Chief Diversity Officers at Georgetown University and Patton Boggs’ Diversity Advisory Board, is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and the Conference Board’s Council of Global Diversity and Inclusion Executives and is a graduate of Leadership Washington. She was also selected as one of Black Enterprise’s Top Executives in Diversity and Uptown Professionals’ Top 100 Executives in America.

Julie Sweet is chief executive officer of Accenture and serves on the company’s board of directors.

Prior to becoming CEO in September 2019, Julie served as chief executive officer of Accenture’s business in North America, the company’s largest geographic market. Previously, she was Accenture’s general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer for five years. Prior to joining Accenture in 2010, Julie was a partner for 10 years in the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

Outside of Accenture, Julie is a leader on topics including innovation, technology’s impact on business, and inclusion and diversity. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council, the Business Roundtable and the TechNet Executive Council. Julie also serves on the board of directors for Catalyst, the board of trustees for the Center for Strategic & International Studies and the board of trustees for the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities – Bridges from School to Work. In 2019, she was named to FORTUNE’s list of “Most Powerful Women” for the fourth consecutive year.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School.

Prior to becoming CEO in September 2019, Julie served as chief executive officer of Accenture’s business in North America, the company’s largest geographic market. Previously, she was Accenture’s general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer for five years. Prior to joining Accenture in 2010, Julie was a partner for 10 years in the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

Outside of Accenture, Julie is a leader on topics including innovation, technology’s impact on business, and inclusion and diversity. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council, the Business Roundtable and the TechNet Executive Council. Julie also serves on the board of directors for Catalyst, the board of trustees for the Center for Strategic & International Studies and the board of trustees for the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities – Bridges from School to Work. In 2019, she was named to FORTUNE’s list of “Most Powerful Women” for the fourth consecutive year.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School.