OUR TEAM
LEAVING A WORLD LEGACY
MEET OUR TEAM
Administration
Traci Shirachi
CEO/President
Vanderbilt University
University of California, Davis
Traci earned an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University. Traci is the CEO of The Mark USA, Inc. Traci is responsible for making key business decisions to increase The Mark’s abilities to address client needs. Traci works with all the evaluators within the organization to deliver quality client service. Traci has over 17 years of work experience with consulting companies of various sizes, including PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Jessica Martone, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Evaluation
Loyola University Chicago
Dr. Martone earned a Ph.D. and her MSW from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work. Dr. Martone was a research fellow and is currently a research affiliate for the Institute for Migration and International Social Work. Dr. Martone has been involved with immigration and education focused research projects. Prior to The Mark, Dr. Martone was an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University Chicago teaching undergraduate and graduate level social work courses.
Noely Banos Ph.D.
Assistant Director
North Carolina State University
Western Carolina University
University of Mississippi
Noely earned an M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Western Carolina University, with a focus in research design and statistics, and further graduate training in Applied Social and Community Psychology from North Carolina State University. Noely has extensive experience utilizing various research methods; including survey design, focus groups, experimental and quasi-experimental designs. Noely has extensive research experience implementing a social equity lens in program evaluation to create more equitable and inclusive programming. Noely has conducted applied research and evaluation across various organizations, including non-profit, academic, and health care organizations. Noely's current research interests involve using program evaluation to increase equitable access and services to underserved communities.
Senior Evaluators
Aubrey Roy
Senior Evaluator
University of Oxford
University of California, Irvine
Aubrey Roy earned an M.S. in Sociology from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom where she specialized in quantitative methods and focused the effects of macro-level education spending on the profession of teaching. She also received her B.A. in Sociology and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from University of California, Irvine. Prior to The Mark, Aubrey worked in trial and political consulting where she used both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Leanne Tortez, Ph.D.
Senior Evaluator
Hofstra University
California State University, San Bernardino
Dr. Tortez holds a Ph.D. in Applied Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University with an emphasis on statistics and research design. She is a passionate researcher skilled in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method designs, and is interested in helping empower organizations and programs to make data-driven decisions. She has served as the lead evaluator for a variety of projects, including those for non-profit organizations and federally funded educational programs. Her evaluation interests include applying a racial equity lens to conduct culturally responsive evaluation.
Adrienne Celaya
Senior Evaluator
University of Miami
Fordham University
Dr. Celaya holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Sociology and
Graduate Certificate in Latino and Latin American Studies from Fordham University. She has a
background in program implementation and evaluation of research-informed and evidenced-based
community projects, as well as domestic violence and child welfare research. Her professional and
academic interests include risk assessment and management, program development and evaluation,
policy analysis, and issues surrounding minorities and immigrant populations. Prior to joining The Mark,
Dr. Celaya conducted research and evaluation for the child welfare system and served as a consultant on
several federally funded projects.
Robert Matz, Ph.D.
Senior Evaluator
University of Georgia
Dr. Matz holds a Ph.D. in Sport Management & Policy from the University of Georgia with graduate certificates in Nonprofit Management and Interdisciplinary Qualitative Studies. He is also the Managing Partner of Sport Business Intelligence, a sport consulting company that focuses on the economic impact of sporting events and teaches sport management courses at Long Beach State Masters and UC Irvine. Prior to his doctoral training, Robbie worked at SCGA Junior as a Program Manager where his work involved curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, donor relations, and sports-based youth development. In addition to his professional work, Dr. Matz conducts academic research on a wide range of topics in the sport industry including gender inequities in sport, organizational theory, corporate social responsibility, and team cohesion. He is a published author and has presented research around the world at sport management conferences in Europe, Canada and Australia. He also serves on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship committee for the National Association for Sport Business and Management Professionals and has served on multiple committees for The North American Society for the Sociology of Sport.