Seedco’s staff has a wealth of expertise about many of today’s most pressing issues, including the Affordable Care Act, workforce development, poverty, access to benefits, and small businesses. Seedco experts are frequently quoted in the media and are guest speakers at public events.

Barbara Dwyer Gunn  Seedco’s president is a locally and nationally recognized non-profit and government leader. She is an expert in the areas of innovative program development, fundraising, operations management, and budget and financial oversight. She is known for her success at defining and achieving strategic goals, evaluating and strengthening programs, and charting and leading organizational change. Gunn earned a BA in English literature from the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY, and an MA in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ben Thomases Seedco’s Senior Vice President of Programs is a recognized expert on work and family supports, back to work programs, benefits access systems and programs, and workforce development. He has had a long and successful career with a number of non-profit and governmental organizations including the Wildcat Service Corporation, the New York City mayor’s office, and FirstSource Staffing. Thomases earned an MBA from Columbia University and a BA from Swarthmore College.

Lisa Muchnick Pote Seedco’s Senior Vice President for the Mid-South region is a noted expert on non-profit management and capacity building, workforce development, and program design and implementation.  She has won numerous awards for her work including Woman of Influence from the Nashville Business Journal and Social Worker of the Year from the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).  She received an MSW from the University of Tennessee – Nashville College of Social Work and a BS from Syracuse University.