Judit is a senior international and business development executive with over 20 years of experience. At IESC, she is responsible for IESC’s business strategy, leads IESC’s new business development activities and manages a team of talented new business professionals. She is passionate about economic development and job creation, municipal management, and sustainable urban development. She is a perceptive trainer and facilitator with experience in association and institutional capacity building. Previously, she served as chief of party, designed and implemented multimillion-dollar development programs in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, and held new business director positions. She was instrumental in the establishment of the ICMA China Center in Beijing. After hours, you may spot her on the ballroom dance floor. More about Judit.
Joanna Kaleniecka joined IESC in 2024 as a Manager, Communications. She has more than a decade of experience in the communications field, with a proven track record in both the nonprofit sector and with government entities. Throughout her career, Joanna has helped advance initiatives in various domains, including volunteerism, scientific research, environmental sustainability, waste management, emergency response, and municipal services. Joanna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and speaks English, French, and Polish.
Sidney joined IESC in 2023 as an Associate on the New Business team. Sidney is a recent master of global affairs graduate of Rice University. She holds bachelor’s degrees in international relations and rhetoric and writing from the University of Texas at Austin. Sidney recently spent nine months as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico. She is interested in innovative problem-solving within emerging markets through the lens of governance and trade. Sidney gained experience in these areas as a Mexico studies research assistant and intern at S&P Global Platts. She is also an avid reader and writer, with experience writing for student publications, a Texas-based lifestyle magazine, and grant writing as a Houston Public Library Foundation intern.
Marissa is a detail-oriented project management specialist and environmental researcher, with nearly seven years of experience in the non-profit field. She holds a B.S. in Zoology with minors in French and International Studies from North Carolina State University and recently completed a dual M.A. in Sustainable International Development and an MBA in Social Impact degree program at the Heller School at Brandeis University. Before joining IESC, she led market research for the Food Security and Agricultural team at RTI International and developed a knowledge management system for corporate capability statements, past performance references, & technical proposals. Her passion for international development grew from an opportunity to study wildlife conservation and management in the tiger parks of Northern India during her undergraduate career. Marissa has an affinity for interdisciplinary work and enjoys travel and group fitness in her free time.
Wai Yen Oo joined IESC in 2023 as an Associate with the New Business team. Prior to joining IESC, Wai Yen was a Project Assistant on the Asia-Pacific regional team at the National Democratic Institute. Originally from Yangon, Myanmar, Wai Yen is a recent graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Global Studies. As an undergraduate student, he was a part of the college's Honors Society and worked on multiple research projects related to East and Southeast Asian Buddhism and its role in economic development and human rights.