Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D, LSW, is the President and CEO of New Moms, a social impact organization focused on supporting young moms as they achieve economic mobility and create strong families. She also serves as CEO of New Moms’ social enterprises: Bright Endeavors, a soy candle company that provides paid transitional jobs to young women in New Moms’ job training program, and Bright Path, a consulting firm serving other human service organizations. 

Laura’s career has been focused on growing and developing effective nonprofit organizations. She’s served in a variety of leadership roles in the nonprofit sector in capacity building, legal aid, higher education, and child welfare.  She serves as a board member for Forefront, Chicago Alliance for Collaborative Effort (CACE), and Trinity Christian College, and she is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. 

Laura learned about the importance of motherhood from her own mom, Amy, and from her three amazing young adult stepchildren. Outside of work, Laura is an avid explorer of Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods and restaurants with her husband and friends. 

Melanie joined New Moms in 2013 and is passionate about ensuring that our approach is grounded in brain and behavioral science, so the families we serve are supported with high-quality services. As Chief Program Officer, she focuses on the development and growth of programs and projects at New Moms.

Her career draws on over 20 years of direct service experience. Melanie received her BA from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania; earned her MA from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration; and has an Infant Mental Health Certificate from Erikson Institute. Melanie was an Illinois Early Childhood Fellow from 2011-2013.

Since joining Bright Path’s parent organization, New Moms, in 2010, Dana has held roles as a workforce development program Coach, Manager, and Director. Dana currently trains peer human service organizations on integrating the strengths-based science of Executive Skills-informed Coaching to support staff and participant goal achievement and well-being. Dana previously worked as a Program Officer for LISC’s national economic development team, supporting a portfolio of workforce development programs across the country. Dana earned her BA from Northwestern University and her Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied the science of individual, organizational, and community flourishing. She is an Assistant Instructor for UPenn’s Positive Psychology in Institutions course. Dana serves on the Board of Directors of the UPenn MAPP Alumni Association, and is on the EmPath Member Advisory Council.

Devin specializes in building high-quality connections,
training development and learning support. Devin trains peer human service organizations in integrating the strengths-based science of Executive Skills-informed Coaching to support staff and participant goal achievement and well-being. Additionally, Devin facilitates New Moms’ Alumni Advisory Council, a cohort of program graduates who advise and guide the agency through their feedback and expertise. Prior to joining Bright Path’s parent organization, New Moms, in 2024, Devin worked for The Night Ministry in a variety of
roles, including Residential Services and Training Coordinator and Program Manager of their Youth Shelter. Devin is a certified Trauma-Informed Care Trainer, Certified ScrumMaster®, and Professional Scrum Master I. Devin earned his B.S. in Finance with University Honors from Northern Illinois University before attending Chicago Theological Seminary for his Master of Divinity. Devin has served on the Training Resource and Information Network, a Chicago-based consortium of training managers, since 2015.