About Us
We started Catalyst to empower clients to effectively show their impact on the community by identifying sensitive measures, overseeing data needs, and creating trust and credibility to lead to program sustainability.
By partnering with Catalyst, you can expect a personalized client experience and a comprehensive community impact model without being overwhelmed. Data collection, analysis, and visualization can be overwhelming: our goal is to provide simple solutions that translate directly to your population of focus.
Over the past two decades, we have mastered techniques exclusive to telling a great data story. We bring clarity and awareness to your purpose, position you to earn more funds, and provide an opportunity for you to focus on your best practices.
Our services help coalitions make data-driven decisions to improve the well-being of their communities and the success of their projects. When data drives decisions, you are more effective at achieving your goals and objectives, solidifying your role as a trusted, respected, and successful community organization.
Meet The Team
A retired substance use prevention coalition director, Stephanie Strutner has spent her career developing tools to measure community impact and conduct biostatistical and epidemiological analyses. In addition to her role as President and Lead Epidemiologist of Catalyst Evaluation Group, she also serves as Master Trainer for CADCA and serves as the part-time CEO for the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Emory & Henry College, a Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management from the University of Tennessee with a focus and field practice in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, a Certificate in Social Enterprise Effectiveness from the College of Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, and is a Level II Certified Prevention Specialist.
Stephanie has been a public health policy advocate for many years. She has utilized data to make cases to the United States Congress on a number of occasions on the impact drug use has on our communities and has also testified before the Tennessee General Assembly on multiple pertinent prevention issues. In 2018, she was summoned to a meeting in the West Wing of the White House with the President of the United States to discuss effective opioid prevention strategies in local communities.
In 2020, as a result of extensive evaluation, the efforts and impact of the coalition she led were selected to be showcased as a case study to Congress. Annually, since 2023, Stephanie has been invited by the Institute for Research and Evaluation (UTRIP of Slovenia) to attend the United Nations Commission on Narcotics and Drugs, the global policy forum for drug policy where she has presented on best practices for global impact evaluation.
Catalyst Evaluation Group was Stephanie’s brainchild: inspired in 2006, she began developing a community impact evaluation model, which she continues to refine to adapt to emerging trends and enhance efficiency, techniques, and reliability.
Stephanie is an avid snow skier and wake surfer: she also enjoys tending to her bees and plants, stand-up paddle boarding, golf, boating, sports, and spending time with her family. She has been married to Matt for 16 years and they share a 7-year-old daughter and curly-haired dog, Leo.
Alicia Mastronardi has an extensive career in epidemiology and data analytics. She received her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan in 2005.
Her professional career includes positions at University of Michigan, National Institutes of Health, Knox County Health Department, and University of Tennessee Medical Center Graduate School of Medicine.
With over 20 years of experience in data analysis and management, Alicia is ready to meet client needs and to support and empower coalitions to share their stories and use data in making impactful decisions for their communities. She enjoys yoga, reading, hiking and, most importantly, spending time with her family and friends.
Dorothy Chaney has an extensive history in community organizing and strategic planning. For more than 20 years, Dorothy has worked with community-based coalitions throughout the United States, supporting their efforts to combat the impact of substance use on youth and families.
She has also served on many state level work groups and advisory committees in Wisconsin and currently provides training and support to coalitions in the South and NE regions of the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth. Dorothy also works with communities to implement collective impact and results-based accountability approaches to improve community health and is a master trainer with CADCA, working all over the United States and internationally in Albania and Indonesia supporting the formation of coalitions.
Dorothy has also consulted on a variety of projects for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and is a nationally recognized trainer and public speaker.
In addition to being committed to supporting communities in public health efforts, Dorothy is a strong youth advocate and served two terms as an elected Board of Education member in Marshfield WI, where she resides with her two daughters. Prior to moving to Wisconsin in 2006, Dorothy served as the State Executive Director for MADD in Minnesota. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a masters degree in adult education.
Dorothy is brilliant in facilitating communities in developing and refining logic models and offers a wide expertise in community and coalition building, which she brings to the Catalyst team.
Sarah Harrison is the Executive Director of the Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition in East Tennessee and has been in this role since 2007. Sarah has managed the coalition’s development from a grassroots organization to an established community asset. She has been with the coalition since its inception in 2003 and has procured over $5 million in funding for local prevention efforts. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services; a Master of Science degree in Program Management; and is a Level II Certified Prevention Specialist.
Under Sarah’s leadership, Roane County, Tennessee has adopted a comprehensive substance misuse continuum combining policies and practices to reduce substance misuse through prevention; outpatient and residential treatment; ongoing recovery support services; and community-based relapse prevention. The original user of the Catalyst Data Management System, Sarah has a proven track record of data management and coalition effectiveness and has nearly 20 years of success operating a nonprofit. Sarah brings a commitment to trend data analysis, monitoring short-term, intermediate, and long-term objectives, as well as evaluation planning to the Catalyst team.
When not working, you can find Sarah enjoying her time with family and friends at the lake.
Lesley Gabel is a former coalition director and current national consultant and grant writer. Lesley demonstrates effective leadership through her adept tactical and strategic management of community-based coalitions, aiming to enhance the perception of harm and reduce substance use. Lesley is a Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.
She holds a Marketing degree from Hofstra University and boasts more than three decades of experience in pivotal leadership positions. Her expertise spans coalition development, strategic planning, quality management, and training, with a strong emphasis on statistical analysis and process enhancements. Under her guidance, the coalitions she has collaborated with have earned numerous national accolades, recognizing their exceptional achievements and tangible results in the realms of prescription drug prevention, underage drinking reduction, and the curbing of youth marijuana use.
In 2018, she earned the esteemed distinction of being awarded the Hunterdon County NJ Businesswoman of the Year, a testament to her outstanding contributions and accomplishments. She is deeply committed to enhancing the community by actively participating in various organizations.
Lesley is a skilled grant writer and brings first-hand experience of running a coalition to Catalyst. She enjoys playing golf, savoring moments by the beach, cherishing time with her family and her beloved dogs.
Kayla Beard is an R Shiny Programmer and Analytics Consultant specializing in web applications for data management and analysis. At Catalyst Evaluation Group, Kayla leads a multi-phase project aimed at enhancing data reporting and operational efficiency for clients. Her work involves implementing secure data import systems, developing interactive visualizations, and automating reporting processes.
Previously, Kayla gained experience as a Business Analytics Intern at TLD Logistics Services Inc., where she focused on improving financial data analysis and developed an interactive dashboard for visualizing trends. Her educational background in mathematics and statistics from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, includes a research project on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of her professional work, Kayla is a restorative yoga teacher.
Heather Morgan has over two decades of experience in various industries, including in the private practice of both accounting and law, consulting, banking, consumer packaged goods, and higher education.
Heather’s love of learning, a passion for enabling others’ successes, innate curiosity, teamwork, and a positive attitude help her teams deliver on an organization’s highest priority strategic initiatives. Her extensive background, matched with her curiosity for data visualization position her to be the perfect match to write code to prepare reports for Catalyst clients.
Heather has been instrumental in starting six community banks, advised multinational corporations concerning matters related to executive compensation and broad-based equity-based compensation, helped to create an e-commerce strategy for a major food manufacturer, and supported the creation, funding and start-up of the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. In addition, Heather gives back to her community by serving on multiple non-profit boards.
Heather is a CPA and licensed attorney and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master in Professional Accounting from The University of Texas and a Juris Doctor and Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Heather has been married to her husband Ned for 18 years, and they have three boys, ages 10, 12, and 14.
Lindsay Bennett is a consultant specializing in data analytics and reporting, as well as accounting and financial reporting. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she earned both an undergraduate degree in Finance and an MBA.
Throughout her career, Lindsay has gained extensive experience in compliance, accounting, financial reporting, data analytics, and customer success management. This diverse background has enabled her to cultivate a distinctive perspective on tackling complex problems and optimizing processes. Passionate about driving impactful results, Lindsay is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and enhancing operational efficiencies for her clients.
These skills are critical to Lindsay’s support of the back end of Catalyst’s data and visualization services. Lindsay and her husband Dan met while attending the University of Tennessee, and have been married for 18 years. They have two children, two Aussiedoodles, and a cat named Big Fudge.
Saileela Nittala’s bio
is
coming soon!
Dr. Christy Berry received her degree from the Southern California University of Health Sciences in 2005 and holds several post-doctoral certifications. She is a board-certified private practitioner and a corporate wellness doctor who utilizes an evidence-based, systematic approach to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Additionally, her skill set includes planning and detail-oriented monitoring of large scope, multi-faceted projects, resource allocation, organizing and directing key Team members, and personalized client communication to facilitate their vision from concept to completion as a Senior Post-Production Project Manager from 1998-2002.
With Catalyst, Dr. Berry finds it incredibly rewarding to use her medical knowledge, project management, and analytic skills to assist the Catalyst team stay on track and assists coalitions improve population-level well-being and positive outcomes within their communities.
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Client Testimonials
Stephanie is a professional, conscientious person who walks with integrity
and a spirit of excellence while also being personable, confident, and humble.
Teresa Bishop
Executive Director, Roundtable of St. Lucie County
Catalyst helped our local community see that the work we are doing is valid and recognized nationally.
They bring significance to our activities and outcomes from a perspective outside of our local community. Stephanie’s experience and credentials lend extra validity to our outcomes.
Larri Wolfe
Project Manager, Drug-Free Paulding
Stephanie has a “can do,” positive demeanor;
with her years of experience as a coalition director, she has the experience and knowledge we need as a new coalition to develop and become sustainable and successful.
Jana Ortiz-Misiaszek
Community Coordinator, East Hawai’i Drug Free Coalition
The Catalyst team has delivered outstanding technical training, covering data assessment, logic model development, and the implementation of how to conduct focus groups.
There is an entire team available to help meet the needs of our growing coalition.
Peggy Dowd
Chief Development Director, One Voice
Catalyst Evaluation Group has been instrumental in developing and providing products for our agency, including:
- Needs Assessments that are essential for securing grants;
- Identification of areas where core measurements are achieved and reports on deficiencies in areas that need attention early in the process;
- Comprehensive analyses that ensure streamlined and efficient grant reporting;
- Expert, first-hand support when questions arise or guidance is needed.
Catalyst Evaluation Group is considered one of our greatest partners, and much of our success is due to this partnership!
Trent Coffey
Executive Director, STAND of Scott County
Stephanie and the team at Catalyst consistently demonstrate an exceptional level of collaboration,
drawing from their extensive expertise in data and outcomes to enrich the quality of our work. Their tireless dedication and invaluable insights have significantly impacted our efforts, establishing them as an indispensable asset for any coalition or organization striving to elevate their outcomes. Stephanie and her team have the remarkable ability to promptly address and skillfully resolve any operational challenges that set her apart from others. Her innovative perspective has not only reshaped but also revitalized our organization’s approach to prevention, for which we are deeply appreciative of her remarkable contributions.
Courtney Echols
Executive Director, Weakley County Prevention Coalition
Over the last 12 months, The Center For Urban Youth & Family Development has enjoyed working with Catalyst Evaluation Group.
We find them to be committed to excellence and fully capable of meeting all of our data needs, as well as being dedicated to outstanding customer service. We look forward to continuing our mutually beneficial relationship.
Marsialle Arbuckle
Executive Director, Center for Urban Youth and Family Development
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