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Projects in this group employ a wide variety of strategies to accomplish their missions including media outreach, civic engagement, leadership development in the nonprofit sector as well as in specific constituent populations, policy research, and advocacy work. Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiative projects work in issues ranging from religion, ethics, and conscience to human rights and social justice; from international development and anti-globalization to government reform and economic opportunity. While projects serve a variety of constituents, projects in Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives program place particular emphasis on the most vulnerable populations, including women, migrants and refugees, and racial, ethnic and sexual minorities.
Yvette Diaz joined Tides in September 2002 and since then she has supported more than 100 Tides projects, helping them build capacity, increase impact, and become self sustaining. In addition, she serves as liaison to Tides Foundation, coordinating services to shared clients. Yvette’s commitment to international development and policy reform earned her the role of Program Manager for Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives in 2007. Prior to Tides, Yvette served as the Program Coordinator of the UC Public Policy & International Affairs Summer Institute, a program dedicated to increasing diversity in the public policy field. Before that, Yvette served as the Program Coordinator for Student Alumni Mentorship Program at UC Berkeley. Yvette holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from UC Berkeley with an emphasis on developing countries and human rights, is an active member of the World Affairs Council, and volunteers for several local nonprofits.
Meenakshi Abbi, Program Manager for Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives, joined Tides in 2007. She has a very diverse professional background ranging from directing programs and computer engineering to workforce development and volunteering for social justice organizations. Most recently, Meenakshi was the Director of the Small Business Development Center Technology Advisory Program, a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses effectively utilize technology. As the daughter of immigrants, she has a longstanding commitment to human rights and social justice, both domestically and internationally, and is a member of the International Convention on Human Rights and the World Affairs Council. Meenakshi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and loves to spend her free time listening to Indian music, reading, playing soccer, volunteering, and spending time with her family and friends.
Pam Bamberger is Senior Project Controller, helping Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives projects understand and manage their finances since 2001. Prior to Tides, Pam served as Computer Systems Consultant at Epstein, Tabor & Schorr, CPAs, where she was responsible for installation and configuration of nonprofit organizations on Blackbaud fund accounting software, including accounting structure design, conversion assistance, training, and support. Before that, she spent eight years as Staff Accountant/Computer Consultant at John S. Milinovich & Associates, CPAs. Pam studied drama at West Virginia University and Financial and Managerial Accounting at Washington & Jefferson College. She is a proud mother of two, and loves to spend her free time reading, listening to music, watching action movies, and taking care of her pet beagle, two cats, and 15 chickens. Her favorite quote is from Lily Tomlin: “I always wanted to be somebody, but I guess I should have been more specific.”
David Pilz is Tides' Finance Manager, serving projects in the Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives program as well as overseeing Project Controllers for all three programs. David brings with him great passion for the nonprofit field as well as extensive finance experience. He graduated from the University of California at San Diego in 2001 with a B.A. in economics and has worked in corporate finance, at a small mortgage lender, and at Wells Fargo. He left his position at Wells Fargo to work with orphans in India and upon his return to the U.S. decided to apply his finance skills to the nonprofit sector. From the U.S. David continues to work with the Indian orphanage, fundraising for operating support and to build a permanent home. In his spare time, he enjoys fixing up old mopeds, photography, learning the guitar, and collecting records.
Judi Seibel is Associate Director of Human Resources, providing HR consulting and services to projects. Judi has over 10 years of HR experience. Prior to moving into the HR field, Judi worked as a social worker, paralegal, and business manager in the nonprofit, legal, and technology sectors. Judi obtained her Sociology degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Pennsylvania State University, and is certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute as a Professional in Human Resources. Judi is a life-long volunteer and feminist activist, having co-founded and served as Board President of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape. She currently serves on the board of Ten Thousand Villages Pittsburgh, a nonprofit retail organization. Judi has also volunteered as an arbitrator, clinic escort, food bank volunteer, and at the National Organization for Women. Judi is married with two adult sons and three cats, is a life-long Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and enjoys travel, reading, movies, and spending time with family and friends.