Helen Kogan is the Executive Director of New York and New Jersey (Metro) regions at NPower. She joined NPower in 2014, working her way towards increased responsibilities as Program Director of the Brooklyn site, then as Executive Director of NPower New York and adding Executive Director New Jersey responsibilities to her portfolio in 2020.  She believes that NPower serves as a strong connector between untapped talent that needs the right training and opportunity to thrive and industry that is looking for a diverse, tech talent pipeline. As Executive Director, Helen oversees strategic partnerships, advocacy, development, and high-level program administration.

Before NPower, Helen honed her workforce development skills as Director of Career Services at three colleges in New York. At these schools, her passion for helping young adults navigate their careers blossomed into a life-long ambition.

José Reyes serves as the Executive Director of NPower Michigan. He is responsible for leading NPower’s strategic direction, overseeing its administrative management, and directing collaborative partnerships within the region. 

Throughout his career José has worked at the nexus of education, government, non-profits, and the private sector creating collective impact strategies to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. 

Before joining NPower, Reyes served as Deputy Director of Detroit’s Workforce Development Department where he led the transition of the city’s department into one of the largest and best performing nonprofits in Michigan. He was the co-architect of Detroit Employment Solutions Corp (DESC), the programmatic and fiscal agent of the City of Detroit workforce board. Reyes has also been nationally recognized for his expertise on workforce development, particularly the White House recognized TechHire initiative that provided IT training to people in Detroit and others from around the region. Most recently, José served as the Director of Workforce & Community Development for Washtenaw Community College, where he was instrumental in developing Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) strategies among growing and emerging sectors of IT and Healthcare. 

José is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Social Work. He is a Board of Governors Emeritus for the School of Social Work. José also attended the University of Detroit’s law school. He is a life-long Michigander, born and raised in Detroit. In addition to his professional endeavors, José is active in the community and continues his involvement with groups that promote strong communities and enrichment opportunities for children and families.

Ben Kesler is the Executive Director of NPower Missouri based in the St. Louis metro region and proudly serving more than 400 alumni.

Ben has 15 years of experience in the higher education and non-profit space, with the last 7 years focused on workforce development. Prior to being named the Executive Director, Ben served as both the Program and Placement Director at NPower Missouri – where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Tech Fundamental program, while simultaneously providing the strategic framework for internship, apprenticeship, and full-time hire success for their numerous alumni. Ben is committed to providing access to high-wage careers for all learners from all socioeconomic backgrounds and creating opportunities for those from non-traditional education paths. In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Ben earned a graduate certificate from the University of Missouri in Nonprofit Management.

Before joining NPower, Ben was the Director of Career Services at recording artist, Nelly’s music production school (EI by Nelly) in downtown St. Louis. Ben has a record of success in the music industry, himself, working with ten GRAMMY-winning artists in the roles of either audio engineer or guitarist. He is also a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (GRAMMYs) and an adjunct professor at Webster University School of Communication’s audio department. Additionally, he is a board member for the St. Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective and an advisory board member for Maryville University’s College of Computer Sciences.

Ben resides in St. Louis with his wife and two children. You can find him around town eating at all the best restaurants and watching his kids participate in soccer and competitive dance.

Demetrius Goodwin is a native of Anniston, Alabama.  As a Non-Commissioned Officer in the US Army Signal Corp, Demetrius served four years supervising a team of data, voice and satellite communication specialists for the 29^th and 67^th Signal Battalions.  Demetrius has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology from August State University. He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Demetrius has served as Program Director for the NPower Maryland Region since 2018.  He and his team were responsible for the IT training, certification and technology job opportunities of over 350 trainees.  Prior to NPower, his experience includes over 12 years of government contractor staffing, recruitment, account management and business development.  This includes managing a 200 person government contract with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and a 400 person IT MSP contract with the District of Columbia.  Some of his hobbies include woodworking, reading, music production and travel.  

Demetrius has a tremendous passion for his community and its continuous progress and future empowerment.  As a personal mission, he seeks to be a beacon of courage, determination and resilience for his family and colleagues. He, his wife and 15 year old daughter are proud residents of Baltimore City and look forward to continuing to serve the NPower Maryland region. 

Colonel (Ret.) Jarrett A. Thomas II is the Executive Director of SkillBridge at NPower, where he leads national initiatives connecting military-connected individuals to high-demand technology careers. With over thirty years of distinguished service in the United States Army, he brings extensive leadership experience to advancing NPower’s mission of economic mobility and workforce readiness.

Jarrett’s military career encompassed command at every rank and leadership across tactical, operational, and strategic levels. He served as Director of the Army’s Soldier for Life program, leading enterprise-wide initiatives impacting more than one million service members, veterans, and families; Executive Officer to the Army Deputy Chiefs of Staff for Personnel (G-1) and Installations (G-9), advising senior leaders on human capital, infrastructure and quality of life initiatives; Garrison Commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, overseeing a complex military installation and diverse workforce; and Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, supporting one of the Army’s most elite, rapidly deployable formations.

Jarrett’s multiple deployments across Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, and Kuwait shaped his expertise in leading complex operations, uniting diverse stakeholders, driving results under pressure, and championing a people-first leadership approach.

In his current role, Jarrett applies a lifelong commitment to service to expand SkillBridge partnerships, enhance employer engagement, and prepare military-connected individuals with the skills, certifications, and professional networks necessary for civilian career success. He is recognized for his strategic vision, disciplined execution, and steadfast dedication to empowering those who have served.

Jarrett holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management.

Candice Dixon is a mission-driven nonprofit leader with over 15 years of experience supporting local, national, and global organizations. Her work spans community building, public health, anti-trafficking, and programs designed to help individuals—especially women and girls—gain access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

As Executive Director of NPower’s Command Shift, a national consortium of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and civic partners, Candice leads collaborative efforts to create pathways into the tech industry for individuals from untapped communities. Under her leadership, Command Shift has launched initiatives like Path2TECH App Development, helping more people transition into meaningful tech careers and achieve long-term economic stability.

Candice has successfully led major philanthropic campaigns and cultivated partnerships that have strengthened the capacity and impact of mission-driven organizations. She is also a dedicated community leader, with volunteer service to Whitefoord.org, United Way of Greater Atlanta, and LEAD Atlanta.

She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and a graduate of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2015. In recognition of her leadership, Candice was named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 in 2021 and selected as part of PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25 class of 2022.