Katie Oleksiak, Executive Director
Katie oversees the planning and implementation of Spark the Wave’s direct service programming including Wave Week, Leadership Seminars, Days of Service, Club Wave, and more. She attended Wave Week in 2003 during its former years with the American Red Cross and credits her older sister (a STW founding member) for encouraging her to get involved with Spark the Wave in its early years. She is looking forward to her 20th consecutive Wave Week in 2020.
Katie was born and raised in the Philly suburbs where she attended Abington High School in Abington, PA. She received her B.A in History from Saint Joseph’s University in 2011 (The Hawk Will Never Die) and a certificate in Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania School of Public Policy & Practice in 2016. Katie lives in South Philadelphia, PA with Nucky, the Spark the Wave mascot.
Contact Katie at katie@sparkthewave.org or 202.818.8684 x 700.
Gavin Brezski, Summer of Service Director
Gavin began his Spark the Wave journey at Wave Week, in 2013. Since that time, he has held a variety of volunteer positions within Spark the Wave. He currently facilitates the execution of Spark the Wave’s Summer of Service programs including: Ignite Academy, the Change-Maker Challenge, and our Days of Service.
Gavin grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania where he attended Unionville High School. He currently lives in West Philadelphia where he studies English and Secondary Education at Saint Joseph’s University.
Contact Gavin at gavin@sparkthewave.org or 202.818.8684 x 703.
Bill Gallagher, President & Founder
Bill has been training middle school and high school leaders for nearly 30 years. He founded Spark the Wave along with a group of volunteers in 2004 and has been inspiring young service stars ever since. Bill grew up in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania where he attended Kennett High School. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and earned his M.D. at Temple University School of Medicine.
Bill is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Georgetown University in Family Medicine and lives and works in Washington, DC with his awesome family.
Contact Bill at bill@sparkthewave.org or 202.818.8684 x 702.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bill Gallagher, President
Founder, Spark the Wave; Faculty, Georgetown Family Medicine Residency
Shannon Hynds, Treasurer
Product Manager, Thresher Ventures
Margaret Hynds, Secretary
Associate Producer at CBS News
Richard Fernandes
Sales Manager, Audi Fort Washington
Vince O’Neill
Accreditation Director, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Abby Gallagher, Youth Representative
Student, Georgetown Day School
Diane James, Memorial Treasurer
Director, Executive Leadership Services, Association Strategies, Inc.