Founders and Staff

Brian Hart
​Co-Founder & CEO

Brian serves as Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair of LightHouse. In his career, he has worked as a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, attorney, and community advocate. He loves his family, friends, and community. Brian is a graduate of Amherst College and Georgetown University Law Center.

Shelley Carter
​Chief Program Officer

Shelley joined the LightHouse DC team as Chief Program Officer in July 2022. She is a graduate of Duke University and Georgetown University Law Center, practicing law for many years before moving to the non-profit sector. 

Jingwen Sun
​Co-Founder & Director of Operations

Jingwen is a graduate of the George Washington University and the University of Maryland, Robert Smith School of Business, with a graduate degree in supply chain management. Jingwen’s practical knowledge of logistics is essential as the organization grows. 
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Danny Garcia
​Operations Coordinator

​Danny joined the LightHouse DC team as Operations Coordinator in June 2023. A native of the DMV area, he developed a passion for social services early on as a youth pastor. Prior to joining LightHouse, Danny worked as a Co-Director of Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program at A Wider Circle. Danny is excited to foster positive change within the community.

Board of Directors

Dominique Duong

Dominique received her Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and Food Science from Wayne State University in Detroit. Dominique is currently a Senior Sales Development Manager at the New York Life Greater Washington General Office in Bethesda, MD.

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Anna Sody

Anna joined the Lighthouse Board of Directors in 2022 and is passionate about supporting and inspiring community members. Anna is currently an Account Executive at Gartner and prior to this role, she spent 6 years within major gift fundraising. She also serves as mid-Atlantic council member for the Positive Coaching Alliance. Anna is a graduate of Marymount University and Durham University (UK). ​

Ryan Hart

Ryan graduated from Georgetown University Law Center.  He served as an an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Major Investigations Unit of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh.  
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Matt Wexler

​Matt holds an M.B.A. in Real Estate and Finance from the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management and a B.A. from Cornell University. Matt is a respected business leader in the Washington, DC area and has led a multitude of District of Columbia community organizations, including the Adams Morgan Commercial Development Coalition. He is a Principal at Excel Group, a private equity firm based in Arlington, VA that owns and invests in limited service, select service and extended stay hotels throughout the United States.  Matt also currently serves as a board member of the Little Falls Swimming Club.
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Amir Irani

Amir lives in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC and served as the Chairperson of the Adams Morgan Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 1C). 
Amir is a member of the founding team at EdClub and was previously Head of Marketing and Growth for Spree Commerce (acquired by First Data; NASDAQ: FISV). 

Hon. Robert White​

Robert graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and American University Washington College of Law. Robert served for five years as legislative Counsel to Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and one year as District Director of Community Outreach for the Office of Attorney General for D.C. Robert currently serves as an At-Large Councilmember on the Council of the District of Columbia.