Meet the Team

Beki Bahar-Engler is the VP, Finance and Operations at LEE. Prior to joining LEE, Beki was responsible for strategic projects and planning as Teach For America’s Vice President, Strategy. She previously served as Director of Strategy at Sprint Nextel, and also served as a consultant at McKinsey & Co. serving telecommunication and consumer goods companies. Beki started her career at the National Democratic Institute, where she ran political and civic organizing programs in Eastern Europe for five years. Beki has an M.B.A. from Georgetown University, an M.A. in International Relations from the American University, and a B.A. in Political Science and History from Adelphi University.

Mike Buman is LEE's Executive Director. Most recently, he was a Partner in the New York office of McKinsey & Company. Mike was a leader in the Financial Institutions practice focusing on Insurance and Asset Management. He has also worked with many education organizations throughout New York City. Prior to McKinsey, Mike worked at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in software development. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and New York University Stern School of Business.

Mandara Meyers is the Managing Director of Training Programs at LEE. In this role, she manages LEE's trainings and fellowship programs and supports LEE members around the country. Prior to joining LEE, Mandara spent four years as the National Director of Programs at the Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL), a nonprofit, nonpartisan political training institute, overseeing training programs in six states and training more than 450 leaders annually. Mandara previously practiced employment and health care law with a large firm in Philadelphia. Her policy and advocacy experience includes issues ranging from immigration and gender equity to health care and access to higher education. Mandara has worked with and consulted for the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, the Management Center, Genocide Intervention Network, the Women’s Law Project, Project Pericles and the Empowerment Group. She has also volunteered on a number of candidate- and issue-based campaigns. Mandara is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In recognition of her leadership and commitment to the public sector, Mandara had the honor of participating in the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs and the Rockwood Leadership Institute.

Dan Nieman is the Managing Director of Field Engagement at LEE. Dan is the liaison between Teach For America and Leadership For Educational Equity, managing the partnership and ensuring that LEE members are on track to succeed in the fields of politics, policy, and advocacy. Dan began his career teaching elementary school in Harlem and the South Bronx for four years. After teaching, Dan moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles and participated in the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs. Prior to joining staff, Dan worked for three years as the Director of Community Affairs for Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Marlene Canter. There he served as a liaison between the principals, teachers, parents, and constituents of 120 schools and the school board member. Dan has B.F.A. from the University of Michigan School Of Art and Design and an M.S.Ed. from the Bank Street College of Education.

think-cell is an Office add-in which integrates seamlessly with PowerPoint and helps you to visualize complex charts like Marimekko, Gantt and waterfall within minutes. It is used by all major consulting firms on a daily basis. Free licenses of think-cell are available for LEE staff members. Refer to the online documentation, screen-casts and knowledge base to get started with think-cell.