Headstrong Project CEO and leadership

Sandeep Sahai is a Senior Industry Executive at Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe, Operating Partner/Consultant at Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe, and President/CEO/COO at Headstrong Project and is based in New York City, New York. He has worked as Chairman at Clearwater Analytics, President & CEO at Genpact Headstrong Capital Markets, and Member of Board at AIM Software. Sandeep attended Doon between 1975 and 1981; Institute of Technology, Varanasi between 1981 and 1985; and Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi.

Amy M. Williams, Ph.D., recently joined Headstrong as Chief Clinical Officer. An expert in treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dr.Williams has engaged in the research of and training therapists in effective treatments for PTSD in veteran/military and civilian populations for over 20 years. Prior to joining Headstrong, Dr. Williams successfully spearheaded the opening of one of the first clinics within the Cohen Veterans Network in Dallas, Texas. While there, she held an adjunct volunteer faculty member position at the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center and instituted the first research study within the CVN network in conjunction with UT-Dallas.

Colonel (U.S. Army, Retired) James D. McDonough, Jr. was appointed Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services on April 4th, 2019. Prior to becoming Director, Colonel (U.S. Army, Retired) McDonough served as Managing Director, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, where he was responsible for the global deployment of the Institute’s widely recognized programs and services. Jim also served as Chief Executive Officer for Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, New York, where he led the nation’s oldest continuing serving nonprofit dedicated to the needs of military connected individuals and families. Following his active duty retirement, Colonel (U.S. Army, Retired) McDonough initially served as Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs, followed by a senior fellowship within the New York State Health Foundation, where he managed the Foundation’s veterans’ initiatives and grantmaking.

Colonel (Retired) McDonough was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit Medal (w/1OLC), Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/2OLC), Joint Staff Commendation Medal (w/1OLC), Army Commendation Medal (w/5OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Medal, and Overseas Service Ribbon (w/2OLC). During his service he wore the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and Parachutist Badge.

Kat Cheshire is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) of The Headstrong Project. She has served in a development role over the past 10 years, with the last 7+ in the military and veteran community managing corporate and foundation relationships, fundraising events, and cause-marketing partnerships with The Mission Continues and USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore. Prior to that, she worked in professional and collegiate athletics in community relations and marketing with Major League Soccer’s D.C. United and The University of Tennessee. Kat has also had the opportunity to sit on and lead nonprofit young professionals' boards and committees. She graduated with a BA in Logistics & Marketing from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Lora Dircz is the Chief Marketing Officer at The Headstrong Project. She joined Headstrong in 2020, expanding her accomplished marketing portfolio into the nonprofit space. Previously, Lora has worked all over the world of sports entertainment, including the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee, Ultimate Fighting Championship, MillerCoors, and Kawasaki Motors Corp. Lora holds two undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Exercise Sciences from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree from George Mason University, completing her advanced degree at the University of Oxford, UK.

Matt Kress joined Headstrong in 2022, bringing a long history of service and commitment to the military community to his role as the Chief Strategy Officer. Prior to joining Headstrong, Matt led the military and first responder strategies at Starbucks Coffee Company for 6 years, building their commitment and brand into one of the leading corporate supporters for those who serve our country and communities. In his last 3 years at Starbucks, Matt pivoted their strategy to focus on supporting organizations that provide access to quality mental health care, as well as advocating for other companies and foundations to support the military and first responder mental health space. Matt served in the Marine Corps for 22 years as an enlisted Marine and commissioned officer, in both active duty and reserve assignments, including a deployment to Iraq with MARSOC Det 1. Following a decade of active duty, Matt transitioned to public service as a Firefighter/EMT in Southern California. During this time, Matt earned a Masters in Strategic Planning for Critical Infrastructures from the University of Washington and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Miguel Ocegueda served honorably for over 13 years in the United States Army and NJ Army National Guard across a broad range of assignments and combat tours. He has been actively involved with Headstrong since October 2016. Prior to joining Headstrong, Miguel worked for the Rutgers Office of Veteran and Military Programs and Services as well as various other healthcare sectors where he utilized clinical and research-based expertise to advance vulnerable population initiatives.

He earned his bachelor’s in Biology and Psychology from Rutgers University, where he also helped enhance their military and veteran programing. He is currently working towards his Masters of Public Health from Syracuse University focusing on addressing Adverse Childhood Experience’s within veteran and other underserved communities. He is accompanied and supported by an excellent Program’s & Development team he is fortunate to work with as well as a 10 year old basset hound named Paco that keeps him grounded.

Parshva Bavishi is the Chief Impact Officer at The Headstrong Project. His work involves program impact and evaluation, strategy development, and partnership management. With over nine years of non-profit experience, Parsh has worked in the fields of international development, impact and evaluations, and corporate relationship management. Some of the organizations he has worked for include the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Society for Science & the Public, and Older Adult Technology Services. He has worked directly in the field with government agencies, private corporations and public institutions in Asia, Europe, and South America.

Parsh received his B.A. in International Studies from The College of New Jersey. He has studied at the University of San Andrés in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has an M.B.A from the College of William & Mary.