Team
Our experience and expertise work for your success.
Our experience and expertise work for your success.
QUICK LINKS
CONTACT US
© The New Growth Group, LLC All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Chris Spence
President
Chris founded The New Growth Group, LLC (New Growth) in 2010, recognizing that workforce development is essential for regional economic growth. In the years since, New Growth has added capabilities and services, including expanding into economic development. A product of the industrial Midwest, Chris is grateful to work with so many people across America dedicated to improving their communities. New Growth works with colleges and universities, economic development organizations, K-12 schools, philanthropies, business groups, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. Under his leadership, the organization has served over 200 clients in 30 states and Washington, D.C..
Prior to this career path, Chris was a captain in the US Army 10th Mountain Division. He holds two master’s degrees from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service and a bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve University.
Outside of work, Chris likes to go fishing. Mostly to give the universe a good laugh.
CONTACT CHRIS
Pawla Wagner
Director, Operations & Administration
Pawla joined New Growth in 2021, thrilled to be part of a company dedicated to making a positive impact in the community. As Operations Manager, she keeps things running smoothly by developing and maintaining the systems and processes that help the organization flourish. She thrives working behind the scenes with such a dynamic team and is always ready to jump in wherever she’s needed. Currently, she’s expanding her expertise by training with the Grant Team to build new skills and strengthen collaboration.
Before New Growth, Pawla served as Executive Assistant at an international vehicle crash reconstruction engineering firm. After discovering that pre-law at Cornell wasn’t a positive alignment, she pivoted to online education and earned her Bachelor’s in Communications from Franklin University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with family, diving into a good book, or enjoying classic 1940s screwball comedies, musicals, and mysteries.
CONTACT PAWLA
Kaci Roach
Vice President, Strategy, New Growth Group
Executive Director, HHW Ohio
Kaci Roach joined New Growth in 2017, driven by a commitment to strengthen connections between education and workforce systems so more people can move out of poverty and into family-sustaining careers. As Vice President of Strategy, she leads cross-sector projects that help regions and communities align around shared goals, strategies, and measurable outcomes. Her work is grounded in deep expertise in organizational development, federal grant compliance, collective impact, and qualitative research. Kaci is certified in Results-Based Facilitation and Leadership. Through her role at New Growth, Kaci also serves as Executive Director of HHW Ohio, a nonprofit workforce organization dedicated to expanding technical and trades career opportunities for women across Ohio.
Before joining New Growth, Kaci was Senior Manager of Knowledge at StriveTogether, a national network of cradle-to-career collective impact partnerships. She holds an M.S. in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University and a B.A. in Political Science from The Ohio State University, where she graduated from the Honors Program.
Outside of work, Kaci can usually be found enjoying live music, traveling, or—when she’s lucky—both at the same time.
CONTACT KACI
Patrick Britton
Director, Strategy
Patrick joined New Growth in 2021 and currently serves as Director of Strategy. In this role, he helps lead the Strategy department and supports the delivery of high-quality, mission-aligned strategy services across the organization. He plays a central role in launching and supporting client initiatives, with specialized responsibility for leading post-award grant strategy and integrating post-award services into seamless implementation and ongoing support.
Patrick works closely with public, private, and nonprofit partners to translate vision into action—supporting clients through program design and launch, grant implementation strategy, evaluation and analytics, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement. He also leads New Growth’s Client Management & Sales core function, helping strengthen client relationships, guide cross-team service delivery, and maintain a healthy sales pipeline.
Currently, Patrick supports clients across projects funded by the U.S. Department of Labor – Employment and Training Administration, Department of Education, Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration, Health and Human Services, and other statewide and local organizations.
Prior to joining New Growth, Patrick worked in a variety of organizations, including as Director of Community Engagement for a consulting firm, as an executive for several national trade associations, and as Associate Vice President for a regional higher education council in Northeast Ohio. He earned his Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame – Mendoza College of Business.
CONTACT PATRICK
Rikki Lee Pfeiffer-Carr
Manager, Strategy
Rikki Lee Pfeiffer-Carr came on board with New Growth in 2022. Rikki supports clients through every stage of project development and grant implementation — from development and reporting setup to ongoing administration and compliance. She works closely with partners to build systems that streamline project management, reporting, and documentation, ensuring alignment with all funding requirements and organizational goals. Before joining New Growth, Rikki taught high school English and worked as a traveling specialist with the National Math & Science Initiative, where she supported teachers and school districts nationwide. She holds a Master’s degree from Wilkes University.
Through her multifaceted career, Rikki continues to make significant contributions in education and workforce development, embodying the spirit of professional growth and community impact. When she’s not working, you’ll find Rikki either out riding her horses or taking her chocolate labs on adventures.
CONTACT RIKKI
Josette Compton
Director, Strategy, New Growth Group
Program Director, HHW Ohio
In the tapestry of print journalism, foreign affairs, and education, Dr. Josette Compton has been quietly weaving her magic for more than fifteen years, guided by a curious mind and a heart steadfast in its commitment to change. With a knack for research, a strategic gaze that sees beyond the now, and a pen that dances between clarity and creativity, she nurtured ideas from seed to bloom, in classrooms and beyond. Her journey recently weaved through the corridors of Northeastern University, where she explored the vibrant intersection of digital art and college readiness for young women less heard, less seen.
With academic roots stretching from the historic Howard University to the innovative halls of The New School University, Josette has always been a seeker of knowledge, and now, she channels this wealth into fueling change at HHW Ohio. Here, within the walls of a 45-year legacy of empowering women in the workforce, she focuses her energies on bridging gaps, healing wounds inflicted by systemic oppression, and nurturing the next generation of STEM pioneers. In every role, project, and challenge, Dr. Compton stands as a beacon of humble empowerment, striving not just for equity, but for a world where every woman sees her reflection in the stars of her choosing.
CONTACT JOSETTE
Sarah Taylor
Manager, New Growth Group
Community Engagement Manager, HHW Ohio
Sarah joined New Growth Group in 2024 and currently serves as the Community Engagement Manager for HHW Ohio, an initiative supported by NGG. In her role, she brings a unique blend of warmth, creativity, and people-centered strategy to engage individuals, support program success, and build meaningful partnerships. While new to the workforce development field, Sarah draws from a rich background in hospitality and community outreach, excelling in relationship-building and trust-centered communication. Her work helps expand access, elevate voices, and drive inclusive economic mobility across Northeast Ohio.
Before stepping into workforce development, Sarah honed her skills in people-facing roles across hospitality, education, and entertainment. A proud graduate of the University of Akron, she leads with authenticity, empathy, and a big personality that lights up every room she enters.
Outside of work, Sarah is a multi-faceted creative. She enjoys reading, writing poetry and fiction, and has performed as an actor, model, and event host. Her experiences in the arts fuel her storytelling and strengthen her ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
CONTACT SARAH
Robin King
Vice President, Grants
Robin King joined New Growth in 2017 and serves as the Vice President of Grants. She works closely with clients to shape strong project concepts, identify strategic funding opportunities, and develop competitive federal proposals that reflect both community need and long-term impact. Since joining New Growth, Robin has helped secure more than $100 million in federal funding for workforce and economic development initiatives across the country, including successful applications to USDA, DOEd, DOD, EDA, NSF, and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s CDFI program. She is a member of the Great Lakes Virtual Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Robin is motivated by a belief that strong writing, thoughtful planning, and authentic partnerships can help communities move important work forward. She values the opportunity to support organizations as they turn meaningful ideas into real and lasting results.
Outside of work, Robin enjoys reading, live music, and spending time with family and friends. She also loves traveling to visit her two adult children and keeping up with her youngest, who is in his senior year of high school and far cooler than she’ll ever admit.
CONTACT ROBIN
Shawn Floyd
Director, Grants
Drawing on over two decades of experience in higher education, Shawn blends research, data-driven analysis, and creative problem-solving to help organizations secure funding for workforce and economic development initiatives. As Director of Grants at The New Growth Group, he manages retainer clients and supports the development of new proposals, helping identify opportunities that align projects with organizational strategy and funder priorities.
A writer and seasoned educator, Shawn authored numerous research articles during his academic career and now leverages that experience to craft clear, compelling grant proposals with a strong record of success. His work has contributed to awards from a wide range of federal and state agencies, including the NSF, USDA, EDA, DOL, DOC, and the Ohio Department of Development. Recent efforts include serving as lead writer for a $30 million semiconductor workforce initiative funded by the National Science Foundation, as well as a proposal that advanced to finalist status in the highly competitive NSF Engines program.
Shawn holds degrees from Baylor University (BA and MA) and a PhD in Philosophy from Saint Louis University. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family; books (which he occasionally reads); vinyl; his philosopher lab mix; and the ongoing search for Texas barbecue in Ohio.
CONTACT SHAWN
Sandra Prisco
Director, Grants
Sandra joined the New Growth Group in 2023 and serves as Director of Grants. In her role, she leads and supports grant development, providing strategic guidance, quality oversight, and hands-on grant writing for clients advancing innovation, workforce development, and place-based economic development. She specializes in strategic funding solutions that help organizations secure resources and build strong, sustainable grant programs. Sandra has supported clients across sectors in identifying funding opportunities, developing compelling proposals, and navigating complex grant requirements.
Sandra holds both undergraduate and law degrees from Rutgers University. Her legal training strengthens her grant writing and strategy, particularly in interpreting funder requirements and ensuring clarity and compliance. A Bucks County, Pennsylvania resident, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, three feline overlords, and her dog Alabama, as well as tackling the ongoing restoration of her 200-year-old farmhouse.
CONTACT SANDRA
Nikki Glazer Stoicoiu
Vice President, Analytics
Nikki joined New Growth in 2015 and serves as the Vice President of Analytics. In her role, she partners with clients to design and implement comprehensive program evaluations, spanning formative to summative approaches across both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. She has led evaluations for federal agencies including the US Department of Labor, US Department of Education, and National Science Foundation, among others. Beyond evaluations, Nikki spearheads data-focused projects involving labor market assessment, spatial analysis, survey development, and advanced statistical analysis. She is passionate about leveraging data-driven strategies to evaluate and enhance workforce programming outcomes.
Prior to joining the team, she served as a Graduate Research Assistant at Cleveland State University’s Center for Economic Development, where she also earned her Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Design, and Development, with a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
In her free time, she is a chauffeur to countless afterschool and weekend activities for her four boys.
CONTACT NIKKI
Alex Gauding
Manager, Analytics
Alex is a Manager of Analytics at the New Growth Group, having joined the firm in 2023. He assists staff members with data needs, primarily around labor market assessments, spatial analyses, and mixed-method evaluations. Alex joined New Growth after a career in the non-profit community development and economic development fields in Northeast Ohio, where he partnered with non-profit and for-profit organizations, along with governmental and educational institutions, to close workforce gaps across the region.
A lifelong Cleveland-area resident, Alex received a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in 2017, where his studies focused on sustainable urban development and urban geographic information systems. Outside of work, Alex likes to play and watch soccer, read, and beat his friends at Euchre.
Alex is especially driven by his desire to play a role in creating sustainable, equitable, vibrant communities with employment opportunities for all.
CONTACT ALEX