Redwood Circle Consulting: Executive Searches for Educators and Non-Profits

Serena Moy’s career has encompassed over 15 years of human resources experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors. While she enjoys practicing human resource management in all of these sectors, her true passion is working for start-up and mission-driven organizations.

In her first foray in the education non-profit world, she served as the Director of Human Resources at the KIPP Foundation during a period of intense growth for the organization. In this capacity, she managed the talent acquisition function for the entire Foundation staff, which included offices in San Francisco, Chicago and New York.

Serena has worked as a consultant, specializing in talent management and talent recruitment for various educational non-profit organizations. Her client list includes, Great Schools, Citizen Schools, Education Pioneers, Koya Partners, New Leaders, Alpha Public Schools, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, Oakland Schools Foundation and Peer Health Exchange. Serena has been working as a part of Redwood Circle since 2012 and is excited to continue working on projects that will help all children receive the highest quality of education.

Serena has a Bachelors of Art in Sociology and a Minor in Education from the University of California, Davis and a MPA from New York University, specializing in non-profit and public management. In her spare time, Serena enjoys doing all things with her husband and two sons which includes outdoor activities and spending time at home and with friends.

Alicia Robinson has more than a decade of experience in urban education as an instructor, non-profit manager, and talent management specialist. She most recently served as the Chief Talent Officer at DC Prep, a charter management organization serving students in preschool-8th grade ranked in 2012 as the highest performing C.M.O. in Washington. While at DC Prep, she led the development and implementation of all aspects of talent management for the growing network of schools, spearheading the recruitment and selection of campus-based and Home Office employees through the organization’s growth from 100 to 200 staff in 5 years. In addition to recruitment and selection, Alicia’s portfolio of work at DC Prep included teacher and leader evaluation, internal leadership review and promotion, compensation policy, and organizational culture building, as well as student recruitment and enrollment. She was also a member of DC Prep’s founding faculty in 2003.

Alicia has also served as Manager of Recruitment and Admissions at New Leaders for New Schools’s DC Program Office, where she oversaw the recruitment strategy and admissions process for this national principal training program. She also managed daily program operations of two K-12 scholarship programs run by the Washington Scholarship Fund, including the first federally funded voucher program. Alicia began her career in education as a member of the inaugural class of DC Teaching Fellows and taught in DC Public Schools. Prior to entering the field of education, Alicia worked in public relations and event planning through two boutique firms in the nation’s capital. She received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Teaching degree from American University.

Viviana Pyle brings 16 years of Talent and HR Operations experience to Redwood Circle’s consulting practice. She has worked in various leadership capacities in the human resources field over the years and has enthusiastically returned to her passion for education.

Viviana has deep experience in education and served as the Director of Talent Operations for KIPP Foundation for over 8 years. This is where Viviana met Serena and where this dynamic relationship formed. Prior to KIPP, Viviana served as Director of Human Resources for Project Achieve, an educational software company, in San Francisco. Viviana gained her deep human resources experience by managing the HR function in a venture funded start-up called CyberBills and worked for Target Stores as Team Relations Manager in the greater East Bay.

Viviana earned her BS in Psychology from California State University, East Bay and her Master’s Degree in Human Resources from Chapman University. When Viviana is not working she is busy with her husband and 2 children in Livermore. As an active mom she volunteers in the kids classrooms and serves as a chairperson on the PTA board along with helping out on various school oriented committees. She also enjoys working out and playing co-ed soccer.

Ron Rapatalo’s career vision is coaching, connecting and inspiring others to find their best selves through healthier living, increased mindfulness/interconnection and stronger intention/strategy. Ron has been a talent shepherd for 10 years, recruiting and selecting hundreds of candidates to become education leaders. He currently consults, leading and supporting hiring searches for school districts and non-profits. Ron is also a coach, giving career advice on how to navigate career transitions and present oneself from networking to interviewing. He also supports others on how to live healthier lives. Ron believes in the power of connecting with others to support, nurture and develop our talents. Ron is an active member of the NYU alumni community, serving as Vice-President of the NYU Alumni Association, co-founder of the Multicultural Alumni Group, co-chair of the Marketing and Communications committee, and a Young Alumni Leadership Circle patron. He is also a Highbridge Community Life Center board member and an iMentor volunteer.

In his spare time, he loves spending time with his wife Shanita and baby Sofia, whether it's watching reality TV, enjoying Family Feud, or devouring favorite movies/shows on Netflix.  He's also an avid yoga practitioner, meditator and kick-boxer.  A native New Yorker, he's a rabid New York Yankees and New York Giants fan.