The Board

Matt Gaston is a seasoned, dynamic communications executive, change management expert, business analyst and leader who has delighted clients, built business and motivated workforces to change how they operate. Currently, Matt works for Noblis Inc., where he is leading change management for a major government IT implementation.

Prior to Noblis, Matt’s 36 year career includes 18 years in change management and strategic communications consulting for government, commercial, academic and nonprofit clients while working for Booz Allen and other firms. Before entering the consulting business, he had a 15-year career with United Way, working at the local, national and international levels.

Matt served as Director, Programming and Events on the ACMP DC board from 2018-2020 and has been an active volunteer at the chapter and Global levels in ACMP before serving as ACMP DC vice president in 2024-25.

Matt holds a B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Development and Change Management from Hawai'i Pacific University and a Graduate Certificate in Change Management Advanced Practitioner (CMAP) from Georgetown University. He also is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) from ACMP and is a certified practitioner and instructor in the Prosci Change Management methodology.

Stacy is an innovative, results-oriented change management professional with extensive professional experience focused on change management and the career development of others. She holds a Master’s in Education in Organization and Leadership and various certifications including change management, Human Resources, Leader Development, and project management. She is also an ICF certified coach.

She has participated in change activities for startups, mergers and acquisitions, Fortune 500 companies, Government, Healthcare and Higher Education institutions. As a principal consultant at Avaap, she is responsible for change management, communications, and training on large-scale systems implementations and transformations across multiple industries. She loves watching others grow and coaching leaders to better position them to reach their full potential. 

Stacy served as the Director, Communications and PR from 2022-2024 and is Vice Chair of the Events and Programming Committee for ACMP Global. As a motivated and action-oriented volunteer, she is a volunteer with ACMP global and the ACMP DC chapter where she has served as a speaker liaison for annual events.

Stacy lives in Richmond, Virginia. She currently volunteers with a dog rescue group and is a member of Richmond Professional Women for Good, a Women’s Giving Circle focused on fundraising and donating time and money to her local community.

Debora Ridner-Diavatis brings more than 20 years of comprehensive experience in various domains, including change management, marketing, brand management, and communications. Her expertise spans diverse industries and geographical regions. 

Debora has successfully led strategic change management initiatives for critical IT projects that impacted more than 30,000 employees across 180 countries. Her focus on high adoption, satisfaction, and successful project outcomes has been instrumental in driving organizational transformation.

Debora’s contributions extend beyond individual projects. She established the Organizational Change Management (OCM) Community of Practice at the World Bank Group, which boasts over 200 members.

Additionally, she played a pivotal role in creating the DC Chapter for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank (WB), and the United Nations (UN). This initiative fosters engagement and networking, advancing the OCM discipline within the context of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

Catherine currently serves as the IT Organizational Manager at Markel Insurance where she manages enterprise-wide IT change efforts for the mid-size international company. She has more than 10 years’ experience in the IT industry, helping companies navigate the people side of change. Through her unique blend of strategic vision, change leadership, collaborative communication, and stakeholder engagement, she has driven successful transformations internally as well as for public and private sector clients during her consulting days.

Catherine is looking forward to bringing her zealous pursuit of excellence, ability to build strong relationships, and enthusiasm for helping others to the ACMP DC board. She has a passion for personal finance, which lends itself nicely to the Treasurer role, and is excited to provide value in this role.

Catherine is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) and has been Prosci certified since 2016.

Cynthia Hartman has more than 25 years of strategic communications and change management experience in academic, government and corporate environments. After starting out as a technical writer in the oil and gas industry, she spent her early career in communications-related roles in higher education, focused on engaging internal and external audiences through strategic communications. In 2011, Cynthia landed in a change management role for a large, multi-institution ERP implementation. That experience changed her professional focus, as she discovered an affinity for the people side of change.

She now spends her days supporting clients as they navigate large organization or technology transitions, utilizing her ability to collaborate with multiple constituencies, accurately assess cultural and organizational elements of a situation, develop responsive strategies, and build consensus among stakeholders to drive sustainable change.

An ACMP DC member since 2016, Cynthia holds a Bachelor’s in English from Duquesne University and a Master’s in Professional Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. Additionally, she earned a Prosci® Change Management certification and is a Certified Change Management Practitioner (CCMP™). Cynthia served as the DC chapter Board Secretary from 2017-2019 and as the Director, PR and Communications from 2020-2023.

Jamie is a seasoned organizational change management leader who has led both private and public organizations through challenging business transformations. She offers more than two decades of experience analyzing complex problems and formulating optimal solutions using proven change management methodologies, efficient organizational design and employee engagement expertise for global and domestic clients.

Jamie is a Principal at Slalom, contributing her expertise to shaping and growing the Organizational Effectiveness practice and practitioners. Her passion is leading change for large technology transformations that require engaging stakeholders early and keeping them actively involved throughout the entire program. 

Jamie holds an MBA from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from College of Charleston. Additionally, she has acquired certifications in Change Management and is recognized as a Blue Core Coach by IBM.

Luda Peters

Director Community Of Practice & Training

Luda is a dedicated change manager known for her strategic leadership and commitment to organizational transformation. Her journey began in retail banking, where she led numerous initiatives and established herself as a key strategist and passionate advocate for change.

As the Director of Community of Practice and Training for the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) DC chapter, Luda is committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and development. She is enthusiastic about building a dynamic community where professionals can share insights, promote growth, and collectively push the boundaries of change management. By creating an environment that encourages professional growth and collaboration, she aims to propel the field forward, ensuring it remains responsive to both current and future challenges.

Tess Esola is a dedicated professional with over 29 years of professional experience, with over 25 years of experience in organizational change. Her experience ranges across inspections and audits to organization development, leadership, process and performance improvement, organizational change and transformation in both public and private sectors. Tess grounds her consulting expertise in a ‘systems thinking’ mindset with experience across six industries: government, healthcare, technology, transportation, finance, and business. 

Tess continues to engage readily with the ACMP DC Chapter. She worked with colleagues at a previous consulting company to 'stand-up' their internal Change Management Community of Practice. This community connected with consultants and practitioners within the DC Chapter and prompted investments with business leaders to invest in change management training opportunities for the company’s consultants. In her early career, as an Inspector General for the Department of Defense, Tess gained a solid foundation in organizational assessments. Tess then shifted her professional practice to organizational development to work with leaders and organizations to design solutions proactively. This foundation is complimented by additional focus on how individuals, teams, organizations, systems and communities foster and cultivate change and transformation. Her current immersion is in the field of study in organizational change. This focus is primarily on effectively setting and measuring the people side of change and why that is critical to business success.

Tess holds a Master of Science, Organization Development, School of Public Affairs, American University. She also has certifications in Organization Development, Prosci®/ADKAR Change Management Practitioner (PCMP), ACMP Master Class Certificate, and Prosci® Advanced Certification Change Management Practitioner.