Who We Are
Our Team
Built by people who saw the system fail from the inside
We've spent decades running research in the field—collecting data in conflict zones, managing teams across 30+ countries, and watching insights get lost because the tools didn't exist to capture them. We built EFL because we believe every organization doing meaningful work deserves access to real measurement—not just the ones with six-figure budgets.
Scott Shadian
Founder and CEO
Scott is a social entrepreneur and field evaluation expert who focuses on social complexity, governance, stabilization, and communications. He is dedicated to addressing intricate social issues such as violent extremism, civil war, community violence, and disinformation, which he views as symptoms of larger, underlying drivers of change.
Ben Valentino
Director of AI for Social Impact
Benjamin Valentino is the Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Professor of Government at Dartmouth College. With over 25 years of experience studying violent conflict and public opinion around the world, his research draws on cutting-edge social scientific methods and technologies to forecast violence and assess ways to help prevent it.
Ahn Lee
Director of Research, Evaluation, & Learning
Former Research Manager at Sayara International. Methodologist and field researcher whose early concerns over institutional stagnation in conflict zones shifted her focus to team building and organizational strategy. She brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of the public, private, and academic spheres.
Nathanael Miksis
Director of AI Systems
Nathanael is a full-stack developer and systems architect who builds AI-powered platforms for complex real-world challenges in governance, energy, and sustainability. Working across React, Node.js, and machine learning pipelines, he has designed and shipped enterprise-scale data systems for clients ranging from transit authorities to federal energy regulators.
Anna de Gea Fiter
Director of Impact Analytics
Anna is an impact data analyst and venture philanthropy practitioner with over eight years of experience bridging data science and social investment. Currently at The Rockefeller Foundation's Strategic Learning & Impact team, she has designed impact measurement frameworks and theories of change for hundreds of nonprofits across Europe and Latin America. Her work helps mission-driven organizations translate data into decisions that scale.
Adam Kaplan
Director of Partnerships
With over 35 years of global experience, Adam has dedicated his career to driving development and social change at the intersection of government, civil society, and media. His work has supported hundreds of organizations to promote access to information, advance human dignity, and empower agency.
Matt Gillespie
Director of Strategy & Product
Matt is a strategic operator and designer with a track record of building marketing infrastructure for impact-driven ventures. At GoSun, a clean energy startup he helped grow to a $60M valuation, he led marketing strategy, international partnerships, and crowdfunding campaigns generating over $3.2M in revenue.
Samantha Alspaugh
Director of Sales Operations and Strategy
Samantha is a seasoned technology professional with 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, strategy, and operations. Her expertise spans both public and private sectors, encompassing the realms of telecommunications, connectivity, data management, and the broader business and corporate landscape.