Our Team

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Tim Weedon, Founder

Tim Weeden had a defining experience in elementary and primary school, sparking his desire to begin Tech Turn Up. He continually looked for ways to do things differently, asked a billion questions, and questioned textbook answers. His thought process consisted of questioning, reaching, and addressing other variables that could affect the real-world response. 

However, for most of his teachers, this was an issue. He was advised to memorize the answers. He repeatedly questioned his abilities, asking himself, “Am I smart? Will I be able to make it into college?”

A teacher introduced Tim to his friend from IBM one day after school. This teacher recognized Tim’s abilities and wanted to help channel his gifts by creating an internship opportunity at IBM.

Tim’s need for discovery later took him to Sweden, where he worked with a Swedish music firm, Sony Music Publishing, and a tech sound development company. He created the first R&B/Rap soul music school in Sweden. He became the ambassador of music with sponsorship from the German consulate to travel to Uganda to teach music business management. Tim was given a grant from the Irish Arts and Culture department to teach literacy and write a module for Irish teachers using popular American music culture.  He received his Master's in Educational Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.

Tim hopes to inspire and encourage young people to realize their gifts and talents.  Tim firmly believes that one should never shy away from embracing new experiences. He thinks it's not about memorizing subjects to take a test but fully engaging, having fun, and applying it to the real world.

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    Johneé

    Operations & Program Support Manager

    Hello! My name is Johneé (John-nay). I am the new PT Operations & Program Support Manager at Tech Turn Up. With seven years of experience leading complex youth leadership programs, I ensure every event, partnership, and deliverable runs smoothly, so the focus stays where it belongs: empowering youth. I specialize in design thinking, collaboration, and making meaningful impact feel effortless. Operations should be seamless, so instructors can inspire, students can thrive, and nothing falls through the cracks. I believe strong STEAM systems and creative facilitation sustain spaces for young people to shine.n goes here

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    Miles Jackson

    STEAM Teacher

    A recent graduate of Virginia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer

    Engineering, Miles brings exceptional technical skills, including proficiency in programming languages

    like Python, C#, and JavaScript, as well as hands-on experience with embedded systems such as Arduino.

    Beyond technical expertise, Miles has demonstrated strong leadership and interpersonal skills through roles such as mentoring fellow students and leading projects, including an innovative object-detection cane.

    As a proud member of the National Society of Black Engineers, Miles is passionate about education, technology, and making a meaningful impact in STEAM learning.

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    Kat Chiroque

    STEAM Teacher

    We are thrilled to welcome Kat Chiroque as our new STEAM Teacher! Based in Northern Virginia, Kat brings a dynamic blend of artistic and technical expertise to our programs. A Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate from VCU’s renowned School of the Arts, Kat majored in Kinetic Imaging, specializing in 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, and video editing. Recognized on the Dean’s List since 2021, Kat’s academic achievements are complemented by extensive hands-on experience as a Lead Tech Assistant, where she managed professional-grade equipment and contributed to high-profile projects showcased at The Byrd Theater and The Anderson. With a versatile creative portfolio spanning digital and traditional media, Kat is ready to inspire innovation and creativity in her new role.

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    Jonathan Asamoah

    Tech Intern Teacher

    Jonathan Asamoah is a student at American University. He was born in DC but has lived elsewhere for the majority of his life, including South Africa, England, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast. He is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Entrepreneurship alongside an interest in coding. Through Tech Turn Up, he intends to further amplify the importance of technology in children’s education.

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    Ankur Gyawali

    Tech Intern Teacher

    Ankur Gyawali is from Nepal. He is a student at Howard University pursuing his undergraduate studies in Computer Science.

    He is passionate about integrating technology into society for the advancement of public interest technology, as he believes in the power of education and its transformative impact on individuals and communities.

    During this summer camp, he engaged with the students and guided them to learn necessary technological skills in this ever-evolving digital world.

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    Eloah Makassi

    Tech Intern Teacher

    Eloah is a student at American University studying International Studies. She plans on fulfilling a career in youth development. She has spent time in Ghana, participating in the Department of State exchange program. During her time abroad, she worked with the disadvantaged youth of Accra, helping them seek a better future through education.

    She believes that the advancement of all youth, specifically African youth, can be reformed by providing opportunities and skills to understand the relevant technology of today.

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    Brandon Smith

    Tech Intern Teacher

    Brandon Smith was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a student at American University, majoring in journalism with a minor in economics. He hopes to use his college education to bring objective, impartial reporting back to the media. During his tenure with Tech Turn Up, he instilled a basic understanding of technology in America’s future generations and enhanced his technological skills. He has a background in podcasting, photography, and digital media, and he passed on these skills to the students.

Our Board

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    Dr. Jennifer Nixon

    Board Chair

    Dr. Jennifer Nixon is on a mission to increase the knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in her community. She works as a Sr. Systems Analyst and also holds a Doctorate in Information Technology. Her areas of emphasis are strategic analysis, organizational change and culture, and streamlining systems. She enjoys helping people, especially youth and women, understand and grow their potential.

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    Chris McBride

    Board Vice Chair

    Chris McBride is Vice President of Product Marketing for Disney+ at The Walt Disney Company. Prior to Disney he served in executive roles at FYE, Fox Mobile Group, and eMusic. Chris was also the founder of three digital media startups and publisher of several award-winning digital cookbooks. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Genetic Disease Foundation for over 15 years and holds a B.A. from American University in Washington, D.C.

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    Clara Scott

    Board Secretary

    Ciara Scott is a Human Resources Systems Analyst within her county's government. She is a daughter, sister, and friend to many. A phrase she lived by is "live a purpose-driven life." Her goal is to inspire the people she encounters to achieve their highest potential in their careers or personal lives.

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    Michael Eskenazi

    Board Member

    After graduating from American University in Washington, D.C. and earning his master's from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, Michael spent several years as a journalist. His journalism career began at one of the nation's newspapers in Alexandria, Virginia, before he moved on to work for Reuters News Service and then Time Magazine. As a journalist, he focused on business and public education, and wrote frequently for a wide range of national publications about the need to expand universal pre-k and alternative public schooling. He also spent several years working in education policy for the National Center for Schools and Communities at Fordham University before attending law school. His legal experience includes both criminal prosecution, as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, NY and civil litigation with private law firms. All the while, he’s maintained an interest in public education and youth programming, including serving on his community board in New York City.

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    Babu Jackson

    Board Member

    Babu Jackson is the Vice President of Information Technology at the American Clean Power Association, with over 20 years of experience in technology leadership. He previously led digital transformations as CTO and Director of IT at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Babu is dedicated to fostering innovation, empowering teams, and nurturing professional growth. He is deeply committed to advancing STEM learning and education in the tech community.

  • Tre Christopher

    Tre Christopher

    Board Member

    Tre is a social justice advocate committed to creating equitable opportunities for all disadvantaged students. He began his career as a teacher in New York City and has held various leadership roles within the K-12 community, including Assistant Principal, curriculum specialist, and founding a school in Washington, DC. Tre currently serves as the Director of Research and Development initiatives at Digital Promise. In his free time, he enjoys traveling the world, exploring new cuisines, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Our Associate Board

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    Arshakia Brown

    Associate Board Chair

    Arshakia Brown, a native of Prince George's County, Maryland, currently residing in the Baltimore area. With over 5 years in the tech industry, I've worked closely with numerous businesses and agencies, specializing in the sale of diverse technical products. I am also a wardrobe stylist and the CEO/Founder of AOSthebrand, L.L.C. My passions lie in creativity, fashion, technology, and advocating for children. I find inspiration in art,aesthetics, literature, and global exploration. I'm eager to build new relationships, engage with the community, and foster secure environments where children can flourish.

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    Ra'Neta Olive

    Associate Board Vice Chair

    Ra'Neta Oliver has dedicated nine years to education, focusing on promoting academic excellence. She currently serves as a Math and Science Teacher for Grades 4/5 at District of Columbia Public Schools, starting this role in August 2021. Her teaching journey began with positions as a General Education Teacher for Grades 1-3 at the same school. Throughout her career, Ra'Neta has been commended for setting clear expectations in line with the school's vision, crafting challenging curricula, and using tailored teaching methods to cater to various student needs. She has also worked as an English Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher at King and John Lewis Elementary Schools, and as a 5th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at Excel Academy Elementary School. Ra'Neta's teaching approach focuses on strategic assessment, refining curricula, and establishing a supportive learning environment to enhance student success.

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    Carlton Clemens

    Associate Board

    Carlton Clemens is a seasoned operations manager with over nine years of experience in project, program, and product management within engineering and tech organizations. As a Senior Project Manager at Disney Entertainment, he leads product development for cross-team automation tools and manages day-to-day operations across over 100 stakeholders. His career includes roles such as Director of Business Operations & Strategy at APEX and Bid Project Manager at The Industrial Company. Carlton holds an MBA from the University of Houston and a BS in Civil Engineering from Ohio State University. He is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and as a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP).

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    Alex Oh

    Associate Board

    Alex Oh has committed his professional and academic career to technology policy. He has extensive experience analyzing legal frameworks and regulation, monitoring domestic and international developments, and identifying industry trends. As a Regulatory and Policy Advisor at TMG, he provides guidance to governments and technology companies in areas including regulatory compliance, market access, and legislative reform. At National Journal, he led his team’s research on artificial intelligence, data privacy, and online content moderation. Alex received a bachelor’s degree in professional writing and a master’s degree in international relations and politics at Carnegie Mellon University. During his studies, he focused on the intersection of emerging technology and the law, culminating in a thesis exploring the effects of internet regulations on online behavior.