CO-FOUNDER and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Flor De Amelia Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ASCENDA Foundation, where she leads the organization's mission to expand opportunities, empower families, and create inclusive communities for individuals with disabilities throughout every stage of life. With more than 15 years of experience serving the special needs community, Flor is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), licensed behavior analyst, and special educator. Throughout her career, she has worked with infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and young adults across home, school, clinic, and community settings. Her professional expertise spans applied behavior analysis, special education, transition planning, family consultation, nonprofit leadership, and program development.

Flor's passion is rooted in both professional expertise and personal experience. As the mother of a daughter with significant medical and developmental needs, she understands firsthand the challenges families face while navigating healthcare, education, disability services, and the transition into adulthood. These experiences inspired her to co-found ASCENDA, where she is dedicated to developing innovative programs that promote independence, employment, education, community inclusion, and lifelong opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Committed to empowering families beyond direct services, Flor hosts the Starting with IEP podcast and provides free educational workshops that help parents better understand special education, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and the resources available to support their children. She believes that informed families become confident advocates capable of transforming outcomes for their children.

Flor's commitment to disability advocacy extends internationally. She has collaborated with disability organizations, professionals, and families in Peru and the Philippines and is helping establish future outreach initiatives in Guatemala and El Salvador. Through these partnerships, she works to expand access to education, strengthen family supports, and promote inclusive opportunities across diverse communities. As CEO, Flor is dedicated to building sustainable programs, fostering strategic partnerships, and creating lasting systems of support so that every individual with a disability has the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, purpose, and belonging.

CO-FOUNDER and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Sean Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of ASCENDA Foundation, where he oversees the organization's financial strategy, budgeting, compliance, operational planning, and long-term sustainability. He is committed to ensuring that every financial decision supports ASCENDA's mission while maintaining transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of donor and grant funding.

Sean earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Iowa State University before proudly serving more than 22 years in the United States Air Force as an Integrated Avionics Systems Specialist. Throughout his military career, he developed expertise in leadership, operational management, strategic planning, accountability, and solving complex technical challenges in high-pressure environments.

Following his military service, Sean transitioned into commercial real estate, where he has continued developing expertise in financial analysis, negotiations, business operations, property evaluation, and long-term facility planning. His diverse professional background provides a strong foundation for overseeing ASCENDA's financial health and organizational growth.

As the father of five children, including a daughter with significant medical and developmental needs, Sean understands firsthand the challenges families face while navigating disability services and planning for the future. These experiences inspired him to co-found ASCENDA, where he is committed to building a financially sustainable organization that creates lasting opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Sean believes responsible financial stewardship is an essential part of fulfilling ASCENDA's mission. By strengthening the organization's financial foundation today, he is helping ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from high-quality programs, meaningful opportunities, and lifelong support.

Nonpublic School Specialist

Michael A. Plummer is an accomplished education leader and consultant with more than 35 years of experience strengthening schools and programs across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He currently serves as Founder & CEO of MAPedc, LLC, advising organizations on leadership development, compliance, curriculum design, and school improvement.

Michael previously served as a Senior Program Manager at the Maryland State Department of Education, where he oversaw statewide assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities and managed more than $15 million in federal grants supporting accessibility, training, and best practices.

He also held senior leadership roles at Chimes International, where he led the turnaround of a nonpublic K–12 program guiding the school from a $1.9 million deficit to a strong surplus through strategic fiscal management, enrollment growth, and program redesign. He later advanced to Director of Business Development – Education, where he led new school applications, expansion efforts, and financial operations across multiple programs.

Earlier in his career, Michael spent more than a decade at the Maryland School for the Blind, directing curriculum, assessment, and IEP development for students from preK through grade 12 and helping the school achieve successful firsttime accreditation through the Middle States Association.

A 2009 Fulbright Scholar in China and an international keynote speaker, Michael is known for blending strategic vision with deep empathy for students, families, and educators. His work continues to shape inclusive, high quality learning environments nationwide.

Strategic Nonprofit Specialist

Stephanie Dulitz Katz is the Founder and President of CETA Benefit Consulting Group, LLC (CETA).

She has over forty years of experience in the design, implementation, and administration of human resource and employee programs and has worked for a variety of firms including: ADP Benefit Services, T. Rowe Price, Ernst & Young, and Coopers & Lybrand. Since 1997, CETA has provided consulting services to clients across the commercial, nonprofit, and government sectors.

Driven by her passion for giving back to her profession, community, and schools, Stephanie has dedicated herself to serving in leadership roles throughout various professional organizations.

Currently, she is the Immediate Past President of the National Board of WEB (Worldwide Employee Benefits Network), Board Member/Governance Chair for the Greater Chesapeake Foundation, University Liaison for the Greater Washington Brandeis National Committee, and as Treasurer for the Maryland Institute for Neuroscience and Development (MIND). Also, she has served as the National Education Chairperson and as a Director for the American Society of Pension Actuaries (ASPA), Director for the Social Innovators of America Association (SIAA), on the Programming Committee for the HR Leadership Forum, and on the Membership Committee for The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce. And, Stephanie is designated as a GLG Scholar and serves as part of a global network of industry professionals providing insight to the largest U.S. investment management firms as part of the Healthcare Council of the Councils of Advisors.

Among Stephanie’s many contributions to the community, her most enduring legacy has been her service to The Arc Montgomery County. For more than two decades, she championed the organization’s mission, serving in a variety of leadership roles, including several years as President. Through her steadfast commitment to advancing inclusion, dignity, and the welfare of all people, she earned multiple Board Member of the Year awards. In recognition of her dedication to creating a world where children and adults with IDD enjoy equal rights and opportunities, The Arc Maryland honored Stephanie as Chapter Volunteer of the Year for The Arc Montgomery County.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Stephanie received a BA in Psychology from Brandeis University and an MBA with a concentration in Insurance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Also, she is an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent, a Certified Pension Consultant, a Qualified Pension Administrator, a Qualified 401(k) Consultant, a Resident Broker for Life/Accident and Health, and a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist. And, Stephanie was honored with the Joseph Wharton Award in recognition of her significant contributions to her profession and the community.