PATH's Shared Services divisions provide the infrastructure and cross-program services that support our program staff in doing their best work. Our Shared Services directors are experienced professionals in the fields of business development, communications, finance, fundraising, human resources, information technology, law, public health advocacy, and publishing.

Michele Burns, MA
Director, Publications

Ms. Burns provides strategic oversight for development of corporate and programmatic materials. She manages PATH's editorial and graphic design teams, which serve global and country programs throughout the organization and support institutional communications and fundraising efforts. She leads and contributes to the development of PATH's highest-visibility documents.

Prior to joining PATH in 1999, Ms. Burns held positions of increasing responsibility with several groups in the publishing industry, including HarperCollins Publishers in New York and Encore Media Group in Seattle. As a senior editor at Harbour Communications in Seattle, she wrote and edited medical communications materials, including reference books, peer-review journal articles, and product monographs.

Ms. Burns holds an MA from the University of Washington and a BA from New York University.

Ellen Cole
Director, Visibility and Marketing

Ms. Cole is responsible for informing, inspiring, and engaging people to support and partner with PATH to improve the health of people in developing countries. She is charged with increasing PATH’s visibility as a leader in global health, leading the institution’s marketing efforts, and directing the range of its online communications.

Before joining PATH in 2003, Ms. Cole served as director of development and communications for Global Partnerships, a Seattle-based nonprofit supporting microfinance institutions in Central America. She also has many years of experience in communications, marketing, sales, and management in the publishing and newspaper industries.

Janet (Jan) Aldrich Jacobs, CFRE
Director, Donor Relations

Ms. Jacobs is responsible for developing relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations that support PATH with unrestricted and loosely restricted charitable contributions. She has more than 20 years of experience in establishing and expanding fundraising programs for nonprofit organizations.

Prior to joining PATH in 2004, Ms. Jacobs held development positions with the Seattle Symphony in Seattle, Washington; The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia; and the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana. She also served in an executive role with The Bentz Group, a national fundraising consulting firm.

A certified fundraising executive, Ms. Jacobs holds a BA from Montana State University-Billings.

Marlow Kee, MBA
Director, Finance

Mr. Kee oversees the organization’s financial operations, grant and contract services, budget and analysis, investments, and audit. He has 25 years of financial and management experience in nonprofit organizations, medical research institutions, and health care organizations.

Mr. Kee’s areas of expertise include financial accounting and systems, budgeting, financial analysis, auditing, management of research grants, sponsored project and fund accounting, and physician practice management. In addition, he has served on the boards and board committees of numerous nonprofit and community service organizations, including Health Alliance International, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, and Village Reach.

Mr. Kee is a certified public accountant who earned his BA and MBA from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Doug Palm
Director, Information Services and Infrastructure

Mr. Palm oversees PATH’s global information services and facilities operations. These include library services, records management, software integration and development, network and computer services, and office and facilities management.

Mr. Palm has 27 years of experience in information technology and systems, specializing in the introduction and management of globally distributed corporate networks and information services. Prior to joining PATH in 1989, Mr. Palm worked as a computer consultant providing training and advice regarding computer productivity, electronic communications, and project management software to a variety of government and corporate entities.

Mr. Palm received BS degrees from Oregon State University. He also completed a certificate program for microcomputer management from the University of Washington, a certificate program for Microsoft systems engineers, and a certificate program on systems analysis from Boeing Computer Services. He is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and is a founding member and former chair of the Nonprofit Organizations Knowledge Initiative.

Suzanne Rexing, MPH
Director, Business Development and Institutional Relations

Ms. Rexing leads business development efforts with the US government and other public organizations by building and leveraging relationships with key collaborators. Working with PATH program leaders, she serves as a catalyst for creating and strengthening funding opportunities for global and country programs. She also directs the work of the Business Development Support team.

Ms. Rexing has more than 20 years of experience related to business development and global health. Her expertise includes strategic planning, proposal management, fundraising, marketing and communications, and technical and financial program management. Prior to joining PATH, she held positions with Johns Hopkins University, Battelle Memorial Institute, Westat, and Yale University.

Ms. Rexing holds a BA from Smith College and an MPH from Yale University. She has also completed a number of executive MBA courses at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Sharon Thompson
Director, Human Resources

Ms. Thompson directs PATH's human resources, including employment, compensation, organizational planning, policy, employee relations, performance management, learning and development, and diversity initiatives.

Ms. Thompson has broad-based experience in high-tech, manufacturing, and financial services industries in both domestic and international arenas combined with public health experience early in her professional career. Before joining PATH in 2008, she served as vice president of World Wide Human Resources with the Talisma Corporation, a global software products company. Previously, she directed human resources activity for a division of Microsoft and held positions in global compensation and benefits as well as human resource operations at Symantec Corporation. Before transitioning to human resources, Ms. Thompson worked in disease surveillance for the Centers for Disease Control and was seconded to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Ms. Thompson holds an MS in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University and a BS in public health administration from Dillard University. In addition, she completed the Human Resources Executive Program at Stanford University.

Rachel Wilson, MPH
Director, Policy and Advocacy

Ms. Wilson is responsible for the development, management, and evaluation of PATH’s advocacy and public policy initiatives. She has more than 15 years of experience in public health advocacy, research, and communications, both in the United States and globally.

Before joining PATH in 2006, Ms. Wilson served as director of policy communications at the Global Health Council. Previously, she was the director of women’s health policy and advocacy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and director of policy and advocacy at the Massachusetts Public Health Association. Prior to her work in public policy, she coordinated epidemiologic research on women and children’s health at Boston University.

Ms. Wilson earned her MPH from Boston University.