David Snelbecker, CEO. David Snelbecker has 20 years of experience as a senior executive, policy advisor, and project manager for international development projects focused on economic growth, private-sector development, economic governance, and economic and social policy, in developing, post-conflict and transition countries. He has worked in the areas of macroeconomic policy; fiscal policy and administration (taxation and budgeting); pension reform policy and implementation; competitiveness; workforce development; post-conflict economic governance; and trade and investment climate. His past employment experience includes work as Senior Vice President with AECOM International Development; as a Principal with The Services Group; as a Macro-Economic Policy Advisor for the Harvard Institute for International Development in Ukraine; and for then-Senator Joe Biden. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, and holds a PhD and MPP in Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and an AB from Princeton University. He speaks fluent Russian, as well as basic Ukrainian, Spanish, and German.
Robert Kirk, Senior Vice President for Economic Programs. Robert Kirk has 30 years of experience working as a senior executive and an applied economist with broad expertise in economic development, trade policy, multilateral and regional trading agreements, institutional strengthening, and regulatory reform. Dr. Kirk has proven ability to manage large multinational teams with effective communication in order to deliver technically sound work within project budget to client satisfaction. He has worked extensively on projects funded by USAID, the World Bank, UK DFID, and the European Union. He has recently published papers on non-tariff barriers in East Africa and the Southern African Customs Union Agreement. Prior to joining IDG, he consulted to the World Bank, served as Senior Vice President for AECOM International Development, was Chief of Party for the USAID Southern African Trade Hub, and was a Principal with The Services Group. Dr. Kirk holds a PhD and B.Sc in Economics from the University of Salford, Manchester in England.
Melani Schultz, Senior Vice President. Melani Schultz has over 20 years of experience working with USAID and other government agencies as both a technical advisor and project manager with expertise in value chain development, competitiveness, SME development, standards, international trade and economic development including business environment and trade policy reforms. Her previous experience includes as a Chief of Party and technical leader on large multi-year projects overseas in Latin America, Southern Asia and the former Soviet Union. She has also worked directly for the government serving as an industry economist and trade specialist for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce) and the US International Trade Commission providing support for trade negotiations in areas such as TBT, SPS and IPR and policy and economic advice to Congress and USTR on related topics. She also has contributed to several important trade publications including the Probable Economic Effects of Elimination of US Tariffs under the WTO/FTAA (USITC 1999) and The Year in Trade (USITC 1998). She has a BA from Cornell University and two Masters (International Affairs – Economic Development and an MBA) from the George Washington University. She is PMP certified and speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently.
Dave McIntosh, Controller. Dave McIntosh has extensive experience as a financial specialist. As the Controller for IDG, he coordinates all accounting and tax matters for the firm. He previously served as controller at IIF Data Solutions in Centreville, Virginia where he coordinated all accounting functions for a federal government contracting firm. He also assisted program managers, project controllers, and the proposal department. He holds an M.B.A in Finance and Investments from George Washington University and a B.S. in Accounting from George Mason University.