Mark Vineis
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mark Vineis is the president and CEO of ProLiteracy. He is responsible for scaling ProLiteracy as an organization and increasing its overall impact through strategic clarity, strengthening cross-division synergies, and growing the organization’s internal capabilities.
Vineis founded Mondo Publishing in 1986. Mondo began as a professional development organization which then evolved into a creator of supplemental, core, intervention, and digital tools for English Language Arts (ELA). Mondo became a progressive and recognizable ELA brand in K-12 education. In 2018 Vineis led the sale of Mondo Publishing to Carnegie Learning and served as the managing director of both Mondo Education and K-12 ELA at Carnegie Learning until the end of 2019. In 2020, Vineis started EmpowerED Digitial Solutions to consult with EdTech stakeholders across the sector, working together to rethink and shape student-centered learning and explore how technology and professional learning can help educators and students reach their highest potential.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from Pace University.
Sonja Chernos
Vice President of Publishing
Sonja Chernos is the VP of publishing for ProLiteracy’s publishing division, New Readers Press. She is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the organization’s current portfolio as well as future curriculum development and distribution of both print and digital solutions for adult basic education, English language learning, high school equivalency, and workforce development.
Sonja has extensive experience in curriculum development and portfolio management. Prior to joining ProLiteracy, she spent 13 years with McGraw-Hill Education in different capacities, most recently as the VP of academic design for intervention, adult education, and product development operations. Sonja holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental and occupational health science and a master’s in public health from California State University, Northridge.
Allison Bleyler McDonald
Senior Director of Marketing
Allison Bleyler McDonald is the Senior Director of Marketing for the organization. She is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the organization’s marketing activity, including the website, content and storytelling, and brand and digital strategy to support the organization’s impact growth.
Allison has extensive experience in marketing and communications and has worked in consumer, retail, and nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and the world, including S.C. Johnson, Yankee Candle, and VentureWell. She has led diverse teams and organizations to create and implement strategies that catalyze innovation, build reach, and expand impact. Allison holds a bachelor’s degree in Russian Language and Literature from Dartmouth College and a master’s in business administration from Cornell University.
Todd Evans
Senior Director of Programs
Todd Evans is the Senior Director of Programs for ProLiteracy. He is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the services ProLiteracy provides to the adult education field, including professional development, domestic and international projects and partnerships, and membership. Todd has been with ProLiteracy since 1995. He has spent most of his time with ProLiteracy providing training and support to tutors, teachers, students, and program managers in a variety of subjects.
Todd began his literacy career in Memphis, TN: first as a volunteer tutor for the Memphis Literacy Council, and later as a staff member where he was an administrative assistant, community liaison, and trainer. Todd is a member of many literacy and training organizations, including the Literacy Roundtable, a consortium of literacy providers throughout the St. Louis-Metro area. Todd graduated from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations.