Management Team

Melissa started her career in Silicon Valley a really long time ago. Most recently she spent 12 years at Adobe Systems where she was Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications. Melissa was also responsible for Adobe's Philanthropy and Community Affairs, championing annual corporate giving of over $15M each year. Under her leadership, Adobe launched its first global signature philanthropy program designed to provide youth in underserved communities with the skills they need to become active and engaged citizens of the world.

As someone who made the transition from corporate executive to founder of a website for social change, Melissa is honored to be featured in the inspiring new book We Are The New Radicals: A Manifesto for Reinventing Yourself and Changing The World by Julia Moulden.

Melissa volunteers her time doing marketing strategy consulting for a number of nonprofits, and as a mentor for women in leadership roles. She is on the board of directors for the Humane Society of Silicon Valley and the San Jose State University Alumni Association. She also serves on San Jose State University's College of Business advisory board, and is a former trustee of the San Jose Museum of Art.

Melissa and her husband have three terriers who keep them entertained with a condition known as excessive personality disorder. In addition to their work with animals, the Dyrdahls are also involved in the conservation and protection of the Monterey Bay marine sanctuary.

Throughout his career in the technology world, Drew has always been all about products. He has worked on fun consumer products, complex enterprise products, and lots of stuff in between. Prior to founding Bring Light, Drew spent 12 years at Adobe Systems, most recently as Director of Corporate Product Management, where he managed a bunch of cool technology that was ‘under the hood,’ including the stuff that makes Adobe's products accessible to people with disabilities.

Drew is known as the ‘greenest’ of his friends, always looking to reduce his family’s environmental footprint. He started by replacing light bulbs with compact fluorescents, and worked his way up to replacing the family cars with hybrids. Drew lives with his wife and two boys, as well as their two dogs, two horses, and an undetermined and growing number of adopted cats.

As a representative of many men and women who help make a difference in the world, Drew is featured in the book We Are The New Radicals: A Manifesto for Reinventing Yourself and Changing The World by Julia Moulden.

Dave is currently Programs Director for San Jose, California and Boulder, Colorado at the James S. and John L. Knight Foundation. In this role, he works with local leaders and advisers to identify opportunities for investing in innovative programs and supports the foundation's efforts to bring lasting, positive, and transformational change to San Jose and Boulder. Prior to this, Dave applied his expertise in research, strategy and planning to a number of firms, including Adobe Systems, where he worked for almost a decade, most recently as an Entrepreneur in Residence. Fortunately for students at two local universities, Dave is also sharing his knowledge and experience in the classroom, becoming a highly regarded lecturer in the marketing department at San Jose State University.

Dave was named Volunteer of the Year in 2003 for spearheading a fund raising campaign to offset state budget cuts at his daughter's middle school. And while he's more likely to listen to jazz than classical music, he is a proud member of the board of directors of the San Jose Youth Symphony. Dave is also a member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals.

In his free time, Dave enjoys road trips with his family and golf.

Linda has been doing high tech marketing for 17 years with a range of businesses including non-profits, start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. Her journey has exposed her to all kinds of consumer and B2B technologies, but her favorites are the ones that enhance people’s lives.

Prior to Bring Light, Linda spent seven years at Adobe leading worldwide PR and marketing plans, product launches and corporate initiatives. Linda doesn’t think any marketing strategy is worthy of execution unless it meets a business objective and it is approached in a creative way. The industry has recognized some of her campaigns with Webby Awards and a DMA Leader ECHO. Eight years in PR resulted in coverage in top-tier business and consumer venues like the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, USA Today, CNN, CNBC and The Today Show.

Linda began her interest in social causes with volunteer work while in high school. After college, she drove communications and event marketing for SeniorNet, a nonprofit specializing in providing technology training, products and an online forum to people over 55. Today, she focuses her efforts on the Green movement, launching an innovative organic nursery with her husband Trent. Together, they educate consumers about organic gardening methods and provide a better environment for their two kids, two dogs, two cats and local community.

Chris has a passion for software technology, and has been working in the industry for 14 years. He loves learning about it, building software (yes, he played with Legos a lot as a kid), as well as teaching others. Most recently, Chris was architect and senior computer scientist for digital imaging web services at Adobe Systems. In addition, he has led and managed many engineering teams, been involved with multiple start-ups, and done a variety of consulting.

Chris' family is part of the Robinson Foundation which makes a significant impact on several charities and organizations each year. Chris spends his free time with his family, or caught up in his other passions of cycling, espresso, and the environment, and did we mention espresso?