People
Leadership and Governance
Light Forager Resources is governed by a multidisciplinary
leadership team with expertise spanning finance, enterprise risk
management, science, education, sustainability, and community
engagement. This breadth of experience ensures strong fiduciary
oversight, operational accountability, and mission-aligned
execution in advancing waste diversion, bio digestion, soil
regeneration, and community education.
The organization's leadership structure reflects best practices in
nonprofit governance, including separation of financial oversight,
operational leadership, and independent board supervision.
Dawn Yeung
President and Director
Dawn Yeung serves as President and Director of Light Forager
Resources, providing strategic leadership, organizational
oversight, and mission alignment. She is the founder of The
Scheirer Group, a Women-Owned Small Business specializing in
financial education and data-focused management consulting,
where she serves federal, state, and private clients through
workshops, training, and advisory services on financial
strategy and data solutions.
Her expertise in financial systems, organizational development,
and strategic execution strengthens Light Forager Resources'
institutional capacity and ensures responsible management of
donor and grant resources. Dawn's leadership focuses on building
scalable educational programs, developing strategic partnerships,
and establishing durable organizational infrastructure to support
long-term mission delivery.
Her financial education and governance expertise helps position
Light Forager Resources as a reliable and accountable steward of
philanthropic and institutional funding.
Alyssa Dole
Chief Operations Officer
Alyssa Dole serves as Chief Operations Officer of Light Forager
Resources. A Texas-raised chef, culinary educator, and advocate
for local food and community-based food systems, she completed
her culinary studies at Cook Street in Denver and worked in
kitchens in Melbourne, northern Italy, and Paris before
returning to Texas in 2009.
She began her Houston career with Culinaire, then joined Recipe
for Success Foundation, where she taught the Seed-to-Plate
Nutrition Education™ curriculum and served as Volunteer and
Community Outreach Coordinator. She later returned as Culinary
Director and has also worked with Hope Farms, connecting food
education, local agriculture, and community health.
Over more than a decade in professional kitchens, she led pastry
programs for Houston restaurants and hospitality groups,
including Coltivare, Revival Market, Cherry Pie Hospitality,
Emmaline, Pinkerton’s Barbecue, The Kirby Group, and Jane
& the Lion Bakehouse, and she helped open LuLoo’s Day
& Night. Known for artisan breads, plated desserts,
gluten-free baking, and raw vegan desserts, she was named Best
Pastry Chef by the Houston Press in 2015 and was nominated for
CultureMap’s Best Pastry Chef award for multiple years.
That experience in professional kitchens, food education,
community outreach, and local agriculture supports Light
Forager’s work on a circular food system: stronger local
food networks, less waste, healthier soil, and a clearer link
between healthy soil, nourishing food, and long-term food
security.
Ariel Scheirer
Treasurer and Director
Ariel Scheirer serves as Treasurer and Director, overseeing
financial governance, reporting integrity, and resource
accountability. Her professional background spans finance, data
analytics, and strategy, with experience supporting national
infrastructure systems and operational networks. This provides
strong analytical and technical expertise in structured data
management, systems oversight, and operational reliability.
Ariel is also an advocate for financial literacy, with published
work exploring women's investing behavior and the role of
confidence in financial participation. As Treasurer, she ensures
the organization maintains sound financial controls, transparent
reporting practices, and responsible stewardship of financial
resources. Her role supports Light Forager Resources' compliance
with nonprofit financial standards and strengthens its ability to
responsibly manage grant funding and donor contributions.
Her technical and operational expertise contributes to building
durable systems that support the organization's growth and
long-term sustainability.
Mobarka Ansari Sheikh
Secretary and Director
Mobarka Ansari Sheikh serves as Secretary and Director, bringing
extensive experience in enterprise risk management, financial
governance, and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of
Arts in Economics and Government from Dartmouth College and a
Master of Science in Enterprise Risk Management from Columbia
University, where she graduated among the top of her class.
With over 15 years of experience in the financial sector, she
has held senior roles in global financial institutions, including
BNP Paribas and Morgan Stanley, where her work focused on
institutional risk management, governance controls, and
regulatory oversight. Her expertise strengthens Light Forager
Resources' governance framework, ensuring compliance with
nonprofit regulations, sound internal controls, and responsible
organizational oversight.
Mobarka's experience in managing institutional risk and
governance systems enhances the organization's operational
resilience and accountability. Her leadership supports the
organization's commitment to transparency, ethical governance,
and responsible stewardship of public and philanthropic
resources.
Cecil Yeung, MD, FACS
Director
Dr. Cecil Yeung is a double board-certified otolaryngologist and
facial plastic surgeon who serves as a Director of Light Forager
Resources. He earned his bachelor's and medical degrees from the
University of Toronto, completed his residency in
Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of
Toronto, and pursued fellowships in plastic and microvascular
reconstruction at Washington University in St. Louis and in head
and neck surgery at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Yeung is an independent ENT specialist who has spent over
20 years treating patients' allergic and respiratory conditions
at his private practice, Houston Sinus Surgery. He performs
procedures at his own state-of-the-art surgery center in
Houston, specializing in minimally invasive endoscopic sinus
surgery, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and complex
breathing disorders. An award-winning author and sought-after
lecturer on ENT and sinus health, Dr. Yeung's career reflects a
lifelong dedication to patient care and clinical excellence.
His deep scientific and medical expertise strengthens Light
Forager Resources' ability to deliver accurate, evidence-based
educational programming related to biological systems,
environmental health, and ecological sustainability. Dr. Yeung's
involvement supports the organization's commitment to scientific
integrity and public education grounded in biological and
ecological principles.
Pam Wellen
Director
Pam Wellen is an experienced educator and Director of Light
Forager Resources. She holds a degree in Psychology with a minor
in Business Management from the University of Texas and has
pursued graduate studies in Educational Diagnostics at Houston
Baptist University. She is also a certified educator holding
Elementary (PK–6th) and ESL (K–12) certifications.
Her professional background in classroom instruction, curriculum
development, and educational diagnostics provides valuable
expertise in designing effective educational programs and
learning experiences. Her work focuses on translating complex
scientific and ecological concepts into accessible educational
content that supports student engagement and public
understanding.
Pam's experience strengthens Light Forager Resources'
educational program development and ensures the organization's
outreach initiatives are pedagogically sound and accessible to
diverse communities. Her leadership supports the organization's
mission to expand environmental literacy and promote long-term
ecological stewardship through education.
