Rob Zeaske is the CEO of Report Local (formerly the GroundTruth Project), home of Report for American and Report for the World. Zeaske joined as CEO in 2023 after serving on its board and as its COO. Under his leadership, Report Local, and its two flagship programs, have grown significantly and deepened their impact across the globe, collectively supporting nearly 1,000 journalists and more than 500 newsrooms. Previously, Zeaske was the Director of Harvard Business School’s Social Enterprise Initiative, leading programming, research and alumni activities for students and alumni focused on social impact. Zeaske was the CEO of Second Harvest Heartland — the country’s largest food bank — in Minneapolis, MN, for eleven years, where he dramatically expanded programming and led innovation to better support neighbors in need. Prior to these positions, Zeaske worked in leadership roles for mission-driven organizations in education and international relief and development. A Midwest native, he now lives outside of Boston with his wife and three kids. He holds a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Kyra Miller is the Donor Relations Manager for The GroundTruth Project. She most recently worked as Program Assistant at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, supporting J+, its professional development arm. Before that, she served as the Advancement Associate at The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Kyra holds a BA from the Klein School of Media and Communications at Temple University. A Philadelphia native now based in Denver, Colorado, Kyra spends her free time reading a thriller on her Kindle, teaching and practicing yoga, or hiking with her husband and chocolate lab, Murphy.
Patrick Carhart is The GroundTruth Project's IT Director. Previously, Carhart led various IT and security programs, and consulted for small and medium businesses for several years. He began his career as a Helpdesk Engineer and Senior System Administrator for businesses including Google, Service Now, and Fitbit. Patrick currently resides in North Western Nevada with his wife, daughter, and three dogs— if he's not with his family, you can find him under a car or on the race track.
Cristela Guerra is Report for America's regional manager for the Southwest. Guerra is a queer journalist of color, a proud Panamanian and
frequently, a moderator leading important conversations around arts
and culture. Before working with Report for America, Guerra was a senior
arts and culture reporter for nearly seven years at WBUR in Boston and
prior to that, a newspaper journalist for more than a decade at The
Boston Globe and The News-Press in Fort Myers, FL. She was a 2024
Nieman Fellow at Harvard. Her studies examined stories of the
diaspora, including those of her own Panamanian heritage, the reasons
that compel people to migrate and how those individuals build
community. Her work received a regional and national Edward R. Murrow
Award in 2014 and another regional Edward R. Murrow in 2023 as part of
“Continuing Coverage” for her work at the U.S.-Mexico border on the
journey of Venezuelan migrants. She was chosen as a 2019 Latina Leader
by Amplify Latinx and inducted by YW Boston into its 2023 Academy of
Women Achievers along with receiving the Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Award.
They are the vice-chair of the board at RAW Art Works in Lynn, MA.
Gillian Smith is The GroundTruth Project's Director of Brand and Communications. Smith is a strategic communications leader with over 15 years of experience shaping brand narratives, leading media relations, and driving content strategy across mission-driven organizations. She began her career in local newsrooms and has remained deeply connected to local journalism, bringing that lens to her work in higher education, nonprofit media, and women-focused platforms. Smith combines storytelling, equity, and public engagement to amplify underrepresented voices and drive meaningful impact.
Eden Gobuty is The GroundTruth Project's Director of Individual Giving. She brings more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience, as well as enthusiasm for building meaningful connections between donors and the organizations they generously support. She most recently served as Major Gifts Officer at WFAE, the NPR-affiliated news organization in Charlotte, NC, where she lives. When she's not working you can find her enjoying time with family and friends, listening to a wide-ranging list of podcasts, or dabbling in crafty activities. Eden holds a bachelor's degree in Business and an MBA in Nonprofit Management from American Jewish University.
Catie Talarski is Report for America’s Regional Manager for the Northeast, bringing nearly two decades of experience in journalism, storytelling and audio production. Her stories and documentaries have aired on NPR and member stations across the country. She most recently led the award-winning talk show and storytelling teams, as well as radio programming, at Connecticut Public.
Talarski has long mentored and supported early-career journalists, and has taught podcasting and journalism classes to high school and college students. She created and hosted two live storytelling events in Hartford CT - *the ear cave* listening sessions and Radio Adventure Theater, an experimental variety show combining live music, theater, poetry and documentary radio.
She lives in the Nutmeg State with her husband and two kids and loves exploring beaches, hiking trails and picturesque towns across New England.
A.D. Alibrahim is The GroundTruth Project's Director of Philanthropy. Alibrahim brings over 17 years of experience in international fundraising, with a deep focus on major gifts, planned giving, and donor engagement strategy. His career spans the fields of health equity, human rights, and civic engagement, including leadership roles at Children’s National Hospital Foundation and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. A.D. holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, he is an avid traveler and home cook who’s always on the hunt for new recipes and passport stamps.