Ms. Ejonta Pashaj, PADCO Local Government Specialist

Mr. Dennis Wendel, PADCO Senior Democracy and Governance Advisor

Mr. Mark Brown, PADCO, Director, Democracy, Governance, and Services Division

Mr. Kenneth Barden, J.D., Senior Anti-Corruption Specialist

Mr. Tom Bayer, Senior Democracy and Governance Advisor

Ms. Ejonta Pashaj, PADCO Local Government Specialist

Ms. Pashaj is a local government specialist with extensive experience in public participation. Ms. Pashaj has worked directly with municipal officials in Albania, Macedonia, and Serbia to promote participatory, transparent, and accountable local government, and has developed and implemented citizen participation projects, including establishment of citizen assistance centers, one-stop permitting centers, communications strategies, and participatory budget hearings. She holds a master's in public policy from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Mr. Dennis Wendel, PADCO Senior Democracy and Governance Advisor

Mr. Wendel is a senior democracy and governance advisor with more than 35 years of experience designing and implementing anti-corruption activities, including programs in conflict resolution, political transition, civil society development, local government support activities, and election support in Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, Egypt, and India. Since 1989, Mr. Wendel has served in various senior management positions for USAID, including Division Chief for Europe and Eurasia, Rule of Law (2000-01); Office Director of Democracy and Governance in Indonesia (1998-00); Senior Democracy and Governance Specialist (1997-98); and Office Director of Democracy Programs in South Africa (1992-95). Outside of USAID, he has served in technical roles as senior democarcy advisor, rule of law specialist, and director of operations (2002-06).

Mr. Wendel has extensive experience in program strategy formulation and project design, resource management, contract management, and grant program development and management. As the Division Chief for Europe and Eurasia, Rule of Law Program, Mr. Wendel was responsible for the architecture and design of the anti-corruption, rule of law, and legislative support programs throughout Eastern Europe and the former states of Soviet Union. In this capacity, he organized and guided the development of an anti-corruption framework and coordination program and operational activities with international donors while leading a team of seven legal and judicial professionals and guided the work of two senior anti-corruiption specialists in the region.

Previously, Mr. Wendel was responsible for the design and strategic development of a highly successful $28 million democracy program in Indonesia, which led to the first democratically elected government in 40 years. He designed and implemented USAID election support, conflict resolution, national dialogue, truth and reconciliation, media and transparency, legal and constitutional reform and anti-corruption, and legislative support prorams. Mr. Wendel has extensive experience in conflict, insurgency, and civil-military relations and in the development of conflict ideologies focused on society-wide corruption, resource allocation, and ethnic group identities.

Presently, Mr. Wendel is serving as Senior Integrity, Governance, and Political Transition Specialist with PADCO. In this capacity, he is responsible for the design, development, and managemetn of PADCO's anti-corruption, democracy, and governance portfolio.

Mr. Mark Brown, PADCO, Director, Democracy, Governance, and Services Division

Mr. Brown is a local government and public administration specialist, with diverse international experience in building the capacity of local governments and civil society organizations, participatory planning and development, land and housing management, reform of municipal enterprise, and information dissemination. His 20-year career includes long-term resident assignments in the United States, Russia, Poland, Pakistan, and Kenya, and his short-term work experience includes more than 15 countries of Asia, Africa, and Europe. He has extensive experience developing and implementing capacity building programs for state and local governments, NGOs, and professional associations.

Mr. Kenneth Barden, J.D., Senior Anti-Corruption Specialist

Mr. Barden is a senior specialist in jurisprudence, public administration, and business administration, with more than 20 years of professional experience, including approximately 5 years of international experience. He has completed USAID anti-corruption training and has diverse skills relevant to the Anti-Corruption IQC. He is currently Legal Counsel and Acting Director of the Bureau of Revenue, Customs and Taxation for the Republic of Palau. His international law experience includes support in the areas of corporate governance to USAID-funded Citizen Democracy Corps in Kosovo; review and analysis of the draft Bankruptcy Law in Vietnam, and Radio and Television Law in Mongolia and Romania for the ABA/UNDP Legal Resource Unit; review and analysis of federal administration (decentralization) law for ABA/CEELI in the Russian Federation; and development of concepts on alternative dispute resolution for East European insolvency proceedings. Mr. Barden holds a JD from Indiana University with a background in international law and government law, an MA in public administration, and BA (cum laude) in political science and business administration. He has participated in Yale University's post-graduate workshops, "Rebuilding Torn Societies-Issues of Governance and International Organizations."

Mr. Tom Bayer, Senior Democracy and Governance Advisor

Mr. Bayer is an international development specialist with more than 20 years of experience in sustainable development. His expertise encompasses transitional relief and reconstruction, elections management, civic education, governance, rule of law, political assessment, program analysis, training and adult education, human resources management, organizational development, capacity building, strategic planning, water resources management, and integrated rural development. He has designed, implemented, and evaluated technical assistance and assessment initiatives to support the evolution of sustainable self-rule across sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East funded by USAID, DFID, UNDP, FEMA, and the U.S. Department of State.

Much of his work has been with U.S. and foreign government officials, civil society leaders, and national and international opinion leaders in challenging post- conflict settings, to introduce and encourage inclusive, peaceful, open approaches to the division of power and authority. Mr. Bayer has spent more than six years overseas implementing in-country programs, engaging in all aspects of the project lifecycle. His career has brought him into contact with all facets of the U.S. foreign policy establishment, for which he has served as an African policy resource and expert.

Mr. Bayer holds an MPA in Comparative International Affairs and Environmental Management, a BA in English Composition and Studio Design. He speaks French, Bambara, and Songhrai.