Our Team
Melissa Bosworth
Principal
Melissa Bosworth is a strategist, educator, and organizational-development leader dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit and healthcare sectors through evidence-informed strategy, leadership development, and equitable systems design. As a Principal at Vertical Strategies, she partners with mission-driven organizations nationwide to advance strategic goals, build leadership capacity, and create lasting impact.
With over two decades of experience in healthcare, human services, and higher education, Melissa blends creativity, empathy, and analytical rigor to help organizations navigate complexity and change. Her consulting practice spans strategic planning, governance development, and organizational transformation—all rooted in a commitment to equity and sustainability.
Melissa also serves as Chair of the Health Administration Department at Regis University, where she teaches and mentors emerging leaders in healthcare management, policy, and organizational strategy. Her academic leadership and consulting practice intersect around a shared belief that strong systems and compassionate leadership are the foundation of sustainable impact.
A former pianist and music therapist turned administrator and strategist, Melissa brings a creative, holistic lens to her work—helping teams approach challenges with innovation and humanity. Her leadership at Vertical Strategies reflects her dedication to building just, resilient systems that empower organizations and the communities they serve.
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For more information, visit her CV here.
Megan Galaviz
Principal
Megan Galaviz is a strategist, educator, and facilitator with more than 15 years of experience leading organizational strategy, systems design, and leadership development across the nonprofit, human services, and healthcare sectors. As a Principal at Vertical Strategies, she partners with mission-driven organizations and institutions to strengthen capacity, align operations with purpose, and implement strategies that deliver sustainable impact.
Megan’s career reflects a unique blend of analytical depth and human-centered leadership. Beginning in healthcare operations and administration, she developed expertise in process improvement, financial systems, and policy implementation before transitioning into nonprofit strategy and organizational development. Over the past decade, she has guided hundreds of nonprofit leaders and teams through strategic planning, governance development, and organizational transformation.
At Vertical Strategies, Megan’s work spans strategic consulting, applied research, curriculum design, and facilitation. She is known for her ability to turn complexity into clarity—helping organizations translate ambitious goals into actionable, measurable outcomes. Her approach centers on equity, sustainability, and authentic collaboration.
In addition to her consulting practice, Megan serves as a faculty member in the Health Administration program at Regis University, where she teaches courses in leadership, organizational strategy, and systems management. Her academic and professional work are grounded in the belief that effective leadership begins with empathy, evidence, and equity.
Megan’s leadership at Vertical Strategies reflects her commitment to strengthening the social sector through intentional strategy, inclusive growth, and transformative learning. She believes strong organizations create stronger communities—and that systems built on purpose and people are the foundation of lasting change.
Dwayne Wharton
Senior Consultant- Just Strategies
Dwayne is a health and equity advocate working locally, globally, and everywhere in between to help build healthier communities. He has held leadership positions in several prominent non-profit organizations and has helped to advance local, state and federal policies, promote health equity, and worked to eliminate disparities across multiple determinants of health. Dwayne is an appointed member and co-chair of the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on African-American Males (MCAAM) and the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) where he Chairs the Health Subcommittee. He also serves on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Philanthropy Network, American Heart Association, Kynett Foundation, Bridging the Gaps Community Health Internship Program, and the Alliance for Agriculture in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dwayne is a former Peace Corps volunteer, and is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader.
Jen Lewis-Walden
Senior Consultant- Shift Health Accelerator
Jen Lewis-Walden (They/Them/She/Her) envisions a future where community voices shape responsive institutions, capital, and democracy. Their work advances community-led change to reimagine health systems that center those historically excluded from decision-making. Jen currently advises multisector partnerships and investment strategy through Co-Create Health, supports capacity building with Leadership In Tension, and serves on the Leadership Team of Shift Health Accelerator, a national network of health equity leaders committed to community-led health and racial equity. They have consulted with Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative, NeighborWorks America and Build Healthy Places Network on equitable healthcare-community development investments. They served as a Senior Fellow for Data Strategies at the Blue Shield of California Foundation and led strategic initiatives for the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. In these roles, Jen strengthens organizational capacity and leadership, facilitates values-led strategic planning, and cultivates coalitions that bring together community voices, institutions, and cross-sector partners. Their work emphasizes community engagement practices that elevate resident expertise, align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities, and build durable infrastructure for health equity. Jen’s training includes Master’s degrees in Environmental Management (MEM) and International Relations (MA) from Yale University, and a BA in Biology from Bryn Mawr College. Jen holds a Certificate in Business Excellence through the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business Executive Education program and was a Culture of Health Leader with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Austin Holmes
Senior Consultant
Austin Holmes grew up in Utah, and he graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Studies and International Studies. He has over a decade of experience in community engagement, organizational strategy, and project management across non profit, environmental, and social justice organizations.
Austin has served on many committees and community boards, and is currently a member of the Bridgewest Environmental Health steering committee, the Pacific Islander Knowledge 2 Action Resources Development Committee, and is the Operations and Logistics lead for the Apple Valley Community Garden non profit organization. His current work with Utah State University focuses on closing gaps in the rural-urban economic divide, and on professional development efforts for underrepresented communities.
Austin approaches his work from the perspective of service to others, and utilizes his diverse experience in a variety of ways to seek that goal. He prioritizes grassroots, community-driven efforts to build organizational capacity and actualize the great ideas that so many people have.
