Our Staff
Suzanne Grossman
Executive Director
Suzanne joined the NewBridges team in 2024 after years working in academia and nonprofits both in the US and overseas. She has a Doctor in Public Health (DrPH) focused on community health specifically among immigrant populations. As Executive Director, she promotes NewBridges’ mission by engaging with community partners, working with staff, and reporting to the board of directors.
Steve Smith
Staff Immigration Attorney & Immigration Legal Program Coordinator
Steve joined the NewBridges team in 2023 after nearly a decade in private immigration practice. Steve advocates for the Valley's immigrant population both through his work at NewBridges and as a board member of Skyline Literacy.
Ricardo Mazariegos
Case Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Ricardo uses his life experience as a first generation immigrant to help clients as they acclimate to the area. His job includes helping people fill out applications for US passports, birth certificates, medical financial assistance, and providing general information, as well as translations and notarization of documents.
Leah Hackman
Advancement Specialist
Leah joined NewBridges first as a volunteer in 2016 and then as a part-time staff member in 2017. Her background is in nonprofit accounting and project management, and she holds a BFA in Technical Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to accounting and bookkeeping, she also provides development support to the organization.
Mariela Rodriguez-Gildner, CHI ™
DOJ Accredited Representative, Immigration Legal Program
Mariela has worked as an interpreter for clients accessing healthcare and legal services in the Shenandoah Valley since 2018, and joined NewBridges in 2021. Mariela holds a bachelor’s degree in History from University Mayor of San Andrés in La Paz, Bolivia, and she is also a certified healthcare interpreter. Mariela provides direct representation to clients, helping them understand immigration benefits and requirements.
Cindy Hunter, MSW
Staff Social Worker
Cindy provides education on healthy ways to deal with the physical and emotional response to stressors caused by immigration. Along with Ricardo, Cindy helps client’s problem solve common issues related to integration into a new community including navigating institutions addressing health, safety, education and immigration.
Anahi Ramirez
Immigration Program Assistant
Anahi started out as an Eastern Mennonite University intern in 2022 and later on joined as part-time staff in 2023. Her work consists of assisting staff with client files, updating digital folders and organizing physical and digital files.