ESI

OUR TEAM

J. Paul Rickett, Founder

Mr. Rickett has 30 years of experience with the fiscal and regulatory aspects of administering Federal grants and contracts, including fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, time-and-material, nonprofit programs, and small business initiatives. He developed the indirect cost proposal to the cognizant audit agency to establish ESI's annual indirect rates, including the negotiation of all final rates. In addition, he oversees the technical guidance on all audit requirements for ESI, as well as all of the firm's banking and financing relationships, and he serves as a trustee of the ESI Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Mr. Rickett's expertise also encompasses project management, the development and monitoring of budgets for programs and events, and the oversight of contractual and fiscal operations. He has served as project director and corporate monitor of numerous federally funded initiatives, including projects conducted for the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Head Start and Children's Bureau), the U.S. Department of Education, U. S. Department of the Treasury, and U. S. Department of the Army. He has a B.S. in accounting.

Susan Flowers Dixon, Founder

Ms. Dixon, founder and principal of ESI, has more than 30 years of experience administering Federal grants and contracts, including more than 15 years managing multitask Federal contracts. She is fully versed in the requirements of Federal awards and is experienced in overseeing modifications based on scope-of-work changes. Ms. Dixon, who developed the firm's quality assurance program and performance-based management plan, monitors contracts for performance, timeline requirements, and administrative and fiscal reporting. Her areas of expertise include health communication, conference and meeting management, training and technical assistance, and information clearinghouse services. She also serves as a trustee of the ESI ESOP. She has an M.Ed. in rehabilitation counseling.

Joseph Graziano, Chief Financial Officer

Joseph Graziano, CPA, has more than 30 years of progressive experience and achievement in the Government contracting industry. Areas of expertise include financial, executive, human resource, and general business management. As chief financial officer of ESI, Mr. Graziano is responsible for all aspects of financial and accounting control and oversight, including financial reporting, cash flow management, budgeting and forecasting, proposal pricing, cost monitoring and containment, and contract administration. In the past, Mr. Graziano has worked with both large and small Federal Government prime contractors for the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Department of Energy. His work has included formulating and implementing new policies and procedures, improving internal controls, and implementing automated financial systems. Mr. Graziano holds a B.S. in accounting from American University, Washington, DC.

Rachel Hunt, Vice President

Ms. Hunt has spent more than 15 years creating, managing, and supporting information programs. With expertise in program management, inquiry response and tracking systems, materials development, marketing and outreach, technical assistance, special research support, warehousing and distribution, and meeting planning, she has had key functional and management roles on numerous Federal information projects, including Information Service, CancerNet Search Service, National Women's Health Information Center, National Aging Information Center, National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Clearinghouse, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Clearinghouse, and four National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases clearinghouses. Other work includes the education program on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and research of the National Institutes of Health Office of the Director. Ms. Hunt has an M.A. in anthropology.

Sonya Merrill, Vice President

Dr. Merrill has more than 30 years of experience in program management with expertise in Federal contracting; financial oversight; public and behavioral health; education; and children, youth, and families. She currently serves as corporate monitor on several major multitask contracts for Federal clients including the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), Traumatic Stress and Special Programs; the HHS office on Women's Health; the HHS and Office of Head Start; the Administration for Children and Families' Office of planning, Research and Evaluation; and the Corporation for National and Community Service. She also oversees a subcontract to support the discretionary grant review process for deputy project director for the SAMHSA national Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information for 5 years, overseeing a 90-person staff. Her credentials include a Ph.D., and M.B.A., and M.C.P. As a published author, she contributes to the field of public health by serving as an abstract reviewer and presenter for the American Public Health Association.