Meet Our Team
Danielle Feerst
CEO |
Alexandria Trombley
COO, Graphic Designer |
Anthony Principe
Education Specialist |
Danielle's Background
Danielle Feerst, Tufts class of 2016 Engineering Psychology is the Chief Founder of AutismSees, LLC, which has rebranded as Podium. Alongside her co-founder, Alexandria Trombley COO and Graphic Designer, Podium’s mission is to improve presentation and communication design tools for young adults. Podium is a remedial tool on the iPad and web to create a digital job interview, or presentation practice environment. Connecting communication between users and a coach, the tool was Danielle’s brainchild, originally as a solution for social communication feedback targeted to young adults on the autism spectrum. As a graduate student in Occupational Therapy, Danielle’s vision is bridge the gap between the human experience and technology with the right interface, engaging young adults of any age or ability in their own presentation style to build self-awareness and coach them on how to fulfill their potential. Danielle hopes to pursue a career working in nonprofit leadership, adaptive sport, and assistive tech innovation and design.
Alexandria's background
Alexandria is a student at Tufts University’s School of Engineering, enrolled in a 5-year BS/MS program studying Human Factors Engineering. Human factors engineering is the study of how people interact with the world, and the application of that natural interaction to interface design. In this program, Alexandria has studied a variety of different disciplines, including cognitive and experimental psychology and child development, interface design, and medical device design. From the time she started working at Live and Learn Early Learning Center with children who had a variety of different developmental needs, Alexandria has had a passion for working with those who are developmentally different from the general population. This passion led her to join, and later become the co-founder and COO of, AutismSees, LLC. When she is not working on AutismSees or her schoolwork, Alexandria sits as the chair of Relay for Life at Tufts University, helping to raise nearly $80,000 for the American Cancer Society every year. Alexandria also works as a Human Factors Engineering Assistant at UL-Wiklund medical device research and design firm.
Anthony's background
Anthony Principe retired from the Newton Public schools after teaching for 34 years in 2011. He is a veteran special education teacher and administrator who was instrumental in developing cutting-edge inclusion programs for students diagnosed with a wide range of disabilities while employed in Newton. Mr. Principe has also worked for the Boston Public Schools as a transition specialist.This fall Mr. Principe returned to the Newton Public Schools to direct the STEP program at Newton South High School. The Step program is a full inclusion program for students diagnosed with high function autism. Currently Anthony is helping develop the software sales model for Podium. At Massachusetts General Hospital, he was employed in the Aspire program, which serves the needs of youth with ASD. Currently he works at Asperger’s Association of New England as a life map coach and is an Executive Function Coach with Beyond BookSmart.
Anthony is an advisor to JFY Networks, a Boston-based nonprofit provider of supported blended learning programs to high schools, community colleges and community-based organizations. Boston’s Learn Launch Accelerator Program has also invited Anthony to take part in their program as a mentor assisting edtech entrepreneurs develop their sales strategies and navigate growth, market entry and exits. He is driven to motivate team members, identify potential partners, and apply technology strategies to enhance educational outcomes.
Anthony is an advisor to JFY Networks, a Boston-based nonprofit provider of supported blended learning programs to high schools, community colleges and community-based organizations. Boston’s Learn Launch Accelerator Program has also invited Anthony to take part in their program as a mentor assisting edtech entrepreneurs develop their sales strategies and navigate growth, market entry and exits. He is driven to motivate team members, identify potential partners, and apply technology strategies to enhance educational outcomes.