About Us | VIA Services

Leslie Davis

Chief Executive Officer

Leslie is the chief executive officer for Via Services. She joined Via in 2011 as the director of Via West. In 2012, she became the vice president of programs, overseeing both the Via West and First Step programs. In 2014, she transitioned into the role of chief executive officer.

Leslie received her B.A. in Spanish from Santa Clara University and her M.A. in special education and rehabilitative counseling from San Jose State University.

Leslie has extensive experience working with the special needs population. She worked as the special education manager at Rocketship Schools, an organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap of low income students. She also owned a private counseling practice in San Jose dedicated to vocational rehabilitation and transition counseling for those with special needs and those with work-related injuries.

Did you know?
Leslie is a die-hard fan of the San Francisco 49ers, the Oakland A’s, the San Jose Sharks, and the Golden State Warriors.

Get in Touch
408-243-7861, ext. 232
ldavis@viaservices.org

Leslie Leger

Vice President, Administration

Leslie is responsible for the oversight and management of all IT and HR functions, relations with the Board of Directors, and she is also the financial liaison for the organization. She joined Via in 2001.

Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, she worked as the director of operations for a high tech company in Mountain View. She has years of experience with overseeing company administration and IT.

Did you know?
Leslie loves to go camping.

Get in Touch
408-243-7861, ext. 226
lleger@viaservices.org

Amy Churchill

Director, First Step

Amy oversees our speech and occupational therapy programs, as well as the Early Start assessment team. She joined Via in 2012 as a contractor through her private practice and transitioned into the role of director in January of 2015.

Amy received her B.A. in communication disorders from State University of New York and her M.A. from Lehman College at City University of New York. She also received a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association. She is licensed to provide speech and language assessments and intervention in California and New York.

Amy has 14 years of experience working with children in the private and the public sector, particularly with early childhood and preschool assessment and services. She has extensive experience with public special education services based on Individual Education Programs and Individual Family Services Plans. Amy has training/certification in the following programs: Hanen-It Takes Two to Talk, PROMPT, SCERTS, PODDS, PECS, Social Thinking, and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.

Did you know?
Amy’s favorite dessert is New York cannoli.

Get in Touch
408-243-7861, ext. 233
achurchill@viaservices.org

Shannon McDaniel

Director, Advancement

Shannon oversees all fundraising and development initiatives for Via Services. She joined Via in 2016 as the director for the advancement department though she helped her mother raise funds for Via back when it was known as the Crippled Children’s Society. Her grandmother also volunteered over 30 years ago, and her son Aiden was a client of First Step and Via West.

Shannon received her B.A. in Exercise Physiology from Chico State University and her M.B.A. in Healthcare IT from St. Mary’s College.

Shannon has many years of development experience working in the high-tech industry. She was a member of the development team for Healtheon before it was purchased by WebMD, and she also developed and raised funds for two different start-up companies. She also spent 3 years developing a membership program for a 5-star resort.

Did you know?
Shannon played for the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team.

Get in Touch
408-243-7861, ext. 239
smcdaniel@viaservices.org

Irshad Fardan

Director, Via West

Irshad oversees all of the programs at Via West providing leadership, supervision, and management. He joined Via in 2013 as a counselor before becoming the program administrator in 2015. He also worked as the assistant director of Via West for 2 years before transitioning into the role of director in 2017.

Irshad received his B.S. in Psychology from San Jose State University.

Irshad has extensive experience working with the special needs population. Prior to his years at Via, he worked with at-risk youth at Corbett Group Homes, Inc. He has also spent time mentoring middle school children with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.

Did you know?

Irshad is an Arabic name meaning guidance/direction.

Get in Touch
408-243-7861, ext. 216
ifardan@viaservices.org

Shama Marshall

Director, Altitude

Shama oversees all programming for Via’s Camp Altitude and supports the daily operations of Via’s First Step Early Start assessment team. She has worked with Via Services as a contractor since 2012 before coming on board in her administrative role in February 2017.

Shama received her B.S. in Exercise Science and Health Promotion at Florida Atlantic University and her M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education from Santa Clara University. She is a credentialed California Education Administrator and is an authorized trainer and coach for the Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Childhood. Shama has also completed the Universal Design for Learning Trainer of Trainers Program at the CAST Institute in Boston and was recently certified as an Inclusive Classroom Profile Reliable Rater.

Shama has worked with individuals with special needs for over 15 years from early start (0-3 years old) through high school age. Promoting the use of evidence based practices and increasing opportunities for high quality inclusive programming have been the back bone of her experience.