Our Team
Meet our passionate group of highly-skilled professionals
Stephen D. Smith
Co-founder
Stephen D. Smith is a speaker, scholar, author, and creative who preserves Holocaust and genocide survivors’ memories through innovative technologies. As Executive Director Emeritus of USC Shoah Foundation, he pioneered Dimensions in Testimony, allowing audiences to interact with virtual survivors. Smith co-founded the Aegis Trust, directed the Kigali Genocide Memorial’s development, and supported Kwibuka, producing National Genocide Memorial Ceremonies. His oral history expertise and theological background uniquely position him to document these stories. Smith has been honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions.
Heather Maio-Smith
Co-founder
Heather Smith is a pioneering exhibition designer and co-founder of Memory Workers LLC. As the concept creator of New Dimensions in Testimony, she revolutionized how future generations can interact with Holocaust survivors through conversational technology. After partnering with USC Shoah Foundation, she founded StoryFile, developing AI technology that enables interactive video conversations. Heather continues her mission of preserving authentic human experiences through innovative storytelling. Her groundbreaking work has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, The New Yorker, BBC, and 60 Minutes.
Jerami Schecter-Peled
Chief Business Development Officer
Jerami Shecter is a seasoned fundraising leader with two decades of experience advancing major Jewish organizations. She specializes in strategic fundraising and community engagement. Previously, Jerami served as Chief Development Officer at the Combat Antisemitism Movement and built AIPAC’s Wall Street division, raising millions through grassroots initiatives and high-profile events. A passionate advocate for Jewish causes, she serves on the board of Global Jewry. Jerami holds a B.A. in Communication, Political Science, and Sociology and is a graduate of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.
Glenn Harless
CHief Technology Officer
Glenn Harless is a UX and AI innovation leader with over 30 years of experience designing human-centered conversational platforms. He has led design and development at companies like Interactive Drama, StoryFile, and co-founded Lumenairi, where he advances scalable, mobile-first AI for asynchronous video storytelling. Glenn holds multiple patents in conversational AI and has deep expertise in multimodal interaction design, content architecture, and emotional prompt generation. His work bridges storytelling and technology, empowering families, institutions, and educators to preserve human legacy through dynamic, authentic digital experiences. He is also a mentor and frequent advisor on inclusive design and ethical AI integration.
Karen Jungblut
Director of Programs and Content
Karen Jungblut leads digital projects combining oral history, immersive technology, and public engagement. An expert in these fields and ethical immersive storytelling, she specializes in cross-cultural collaboration, conversational video, and AI-integrated archives. Formerly a key leader at the USC Shoah Foundation (1996-2021), where she helped build the Visual History Archive and led interactive testimony production, she is now Director Emerita of Global Initiatives. She also consults internationally and leads a German nonprofit. Her career reflects a dedication to historical truth, intergenerational empathy, and exploring new engagement technologies through personal testimony to foster awareness and connection across challenging histories.
Hannah Littman
communications Director
As a Creative Director and strategist, Hannah builds brands by defining their core values and crafting compelling narratives. she specializes in connecting voice, vision, message, and meaning across diverse sectors, from tech to advocacy, adeptly shifting between emotional storytelling and sharp positioning. His focus is on developing clear brand messaging, creating impactful content ecosystems, and fostering collaborative environments. She helps brands grow by ensuring their communication—whether a campaign, crisis response, or single line—builds trust, drives connection, and resonates with their audience. She brings strategic, unified, and human brand messaging to every project.
Colleen Mahan
Director of operations
Colleen M. Mahan, a Michigan State University alumna with a BA in Telecommunications, is the Director of Operations at Memory Workers. Her diverse 30-year career encompasses both cutting-edge technology and the entertainment industry. Before joining Memory Workers, Colleen spent two years at StoryFile, a company specializing in conversational video AI. From 2016 to 2022, she was the executive assistant to Stephen D. Smith, the Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation. Colleen’s career began in Los Angeles, where she spent over 25 years in comedy television production, contributing to renowned shows such as “Friends” and “Full House.” Originally from Detroit, Michigan, she has resided in Los Angeles for many years and proudly identifies as a Spartan.