Compliance Team

Michael Johnson, J.D.

Founder (CLI) and Executive Advisor

Michael Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer of Traliant, is a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney who brought one of DOJ’s first “pattern or practice” sexual harassment cases. Michael has provided training and consulting on harassment prevention or investigations to organizations around the world such as the EEOC, the United Nations, and Google. He is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School.

Elissa Rossi, J.D.

Vice President of Compliance Services

Elissa Rossi, Vice President of Compliance Services, has practiced employment law and litigation at various law firms, including Boyd Richards and Willkie Farr. She also has served as an Assistant Attorney General in New York’s Attorney General’s Office. Elissa has represented clients in state and federal actions and in administrative proceedings before the EEOC and other regulatory bodies. Elissa is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago Law School.

Brian Rothenberg, J.D.

Vice President of Compliance Training

Brian Rothenberg, Vice President of Compliance Training, has advised numerous Fortune 500 companies on their compliance training and policy needs. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond and he received his J.D. and MBA from the College of William and Mary.

John Brushwood, J.D.

Compliance Counsel

John Brushwood, Compliance Counsel, is a graduate of St. Petersburg College and George Washington University Law School. He has practiced data privacy, cybersecurity and AI governance at various law firms, including Griffin & Griffin in Washington DC.

Bailey Whitsitt, J.D.

Compliance Counsel

Bailey Whitsitt, Compliance Counsel, is a graduate from Iowa State University and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Bailey has practiced labor and employment law at various firms, including Taft Stettinius & Hollister and Clark Hill Law.

Leondra Hanson, J.D.

Senior Compliance Advisor

Leondra Hanson has extensive experience as an attorney and college professor. Her past research has focused on exploring innovative approaches to training. She is a frequent speaker on legal and education topics and has presented at regional SHRM events, Minneapolis TED, and the National Association of Women Lawyers. Leondra graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, and earned her J.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Ashley Membere, PhD.

Senior Compliance Advisor

Ashley Membere, PhD, consults on diversity and inclusion training development and presents live training sessions for Traliant. Professor Membere is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Professor Membere researches, among other things, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Professor Membere graduated from Rice University and received a PhD from George Mason University.

Katherine Schweit, J.D.

Senior Compliance Advisor

Katherine Schweit is an attorney, law school professor, and former FBI special agent. At the FBI, Katherine authored the FBI’s seminal research, A Study of 160 Active Shooter Incidents in the United States. Katherine was also part of the FBI crisis team that responded to active shooter incidents, including the shootings at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Pentagon, and the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard. In the private sector, Katherine has served as Director of Global Security Policy and Training for Live Nation Entertainment. Katherine is the author of the 2021 book, Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and DePaul University College of Law.