Diana Nicole Derige
Chief Executive Officer
Slant Innovations, LLC
Diana Nicole Derige, DrPH, is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Slant Innovations LLC, where she leads the firm’s vision to deliver equity-centered evaluation, public safety, and organizational resilience strategies to mission-driven organizations. Under her leadership, Slant Innovations has grown into a trusted partner for nonprofits, public agencies, and private entities seeking culturally responsive, operationally ready solutions.
Strategic Vision & Leadership
With a background in public health, systems change, and equity-focused program design, Diana guides the strategic direction of Slant Innovations. She ensures that every project - from evaluation framework development to organizational strategy and public safety planning—is aligned with the firm’s commitment to equity, collaboration, and measurable impact.
Equity-Centered Innovation
Diana has built a reputation for creating innovative frameworks that bridge research, community engagement, and implementation. She has worked extensively with BIPOC-led firms such as PRAXIS Institute, Itzpa Consulting, and Sherrine Peyton LLC to develop evaluation models that reflect community voice, strengthen organizational capacity, and inform meaningful change.
Expertise in Public Health & Organizational Development
Drawing on years of experience in public health and nonprofit leadership, Diana integrates strategic planning, organizational development, and equity-based policy alignment into Slant’s services. Her expertise ensures that Slant Innovations delivers solutions that are both technically sound and culturally grounded.
Commitment to Impact
As CEO, Diana is committed to positioning Slant Innovations as more than a consulting firm—she ensures it operates as a strategic partner, advancing equity, safety, and sustainability for the organizations and communities it serves.
Luis Manuel Pagan
Chief Operations Officer
Slant Innovations, LLC
Luis Manuel Pagan, MA, serves as Chief Operations Officer of Slant Innovations LLC, where he leads strategic initiatives in equity-centered evaluation, public safety, organizational development, and capacity building. With over two decades of experience spanning nonprofit leadership, public safety, and community engagement, Luis brings a multidisciplinary approach that translates strategy into measurable impact for mission-driven organizations.
Strategic Leadership & Cross-Sector Expertise
Luis oversees complex, multi-sector projects that strengthen organizational capacity, enhance safety, and embed equity into operational frameworks. His expertise spans evaluation framework design, risk assessment, public safety planning, and strategic growth for nonprofits, government agencies, and private partners.
Drawing on his background in emergency management and criminal justice, Luis guides organizations in implementing resilience strategies that safeguard people, protect operations, and improve outcomes. His work integrates data-driven decision-making with culturally responsive approaches to ensure sustainable results.
Public Safety & Emergency Management
With a Master’s degree in Emergency Management and Community Resiliency, Luis brings deep expertise in all-hazards preparedness, continuity of operations planning (COOP), incident command systems (ICS/NIMS), and crisis communication strategies. His leadership ensures that Slant Innovations’ public safety services are operationally ready and tailored to the unique risks of each client.
Evaluation & Partnerships
Luis has built and managed strategic partnerships with BIPOC-led evaluation firms, including PRAXIS Institute, Itzpa Consulting, and Sherrine Peyton LLC, to co-create frameworks that are community-informed, culturally responsive, and action-oriented.
Commitment to Mission
Luis’ work is grounded in a commitment to advancing equity, safety, and organizational resilience. As COO of Slant Innovations, he ensures the firm remains more than a consulting provider—positioning it as a strategic partner dedicated to the long-term success and sustainability of the organizations it serves.
Gina A. Hess
Project Manager
Slant Innovations, LLC
Gina Hess has served as a dedicated Project Manager at Slant Innovations, LLC since May 2021, where she plays a pivotal role in delivering complex, equity-centered initiatives. With a strong foundation in operational excellence and strategic coordination, Gina ensures that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards—directly contributing to Slant’s mission of advancing equity, public safety, and community resilience.
Project Coordination and Strategic Impact
Gina excels at translating high-level project goals into actionable, achievable plans. She creates detailed schedules, sequences activities, and allocates resources to meet tight deadlines. Her proactive risk identification, timely issue escalation, and corrective action keep projects on track and aligned with client objectives.
Her portfolio spans a diverse range of Slant Innovations’ work—including evaluation framework development, public safety preparedness projects, and organizational capacity-building initiatives for nonprofits, government agencies, and private firms. Gina’s oversight has been critical to ensuring these projects deliver measurable impact while maintaining client and stakeholder trust.
Leadership in Operations and Collaboration
Beyond her project execution expertise, Gina fosters strong working relationships with internal teams, partner firms, and community stakeholders. She directs project correspondence, prepares proposals, drafts meeting documentation, and manages contracts with precision. By coordinating budgets, schedules, and deliverables, Gina ensures smooth execution across multiple concurrent projects.
Her operational approach is strengthened by her ability to manage and streamline communication through platforms such as Asana, Slack, and collaborative project dashboards. She also oversees vendor and consultant coordination, ensuring clear expectations and timely deliverables.
Professional Strengths
Gina brings a rare combination of operational precision, strategic foresight, and collaborative leadership. Her work not only maintains the seamless execution of Slant’s projects but also elevates their impact. Her dedication ensures that every initiative—whether in evaluation, public safety, or strategic development—advances the organization’s mission of creating sustainable, equity-centered change.