Our Team

Dr. Jason Motes founded VALiDITEA® to assess, coach, and develop leaders while supporting veteran organizations and the nonprofit community. He is a board-certified (BCC) and ICF-credentialed (ACC) executive leadership coach, and is the author and creator of The Leader’s Review™, The Leadership Continues™, and The Leadership Tea™.

With senior leadership experience at two Fortune 100 companies and in the U.S. Navy, he’s led corporate teams ranging from 10 to 800 members with P&L responsibility and has commanded multiple high-tempo operational military units. He actively participates in several 501(c)(3) veteran support organizations, serves as a Special Advisor to Civilian Ready, and is the Board Chair for The Catalyst.

Jason served nearly a decade on active duty, leading troops in operations around the world, before moving to the reserves to build a corporate career. He continues to serve at a high level as a Commanding Officer — sitting on promotion boards, chairing qualification boards and supporting national recruiting. He has completed six overseas deployments, most recently as Commander of a major Task Group and Operations Officer at one of the Navy’s forward-deployed Fleets.

Outside the classroom, he enjoys reading, writing, time with family, swimming, cycling and rowing.

An accomplished and business-savvy executive with over 20 years of corporate leadership experience, Keith’s depth of knowledge and ability to drive senior-level decision-making are exemplified throughout his career. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Keith also has nearly 30 years of military leadership experience, serving as a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he has commanded large organizations and driven high-visibility programs that require operational excellence. Keith is a certified leadership coach.

Darien Sears is a leadership and wellness coach who helps leaders and teams succeed through a unique mix of professional growth and holistic health. She has over 11 years of experience leading fast-paced teams in the U.S. Navy and private shipyards, where she earned a reputation for operational excellence and people-focused leadership. In addition to graduating from the United States Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she also holds certifications in fitness and nutrition, which enhance her coaching practice.