Compliance Team
Legal Expertise
Introducing the Traliant Compliance Team — our dedicated in-house legal experts with extensive experience in employment law. Backed by our legal team, we produce courses that cover topics such as sexual harassment training, diversity training, and code of conduct training to ensure your organization stays compliant with evolving laws and regulations.
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 Wilkie 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.