Our Team
Sumedha A. Bahri
Sumedha Bahri is a patent attorney, biomedical engineer, stand-up comic, adjunct law professor, public speaking instructor, and the founder of Highest Speak - Ascend (for adults) and Highest Speak - Reach (for children.) She has worked in environments ranging from corporations like Accenture, to law firms, to Universities, to the courtroom, to stand-up comedy clubs. She absolutely loves teaching public speaking in the most entertaining and effective way possible. She has an 8-year old son, a 2-year old daughter, and a husband whose age shall remain ageless. She also studied screenwriting and playwriting, and produced and co-wrote a stage comedy that ran in Boston's Theatre District for 3 years. She resides in Fairfax, VA.
Mandi Ellis
Mandi Ellis holds an MA.Ed in Education and a Minor in Theatre. Public speaking, performance, and language arts have always been her passion. She's very active in community theater around the DC metro area and has won awards for public speaking competitions. She is also an FCPS Middle School teacher.
John Yeager
John is an educator, sommelier, a public speaking instructor for adults and children, and one of DC and Northern VA's most popular stand-up comics and mimics. He is a voice-over artist for radio and television, and can be heard frequently as Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders on various advertisements. He also has students in splits with his hilarious imitations. He has a B.A in Film Studies and a B.S in Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University, and is also a middle-school teacher.
Anisha Thakar
Anisha has a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She specializes in technical or scientific presentations and communication, and in particular, public speaking skills for Women in the Workplace. She also joined Teach for America and began teaching 7th grade special education math and 7th and 8th grade special education science for the New York City Department of Education at a Dual Language middle school. During this time, she completed a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Hunter College. Outside of teaching public speaking for adults and children, Anisha is also a personal trainer, dancer and has dabbled in stand-up comedy. Through all of these experiences, her public speaking skills have helped her tremendously!
Amanda Hurley
Amanda Hurley is a performer, theater/film lover, public speaker, and educator, currently working in film and television production. She has been an acting and speaking coach for adults and children. Amanda has a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre from Umass Boston, an Associate's degree in Dramatic Arts from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and a certificate in Broadcast Media from Roxbury Community College.
Davine Ker
Davine Ker is a trilingual stand-up comedian, multidisciplinary artist, and Moth StorySlam winner who creates art through thought-provoking jokes, unexpected concepts, and unique storytelling. In the late 1970s, Davine’s family escaped from the totalitarian regime in Cambodia and found refuge in Montreal, Canada. From childhood, Davine has been trying to bridge her Cambodian heritage and her Canadian upbringing, exploring the cultures, traditions, values, communities, and beliefs that have helped shape her life. In 2003, Davine moved to the United States and recently became an American citizen. Though her art, Davine has continued to bridge culture, speech, comedy, music, and storytelling. She has headlined throughout the DC area and also performed as a featured stand-up in cities throughout the United States from New York to California and across the border in Montreal, Canada.
Lyka Ferry
Lyka is a marketing and public speaking professional. Lyka has been awarded degrees of merit, honor and excellence during her membership in the National Forensic League for her platform speaking and original speech writing. She has mentored executives as well as students in informative and persuasive speech writing and performance. While earning her Bachelor’s in Communications, she serves in the Army National Guard and uses public speaking in her leadership work, organizational activities, and ceremonies. She naturally exudes energy and enthusiasm for all her public speaking students!
Caitlin Celic
While earning her bachelor's in Marine Biology, Caitlin began performing stand-up comedy where she sharpened her public speaking skills. She moved to South Korea in 2017 to teach English and also hosted a monthly stand-up open mic in a completely new country! She has traveled and performed in cities all over the world. Now back in California, Caitlin continues to make her students laugh in a digital classroom by tutoring English and public speaking.
