Our Team

Hilda Cherekdjian has been part of SDP since its early beginnings in 2011, when Carl Spetzler and the founding group came together to create the Society. With a background in finance and extensive cross-cultural and international experience, Hilda brings a broad perspective to her work and a deep appreciation for the importance of sound judgment and thoughtful decision-making in complex environments.

Before joining SDP, Hilda served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, helping shape their vision, strengthen their organizations, and support fundraising efforts. These experiences, together with her business background, have been instrumental in her leadership of SDP.

Today, Hilda is dedicated to growing SDP’s reach, visibility, and influence so that more people recognize the value of better decision-making and the Society’s role in advancing the practice. She works to build a strong, connected community of decision professionals and expand SDP’s impact while staying true to its founding vision.

With more than 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, business development, and event management, Diana Swift brings a passion for turning ideas into action and creating experiences that connect people with purpose.
Throughout her career, Diana has led marketing initiatives, built brands and partnerships, managed complex projects, and produced events that bring people together. Her experience across corporate, consulting, and nonprofit environments has shaped her ability to connect strategy with execution and turn vision into momentum.

At SDP, Diana leads marketing, communications, and strategic support, helping bring the Society’s mission and community to life. From strengthening SDP’s digital presence and developing campaigns to producing conferences and creating opportunities for members to connect, she is focused on making the SDP experience engaging, accessible, and memorable.

Her goal is simple: to help SDP continue to grow, connect, and advance the practice of Decision Excellence while making every interaction with the Society feel thoughtful, professional, and personal.

Ney Balderama is the Creative & Digital Operations Manager for the Society of Decision Professionals (SDP). He initially joined SDP as Executive Assistant to Executive Director Hilda Cherekdjian, supporting the organization across administration, events, communications, and day-to-day operations. Before joining SDP, Ney served as an Associate Manager in the business process outsourcing industry in the Philippines, where he developed experience in operations, team leadership, process management, and client support.

At SDP, Ney works across website management, digital content, marketing, social media, webinars, conferences, email communications, and creative projects. He enjoys bringing together technology, creativity, and operations to turn ideas into practical solutions and create a stronger experience for SDP members and the broader Decision Professionals community.

Ney is passionate about helping SDP grow its reach, strengthen its digital presence, and build deeper engagement within its community. He hopes to continue contributing through innovative digital strategies, creative storytelling, streamlined processes, and initiatives that make SDP’s mission and work more accessible. Outside of work, Ney is a proud dog dad to seven dogs and enjoys camping whenever time allows.