Citizens CHRO Susan A. LaMonica, LinkedIn VP of Product Engineering Erran Berger, and United Airlines CIO Jason Birnbaum to help Year Up United expand access to opportunity for young adults
Boston, MA – February 18, 2026 – The national workforce development organization Year Up United announced today that it has appointed three new members to its national board of directors, which meets quarterly in support of Year Up United’s mission to close the Opportunity Divide. Citizens Financial Group Chief Human Resources Officer Susan A LaMonica, LinkedIn Vice President of Product Engineering Erran Berger, and United Airlines Chief Information Officer Jason Birnbaum were elected to the board in December and January, and will play a pivotal role in strengthening Year Up United’s ability to drive strong career outcomes for young adults ages 18–29. All three organizations have been inducted into Year Up United’s Opportunity Hall of Fame.
“These leaders bring deep experience in industries that are central to economic mobility and opportunity," said Year Up United Interim CEO Susan Murray. "Their insight and commitment will strengthen our ability to partner with employers, expand access to high-quality career pathways, and deliver strong outcomes for the young adults we serve."
Susan A. LaMonica, Citizens Financial Group
Susan LaMonica serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at Citizens Financial Group and is a member of the bank’s executive committee. She oversees organizational development, leadership and talent, learning, inclusion, compensation and benefits, HR operations, and also leads Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs. LaMonica has played a central role in Citizens’ transformation, including its separation from the Royal Bank of Scotland, multiple acquisitions, and the national launch of Citizens Private Bank. She previously held senior HR leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase and began her career at Chase Manhattan Bank. LaMonica has served on several nonprofit and corporate boards and holds a B.S. in finance from Boston College and an MBA in finance from New York University.
Erran Berger, LinkedIn
As Vice President of Product Engineering, Erran Berger leads engineering for LinkedIn’s entire product portfolio, including its member tools and features, B2B solutions, and trust. These products enable more than 1.3 billion professionals worldwide to connect to opportunity. He is passionate about applying technology to expand access to opportunity and support social good. Prior to his current role, Berger held multiple senior engineering positions within LinkedIn, helping scale the platform’s reach, reliability, and impact. He holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from The University of California, San Diego.
Jason Birnbaum, United Airlines
Jason Birnbaum serves as Chief Information Officer at United Airlines, overseeing the company’s technology strategy and digital capabilities across infrastructure, customer experience, and tools for more than 96,000 employees. Under his leadership, United launched its award-winning mobile app and equipped frontline employees with real-time operational and customer service technology. Birnbaum is also committed to expanding access to tech careers, having launched United’s Innovate technology apprentice program and previously serving on the board of i.c.stars. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Illinois.
Year Up United remains firmly focused on its mission to expand access to economic opportunity for young adults. The national workforce development organization continues to deliver strong, sustainable outcomes in partnership with leading employers across the country. With a 25-year track record, trusted community and corporate partnerships nationwide, and a network of more than 35,000 alumni advancing in their careers, Year Up United is the leading workforce organization serving young adults ages 18-29. Its earnings impacts remain the largest reported to date for any workforce program evaluated through a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard for measuring long-term impact.