Veronica Adams | Founder, Veronica Ann Rae Consulting
Session: Power to the People: Fundraising the Builds Community Resilience (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

Veronica Adams is a nonprofit consultant and educator who helps community-rooted organizations align their fundraising practices with values of justice, equity, and shared power. With over a decade of experience leading resource strategies from $5,000 to $10 million, she supports both grassroots groups and national nonprofits in building sustainable, community-first models. Through her consulting brand, Salt, Bread, & Roses, Veronica equips changemakers with tools to deepen resilience, mobilize resources with integrity, and resist burnout culture. Her work bridges practical strategy with political clarity, always centering people and place.

Ifeoma (Ify) Aduba | Executive Director, Entrepreneurship Funders Network (EFN)
Session: The Unquiet Force: Leaning into Our Power for Social Change (Keynote, Thursday, 9/25, 11:20 am – 12:15 pm)

Ify joined EFN as its inaugural executive director in September 2021. Ify is a vision-based, strategic thinker committed to a cross-sector, collaborative approach to building thriving communities. She applies a catalytic thinking model to capacity building, while creating the conditions to bring out the best in everyone and everything. Her calm demeanor is often paired with a choice of vulnerability over fear; courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable issues. The mountain is just a challenge, never a barrier. Her professional career includes numerous successes in executive leadership, bridge building, and creative thinking that have made it possible to achieve greater holistic impact.

The professional experience that Ify has gained over more than 25 years crosses sectors and spans the complete spectrum of effective organizational and team development. She has ensured organizations maintained a compliant state throughout their entire lifecycle – from formation through maturity. Her background includes fundraising, communications, community outreach, education, and program design, implementation, and evaluation. She has trained and developed individuals and teams and facilitated discussions developing visions, missions, values, strategic plans, and collaborative ventures. She has served in executive and leadership roles with such organizations as A Woman’s Place, Coalition to Shelter and Support the Homeless, and Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition in Bucks County, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Hospital; and Liberty Hill Foundation in Los Angeles, California.

Driven to continue strengthening her community, Ify also volunteers. She currently serves on the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO). She is also member of the Doylestown Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Ify holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from Mount Holyoke College and a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Eastern University. She has two amazing adult daughters and ambitiously seeks time to work out at least three days a week.

Cindy Bergvall | Partner, Bee, Bergvall, & Co and The Catalyst Center for Nonprofit Management
Session: Rooted in Financial Insight: Empowering Nonprofit Board Treasurers to Meet the Moment (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

Cindy is a Director at the accounting firm of Bee, Bergvall & Company and a strategic consultant with the firm’s Catalyst Center for Nonprofit Management.   As a consultant Cindy has provided a variety of services to strengthen nonprofits-strategic planning, financial modeling, key performance indicator development, due diligence for nonprofit mergers, and training.

Cindy has taught Nonprofit Financial Leadership as Adjunct Faculty for Cairn University’s graduate program.  She serves on the Boards of the Philadelphia Gospel Movement and Access Services.

Cindy and her husband volunteer with the Youth Group at Trinity Community Church.   They also volunteer with International Students Incorporated, working with students at Penn and other Philadelphia campuses.

Jamee Boone | Principal, Eddee Boone Consulting LLC.
Session: From Performative to Transformative: Embedding Equity in Nonprofit Governance (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Jamee Boone, MSAHS (Master of Science, Administration of Human Services, Wilmington University), is a strategist, certified DEI practitioner, and principal of Eddee Boone Consulting, LLC. With over 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, governance, and capacity building, she partners with mission-driven organizations to create equity-rooted cultures, policies, and practices that move from intention to impact.

Cheryl Brubaker | Executive Director, The Fund for Women and Girls
Session: Building Imperfect, Impactful Boards (Peer Discussion, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

As Executive Director of The Fund for Women and Girls in Chester County, Cheryl Brubaker brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to advancing gender equity. With 25 years of nonprofit experience, she has a proven track record of implementing impactful initiatives and fostering sustainable growth.

Cheryl has held leadership positions with the Women’s Resource Center, Women Against Abuse in Philadelphia, Norristown’s Victim Services Center, the Sellersville Theater, and the YMCA of Bucks County. She completed her Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management at Eastern University. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Mennonite University.

Dr. Ivy Buchan | Principal, Invoke Nonprofit Consulting
Session: Assessing Your Fundraising Roots: A Hands-On Organizational Fundraising Assessment (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

Dr. Buchan, Principal of Invoke Nonprofit Consulting, fell in love with board governance as president of her high school community service club. Over the last two decades, ten as a consultant, Ivy has specialized in strategic planning, training, board development, collaborations, foundations, nonprofit management, engagement, and evaluation.

She earned her Ph.D. from IUP in Administration and Leadership Studies in the Nonprofit Sector. Ivy is a Standards for Excellence® Licensed Consultant through PANO and the National Institute, and an AFP Master Trainer. She has edited nonprofit textbooks, served as a graduate adjunct, started two nonprofits, and serves on several community boards.

Mike Burns | CEO, StratSimple
Session: Beyond the Big Picture: Agile Strategic Planning for a Fast-Changing World (Taproot Talk, Thursday, 9/25, 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm)

Mike Burns is a technology executive with over 20 years of experience driving organizational transformation, including his role as former CIO of $1B Benco Dental where he led enterprise strategy and technology implementation. In 2023, based on his experience as a nonprofit board member he co-founded StratSimple as CEO, a platform that partners with strategic planning consultants to help their clients gather community insights and implement strategic plans with greater accountability. He holds a BS in Computer Science and MBA in Management Information Systems, and has been coaching teams on the OKR framework for over a decade.

Jacqui Catrabone, MA | Director of Nonprofit & Community Services, Strategy Solutions, Inc.
Session: Opening Doors to Effective Governance (Peer Learning Circle, Tuesday, 10/1, 11:15 AM – 12:45 PM)

As Director, Nonprofit and Community Services, Jacqui is responsible for providing leadership, organization, project management and client coordination support for training, research, planning, facilitation, organizational and program development and evaluation projects for nonprofit and community/governmentclients. She is a certified trainer and consultant for the PA Standards for Excellence in Nonprofit Ethics and Accountability®.

With an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Social Work from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Jacqui brings a depth and breadth of project management and program development experience to SSI clients. Earlier in her career, Jacqui was a Research Manager at SSI where she was responsible for developing, implementing, analyzing and reporting primary and secondary research projects in all industry sectors and facilitating program development initiatives.

Her significant accomplishments include the facilitation of the Northwest PA Regional Economic Development “Roles and Players” Analysis for the Northwest Commission, that resulted in better working relationships between the county-level economic development & planning agencies and the commission. She was also instrumental in establishing the United Way’s Success by Six program in Erie County. Her work on the development of the program outcomes measurement and evaluation process for GECAC’s Even Start Program, which was recognized by the PA Department of Education as a best practice. Jacqui is a trained facilitator for the development of program logic and outcomes measurement models utilizing the United Way methodology.

Prior to returning to SSI, Jacqui held the position of Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant for the Northwest Regional Key in Pennsylvania. In that role, she facilitated training programs for early care and education providers in addition to coordinating services for children and families. Jacqui also held progressively responsible positions for the Achievement Center, first as Therapeutic Staff Support, team leader assistant, team leader and behavioral specialist consultant, where she was responsible for developing and overseeing the Summer Autism Program.

Jacqui has also been a Research Analyst with the Mercyhurst Civic Institute in Erie, where she provided the primary research management including data entry, analysis in SPSS or Excel, graphing results, report drafting, and preparing presentations, conducted secondary research via web and journal searches and compiled reports on topics relevant to local community organizations.

Alexia Doumbouya, MSL, CD, CBE | Founder & President, Cocolife.Black
Session: Coalitions that Carry Us: Building Collective Advocacy Rooted in Community (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

Alexia Doumbouya, Founder and President of Cocolife.black, is an award-winning international speaker. She holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and is certified in Mental Health Awareness as a Childbirth Educator and Doula. Alexia has appeared on various domestic and international platforms like iHeart Media and has been quoted by CNN and the CDC, to name a few. She is a change-maker and leading voice on social determinants of health.

As a collaborator, Alexia communicates effectively across differences and embraces partnership building. She and her work have been recognized by national advocacy organizations, The March of Dimes, The American Heart Association, CVSHealth, and The Department of Health and Human Services, for her tireless work connecting persons in need with resources to enhance their opportunities for growth and quality of life. “Cultivating Community” is the motto they consistently use for Cocolife.black.

LaKeisha Entsuah | Director of Operations, CocoLife Inc
Session: Coalitions that Carry Us: Building Collective Advocacy Rooted in Community (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

LaKeisha Entsuah is a visionary and accomplished Business Operations Strategist with a distinguished career that spans over 25 years, combining entrepreneurial flair and corporate expertise. With a notable background specializing in training, quality systems, and a heart deeply rooted in supporting women’s endeavors, LaKeisha emerges as a strategic addition to the Coco Life mission of reducing race-related disparities in maternal health.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rutgers University and a prestigious entrepreneurship certification from Cornell University, LaKeisha’s educational credentials are impressive. These qualifications have equipped her with a profound understanding of human behavior and business operations, enabling her to lead with empathy, innovation, and effectiveness.

LaKeisha’s strategic approach to business operations, combined with her deep  commitment to social impact, positions her to drive productive, profitable, and sustainable growth within Coco Life. 

Outside her professional life, LaKeisha is a family-oriented individual who draws strength from her faith and her close-knit relationships  with her husband and three daughters. Her life outside the office includes enriching family time, nurturing friendships, and the simple pleasures of a good movie paired with a great glass of wine. LaKeisha’s balanced approach to life and work underscores her belief in the importance of community and well-being, principles that are at the heart of Coco Life’s ethos.

Blake Emmanuel | Director of Advocacy & Policy, The Fund for Women & Girls
Session: A Focus on Community-Rooted Advocacy 101 (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

Blake Emmanuel is the Director of Advocacy and Policy at The Fund for Women and Girls, where she leads strategic initiatives and to advance gender equity through policy change, coalition building, and community engagement. With a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration, Blake brings a deep understanding of public systems and a strong commitment to social justice.

Blake’s career spans nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, including direct service roles that grounded her in the real-life challenges faced by women, girls, and families. Having spent over a decade working with families with children with disabilities, she if very familiar with navigating public systems and the need for informed advocacy. Her time as Board President for her local school board helped her hone her ability to manage complex and challenging situations while staying community focused.

At the intersection of advocacy, public service, and community care, Blake remains dedicated to creating sustainable systems that uplift marginalized voices and foster long-term, systemic impact.

Anne L. Gingerich, MSW | Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO)
Session: What the Numbers Say about Pennsylvania Nonprofits (Taproot Talk, Thursday, 9/25, 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm)

Since starting her role as Executive Director in late 2013, Anne has grown PANO’s programming and presence in the Commonwealth – offering training, consulting services, and Help Desk (askPANO) support to address all things needed for strong nonprofit governance and management.  She has further deepened nonprofit advocacy engagement by linking arms with other statewide advocacy organizations and the National Council of Nonprofits. With the support of PANO’s lobbyist, PANO has become a known name at the state capitol, and by members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation. 

Anne takes a systems approach to all of her work, engaging multiple individuals and groups to identify and implement collaborative solutions to community problems. She holds a firm vision that if all 807,000 individuals working for the 50,000 Pennsylvania nonprofits can link arms in a cohesive advocacy strategy, we can change the way our government supports and engages with those most vulnerable.

Anne earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Millersville University and earned her Master of Social Work at Marywood University. Anne shares her Lancaster County Victorian home with her two cats, Steven and Stella, and enjoys cooking, Rails-to-Trails biking, reading, and good coffee.

The owner of a beautiful Victorian home in Lancaster County, Anne enjoys cooking, Rails-to-Trails biking, reading, and good coffee.

Susan Gobreski | Partner, Sedgwick Group
Session: The Unquiet Force: Leaning into Our Power for Social Change (Keynote, Thursday, 9/25, 11:20 am – 12:15 pm)

Susan Gobreski is a consultant with 30+ years of non-profit experience, now working with organizations to address key priorities and solve problems! Her work focuses on strategy and program development for organizations centered on policy analysis, program implementation, advocacy strategies, public engagement and problem solving. and has included coalition facilitation, leadership development, support and training for individuals and organizations. 

Career highlights include founding the state advocacy organization, Education Voters of Pennsylvania, working with several national organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters and has provided numerous presentations and training at state and national conferences, and has served on numerous boards and committees (don’t we all?!). She currently serves as the President of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and has just been appointed as the Chair of Temple University’s Political Science Department’s Advisory Board. Susan was recognized on City and State PA’s first “Above and Beyond” Power List, recognizing women across Pennsylvania who lead in sectors including government, business and organizations.

Adam Hosey | Policy Director, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
Session: A Focus on Community-Rooted Advocacy 101 (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

Adam Hosey is a self-described Philly nationalist and sandwich connoisseur. After a 10 year career in education focused on liberatory pedagogy and establishing new courses in Black feminist history, he took on the role of the first Chief Equity Officer at the YWCA Lancaster, where he initiated programming and education to create more inclusive spaces and policies for individuals and organizations. Adam continues to focus on inclusive policy as the Policy and Political Director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates. In this role, he works with elected officials, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizers to make sure all Pennsylvanians have access to the healthcare and sex education they deserve. He is also the co-owner of cultural bridges to justice, an anti-oppression consulting business. He is a grateful spouse and parent of two kids, and has two cats named after sandwiches.

Lindsay Kijewski | Partner, SeaChange Capital Partners, & Director, Nonprofit Repositioning Fund
Session: Reimagining Nonprofit Models: Collaboration that Grounds & Grows (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Lindsay Kijewski is a Partner at SeaChange, where she leads the firm’s collaboration grantmaking and field-building efforts. Previously, she served as Social Impact Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy and Assistant Director at the UVA Alumni Association. Lindsay is an adjunct professor in nonprofit governance at Penn’s School of Social Policy and is active on several boards and committees, including the UVA IDEA Fund, the Sustained Collaboration Network, and the HealthSpark Foundation Grants and Programs Committee. Lindsay holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Kelly Kostanesky | Founder, KMMK Communications
Sessions: Trust Takes Root: Why Nonprofits Need Storytelling Now (Taproot Talk, Thursday, 9/25, 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm) | ROOTED TOGETHER: Storytelling that Builds Trust, Community, and Contributions (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

Kelly Kostanesky is the founder of KMMK Communications, a public relations, marketing and communications agency based in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton, Pennsylvania, region. With more than 20 years of journalism and public relations experience, she combines a marketer’s strategy with a storyteller’s voice to help nonprofits raise sustainable funding and build relationships.

She helps nonprofits with strategic planning, marketing and communications, fundraising strategies and donor relations.

Heather Lewis | Founder & Executive Director, Reuniting Family Bail Fund
Session: Grassroots Organizing in the Justice Reform Space (Taproot Talk, Friday, 9/26, 11:05 am – 11:15 am)

As a nonprofit professional with a master’s degree in human services, Heather Lewis has been committed to the needs of vulnerable individuals and families in Montgomery County PA for nearly 20 years. Heather is the founder and Executive Director of the Reuniting Family Bail Fund and along with a team of Court Watchers and Participatory Defense practitioners the RFBF has helped hundreds of families navigate the criminal legal system, challenged illegal bail practices and engaged the community in sharing of their collective knowledge. Through extensive relationships with partners, community events, holiday support and

pop-up community meals the RFBF continues to engage the community. Knowledge of the legal system that is designed to shame, isolate and abuse those that enter it, particularly people of color, the RFBF has introduced a live bi-weekly podcast, quarterly newsletter, social media strategy and educational initiatives to support and empowers families. Heather’s role is to remind people that there is power in numbers, there is power in knowledge and there is power in love and to connect to a community of like spirit and experienced people to stand in solidarity.

Kristin McKenna | Executive Director, Compass Pro Bono Philadelphia
Session: AI without the Overwhelm: A Culture-First Framework for Sustainable Adoption in Nonprofits (Taproot Talk, Friday, 9/26, 11:05 am – 11:15 am)

Kristin currently serves as the Executive Director of Compass Pro Bono Philadelphia. She is an accomplished executive with over two decades of experience in tax law, corporate governance, and nonprofit leadership. She previously served as the Vice President of The Forum of Executive Women, where she played a crucial role in advancing the organization’s mission of advancing women in the workplace in the Philadelphia region. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Kristin spent nearly 15 years as an attorney. She received her BS in Accounting from Saint Joseph’s University and her JD, MBA, and LLM in tax from Temple University.

Héc Maldonado-Reis | Managing Director of Impact Strategy, Tech Impact
Session: Cultivating Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression Data Practices & Technology Solutions for Nonprofit Impact (Taproot Talk, Thursday, 9/25, 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm)

Héc Maldonado-Reis (they/them/elle) is Managing Director at Tech Impact, where they assist clients on the strategic technology assessment, planning, and measurement & evaluation services needed to design and advance their social impact missions. They are an engineer, data scientist, public health and nonprofit professional experienced at facilitating initiatives between government, nonprofit and private sectors. Héc is also a nonprofit executive & advisory board member that partners to advance social welfare thorough participatory and collaboration-centric engagements.

Héc holds their BS in Biomedical Engineering and MPH in Environmental & Occupational Health from Rutgers University, their AM in Population Health Sciences from Harvard University and their MS in Nonprofit Leadership from University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice.

Kashonna Marrow | President & CEO, Simply Kashonna
Session: Closing Keynote (Friday, 9/26, 1:10 pm – 1:55 pm)

Kashonna Marrow is an engaging speaker, an inspiring coach, a motivational author, and an insightful corporate trainer. Kashonna is the President & CEO of Simply Kashonna, a business built to promote BOLD, FEARLESS and COURAGEOUS living. She goes beyond surface issues to address the challenges that inhibit personal, professional and spiritual growth, leading her clients to embrace their evolution.

Kashonna has activated the purpose and call of many, helping them to discover, define and develop their authentic self. Both, in the corporate arena and in the non-profit world, strategic growth and development of people have always been the focal point of her service. Corporately, she has held positions in both Human Resources, as well as the Staffing industry. Additionally, Kashonna spent years in an executive pastoral role where crisis intervention and spiritual guidance were her primary responsibilities. Understanding that leadership training and development is essential to any corporation or organization’s growth, Kashonna launched SK Leading Forward, which is dedicated to enhancing employee engagement, performance, productivity and morale.

Through corporate relationships and interactive group/focus sessions, she has facilitated workshops in Customer Service, How to Handle Difficult People, Navigating Conflict, Emotional Intelligence, Developing Yourself and Others, Behavioral Based Interviewing, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to name a few. In addition, she has facilitated and provided training for various personality assessments. Kashonna’s area of expertise is transformational leadership development and personal empowerment. In her efforts to create an innovative space for career professionals and entrepreneurs, she is the owner of SK Collaboration Space in York, PA.

Kashonna is also the author of 7 Days to Simply Shift: A Daily Guide to Transforming Your Mindset Personally, Professionally and Spiritually. Kashonna has been a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and Association for Talent Development. She has deepened her knowledge by obtaining a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University, becoming a National Licensed Consultant through the Standards for Excellence Institute, and completing PANO’s Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Training Program. She also serves as a member of her community the Commission for Women, Women’s Giving Circle, and as a Rotarian. No matter the venue, Kashonna will impact you with her professional agility, contagious energy, vibrant smile, and engaging delivery.

Katie Marshall | Senior DEIB Specialist, Penn State Outreach
Session: Developing Your Network for Resiliency and Mutual Support (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

Katie Marshall’s (she/her) guiding intention throughout her career has been to foster healthier and more inclusive environments. She creates social impact within higher education by using collaborative practices that create better ways of being for all. She is a Senior DEIB Specialist within Outreach at Penn State University focusing on organization culture building for nonprofits and local government. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and ProsciÒ Certified Change Practitioner. She holds a dual-title M.Ed. in Counselor Education and Comparative & International Education from Penn State University, and an executive certificate in Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Eddrick Martin | CEO, Elevated Momentum
Session: 10 Steps to Creating a Board Development and Recruitment Program (Taproot Talk, Friday, 9/26, 11:05 am – 11:15 am)

Eddrick Martin is CEO and Lead Strategist for Elevated Momentum Consulting LLC. He has vast experience working with non-profit organizations in which he has provided leadership in various capacities. He is a twenty-five-year veteran of working and collaborating with nonprofits. His areas of expertise range from board development, strategic planning, leadership skills, organizational effectiveness, volunteer and stakeholder development, and more. Eddrick holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration and a bachelor’s degree in public policy/political science. He has also served in roles such as Executive Director, COO for a large nonprofit, and Board President of multiple organizations.

Kelly McGinley | Principal, Function & Flow
Session: Digital Calm: Building ‘Right-Fit’ Tools that Lighten the Load and Strengthen Connection (Taproot Talk, Friday, 9/26, 11:05 am – 11:15 am)

Kelly has spent the last 25 years designing and building programs, partnerships, and place-based projects for organizations from regional focus to multi-state collaborative initiatives. The missions vary, but the foundational principles of getting things done are always the same: get to the core, collaborate effectively, choose a path, and commit. This understanding has opened doors for her to connect classrooms to communities; design planning and productivity strategies for agencies, corporations, and non-profits; and turn a maximum-security cell block into an award-winning, tail-wagging incubator for compassionate change at the HOPE Dogs Program.

Nikki McKinney | Policy Director, Democracy Forward
Session: The Unquiet Force: Leaning into Our Power for Social Change (Opening Keynote Panel, Thursday, 9/25, 11:20 AM-12:15 PM)

Nikki has worked for nearly two decades on the Hill and in the Executive Branch. She joins Democracy Forward after serving four years as Associate Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor. Before joining the Biden-Harris Administration, she was Labor Policy Director on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension for Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA).

She is a teacher by training, having taught high school social studies in public schools in Delaware and Virginia. Her first job after leaving the classroom was as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Susan M. Collins, where she handled Education, Labor, and Native American Affairs for the Maine Republican. 

She joined the Obama Administration’s Labor Department’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs in 2010, eventually working her way up to Deputy Assistant Secretary.

She returned to a focus on education policy in January 2017 and joined a small DC-based nonprofit, the Alliance for Excellent Education, as Director of Policy Development and Federal Government Relations, until returning to the Hill and working on the HELP Committee in 2018.

Nikki earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Education from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Education Policy Studies from the George Washington University. She lives in Virginia with her daughter, Paisley.

Janet McNally, D.Ed., SPHR | Owner & Consultant, Team Development Services
Session: Legos, Listening, & Leadership: Rethinking the Manager’s Role in Uncertain Times (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Janet is a consultant/owner of Team Development Services, where she offers workshops in the Lego® Serious Play® method and other methods and assessments to assist organizations in improving team communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.  

Janet is a retired Assistant Teaching Professor in Management at Penn State Abington.  She is a member of the professional development committee of Lancaster SHRM and is also a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Non-Profit Organizations (PANO) Consultant Collaborative. Through PANO, she is a Standards for Excellence Pennsylvania Licensed Consultant.

R Perry Monastero, Ed.D. | Principal, RPM Consulting Group
Session: Expanding the Pipeline: The Growing Market Shape, Size, and Donor Stewardship of the LGBTQ+ Community (Taproot Talk, Thursday, 9/25, 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm)

Perry Monastero brings three decades of battle-tested nonprofit experience. He is now a Standards of Excellence and Commonwealth of PA licensed fundraising consultant working with leaders to effectively scale their rapidly growing organizations. Monastero helped to build the administrative systems for what ultimately became the nation’s fourth largest private funder and served as the inaugural executive director of an LGBTQ+ community fund. He led the development and marketing teams at one of the nation’s premiere LGBTQ+ medical, legal, and social service organizations to substantially grow their revenue and branding resources during a period of significant organizational change.

Beck Moore | CEO, Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP)
Session: Culture by Design: Leading with Purpose, Trust, and Accountability (Peer Discussion, Thursday, 9/25, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)

Beck Moore, CEO of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience rooted in values-based and mission-driven work. He is passionate about helping member organizations grow and thrive, with nationally recognized success in expanding youth-focused programs. Beck holds degrees from Penn State University (B.S. in Secondary Education) and the University of Scranton (M.S. in Human Resources). He serves on several state and national boards. Outside of work, Beck enjoys fishing, camping, reading, and writing. He lives in Palmyra, PA, with his wife, two young children, and their three goofy dogs, and is writing his first book.

Susannah Morgan
Session: Putting DEI into Practice at Your Nonprofit (While Calling it Whatever You Want) (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

Susannah is a lifelong nonprofit leader and social justice champion. From 2012 to 2024, Susannah was the President of Oregon Food Bank, a large statewide nonprofit focused on ending hunger by using food distribution to grow a movement. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of Food Bank of Alaska for a decade. Susannah received the highest honor in food banking, the John van Hengel Award, in 2023, and is particularly known for her dedication to advocacy, organizing, and equity. Susannah has an MBA from Boston University and a BA from Carleton College. Susannah and her wife Jocelyn and their two neurodiverse teenage sons live in Malvern.

Arun S. Prabhakaran | President, Urban Affairs Coalition
Session: Reimagining Nonprofit Models: Collaboration that Grounds & Grows (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Arun S. Prabhakaran is President of the Urban Affairs Coalition, overseeing the $46M organization’s operations. He previously served as Chief of Staff to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, directing operations for the nation’s fifth-largest prosecution office. Arun also held other leadership roles at UAC, guiding external affairs, strategic partnerships, and fund development. His background includes grassroots organizing, nonprofit consulting, harm reduction work, and public sector IT. He serves on several boards, including Maternity Care Coalition and Philadelphia Works. Arun is committed to equity, systems change, and building strong institutions to advance community-led solutions.

Nathaniel Rasmussen | Community Impact Director, Centre Foundation
Session: Developing Your Network for Resiliency and Mutual Support (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

The Community Impact Director is responsible for connecting with and providing a variety of services to our local nonprofits, and for making sure our grants are effectively and efficiently managed. The Director works with the President & CEO on implementing and overseeing community impact projects.

Linda Rentschler | Founder & Executive Director, Humanitarian Social Innovations
Session: Rooting Public Engagement in Community Wisdom: A Peer Exchange on Educating and Mobilizing the Public (Peer Discussion, Thursday, 9/25, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)

Linda Rentschler is the Executive Director and founder of Humanitarian Social Innovations. In 2014, she and the founding team incorporated HSI to equip and serve people who wanted to begin charitable programs that would raise the quality of life for people around them.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College in Biology, and master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Business Administration from Lehigh University.

Linda is a Pennsylvania and Nationally Certified Standards For Excellence consultant. She is Vice-President of PANO’s Standards For Excellence Committee and serves on the Governance Committee of the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors.

Linda enjoys the outdoors and many kinds of music. She highly values her faith and her family. She spends much of her free time with her children and grandchildren.

Remy Reya | Director of AI and Thought Leadership, Compass Pro Bono
Session: AI without the Overwhelm: A Culture-First Framework for Sustainable Adoption in Nonprofits (Taproot Talk, Friday, 9/26, 11:05 am – 11:15 am)

Remy Reya is Director of AI and Thought Leadership at Compass Pro Bono, where he works with the CEO to drive progress on organizational growth and AI programming for nonprofits. Before joining Compass Pro Bono, Remy spent much of the last decade working with nonprofits and studying poverty, both domestically and internationally. He received his BA from the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. Outside of work, he’s an occasional drummer for an indie rock band and proud father to an eleven-year-old miniature schnauzer. (Yes, you can pet him.)

Brenda Riehl | Founder & Consultant, Thrive Fundraising LLC
Session: Calm Money: Transforming Financial Fear into Shared Empowerment (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

After more than 23 years in leadership and fundraising in a variety of nonprofits, Brenda created Thrive Fundraising in 2019 to offer consulting that empowers organizations to achieve their strategic and fundraising goals. In 2024, she added Trauma of Money^TM certification to expand understanding of and support people, groups, and organizations in healing from financial trauma.

Her social work education informs Brenda’s approach of focusing on the people whose lives are impacted by strategy and fundraising. Thrive Fundraising’s philosophy is to foster inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) in all aspects of its work.

Lawanda Horton Sauter, MS | President & CEO, Mission Incorporated
Session: The CEO of YOU: Executive Leadership and Self-Care (Taproot Talk, Thursday, 9/25, 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm)

Lawanda Horton Sauter, MS, is the President and CEO of Mission Incorporated. For
over 12 years, Mission Incorporated has been providing startup, grant writing, and
growth development services to nonprofit organizations.
Ms. Horton has raised over 25 million dollars for organizations throughout PA, DE,
NY and NJ has to date provided start up & capacity building support to over 250
organizations.
She has 20 years experience as a nonprofit executive and holds a Masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from New England College. In addition to her nonprofit capacity building work, the community program Mission Forward is used to push arts and activism projects. Recently Ms. Horton raised
$10,000 for The Trayvon Martin Foundation and Black Male Development Programs, and distributes over $1,000 worth of household items and food to families along Philadelphia’s Germantown Avenue in annually.
She was awarded in 2013 the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Minority Business Leaders award and was named among the NAACP’s top 100 most influential black women in Philadelphia. In 2018, Ms. Horton received an award for her anti-violence work from the Social Innovation Journal and has had articles on
nonprofit capacity building published by Generocity, Nonprofit Quarterly, and the Social Innovations Journal. Lawanda also received a grant from the School District of Philadelphia in 2019 to do educational interventions in the arts.

George Walley-Sephes | Success Coach/Youth Facilitator, Community College of Philadelphia/Black Women’s Health Alliance/Survival to Success
Session: Building Transformational Spaces: Faith, Healing, and Authentic Connection (Peer Discussion, Thursday, 9/25, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)

George Sephes is a community and youth advocate, storyteller, and most importantly a husband father. George’s ability to empathize and understand members of his community on a deeper level helped him to see first hand the role that pain and trauma plays in the issues that are most vividly impacting his community. Seeing this, George set off on a mission to assist members of his community through their own process of healing and growth.

George is the founder of Survival to Success, a non-profit that provides black and brown communities with opportunities to heal mentally, spiritually, and financially through youth programming, community engagement, and transformation coaching. George is also the author of an ebook called “Survival to Success: Moving the black community forward,” and his journal “50 Questions of Healing”.

George strongly believes that in order for us to address the disparities impacting our communities, we must first address the traumas and mental illnesses that impact each and every one of us on a daily basis. George currently serves as a Success Coach within the Catto Scholarship office at the Community College of Philadelphia, where he provides scholarship students with the necessary support, tools, and resources to ensure their success at the college and beyond. George also works with schools and community organizations on building transformative work cultures through transparency and authenticity, with an emphasis on culture development, transformation coaching, student success, and customer service. He’s had the privilege working with organizations such as the Black Women’s Health Alliance, Turning Points For Children, Unique Dreams Inc, and Vocatio Career Prep High School.

Ariel Shelton | Co-Executive Director, External Relations & Community Impact, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia
Session: Reimagining Nonprofit Models: Collaboration that Grounds & Grows (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Ariel Shelton has a strong background in nonprofit leadership, with expertise in building sustainable frameworks and shared resource models through fiscal sponsorship. She is a nonprofit founder who has helped launch organizations that support creative, community-driven work with access to funding and tools to grow. Her experience spans institutions such as the Kennedy Center, Arts Administrators of Color Network, and more. A former French horn player and Howard University graduate, Ariel now explores creativity through visual art while continuing to champion equity, innovation, and sustainability in the cultural sector.

Rosalind Spigel, MSOD, ACC | Principal, Spigel Consulting
Session: From Performative to Transformative: Embedding Equity in Nonprofit Governance (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm-4:50 pm)

Rosalind Spigel, MSOD (Master of Science, Organizational Development, American University), ACC, believes nonprofits can make the world a better place and works with them to grow, prosper, and meet their mission. Spigelconsulting.com collaboratively designs and facilitates strategic and scenario planning/implementation, board/professional development, coaching, DEI, and capacity building.  Rosalind is a PANO, DANA and LaSalle Nonprofit Standards of Excellence consultant. Publication topics include leadership, implicit gender bias and social justice.  Rosalind received the Hal Kellner Award for contributions to issues of diversity and social justice. She is certified to facilitate Future Search and When Cultures Meet.

Melinda Steffy | Co-Executive Director, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, and Founder & Principal, Concentric Strategy LLC
Session: People-Centered Communications Planning: Multiple Pathways for Access + Trust (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

Melinda Steffy (she/her) loves when creative practice and social impact collide. She currently serves as Co-Executive Director for CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, which provides equitable access to management resources for the makers and preservers of culture. Melinda is also a seasoned facilitator and founder of Concentric Strategy LLC, a consultancy that brings an ecosystem mindset to nonprofit strategy and communications. Melinda holds an MFA in painting from The University of the Arts and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite University. She is a Standards for Excellence Pennsylvania Licensed Consultant.

Rebecca Subar | Founding Partner & Core Consultant, Dragonfly Partners
Session: When to Comply and When to Resist: Strategic Decision-Making in a Time of Authoritarianism (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

Rebecca is a strategist and practitioner who supports leaders at all levels of organizational life to make strategic and relationship choices with integrity in a racist world. They have given advice and support to political actors and activists on change, challenge and conflict for over thirty years, with attention to power relations and human relationships at the center of their work.
Rebecca, who goes by the pronouns they/them, enjoys challenging and being challenged, bringing their flawed, authentic self to the task of coaching a client toward their own authentic best. They are as eager to apply political principles to a group’s theory of change as they are to draw flow charts to represent it. They bring a sense of humor, creativity to imagine what is possible, analytical tools to help assess what is reasonable, and enthusiasm for helping a client tell a new story of change.
For fourteen years Rebecca taught in the peace and conflict studies program at West Chester University. Their book, When to Talk and When to Fight: The Strategic Choice Between Dialogue and Resistance (PM Press 2021, graphics and charts by Rosi Greenberg) echoes Dragonfly’s approach to changemaking.
Rebecca is a white, non-binary, middle class, able-bodied queer secular Jew. They have a master in public administration with a concentration in conflict management from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in writing and politics from Barnard College. Besides solving problems related to social change, Rebecca enjoys solving mechanical problems with wood, rope, turnbuckles and pulleys.

Alex Suchman | CEO & Co-Founder, Barometer XP
Session: Rooted in Play: Building Team Resilience When Stakes are High (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

​Alex Suchman, CEO and Co-Founder of Barometer XP, is seasoned consultant with a keen understanding of workplace operations and dynamics, as well as a passion for helping people get more meaning and connection out of their work. Her favorite game? Telestrations.

Darren Sudman | Adjunct Professor, Villanova University’s Department of Public Administration
Session: Rooted in Power: A Relationship-Based Advocacy Strategy for PA’s Nonprofit Sector (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Darren Sudman has been on quite a journey. He practiced law, lobbied on Capitol Hill, led engagement initiatives at a financial institution, discovered the internet at America Online and founded Simon’s Heart, a nonprofit preventing sudden cardiac arrest in youth.

After turning personal tragedy into purpose, Darren founded Unless, a consultancy that helps companies and nonprofits increase their impact in the workplace, marketplace and community.  He is a member of White Men for Racial Justice, a national community focused on dismantling systems of white supremacy.

Debra Thompson, BS, MBA | Founder & President, Strategy Solutions, Inc.
Session: Radical Resilience: Evolving to Meet Funding Challenges (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

​As President of Strategy Solutions, Debra provides strategic and development planning, research and project management, including fundraising planning. She is a certified trainer, consultant and peer reviewer for both the PA and National Standards for Excellence:® An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. With a degree in marketing and an MBA, throughout her career, she has worked with over 400 nonprofit organizations supporting strategic transformation and helping clients achieve remarkable outcomes. 

Jeanne Troy, MLS, CFRM | Vice President, Operations and Program, DAZA Development
Session: Identifying and Developing Your Personal, Professional, and Nonprofit “Social Capital” (Peer Discussion, Thursday, 9/25, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)

​Jeanne has her Masters in Library Science. Her personality does not lend itself to quiet spaces and time. The almost 30 years of professional fundraising, the last four as a consultant for DAZA Development, working with nonprofits seems to have been a match made in NPO heaven. Working for NPOs of all sizes, she has been successful in raising money for the organizations she has worked for and consulted with regarding all areas of development. Jeanne’s experience has included presentations and webinars related to fundraising and strategic planning for executives, board members, volunteers, and staff within nonprofit organizations. She has also been a guest speaker at the college level and is a published author on strategic planning.

Trina Walker | Founder & Lead Consultant, TLW Strategy
Session: Rooted in Play: Building Team Resilience When Stakes are High (Workshop, Friday, 9/26, 11:20 am – 12:35 pm)

​Trina is the Founder and Lead Consultant for TLW Strategy, a Pittsburgh-area consultancy designed to help purpose-driven organizations succeed.

She is an experienced and dynamic facilitator who leads interactive meetings, learning experiences and retreats for groups of 1 to 200, on-line and in-person. Through intentional structures and methods that maximize engagement and distribute control, her facilitations are engaging, productive and even fun!

Trina’s experience spans the fields of healthcare, advertising, consulting, education and religious and cultural organizations Her purpose is to be a positive force for betterment for you and your organization.

Michele Walls, CFRE, SHRM-CP | Principal Consultant & Fractional Fundraiser, MW Strategies, LLC
Session: Deep Roots Everywhere: How Fractional Expertise Levels the Playing Field (Taproot Talk, Friday, 9/26, 11:05 am – 11:15 am)

Michele brings over two decades of experience as a trusted leader in fundraising, communications, and nonprofit management. Having raised more than $30 million for small and mid-sized organizations, she expertly guides nonprofits across arts, education, cultural, and social justice sectors towards stability and impactful growth.

Through her boutique agency, MW Strategies, Michele provides strategic support to US-based organizations with $100K-$5M annual budgets and 0-10 FTE staff. She specializes in the crucial intersection of fundraising and human resources, recognizing how these areas influence every facet of an organization. Michele works closely with leadership to develop data-driven strategies and compelling stories that foster sustainable relationships, optimize operations, and drive organizational success.

Her comprehensive expertise spans fundraising, human resources, and nonprofit management. Michele excels in major gifts, annual campaigns, capital projects, and grants, while also bringing deep experience in organizational development and team building. She creates effective leadership structures, streamlines operations, and fosters positive workplace cultures. Michele adeptly guides organizations through critical phases like scaling and transitions, emphasizing cross-departmental collaboration, revenue maximization, and enhanced program delivery for long-term sustainability.

In addition to her consulting work, Michele serves on the boards of CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, a fiscal sponsor and management commons for the arts, heritage, and creative communities, and the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits. These roles allow her to contribute to the broader development of the sector and stay at the forefront of nonprofit trends and best practices.

Roshawnda Washington | Director of Corporate & Foundation Partnerships, The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University
Session: Meeting this Moment: The Conversation Your Board Should Have NOW (Peer Discussion, Friday, 9/26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am)

Ro Washington is the Director of Corporate and Foundation Partnerships at The Nonprofit Center, a role that exemplifies her commitment to building strong connections and facilitating change. Prior to her current position, Ro served as the volunteer manager for Dow in the Delaware Valley, as a part of their partnership with The Nonprofit Center. In this role, Ro leveraged the power of volunteerism to promote positive employee experiences, supporting Dow’s global citizenship investments, and ultimately, advancing the Dow ambition. In past positions, Ro helped develop the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America’s volunteer programs and created a resource network to connect individuals and organizations to community, state, and federal resource programs. She has also been a research technician and clinical research coordinator at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Connecting her passion to purpose, Ro volunteers her time as a camp counselor with the Ronald McDonald Camp and is a board member with Camp Rainbow. Her dedication to service and leadership in her current role underscores her deep commitment to community and collaboration.

Jessica Whitmore, MA, PhD Candidate | Vice President, Leadership Education & Grant Services, DAZA Development
Session: Identifying and Developing Your Personal, Professional, and Nonprofit “Social Capital” (Peer Discussion, Thursday, 9/25, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm)

​Jessica has over two decades of experience writing content and providing strategies. Aside from having published and ghostwritten bylines across the country and world, she conducts the full grants cycle for nonprofits and aids with organizational strategies and leadership development. Her work has resulted in $19 million in grants funded to date. She is a Doctoral Candidate (Leadership) at Alvernia University and holds an MA (Communication) from Regent University and a BA (Broadcasting) from Evangel University. Jessica has presented at local and regional conferences, spoken within college classrooms as a guest speaker and an adjunct professor, conducted webinar presentations, and has been a session panelist at the International Leadership Association Global Conference.  

Greg Wilson, CAP, CFRE, MS | Founder + Lead Consultant, Stick Figure Fundraising, LLC
Session: What AI Can ACTUALLY Do: Smarter Fundraising, Marketing, and Decision-Making for Nonprofit Leaders (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Greg Wilson brings over 20 years of frontline fundraising experience in leadership roles at organizations including Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, Muhlenberg College, and East Stroudsburg University Foundation. He holds the CFRE credential, a CAP® from the American College of Financial Services, an MS in nonprofit management from Eastern University, and a BA from Lebanon Valley College. Greg is known for his practical planned giving advice on YouTube and as a frequent speaker across Pennsylvania. His passion is helping nonprofits build and market successful planned giving programs through coaching, vendor guidance, and engaging presentations for staff and boards.

Amy Wong | President & Founder, Dot Org Solutions LLC
Session: What AI Can ACTUALLY Do: Smarter Fundraising, Marketing, and Decision-Making for Nonprofit Leaders (Workshop, Thursday, 9/25, 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm)

Amy Wong is president and founder of Dot Org Solutions LLC, a marketing, fundraising, and strategic planning firm serving nonprofits and public entities. With 30+ years in the nonprofit sector, she’s worked with organizations like Akron Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Orchestra. Since 2009, she and her team have supported over 100 clients nationwide. A BGSU journalism/PR graduate, she’s also an alum of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and Leadership Akron’s Women’s Leadership Institute. Amy lives in Akron, Ohio, and enjoys cooking, being outdoors, and visiting her adult children.