Emily Barczak

Emily is a Vice President of T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., and an Insights Leader in the Practice Management Team within U.S. Intermediaries.

As a frequent keynote speaker at industry events, Emily develops and delivers practice management content designed to help financial professionals improve business outcomes and work more effectively with investors.

Emily specializes in applying social science and behavioral psychology to understand the drivers behind decision-making and behavior. A key area of focus is on building impactful and durable client relationships by grounding insights in key behaviors
and frameworks to empower financial advisors with strategies that not only enhance advisor-client interactions and improve communication but, also foster long-term success and growth.

Amy Bradshaw, MSW

Amy is a Senior Grants Manager with 15+ years of experience in grant writing and nonprofit funding strategy. With a background spanning behavioral health, healthcare access, and youth services, she specializes in helping nonprofits build sustainable, competitive funding portfolios. Amy holds an MSW in Social Work: Administration, Planning & Policy and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Deborah Brandi

Deborah has led the Foundation for Edmonds School District for more than 14 years, making her one of the longest-serving school foundation executive directors in the United States. During her tenure, she has secured more than $16 million in resources and developed 13 direct-service programs supporting students from early learning through post-secondary pathways.

Her leadership includes launching innovative initiatives addressing critical student needs, including the Nourishing Network, which supports food security and basic needs during out-of-school periods; early learning programs focused on kindergarten readiness; and an on-the-job training program connecting high school students with paid internships.

Deborah brings extensive expertise in program and organizational development. Her work reflects a systems-level approach to education philanthropy, emphasizing measurable impact, strategic partnerships, and sustainable programs that improve opportunities and outcomes for students.

David Blyer

David is Co-Founder, CEO, and President of Arreva, a trusted advisor and market leader to the non-profit industry for more than three decades, providing software and services including virtual fundraising, donor relationship management, and virtual auction software.

He founded DonorCommunity in 1999, the first All-in-One Fundraising Software for the nonprofit industry, and co-founded Arreva with Susan Packard Orr, through a merger with her company, Telosa in 2017.

In 1994, he co-founded, and was the CEO and President of Vento Software, a provider of packaged vertical business intelligence applications that was acquired by Chicago-based SPSS in 1999. After the acquisition, David served as President of the company's Enabling Technologies Division which was acquired by IBM.

Hannah Brennan

Hannah serves as Chief of Staff at SmartLab, where she supports strategic initiatives that help schools and districts create engaging, future-ready learning experiences for students.

Through her work across organizational leadership, partnerships, and educational programming, she collaborates with district leaders, education foundations, and community stakeholders to support innovative STEM initiatives that increase student engagement and expand access to hands-on learning opportunities. Hannah brings experience in program development, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic communication, helping educational organizations identify sustainable approaches to building impactful learning programs that align with community priorities and long-term student success.

Terri Burchell

Terri has a background in institutional advancement and marketing, with a focus on resource development and community engagement. In her role as Executive Director at North Platte Public Schools Foundation, she contribute to enhancing educational opportunities through various programs and scholarships, supporting innovative instructional initiatives and fostering community-school relationships.

Previously, Terri managed marketing strategies for First National Bank of Omaha across Central and Western Nebraska, overseeing advertising, brand development, and public relations.

Tracy Burger

Tracy brings more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, serving in a variety of staff and volunteer leadership roles. For 14 years, she served as Director of Member Development for the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, supporting professional development, strategic planning, board development, and organizational growth for member foundations and their leaders.

Today, Tracy is a certified coach who helps nonprofit professionals and organizations connect their work with deeper purpose. Through one-on-one coaching, group experiences, retreats, and values-based planning, she creates spaces for meaningful reflection, growth, and action.

Tracy specializes in helping mission-driven organizations strengthen alignment between purpose and impact. Her work empowers nonprofit leaders and teams to discover greater clarity, create meaningful strategies, and translate organizational purpose into sustainable action.

Joe Callahan, CFRE

Joe  joined the Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County Public Schools, AACPS, in June 2024, where he has doubled the size of the organization in two years.

An award-winning nonprofit professional, Joe has more than 20 years of experience in K-12 schools, nonprofit management, marketing, fundraising, and youth development. Joe is a proud AACPS parent, and in lives nearby in Arnold, MD, with his wife and two children. 

Robin Callahan, CFRE, CAP®, CEFL

Robin is President of The Callahan Collaborative and one of the nonprofit sector's most experienced voices on education foundation leadership.

With more than 25 years in the field, including 16 years as Executive Director of the Issaquah Schools Foundation and as Executive Director of the National Schools Foundation Association (NSFA), Robin has lived the full arc of this work, from an all-volunteer startup to a multi-million-dollar organization. She is an ED coach, mentor, and the author of Roadmap for Education Foundations: A Practical Guide to Building and Growing K-12 Support.

Tim Eby

Tim is Executive Director of the Special Education Foundation (SEF), a position he has held since April 2022. During his tenure, SEF has added three programs supporting students with disabilities and increased its budget by 25 percent.

Tim brings more than 40 years of nonprofit leadership experience, having led public radio organizations in three Midwestern cities since 1982. Prior to joining SEF, he served as Director and General Manager of St. Louis Public Radio from 2009 to 2020.

He has served on numerous local and national nonprofit boards, including Easter Seals Midwest, Focus St. Louis, and National Public Radio. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Evansville and currently serves on the boards of the National Association of Education Foundations and St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation.

Chris is the Chief Operating Officer at Arreva, bringing over 25 years of experience in nonprofit technology and fundraising. He oversees Product Development, Services, and Marketing, guiding innovative solutions that empower nonprofits to advance their missions. Having worked with thousands of organizations of all sizes, Chris combines deep technical expertise with a strong understanding of fundraising.

Before joining Arreva, he managed IT operations and served as a Senior Software Trainer in the retail industry, shaping his user-focused approach to software design.

Emily Garlock

Emily is an education and innovation professional with SmartLab, where she collaborates with schools and districts to create engaging, future-focused learning experiences. She is passionate about empowering students through hands-on, student-driven learning that builds creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and career readiness.

At SmartLab, Emily supports educators and leaders in implementing innovative instructional models that connect STEM, digital media, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem solving. Her work focuses on helping schools develop sustainable programs that prepare students for success in college, careers, and beyond. 

James Goalder

James brings nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit technology, sales, and relationship management. He currently serves as Partnerships Manager at Bloomerang, a leading donor management and fundraising software platform.

A sought-after nonprofit speaker, James has presented at ALDE, Qgiv Conference, VA Free Clinics, Great Rivers, and DSAIA, and has appeared multiple times on The Nonprofit Show. His expertise includes donor retention, giving trends, and first-time donor conversion, with a focus on translating data and insights into practical strategies for nonprofit leaders.

James works with nonprofit organizations nationwide, bringing a relational, connector-driven approach to every engagement. He also serves on the Board of Project Grows in Virginia. James is passionate about helping nonprofit professionals build stronger, more meaningful, and sustainable donor relationships.

Dr. Lynette Henry, CEFL

Dr. Henry is Executive Director of Educate Fairfax, where she leads efforts to expand opportunity and access for more than 183,000 students and families served by Fairfax County Public Schools.

With a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and more than 30 years of experience in education, Dr. Henry has worked nationally and internationally to advance educational equity, develop leaders, and secure resources that support student success. Her expertise includes strategic fundraising, community and business partnerships, grantmaking, mentorship, and program development.

Under her leadership, Educate Fairfax has strengthened community engagement through alumni initiatives, workforce partnerships, storytelling, and collaborative programs aligned with the FCPS Strategic Plan. Dr. Henry is passionate about building relationships that create lasting impact and ensuring every student has meaningful opportunities to succeed.

Joanna Hightower

Joanna, Co-Founder of Innovageous, is a bilingual educator and executive leader with more than 20 years of experience leading schools and supporting organizational growth in underserved communities in Philadelphia.

Recognized by the School District of Philadelphia as a Peer Leader in K–8 schools, Joanna led a high-performing school that ranked among the city’s top K–8 schools, secured an unconditional charter renewal, and expanded its programs. She also spearheaded the development of a 48,000-square-foot school facility serving more than 600 students and families.

Through Innovageous, Joanna partners with school boards, CEOs, principals, and organizational leaders to strengthen values-driven leadership, sustainable systems, culturally responsive practices, and organizational alignment. Joanna is passionate about helping organizations build strong foundations for growth while creating meaningful, lasting impact for students, families, and communities.

Kiersten Hill

Kiersten brings nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, marketing, and organizational development. During her career, she has helped raise more than $20 million to strengthen Nebraska’s nonprofit sector.

As a leader of Firespring’s nonprofit solutions, Kiersten works with organizations, executives, and boards to advance their missions through education, empowerment, and strategic guidance. A dynamic speaker and thought leader, she shares expertise in marketing, fundraising, board development, storytelling, and organizational transformation.

As a former certified StoryBrand Guide, Kiersten helps nonprofits harness the power of storytelling to create compelling narratives that connect with their audiences. Over the past year, she has presented at nearly 100 webinars and nonprofit conferences, bringing energy, authenticity, and practical insights to organizations seeking to strengthen their impact, engage their communities, and build sustainable growth.

Richard Letocha, J.D., CFP®, CAP®

Richard operates Joyful Gift Planning  as a fundraising consultant and financial planner based in Baltimore, MD. 

His professional career has included over 15 years of frontline fundraising experience as a gift planner for a research university, over 10 years in trust administration, estate administration, and wealth management, and a stint as an attorney in private practice.  He’s a board member and past president of the Chesapeake Planned Giving Council.

David Moore

David is a sought-after consultant and advisor with over 25 year of experience in the nonprofit and education sector, leading organizations, teams and partnerships to consistently produce results.

David is currently working closely with national nonprofit organizations, local education foundations, community-based organizations, municipalities and research organizations to strengthen organizational impact. He has been an advocate and partner with dozens of organizations strengthening community engagement, strategic planning, board development and partnership strategies.

Sean Neal

Sean is the Chief Development Officer at the Granite Education Foundation. He has 20 years experience working in the non-profit sector, and serving both diverse geographical and socioeconomic areas from Reno to Seattle and now in Salt Lake City, UT. At each stop, Sean turned around organizations that were struggling in the areas of volunteer recruiting and management, fundraising, board development, program management, and staff leadership. 

Remi Prince

Remi is the Volunteer & Program Manager at the Granite Education Foundation. He oversees all volunteer interactions, program purchasing, and manages their Donations and Distribution Center.

In his seven years at the foundation, Remi has overhauled and redirected many of the programs supported by GEF to be more efficient in delivery, equitable in access throughout the district, and cost conscious.

Molly Servais, CEFL

Molly has served on the Morris Educational Foundation Board of Trustees for many years. She has served Board Chair, Chair of Morristown ONSTAGE, their largest fundraiser, and has chaired Board Governance, Development and Scholarships. She currently chairs the organization’s Strategic Planning Committee and recently lead development of their 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. 

Professionally, Molly has always worked for nonprofit organizations and currently works for Match Nonprofit Consulting. She works with a wide range of nonprofit clients from libraries to YMCAs to Drug & Alcohol Recovery organizations, but her personal favorite clients are education foundations that support this country’s public school students. 

Jay Shively

Jay Shively serves on the boards of directors of the Goochland Education Foundation and the National Association of Education Foundations (NAEF). He also serves as NAEF’s National Membership Advisor, supporting membership growth and the organization’s work related to the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program and Scholarship Granting Organizations.

Jay brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community engagement and has raised more than $45 million throughout his career. Most recently, he served as Chief Development Officer for the Henrico Education Foundation in Virginia, where he led fundraising, development strategy, and corporate and community partnerships. He has also held executive leadership positions with the YMCA and other nonprofit and community organizations.

Jay is actively involved in NAEF’s efforts to help education foundations understand and prepare for the emerging opportunities associated with the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program.

Debbie Sontupe, CEFL

Debbie is President of Match Nonprofit Consulting and brings nearly 30 years of experience in fundraising, communications, and nonprofit management across nonprofit and higher education organizations. She provides consulting and project-based leadership in development programs, campaigns, major gifts, board development, alumni relations, annual giving, and public relations.

Previously, Debbie served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Mercy College in New York and provided campaign leadership at Rutgers University, where she was responsible for planning and operations for the university’s historic $1 billion comprehensive campaign.

Her nonprofit leadership includes executive roles with the YMCA, including Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Marketing and Development. She also served as a national fund development trainer for YMCA of the USA. Debbie currently serves on her local Education Foundation board and has served as Chair.

Mike Taylor, MPA, CFRE, CEFL

Mike Taylor is Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Education Foundations (NAEF), the only national membership organization dedicated exclusively to supporting and advancing PreK–12 education foundations. He leads NAEF’s national advocacy, research, and capacity-building efforts, representing foundations that collectively support more than 20 million students across the United States. He is also leading national efforts to help education foundations and community partners navigate the Federal Freedom Scholarship Tax Credit Program and develop Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) that expand educational opportunities for students. With more than 35 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including 18 years in the education foundation sector, Mike has secured more than $50 million in philanthropic support for public schools and previously led education foundations in Tennessee and Virginia. A frequent national speaker, he is recognized as a thought leader on education foundations, public-private partnerships, and workforce-aligned education strategies.

In addition to his national role, Mike also serves as Executive Director of the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee - the historic home of the Manhattan Project and a community with a rich legacy of innovation and educational excellence. This dual role allows him to connect national strategy with local implementation, grounding NAEF’s work in real-world practice while applying national insights to strengthen community impact.

Liz Taylor, CEFL

Liz has served as the Executive Director of the Forest City Educaiton Foundation (Iowa) since December of 2020. Having no experience in the non-profit world prior to this position, she has dedicated her time to building rapport with local businesses for FCEF’s fundraising efforts and working with students to find the best path to achieving their career goals. Helping students realize their dreams are within reach is a driving force behind Liz’s work, and thanks to the CEFL curriculum, she has found new ways to build on the mission of the FCEF and brought new programs/resources to the students of Forest City.

Brian Tinsman

Brian is a strategic communications and community engagement leader specializing in storytelling, public education advocacy, and coalition-building. He works with nonprofits, government agencies, and mission-driven organizations to develop communications strategies that build trust, elevate stakeholder voices, and inspire action.

Brian has led marketing and engagement initiatives across education, transportation safety, economic development, and public-sector campaigns, translating complex issues into compelling, people-centered narratives. His work emphasizes authentic partnerships, feedback-driven engagement, and storytelling strategies that strengthen visibility, fundraising, and long-term community support.

As Marketing Strategist for Educate Fairfax, Brian has helped amplify community impact stories, strengthen alumni and stakeholder engagement, and position the organization as a connector among schools, businesses, families, and the broader Fairfax County community.

Christina Winters

Christina is the Founder of Revolution of Achievement and brings more than 35 years of experience leading businesses, building organizations, and developing high-performing teams. As founder and CEO of a financial planning firm, she created and managed more than $250 million in assets and became known for culture-centered leadership grounded in vision, trust, confidence, transformational growth, and purpose.

Christina chaired the Fire Fighters Ball for five years, helping raise $870,000 to fund scholarships for children of community firefighters. The program continues to provide ten $2,500 scholarships and one $25,000 scholarship annually.

She also founded and chaired the Irving Schools Foundation Gala for five years, helping raise $1.8 million for scholarships, student programs, and opportunities benefiting students and families. Christina is known for turning vision into action and building organizations people trust.