Philanthropy Leads Conference

Sheryl joined Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates in 2021 after leading asset development, planned giving, advisor and affiliate relations, and nonprofit fundholder services at The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for over 21 years. In her last 5 years at the foundation, her work resulted in $136 million in contributions and creation of over 400 charitable funds, gift annuity, trust and expectancy agreements. Her volunteer roles have included service to AdNet (Advancement Network for Community Foundations), the Council on Foundations, the North Carolina Planned Giving Council, and the Land of Sky Estate Planning Council. For eight years, Sheryl served as a peer reviewer for the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, conducting policy, program and operational accreditation assessments. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College, she attended the University of Bristol (England) on a post-graduate fellowship and holds a masters degree in Management of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University (Ohio).

Amandula Anderson is the Managing Director of Real Estate Solutions for IFF in Indiana. Amandula has nearly 20 years-experience in the nonprofit sector where she has led two community-based organizations – Irvington Development Organization and United Northeast CDC; convened a Quality-of-Life initiative on the northeast side of Indianapolis; directed a program to facilitate a two-generational approach to supporting families within 5 Indianapolis communities; and spent a few years supporting affordable housing through a tax credit syndicator. She is a graduate of Arlington High School, received her BS in Public Affairs from IUPUI and has a Masters in Real Estate Development at University of Indianapolis. In her role at IFF, she is supporting schools and nonprofits throughout the states of Indiana and Kentucky in their desire to build/move/expand in spaces that meet the needs of their clients and brings dignity to all. Amandula enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, ranging from 26 - 12 YO vacationing, reading and having fun with their dog Reo.

Jeremy Beer is the host of Philanthropy Daily's Givers, Doers, and Thinkers (GDT) podcast. Each episode introduces listeners to the fascinating people and important ideas at the heart of American civil society. GDT speaks with philanthropists, foundation leaders, reformers, social entrepreneurs, nonprofit executives, religious believers, historians, sociologists, philosophers, journalists, and anyone else who will help us understand contemporary civil society’s achievements and failures.

Jeremy is also the CEO and principal partner at American Philanthropic and author of The Philanthropic Revolution: An Alternative History of American Charity; Fundraising When Times Are Bad: A Guide for Nonprofit Leaders; and The Forgotten Foundations of Fundraising: Practical Advice and Contrarian Wisdom for Nonprofit Leaders.

Jeremy has published on philanthropy, culture, and society in various academic and popular journals, including the Washington Post, the Washington Examiner, National Review, HistPhil, Comment, First Things, Touchstone, the American Conservative, Front Porch Republic, and the Utne Reader. He has lectured at or for the Institute for Catholic Philanthropy, State Policy Network, the American Political Science Association, the National Catholic Development Conference, Wake Forest University, Georgetown University, Calvin College, Augustana College, and elsewhere.

Prior to American Philanthropic, Jeremy was vice president of publishing and information systems at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, where he also served as the editor in chief of the institute’s award-winning press, ISI Books.

Drew joined the Arthur Dean Family Foundation in January of 2021. Drew has a background in grantmaking and social impact work from spending the previous 15 years in philanthropy and government, and has led community investment strategies at the neighborhood, municipal and federal levels. For the past several years, Drew has managed a philanthropic portfolio that has been committed to equity and included education, youth development, economic self-sufficiency, and workforce development and is excited to leverage this experience to advance the Arthur Dean Family Foundation’s mission in a trust-based way. A native of Indianapolis, Drew is grateful for the opportunity to support and partner with the brilliant leaders of the region’s public sector to produce equitable outcomes so that all our residents may thrive. Outside of work, Drew’s passions are spending time with his family, coaching his son’s tee-ball team, traveling and listening to podcasts while walking his 10-year-old black lab, Lola.

Francesca works with organizations to design and execute communications campaigns that shift belief and change behavior in the public interest. She helped start VOX Global’s Behavioral Insights practice to develop communications strategies focused on eliciting social and consumer change.

Francesca brings extensive experience in journalism, education policy, and advocacy communications to her role at VOX. As co-chair of the firm’s education and nonprofit practice group, she collaborates extensively with foundations, governments and nonprofit clients that view communications as a tool for driving change.
Prior to joining VOX, Francesca served as Vice President of Policy and Communications for The Mind Trust, a nonprofit focused on improving K-12 education in Indianapolis. Francesca began her career as a reporter for the Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Business Journal, where she covered state and local government.
Francesca has been a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana for six years. She’s an alumnus of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Program (Class XXXVI). She lives in Indianapolis’ Butler Tarkington neighborhood with her husband, Ryan, and two toddlers, Jack (4) and Gina (2). 
 

Jim Brady, who joined Knight Foundation in 2021, is a digital media innovator whose experience ranges from leading major brands such as washingtonpost.com and Digital First Media to starting a company that built local news sites in three cities. 

Brady is CEO of Spirited Media, which developed local news sites Billy Penn in Philadelphia, The Incline in Pittsburgh and Denverite in Denver, which differentiated themselves with a mobile-first approach and a business focus on events and membership—rather than advertising—as core revenue lines, In 2019, Spirited Media sold Denverite to Colorado Public Radio, The Incline to digital startup Whereby.us and Billy Penn to WHYY, Philadelphia’s iconic public radio station.

Previously, as editor-in-chief of Digital First Media, Brady was responsible for the strategy and management of the 75 daily newspapers, 292 non-daily publications and 341 online sites owned by Journal Register Company and MediaNews Group. He also built and managed the company’s Thunderdome unit, which comprised more than 50 digitally focused journalists charged with providing cutting-edge national content for DFM’s local properties. 

During Brady’s tenure as executive editor of washingtonpost.com, the site won a national Emmy award for its Hurricane Katrina coverage, a Peabody Award for its “Being a Black Man” series, and numerous other journalism awards. He also ran AOL’s news coverage of the 9/11 attacks and 2000 presidential election, and served as ESPN’s public editor from 2015-18.

Brady is a past president of the Online News Association, a two-time judge of the Pulitzer Prizes, and currently serves on the boards of the American Press Institute, NewsMedia Alliance, and the National Press Foundation. He is a graduate of American University.

Andrew Brock has 8 years’ experience in public accounting. The majority of Andrew’s experience has been serving not-for-profit organizations with a specific focus on grantmaking and membership organizations as well as employee benefit plans. He has a bachelor of business administration in accountancy and a minor in theology from the University of Notre Dame.
Andrew currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Seymour, Parish Treasurer for Calvary Lutheran Church and School in Indianapolis, and he sits on the Education Committee of Indiana Philanthropy Alliance. Andrew also holds memberships in FAOG (Finance, Administration & Operations Group for Community Foundations) and Indiana Philanthropy Alliance. In 2020, Andrew was the first recipient of the Ed Abel Innovation Award at Blue & Co. In April 2022, he was named co-recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Board Volunteer of the Year by the Indiana Area Boys & Girls Club Council for his efforts in financial management and literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also a member of Blue’s firm wide Not-for-Profit Services Group.

Patrick began his public accounting career in 1991. His audit, tax and consulting focus is on not-for-profit organizations and the manufacturing industry. He is responsible for the supervision and review of all of the firm’s community foundation and not-for-profit audits. Patrick has been involved with community foundations for most of his career and frequently consults with community foundations on emerging issues and local initiatives. He is a member of the Indiana CPA Society, The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and serves on several not-for-profit boards.

Don Byrd is Braver Angels' state coordinator for Indiana. He started out in college to become a composer, but -- after getting a degree in music composition -- he discovered computers. Thinking computers could be great tools for musicians as well as offering a better career path, he switched to software engineering and got a Ph.D. in Computer Science. He then spent many years going back and forth between academia and industry, eventually doing research on music information technology and teaching at Indiana University. At the beginning of the big recession of 2008, Byrd changed careers again, this time to secondary-school math teaching. By then he was in his 60s, and after teaching middle school and high school for a short time, he retired. These days, he spends most of his time working for Braver Angels, a grassroots volunteer-run national organization dedicated to reducing our country's toxic partisanship. In private life, Don Byrd has two adult children and one adult wife.

Kristen Cambell is CEO of PACE, a philanthropic laboratory for funders seeking to maximize their impact on democracy and civic life in America. Previously, Kristen ran her own consulting practice focused on civic engagement, education, and leadership. She served the National Conference on Citizenship as its Chief Program Officer, and has held philanthropic roles at the Case Foundation and Points of Light. Kristen is an AmeriCorps Alum and serves on the board of United Philanthropy Forum and Citizen University, as well as the advisory groups of several national groups, including the working group of the Philanthropy Initiative at the Smithsonian Institution.

Jorge Castro is a Member at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier in Washington, DC. Jorge advises clients in the non-profit sector and is active helping advance the policy priorities of the charitable community. Jorge has served as Counselor to the IRS Commissioner and as senior tax counsel to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He received his BA from The George Washington University and his JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Jorge is an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

As the Initiative Manager for the Digital Access for All and Aspirations to Action Initiatives with The Patterson Foundation, Sarasota, Florida, Cheri leads a 4 County regional effort to expand access, convene stakeholders and connect the three essential elements; connectivity, devices and skills training to bridge the digital divide for all residents. Her over 30 years of public sector experience affords her the ability to understand, explain and bring together the various government sectors to seek newly implemented Federal funds for Digital Equity and her past experience in human services and neighborhoods has allowed her to developed trusted relationships with communities and people across the region that strengthen connective tissue through active engagement of conversations with the community, all in an effort to move their issues to possibilities and their aspirations to action.

Claudia Cummings is the president & CEO of the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), one of the largest statewide networks in the country created to boost philanthropy’s impact in communities throughout its state borders. 

A strategic leader and dedicated public servant, Claudia brings a distinct vision and passion to maximizing the impact of Indiana’s foundations, corporations and social investors that collectively hold more than $21 billion in assets and make more than $850 million in grants annually.

During her tenure leading IPA, Claudia has worked with leadership to inspire innovation and action; to engage members in collaborative forums to address key issues; and to amplify the diverse voices that make up Indiana’s philanthropic sector. 

Prior to joining IPA, Claudia served as vice president of strategic development at Conexus Indiana, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) initiative that has positioned the Hoosier state as the best place for advanced manufacturing and logistics industries to invest, employ, and succeed. For more than ten years, she served in senior leadership at Conexus Indiana, overseeing nationally recognized collaborations on workforce development and education between industry, academic, philanthropic, and public sector partners.

Prior to her work with Conexus Indiana, Claudia served as Deputy Commissioner at the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA), where she focused on small business development. In addition to her role at IDOA, Claudia previously worked in various policy, communications, and leadership positions for the Mayor of Indianapolis, Speaker of the Indiana House, Marion County Clerk, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.

Claudia is deeply involved in her community, including service on the boards of Sagamore Institute, Goodwill Education Initiatives, Indiana University Public Policy Institute and the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University.  She previously served as a member of the Indiana Election Commission, State Workforce Innovation Council, and the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank.

Claudia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin and Marshall College; a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University's O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs; and an executive certificate from the Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business.

Nathan has over 10 years of experience providing services and expertise to various nonprofit entities, including churches and denominational entities, colleges and universities, private schools, and international mission organizations. Nathan specializes in providing assurance services, with special emphasis in employee benefit plan audits. As a senior manager, he is responsible for overseeing the execution of the audit, supervising audit team members assigned to the engagement, and providing timely communication to clients, as well as being the primary contact to assist in getting their day-to-day accounting questions answered.

Chris has more than 15 years of experience providing auditing, accounting, and consulting services for nonprofit and higher education clients. He has worked extensively with a variety of nonprofit clients, including social service organizations, foundations, museums, sport and membership associations, and colleges and universities. Chris has significant experience performing audits in accordance with Uniform Guidance and has led many consulting projects in both the nonprofit and governmental industries.

Ellen Dunnigan founded Accent On Business in 2001 specializing in public speaking, communication skills, and leadership presence for leaders in business. She has 25 years of experience with professional and nonprofessional speakers in healthcare, media, politics, engineering, sports, and other industries. Ellen’s coaching in speaking skills gives established and emerging leaders greater confidence and credibility. Her leadership programs in accountability, alignment, difficult conversations, and organizational communication have helped leaders expand their influence. Ellen is known for her practical “how to” style.

Ellen holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech Pathology with an emphasis in voice and brain science — and further post-graduate training in organizational development, leadership, and public speaking. She believes firmly that it’s not just what you say; it’s how you say it that makes the winning difference. To that end, she helps businesses and leaders communicate well and be influencers in their companies and communities.

Dashiell is a philanthropic and social impact creative who is invested in equity and accessibility to resources that can increase the capacity and strengthen the vitality of those in marginalized communities. With more than 10 years of experience in the not-for-profit field, Dashiell has spent the last 5 years at the Central New York Community Foundation in Syracuse, NY where she created, implemented and led The Black Equity & Excellence Fund—a $1 million dollar grantmaking initiative that supports Black-led community-based projects that promote and encourage self-sufficiency and address physical and economic conditions that affect quality of life.

Dashiell also spent her time in New York working with grassroots organizations, professional development for nonprofits, strategic partnerships and equitable evaluation and data analysis. Dashiell is strong in creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace environments and grantmaking practices that also highlight the importance of intersectionality and accessibility.

Prior to becoming a funder, Dashiell spent time working for various community-based organizations that serve multiple demographics such as suburban, urban, and rural populations. Dashiell has a strong background in mental health services, crisis management, youth mediation, program development, grant management, grant evaluation, grant writing and fund allocation.

Dashiell attended SUNY Empire State College, University of Phoenix and Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY. She majored in Nonprofit Management, Public Administration and Cultural Studies. Dashiell has also graduated from various leadership communities that have enhanced her community outreach and resident engagement skills.

Jeanine Fahnestock is senior vice president of PNC Bank and deputy executive director for PNC Grow Up Great, The PNC Financial Services Group’s $500 million, multi-year, bilingual initiative that began in 2004 to support quality early childhood education. In this role, she manages the four main components of the program: advocacy, grants, awareness and volunteerism. Fahnestock joined PNC in 2001 as an analyst in the Finance organization. She became part of PNC’s Community Affairs department in 2008 focusing on the PNC Foundation, PNC Grow Up Great and PNC Charitable Trusts. In 2010, she was named to a position as part of PNC’s signature philanthropic cause and assumed her current role in 2015. Fahnestock holds a bachelor of science degree from The Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

Stephanie is the Executive Director of the McKinney Family, which is committed to building an environmentally sustainable future for every Hoosier. Through strategic partnerships MFF advocates for environmental justice, seeks to conserve natural resources and empower Indiana communities to live in a healthier, more prosperous and more sustainable manner. 

She currently serves on the board of the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, the American Pianist Association, and the Indianapolis Art Center and is an active leader in the Environmental Grantmakers Association and the Climate and Energy Funders Group. She has presented at the Climate Infrastructure Forum in Barcelona, Spain, the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge Partners Meeting in New York, and a National Council on Family Philanthropy educational webinar series. She is a member of the adjunct faculty at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Stephanie's previous experience has been in public health, human rights and advancement. Stephanie holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management from the Indiana University O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a BA in Global public Health, International Affairs and Political Science from Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University.
 

Gretchen Gutman, a veteran in the legislative and government policy arena, is Vice President of Public Policy for Cook Group Incorporated. Cook Group Inc., based in Bloomington, Indiana is dedicated to bold leadership in pioneering innovative medical solutions to enhance patient care worldwide. Cook is always trying to find a better, simpler, more efficient way to treat patients. Before joining Cook, Gretchen served as the Associate Vice President for Government Relations at Ball State University. Prior to joining Ball State University, she was a partner at the law firm of Taft, Stettinius and Hollister LLP in Indianapolis. Gretchen’s law practice included property tax assessment appeals, public finance, administrative law appeals as well as governmental affairs. Gretchen also spent eight years as the chief fiscal advisor to the Senate Finance Committee of the Indiana General Assembly. During her time on staff, Gretchen worked on several public policy issues: most notably property tax reform, charter school legislation, pension reform, gaming legislation and the State’s biennial budget and school funding formula. Gretchen received a bachelor’s degree in history and an MPA from Indiana University, as well as a law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis.

Amy leads IPA’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. In this work, she oversees board and staff training, consulting, and networking opportunities that strengthen Indiana's 94 community foundations. Amy also serves as a navigator for IPA’s GIFT VII community leadership work.

Before joining IPA in 2020, Amy served for eight years as executive director of Blue River Community Foundation based in Shelbyville, Indiana. In this role, she built cross-sector partnerships for greater impact, transitioned the foundation to a catalytic model, improved operational efficiencies and nearly doubled the foundation’s assets.

Prior to her work at the community foundation, Amy had a successful career in community development. She was the redevelopment director for the City of Shelbyville and the executive director of Mainstreet Shelbyville. As redevelopment director, Haacker led collaborative plans for community and economic development efforts as a Stellar Communities program finalist. She also helped create a workforce development partnership with the City of Shelbyville and Rose Hulman Institute of Technology that provides local career pathways in engineering, science and technology.

Amy earned her master’s degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and bachelor’s degree from Purdue University’s School of Agriculture. She completed Ball State University’s Building Better Communities Indiana Economic Development course, has a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from IU Lilly School of Philanthropy and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive.
 

Rich oversees all aspects of K21’s operations and reports directly to the Board of Directors. He is responsible for all financial reporting to the Board, and he works directly with independent accountants on auditing and tax issues. Rich also has a background in investment and financial planning, which helps in his responsibilities of overseeing investment relationships regarding prudent management of the foundation’s funds. Additionally, he works closely with the Investment and Finance Committee of the Board to make decisions on K21 investments and projects. Finally, he interacts with local community leaders and organizations to find the best opportunities to pursue and accomplish K21’s mission through grantmaking and community participation. Rich is a graduate of Grace College with a degree in business and accounting. He also holds a Master of Science in Non-Profit Management. After several years in Indianapolis he moved back to Kosciusko County in 1992.

Andy Hendricks is President of Distributors Terminal Corporation, a warehousing and distribution solutions company based in Terre Haute, Indiana. He took the reins of the organization in 2005, and under his leadership, Distributors Terminal has thrived: The company has tripled its revenue, client roster, and staff. After being neck-deep in logistics for more than 20 years, Hendricks himself has emerged as one of the Midwest’s foremost experts on getting the right thing to the right place at the right time. He combines the warmth of a handshake with the accuracy of technology to create an operations management approach that is distinctly both modern and human.

“Our service really stands out,” Hendricks says. “We provide a customer experience that is unmatched in our industry. We invest in technology, always prioritize efficiency, and restlessly strive for continuous improvement because we’ve found that focus in these three areas saves our clients the most time, money, and headaches.”

Karrah (Miller) Herring is a native and resident of South Bend, IN and a proud graduate of the South Bend Community School Corporation. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Public Relations from Purdue University (’05) and her Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law (’11). On November 19, 2020, Indiana governor, Eric Holcomb announced his appointment of Karrah to his cabinet as Indiana’s first-ever Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer for the state. In this role, she works with the governor and his team to improve state government operations as well as remove hurdles in the government workplace and services the state provides. During the foundational phase of the office, Karrah engaged with over 300 stakeholders, built the infrastructure of the office, and in conjunction with other agencies rolled out the State of Indiana's first ever Equity Data Portal. Her team's work focuses on growing statewide access and opportunity in education and economic development and enhancing employee experiences within Indiana state government’s executive branch. Prior to joining Governor Holcomb's team, Karrah worked for the University of Notre Dame for nearly a decade and served as the Director of Public Affairs in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications. Prior to her role with Public Affairs, she served on the University of Notre Dame’s Office of Human Resources Senior Executive Leadership team as the Director of the Office of Institutional Equity and University Title IX Coordinator. Karrah has received a number of awards and recognition and serves on various boards and commissions. She was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s prestigious Forty leaders under 40 2022 list. Last year, she was named by the South Bend Regional Chamber as the 2021 Woman of Influence. In October of 2021, the chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, Justice Rush, asked Karrah to serve as the executive branch’s representative on the Indiana Supreme Court’s Commission on Equity and Access within Indiana Courts. Karrah is not only serving on the commission but is also chairing the subcommittee within the commission to look at pathways to the legal profession’s bench and bar for historically underrepresented groups. She is also a member of the Center for Digital Government’s Digital Equity Advisory Committee, the NASHP Population and Public Health Steering Committee and she is a member of the Board of Directors for Sunz Insurance and Sunz Holdings LLC (Bradenton, Florida).

Eric Holcomb is the 51st Governor of Indiana. In 2020, he was elected to his second term with the most votes for governor in Indiana history.

A lifelong Hoosier, Gov. Holcomb is a veteran of the United States Navy, served as the state’s 51st Lt. Governor, was a trusted advisor to both Gov. Mitch Daniels and Sen. Dan Coats, worked for Congressman John Hostettler and is a former state chairman of the Indiana Republican Party.

He was elected governor in November 2016, following an unprecedented 106-day campaign and was sworn in on Jan. 9, 2017.

In 2018, Gov. Holcomb partnered with the Markle Foundation to launch “Skillful Indiana,” to bridge the divide between the skills Hoosiers have and the skills businesses need. Indiana is just the second state to have this program.

Danielle Holly is a social sector veteran with a career focused on activating values based leaders as a force for achieving greater equity in our society. Holly is currently the Associate Director of Learning Programs at the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Program. In this role, she is responsible for the strategy, management and growth of BSP’s First Movers Fellowship and the Leaders Forum. Prior to this role, Danielle was the CEO of Common Impact, a national nonprofit organization that connects business and social change professionals in pro bono projects that are focused on alleviating inequality. During her time at Common Impact, she grew the organization from a small, local nonprofit to a national leader in strategic volunteerism, consulted with hundreds of Fortune 500 companies in shaping their social impact strategies, and supported capacity building initiatives at nonprofits. 

She is a contributing writer to Nonprofit Quarterly and the Stanford Social Innovation Review, an active nonprofit board member, and member of Chief, Nationswell and the Forbes Women’s Council. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Fordham University, and an M.B.A from Boston University. 

Danielle lives with her family in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, and loves indulging in public libraries and public transportation, alongside all that NYC has to offer. She spends most weekends chasing her small children around Prospect Park.

Kalen Jackson is entering her 11th season as vice chair/owner. Jackson joined the team in 2010 as vice president and, along with sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt, represents the next generation of Colts ownership. Like her sisters, she grew up with the Colts organization as a significant part of her life since birth. Jackson is involved in various functions of the organization, including coordinating the Irsay family’s community and philanthropic efforts. She currently leads Kicking The Stigma, the family’s initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the shame and stigma often associated with these illnesses. Jackson currently serves on the national board of Project Healthy Minds and locally on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana. She also is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization. In addition, to representing the Colts at NFL Owners’ Meetings, she serves on the league’s Employee Benefits Committee. As the committee’s youngest member, Jackson is responsible for administering club and league benefit plans, including plan design and amendment, benefit and administrative expense payments and employee eligibility issues. She graduated with honors in 2010 from Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education & Recreation with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and marketing. Jackson was born and resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Boyd Jackson, and their two daughters.

Mr. Jacobs is the Chief Financial Officer of the AWS Foundation.  Mr. Jacobs has served as CFO for the foundation since June of 2021 and prior to that served as the foundation’s Board Chair and Investment Committee member.  Mr. Jacobs experience includes serving as a Principal and Chief Financial Officer of Equity Investment Group from 1994 to 2015.  While at Equity Investment Group he raised more than $1 billion in debt and equity capital for EIG’s retail shopping center portfolio and helped grow EIG by the early 2000s to one of the largest private owner/managers of retail real estate in the United States.  Additionally, from 2004 to 2014, Mr. Jacobs served as CFO of Blue Vista Capital Management, LLC, a Chicago-headquartered real estate investment management company. Blue Vista raised and managed in excess of $1 billion of institutional equity through four closed-end funds, two separate accounts and one joint venture relationship totaling approximately $5.25 Billion of capitalization. Prior to joining EIG, Mr. Jacobs was a Senior Tax Consultant for Ernst & Young, LLP, in Fort Wayne, Ind. 
Mr. Jacobs serves on the board and is Chair of the Investment Committee for the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne. In addition, he is Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Canterbury School and serves on the school’s foundation board. Mr. Jacobs has a B.S. in Finance with Distinction in Business from Indiana University.

Deborah Kasemeyer is a Senior Vice President and Director of Community Development & Investments where she oversees Northern Trust’s community development capital deployment and an Impact Investment portfolio of over $1.5 billion. An early adopter of innovative community finance structures, she has developed expertise in Social Impact Bonds (SIB) also known as Pay for Success, having closed five transactions which are targeting issues such as quality Pre-K in Chicago, homeless in Denver and homeless and substance abuse in Salt Lake City. 
She works to fill capital gaps in underserved communities across the US through direct investment in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), high performing non-profits, social enterprise businesses, Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), New Market Tax Credits (NMTC), and Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC). Northern Trust was successful in the 2016 round of NMTC awards and received $60 million in tax credits to be used in innovative and comprehensive community development projects. 
With 22 years of experience in Community Development at Northern Trust, she has also managed Northern Trust’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program over that time where it has received nine consecutive Outstanding CRA ratings spanning 22 years of evaluation. Prior to her community development work, Deborah was a commercial lender working in the Northern Trust’s Middle Market Lending Group and later the Neighborhood Lending Group. 
She graduated from DePauw University with a B.A. in Economics. Board memberships include IFF, a large regional CDFI headquartered in Chicago, the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL) headquartered in Washington DC and Akola, a social enterprise business headquartered in Dallas and Uganda.

Kent A. Kramer joined Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana in 2002 as Vice President of Retail Operations, later serving as Chief Operating Officer. In 2015, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer – just the fourth leader in the organization’s nearly 90 years. Kent leads a thriving Goodwill of nearly 3,200 employees (two-thirds of whom have a significant employment barrier) that also educates more than 3,000 students and serves more than 600 low-income families. With nearly $150 million in annual revenue, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is one of the largest of the Goodwills in North America. Kramer, through his role with Goodwill, appreciates the opportunity to help improve lives and communities. Goodwill utilizes its resources to help provide solutions to serious social problems, including poverty, by creating opportunities for people to become productive, economically self-sufficient citizens. Each individual’s success story drives Kramer and his team to work even harder to provide employment and education opportunities that will ultimately lead to prosperous outcomes. Away from work, Kramer enjoys spending time with his wife and their four children. He has coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer, has served on various committees for the South Madison Community School Corporation and chairs the Community Advisory Board for the Nurse-Family Partnership initiative in Indiana. In 2014, Kramer was appointed by Indiana Governor Mike Pence to serve on the State Workforce Innovation Council (SWIC). He also serves on the Indiana State University Alumni Association Board. He and his family are active members of Madison Park Church of God, where Kramer serves as an Elder. Kramer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Indiana State University and an MBA from the Falls School of Business at Anderson University. He is a 2010 graduate of the Goodwill Industries International Executive Development Program and a 2006 graduate of the Ardath Burkhart Board Leadership Series.

Philip Li is the President & CEO of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation which seeks to build a more equitable and vibrant New York City by investing in her people. The Foundation was an early adopter of using a trust-based approach in its work. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer at The Century Foundation, a public policy thinktank, and at the Brooklyn Community Foundation, which he helped convert from a corporate entity. He served as Executive Director of Coro New York Leadership Center after being a participant in it mid-career program. He came to the nonprofit sector from Wall Street where he started his career at Merrill Lynch and ended it rating junk bonds at Moody’s. Phil is on the Steering Committee of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Co-chair of the Leadership Funders Group, Treasurer of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and a past board chair of Philanthropy New York. Phil has a BA in Economics and Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance and Strategic Planning from The Wharton School.

Amanda Lopez is President and founder of Transform Consulting Group, an Indiana-based strategic and data-driven consulting firm focused on serving government, nonprofit, education and communities. Founded in 2008, Transform Consulting Group has helped non-profit organizations and government agencies across the nation with research, data analysis, program development and evaluation, fundraising, and strategic planning to accelerate their impact. Previously, Ms. Lopez worked for the Association of Community Human Service Agencies in Los Angeles, California and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Budget, the Children’s Bureau and the Head Start Bureau in Washington, DC. She holds a Masters of Social Work with a focus on policy and evaluation from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Society from Purdue University. Amanda was the first recipient of the Purdue University Emerging Voice Alumni Award for outstanding young professionals under 40 years old in 2007. Amanda now resides in Wabash, Indiana – her hometown – with her family.

Lili S. Lutgens is a Kentucky Licensed Attorney as well as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Indiana and Kentucky. She received her bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University and her law degree from Vanderbilt University. After finding the practice of law incredibly dull, she returned to school, and in 1997 she received a masters degree in Social Work from the University of Louisville. She has been a licensed mental health therapist since 2000. Ms. Lutgens is part owner of Therapeutic Intervention Services, an agency that provides mental and behavioral health services to children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She also has a part-time mental health private practice where she sees adolescents and adults struggling with trauma, anxiety, and depression. Ms. Lutgens joined Braver Angels as a result of her concern with the growing partisan divide in the United States and the damaging impact it is having on communities.

Dora Lutz is the author of The Aspirational Business, owner of GivingSpring, and creator of the course Business Planning for Social Entrepreneurs at Purdue University. From her earliest days managing truck drivers through the creation of her second business, Dora has devoted her career to understanding the unique ways businesses can make a positive impact on society- and helping leaders accomplish their biggest goals. Dora has worked with small businesses, Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, and even the United Nations' IMPACT 2030 program to leverage business models that create sustainable revenue sources and incredible social impact.

Laura Macknick serves as the inaugural Executive Director of the Don Wood Foundation since its founding in 2018. She is an alumna of Purdue University for her undergraduate degree and completed her Masters of Nonprofit Administration and Philanthropy from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy from Indiana University. Laura brings over 20 years’ experience in the sector, working in nonprofit executive management, fundraising, grant writing, marketing and communications. Additionally, Laura is a graduate of Leadership Lafayette and previously taught as adjunct faculty for North Central College in Naperville, IL for their Masters for Nonprofit Leadership curriculum.

Steven Meyer serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Intend Indiana, a non-profit that advances comprehensive community development through innovative financing and development solutions. Steven oversees the strategic growth of the organization, including its two Community Development Financial Institutions, affordable housing development, and land banking initiative. Prior to joining Intend, Steven worked for the City of Indianapolis and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management focusing on Brownfield redevelopment and environmental cost recovery litigation. Steven is a graduate of the IU McKinney School of Law and a licensed attorney.

Miah Michaelsen is the Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission where she serves the State of Indiana’s arts agency as a connector, change manager, team builder, and a public steward, responsible for developing, supporting, diversifying, and expanding the arts for all.

Previous to joining the Arts Commission, Michaelsen served as the first Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts for the City of Bloomington, Indiana. In that role she developed and implemented all aspects of programming and services offered to the creative sector by the City of Bloomington and its state-designated cultural district, the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD). Areas of programmatic focus included creative entrepreneurship, downtown investment and small business support, destination and attraction development, public art, grants-making, and cultural facility development. She enjoys being on the road around the state learning about communities' unique creative assets and presenting on topics such as public art, creative entrepreneurship, and the intersection of government, economic development, and the arts.

John J. Niederman was President/CEO of Pathfinder Services, Inc., based in Huntington, Indiana, from March 1985 until August 2020. After two years of being retired, John accepted a part time contracted position as Regional Director of Entrepreneurship at the Fortitude Fund, Inc. assisting entrepreneurs in Northeast Indiana, especially those underserved need connections, community of support and money. He is on the Board of the Huntington County Community Foundation and is Past Board President. He is also on the Board of Indiana United Ways and the Huntington County Council on Aging.

As Pathfinder Services President/CEO, John was responsible for the overall operation of a $22,000,000 not-for-profit private corporation serving over 3000 adults and children in Northeast Indiana. Its purpose is enabling greater self-reliance and inclusion. Pathfinder Services provides a wide range of human services in the areas of education, housing, and employment services for people with disabilities and others with economic challenges.

John graduated from the University of Notre Dame and holds two master’s degrees in Social Work and Business Administration.

Helena Ocampo leads Goelzer Investment Management’s ESG strategy as well as the Core Growth strategy and is a member of the firm’s Investment Policy Committee.  With more than 20 years of industry experience, Helena has an impressive record in managing investment portfolios, as well as extensive experience in the ESG investing field.  
Before joining Goelzer in 2018, Helena was a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President at Sentinel Investments, acting as a lead manager for 10 years in a mutual fund with an ESG mandate, as well as co-portfolio manager of a large cap core mutual fund. Prior, she was Senior Equity Analyst at Citigroup Asset Management, where she advised portfolio managers in domestic and international markets. 
Helena earned her B.A. degree with a double major in Finance and Economics from Lafayette College and her M.A. in International Finance and Economics from Brandeis University. Helena is active as a volunteer with Accelerate Investors and a member of CFA Societies’ Women in Investment Management organization.
 

Stephanie Overbey is the CEO of Kosciusko County Community Foundation. She began her tenure with the community foundation on February 14, 2000 when she was hired to fill the Foundation’s newly created Program Officer Position. Since that time, Stephanie has been promoted numerous times, serving as Program Director, Communications Director and Associate Director. Stephanie earned an undergraduate degree in Communications from Ball State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She is also a graduate of Kosciusko Leadership Academy and the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Services Series. Stephanie and her husband, Jamie, reside in Silver Lake with their three children.
 

Andrew Perrin is Regional Sales Executive for Treasury Management and is responsible for PNC’s growth strategy in the Midwest and Southeast. He manages a team of Treasury Management officers and analysts who advise and help middle market and large corporate clients deploy technology to accelerate and automate collections, optimize payments, enhance information visibility, and manage risk and liquidity.

Active in the community, Andrew has dedicated his time to advocate for equal access to high quality early childhood care and education. He has been a committed volunteer through PNC Grow Up Great, PNC’s philanthropic initiative to enhance early education and helped direct funding designated to Indianapolis early learning centers. Since 2014, he has been an active leader with Early Learning Indiana and currently serves as Board Chair.

Andrew joined PNC in 2005. Since then, he has lived and worked in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Indianapolis. Andrew and his family moved to Indianapolis in 2014 when he assumed his current role.

Andrew received a B.A. in English Literature and Spanish from Grove City College. In 2010 he earned his M.B.A. in Finance from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. He also maintains the Certified Treasury Professional designation from the Association for Financial Professionals.

Kris Putnam-Walkerly has worked with the world’s leading philanthropists to strategically allocate over half a billion dollars in grants and gifts. For more than 20 years, wealthy families, ultra-high net worth donors, foundations, Fortune 500 companies, and celebrity activists have sought and benefited from her advice to transform their giving and catapult their impact. 

Kris has been named one of America’s Top 25 Philanthropy Speakers for the past three years running. She is the author of the book, Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail to Achieve Change and What They Can Do To Transform Giving and Confident Giving: Sage Advice for Funders, and is a Forbes.com contributor on philanthropy. Kris has also earned the LUXlife award and an esteemed position in the top 50 bloggers/influencers in philanthropy.

Kris also contributes expert philanthropic commentary to the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Forbes, Variety, Thrive Global, Worth Magazine, and other media. She was recently featured on NPR’s Marketplace Morning Report, and she co-edited The Foundation Review’s themed journal on philanthropy consulting. 

John Qualls is the CEO and President of PurposeHQ, enabling purpose-driven organizations through the development of culture, alignment of leadership, talent development, team growth, and engagement. Qualls is president emeritus of the non-profit Eleven Fifty Coding Academy. During his four years, Qualls and his team impacted thousands of Hoosier lives, touching the lives in 25 communities, 30,000 K-12 students, and upscaling over 3,000 adults from 23 states and 4 countries. Qualls designed, implemented, and grew an immersive boot-camp style program with a 90% graduation rate and over 80% placement rate. A serial entrepreneur, Qualls has had an eclectic journey from serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Gulf War, working in finance, marketing, and technology startups, leading the fastest growing company in Indiana, being named to the 40 Under 40 by the Indianapolis Business Journal. He also was a finalist for the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of Year award. As an entrepreneur, Qualls is dedicated to developing local talent to stimulate growth and move Indiana forward. He brings his innovative thinking and leadership to PurposeHQ to put purpose into work!

Tom is the Cyber Security and Data Management practice leader at Blue & Co. He has over 35 years of experience working with clients of all sizes and across industries in the areas of cyber security, risk management and Information technology in general. He has worked with a number of non-profits assisting them in improving their cyber security posture. He serves on the Board of Directors of Lifecare Alliance, the management organization for several community based programs in central Ohio including one of the largest Meals on Wheels programs in the country.

Serving as assistant dean for external relations, Bill oversees communications and fundraising for the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy while directing The Fund Raising School. Bill also serves as a core faculty member, teaching graduate and bachelor’s level courses on philanthropy, fundraising, and leadership.

Bill’s professional career spans the philanthropic, public, and private sectors. He served for 17 years as president and CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute, a statewide nonprofit devoted to healthy youth development and academic achievement. This opportunity followed his leadership position in the mayor’s office in Indianapolis, where he served as policy director for community renewal, designing and implementing The Front Porch Alliance.

Additional public administration opportunities have included serving as a staff member on the United States Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families as well as serving as a board member on Indiana’s State Workforce Innovation Council and Indiana’s Education Roundtable.

Bill’s 10-year media career included being honored as the “Indiana Sportscaster of the Year,” and his media skills have been utilized throughout his professional career appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and ESPN as well as numerous state and national newspaper op-eds and radio and television interviews.

Honors and awards have included being named a “Sagamore of the Wabash,” a top civic honor conveyed by the State of Indiana, as well as a “Next Generation Leader” by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Janet S. Sweet serves in the role of Institutional Investment Advisor, responsible for providing our growing institutional client base with consultative advice and high quality service.  Janet brings over 25 years of industry experience to Goelzer.  Previously, Janet has advised institutional clients on the development of customized asset allocation studies, investment policy statements, performance attribution , as well as manage due diligence and evaluation.  Janet earned a B.S. degree with a major in Financial Counseling and Planning from Purdue University.  Janet has also earned both the CFA and CAIA credentials. Janet serves as Board Member and Finance Committee Chair of the Dove Recovery House for Women.

Trusted executive, thought leader, and expert. I sit at the intersection of policy and philanthropy, and leverage my savvy, coalition building expertise, and deep industry knowledge to build solutions and progress for those I work with. I am also the founder of Integer, a women-owned government relations firm.I have demonstrated expertise in collaborating with both major political parties to accomplish client goals. My expertise comes from years on Capitol Hill working for seasoned Members of Congress and leading government relations teams for companies and clients in the private sector. In my “free time,” I serve as a Member of the Philanthropy Editorial Board of Trusts and Estates as well as an Advisory Council Member of Engage, a bipartisan women's organization that promotes economic security for all American women. I am also a frequent speaker and author, providing insightful analysis of breaking financial issues and policy trends to watch for in Washington. I often publish with CEOWorld magazine on these insightful topics to provide my expertise to the public.

Mr. Thorpe joined Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc. in October 2003. During his time at Mason, Mr. Thorpe has led the growth of Mason's institutional practice from less than $100 million in 2003 to over $5.9 billion as of January 2022.  In addition, he has helped to raise approximately $1 billion in private client assets.  Prior to his work with Mason, Mr. Thorpe was a Financial Advisor with UBS Financial Services. Prior to that, Mr. Thorpe was a Consultant with BTS, Inc in Stamford, CT. Mr. Thorpe also held positions with Teligent, Crestar Bank and Pioneer Technologies Group. He received both his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 1993 and his MBA, with a concentration in Finance in 2002 from The University of Maryland.  Mr. Thorpe is a member of Mason’s Management Committee.

Lisa Sirkin Vielee’s marketing and communications career spans 30 years with leadership positions in nonprofit, education, government, and marketing agencies. After graduating from Miami University of Ohio, she began her career at the award-winning Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, where she would eventually lead the organization’s first rental and events department. Vielee went on to hold positions at various communications and marketing agencies, and as director of Fit City Indianapolis, before joining the Indiana Office of the Governor as Deputy Press Secretary in 2004. 

In 2005, Vielee founded Gracie Communications providing public relations and marketing consulting and communications services to nonprofits including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Marian University, and the Julian Center. In 2015, Gracie Communications merged with Well Done Marketing to create a full-service agency offering advertising, public relations, content marketing, digital strategy, and web development. She purchased the 30-person company in 2021. 

Vielee is a Sagamore of the Wabash and is an active member of the greater Indianapolis community, currently serving on the board of TeenWorks and as a volunteer with the College Football Playoffs 2022 Indianapolis Host Committee. She also is a member of the international Women Presidents Organization (WPO), and an outspoken advocate for gender equality and diversity in the marketing industry.

When she’s not leading the Well Done Marketing team or volunteering around Indianapolis, Vielee enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, John, and her adult daughters and stepchildren. 

Jenna Wachtmann, vice president, joined the Ball Brothers Foundation staff in 2014 after working in fundraising and program development for social service agencies in St. Louis and Indianapolis. She also completed an internship with the U.S. Department of State, Office of Innovation. She is a graduate of Abilene Christian University and holds both a certificate in nonprofit management from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI and an executive master of arts degree in philanthropic studies from the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. As vice president, Jenna supports the foundation's president and COO in strategy development, communications, and day-to-day management of operations. She also works directly with the foundation’s grantees. 

With a background in organizational strategy and execution, Maureen has spent her career working across multiple sectors – with an emphasis on human capital development and education – to improve the way that organizations meet the needs of the individuals they serve. Maureen is the president and CEO of Early Learning Indiana (ELI), which operates a network of premiere community lab schools used to advance the science of early learning, train the next generation of teachers and leaders and instill essential skills in the nearly 900 young children it serves each day. As a leading voice for the future of early learning, ELI serves as an expert partner to other providers of early care and education, assisting providers statewide in their efforts to build capacity, transform operations and improve learning outcomes. Prior to joining ELI in March 2018, Weber served as senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Project Lead The Way, a nonprofit that provides transformative STEM education experiences to K-12 students and teachers across the country. She has also worked as the inaugural vice president of customer experience at Indiana University Health, leading an effort to optimize the patient experience across all channels and settings of care. Prior to joining IU Health, Weber served in a number of public service roles, including as chief operating officer for the Indiana Department of Education and deputy commissioner for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, after practicing law at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Weber earned a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and a BS from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs the board of Purdue Polytechnic High School and is an advisory board member of Indiana’s Nurse Family Partnership program. She was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to chair the Indiana Charter School Board and has served on a variety of other boards and commissions in Central Indiana.

Daniel Widome is an Executive Director and Senior Philanthropic Advisor with Morgan Stanley’s Philanthropy Management group and with Morgan Stanley Family Office. Based in Washington DC, Daniel is responsible for providing customized philanthropic advisory services to ultra-high net worth individuals, families, and family offices, as well as nonprofit, foundation, and corporate clients. Daniel brings 15+ years of experience in philanthropy, management consulting, foundation strategy, policy analysis, and nonprofit effectiveness to the team. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Daniel served as Head of the Philanthropy Practice at TCC Group, where he led a national team that advised and managed the philanthropic efforts of endowed and family foundations. Prior to TCC Group, Daniel served as a Director at Arabella Advisors, where he served as a trusted partner for institutional, corporate, and family foundations who were passionate about achieving greater impact. He helped philanthropists conceptualize their vision for change; develop their impact strategies; design and implement their grantmaking initiatives; and learn and adapt from the communities their served. Daniel was the inaugural employee of the Arabella’s San Francisco office, and he led the firm’s grants management advisory practice, which focused on helping philanthropists design, manage, and learn from competitive grantmaking programs. Prior to his career in philanthropy, Daniel was a writer and policy analyst, and his work appeared in the New Republic, Foreign Policy, Mother Jones, and newspapers across the country. Daniel received his AB in History and Political Science from Brown University and his MPP from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California - Berkeley.

Anne Wolfcale is a senior writer for Well Done marketing and an Indianapolis native. She graduated with an English major from Northwestern University and began applying her storytelling studies and skills to marketing. After years of crafting marketing strategy for a wide range of clients including many for nonprofits and foundations, she translated those skills into listening to and relating stories as a fundraiser. Anne’s time as a major gift officer and planned giving professional during the silent phase of a nationwide, $42M campaign showed her the power of stories in creating and stewarding donors, attracting new engagement, and in furthering the mission of foundations and nonprofits. Now, as a senior writer for Well Done Marketing, she strategizes, collects, applies, tailors, and crafts stories in a variety of media toward all sorts of goals. 

Steve Yeager, AIF®, MBA Principal, Senior Financial Advisor Sym Financial Advisors Finance and Investment Committee Chair Kosciusko Community Foundation Warsaw, IN Steve brings over two decades of experience in financial services. He specializes in working with private business owners and corporate executives on their financial plans. He spent ten years as a Naval officer and F-14 pilot. He resigned as a Lieutenant Commander in 2000. Steve and his wife Megan are the proud parents of seven kids. Steve loves to stay active biking, hiking, and playing golf. He also enjoys playing guitar in his spare time.