Katya Andresen is Chief Operating Officer of Network for Good, as well as a speaker, author and blogger about nonprofit marketing, online outreach and the basics of social media. In addition, she is an adjunct professor of communications at American University’s Key Certificate Program and a board member of EarthShare. She authored the book, Robin Hood Marketing:Stealing Corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causesand was featured in the e-book, Nine Minds of Marketing. Before joining Network for Good, she was Senior Vice President of Sutton Group, a marketing and communications firm and a marketing consultant overseas in Ukraine.
Daisy Balawejder is the founder and President of Hello Bully, an all volunteer nonprofit dedicated to rehoming, rehabilitating and repairing the reputation of pit bulls and bully breeds. In addition to running the nonprofit’s day-to-day operations, Daisy’s background in specialized technologies and graphic design has allowed her to create a highly visible social media presence for Hello Bully which includes online educational programs, an active calendar of fundraising events and a vibrant online store featuring smartly branded merchandise.
Sheila Bell is the Quality Assurance Director for the System of Care Initiative at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. She has over 10 years of experience working with social service programs and nonprofit agencies to design and implement process and outcomes evaluations and to analyze and report data results. Ms. Bell is also an adjunct faculty member of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and sociology and a master’s degree in social and public policy.
Doreen Boyce is the immediate past President of the Buhl Foundation. She was the first President of the board of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, as well as President of the board of trustees of Franklin and Marshall College. Ms. Boyce has served on a number of other regional and national task forces and boards. She is a laureate of the University of Pittsburgh and a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania.
Dave Brewton is a native of Pittsburgh with a 25-year career working with faith-based nonprofits. He is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement for the Coalition for Christian Outreach, whose mission is “transforming college students to transform the world.” Prior to his position at the CCO, he was Associate Executive Director of the East Liberty Family Health Care Center, a Christian ministry that provides health care for all people without regard to ability to pay, and the first Executive Director of Breachmenders, Inc., an Oakland housing and community development ministry.
Emily Buka is the Executive Director of the Riverside Center for Innovation (RCI), formerly the North Side Civic Development Council. Prior to joining RCI in 1992, Emily served as a “workout” specialist for several financial institutions dealing with their non-performing real estate assets. She received a degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Pittsburgh, and has served on the Pine Township Planning Commission, served as the past president of the local chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks, and is the former Director of the Metropolitan Board of the YMCA.
Marc Cherna is the Director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. He began his career in human services as a youth worker over 35 years ago, including four years as the Director of Planning, Allocations and Agency Relations with the United Way of Union County, New Jersey and 13 years with the New Jersey Department. Marc received his B.A. degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton and an M.S.W. from the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York.
Diane M. Collins, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses related to rehabilitation sciences, assistive technology, and research methods to students planning healthcare careers. She also teaches employees of the University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Center how to provide services to individuals with disabilities, specifically dealing with disability sensitivity and issues that arise from having service animals accompanying their partners in healthcare settings. Diane is a member of the Advisory Boards of UCP/Class and the UPMC Disability Advisory Council.
Garrett L. Cooper is an Associate Consultant and Researcher at the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. Garrett holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in finance from The University of Maryland and spent five years building expertise in strategic management, corporate finance, financial analysis, and accounting concepts. Garrett is a Pittsburgh-Literacy AmeriCorps alum and a volunteer mentor for Big Brothers & Big Sisters and Community Human Services. He is a board member for the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater and Yoga in Schools and is working towards his Masters in Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University.
Sr. Sharon Costello, CSJ, is the Executive Director of Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, an affiliate of Boys Hope Girls Hope International, and a partnered ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Baden, PA. Sister Sharon previously served as an ex officio member of the Board and Executive Committee of Girls Hope and was one of its first residential counselors when they opened in 1991. Prior to this role, Sister Sharon was a member of the Leadership Team of the Sisters of Saint Joseph from 1998 to 2008 and has over 25 years experience in education in leadership and classroom roles.
Luci Dabney is the Executive Director of Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE). Her eclectic career includes 30 years in for-profit, nonprofit and higher education arenas. Passionate about the role community-based nonprofits play in creating healthy communities, she has expertise in the areas of public and private funding, strategic and business planning, small and large group meeting facilitation, assessment and program development. She is a founding member of the Sankofa Fund of SWPA.
Terry Doloughty is the President of the Polish Hill Civic Association (PHCA), a community organization that has been successful in building the neighborhood through a clearly articulated vision, peer mentoring, sharing resources and sweat equity. PHCA has used unique communication methods to reach the community, such as monthly membership meetings, The Polish Hill Voice, Blogski, Thursday e-mail blasts, and the open door policy of the community group office which makes the PHCA available to everyone in the community.
Patrick Dowd currently serves as Councilman for District 7 in the City of Pittsburgh and is the Chairman of the Committee on Intergovernmental Relations for City Council. After earning a doctorate, he taught history at the secondary level and served his community as a representative of the Pittsburgh Board of Education. Beginning his tenure in 2003, he was immediately appointed Chair of the Board’s Education Committee. Patrick eagerly serves on the Boards of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. He is also a member of the city’s newly formed Land Recycling Task Force.
Beth Exton, Director of Development for Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, has more than 10 years experience of fund development with various healthcare and social service agencies in Pittsburgh. She earned her master’s degree in nonprofit management from Robert Morris University and is active with the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Sylvia Hill Fields has served as manager and later Executive Director of the Eden Hall Foundation since May 1996 and is the first and only African-American woman to direct a major private foundation in the Pittsburgh region. She is a past Director of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, Seton Hill University, the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum. Mrs. Fields was named one of Pittsburgh’s 50 Most Influential African-American Women by the New Pittsburgh Courierin 2006 and 2008 and was a YWCA Tribute to Women honoree in 2009.
Jeffrey Forster is a Senior Consultant at the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. He has assisted a variety of nonprofit organizations in the Pittsburgh area, specializing in the use of databases for process improvement. Previously, he served as Policy Analyst in the Pittsburgh Planning Department and as an Information Management Specialist at Carnegie Mellon University.
Ray Frankoski joined ESC as a volunteer in 2001 following his retirement as Director of Human Resources at Westinghouse Government & Environmental Services Company. In addition to serving as a Project Manager, Ray has consulted with the Holy Family Institute; ALS Association, Western PA Chapter; Braddock’s Field Historical Society; Gwen’s Girls; The Mattress Factory; Parkinson Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh; and Peer Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN).
Teresa A. Gregory, CFRE, is an Assistant Professor in the Sports, Arts & Entertainment Management program at Point Park University. Previously, she was the Director of Foundation and Government Grant Seeking at Robert Morris University. Over her 25 year career, she has directed campaigns of $200,000 to $20 million for a wide variety of organizations, including major research universities, professional theaters, museums and small grassroots organizations. Teresa has also taught at the Community College of Allegheny County, the Foundation Center, and in the Master of Arts Management program at the Heinz School of Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
Alan James was formerly Dean of Student Affairs at California University of Pennsylvania. His areas of expertise are in personnel management, leadership development and management coaching. He is a certified Stephen Covey Trainer, and has completed the Center for Creative Leadership’s Coaching for Development Program, and coursework in Administration and Leadership Studies from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Marilyn Jenkins is the Executive Director of the Allegheny County Library Association, a federated system of 45 public libraries throughout Allegheny County. She is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh XIII and is certified in conflict resolution and mediation by the Pittsburgh Mediation Center. Marilyn currently serves on the Board of the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, is a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership, and is a peer reviewer for the Standards of Excellence certification program through the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Marilyn is also an executive coach and management consultant with ESC.
Allison Jones is the Director of Boards-by-Design for the Nonprofit Leadership Institute at Duquesne University. She has helped over 300 local nonprofits connect with over 1600 interested board members through the Boards-by-Design program and through Nonprofit Speed Dating. Prior to joining the NLI, she was a high school music teacher and musical director.
Dr. Susan Kapusta is the General Manager of Community Affairs at United States Steel Corporation where her career spans more than 30 years. Her passions include a wide range of involvement with Pittsburgh-area nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. She is a member of the U.S. Steel Foundation’s Board of Trustees and an adjunct professor at Duquesne University. Susan is an advisor to the Little Sisters of the Poor and the American Red Cross. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Robert Morris University, and master’s and doctorate in communication from Duquesne University.
Carolyn Kerr is course coordinator and instructor for the Fundamentals of Business Communication course in the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. She has served on various nonprofit boards and early in her career worked in the nonprofit sector at WGBH-TV in Boston. Carolyn has created or co-created workshops for clients including Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler, and Equitable Resources on subjects that include interviewer and assessor training, new hire orientation, strategic positioning, team building and performance management. In addition, she has written the materials for Toyota’s leadership training workshops.
Tiffany Kuchta is the Director of Web Development at Allegheny Graphics Web Development LLC, and has overseen more than 130 projects, including several large-scale nonprofit websites with strict accessibility requirements. She is chairwoman of the steering committee for Infinity Women’s Giving Circle and is a former chairwoman of the Tri-County Technology Consortium. Tiffany has a bachelor’s in computer science from Allegheny College, and has presented unique research at the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference that was published in the conference’s proceedings.
Michael Kumer is the Executive Director of the Nonprofit Leadership Institute and Associate Dean of the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement at Duquesne University. Since assuming the directorship of the NLI, Michael has helped nonprofit boards successfully achieve excellence in all areas of governance, including strategic planning, member recruitment, and effective board structures.
Scott B. Leff is the Associate Director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. He has spent more than 25 years as a senior-level business executive, entrepreneur, consultant to nonprofits, and board member. His expertise is in strategic, financial, sustainability and business planning, marketing, social enterprise, mergers and alliances, organizational development and executive management. Scott has an M.S. degree from Carnegie Mellon University and is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh.
Cindy Leonard is the Technology Services Manager for the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. She has over nine years of experience in helping nonprofits to leverage technology, including having served as the Information Technology Coordinator for PA CleanWays. She has also assisted various nonprofits in the past as a private consultant. An experienced website designer, she adds website planning, design and assessment to the portfolio of services at the Bayer Center. Cindy holds a B.S. in computer science and an M.B.A. from Seton Hill University.
Mark Lewis is the President and CEO of POISE Foundation - a local community foundation focused on growing and developing philanthropy and self-sustainability within Pittsburgh's African-American community. Mark has over 20 years experience in both for-profit and nonprofit arenas. His experience ranges from auditing and consulting at Big 4 accounting firms to assisting boards and nonprofits with accounting, financial and strategic planning. His vision is to see a self-determining, self-sustaining African-American community adding tremendous value to the City of Pittsburgh.
Joyce Lewis-Andrews has been a Girl Scout executive for various Girl Scout Councils over the past ten years, and an ESC volunteer since 2009. Currently, she serves as Chief Marketing Officer of Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) and is responsible for directing the marketing and communications efforts of the council to ensure the consistent, factual and targeted flow of information to both internal and external audiences. Joyce develops and oversees strategies for public relations, promotions, branding, media, publications, and crisis management in a diverse 27 county area that serves approximately 35,000 girls.
Kathy Mahoney has worked in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co., and has audit experience with nonprofits, financial institutions and manufacturing companies. She has used QuickBooks for various clients including nonprofits, publishers, restaurants, service industries and a private school.
Rosemary Martinelli is the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at WQED Multimedia Pittsburgh. She served for more than a decade as the corporate spokesperson for Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania/Columbia Gas of Maryland where she conceived, developed and managed signature corporate contributions and community relations programs which received national recognition. She is a summa cum laude journalism graduate of Duquesne University and she holds a master’s degree in corporate communications, also from Duquesne. Rosemary is a trained group facilitator and a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh, where she also served nine years on its board of directors.
Jeff Mascara is Executive Vice President/CEO of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, Inc. (SPHS) Employed by SPHS for over 35 years, Mascara is currently responsible for management, organizational planning and direction of SPHS and its seven affiliate human services agencies. He received a degree in Psychology from Grove City College, and a master’s in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Jeff is a board member of the Val-U-Health PHO; Comprehensive Community; the Douglas Education Center; and the Monongahela Valley Hospital Patient Safety Committee, and belongs to the Charleroi and Washington County Chambers of Commerce
Joseph McLaughlin joined ESC in 2009. Retired from the Brentwood School District, Joe was a physics teacher for 25 years and is now a certified A+ Computer Professional. He has helped numerous local organizations with information technology planning and support, and website development, including OASIS of Pittsburgh, Friends of the Lawrenceville Library, and the Carnegie Mellon University/University of Pittsburgh Quality of Life Technology Center.
Ashli Molinero, D.Sc., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology (RST) in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to co-teaching Individual and Social Experience of Disability and Ethics in the Health Related Professions, she leads the knowledge translation activities of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers on Telerehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury, and Wheelchair Transportation Safety.
Bob Moll joined ESC in 2004, after serving as the Manager of IT Security & Policy for PPG Industries for 20 years. He has been a consultant for various organizations for the past 7 years including The Allegheny County Coalition for Recovery, Andrew Carnegie Free Library, Central Northside Neighborhood Council, Focus on Renewal, Peer Support & Advocacy Network, Pittsburgh Cares, POWER, Sewickley Community Center, and the School Performance Network. His expertise is in accounting and finance, information systems, and strategic planning.
Peggy Morrison Outon is the founding Executive Director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. She is also the founding Director of the Centers for Effective Nonprofit Management in Austin, Texas, and New Orleans and the founding board Chair of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. A nationally noted consultant and trainer, Peggy has worked with more than 500 nonprofit clients. She served as founding member of the Drucker Foundation’s international training team and as a trainer and advisor to the Institute of Global Ethics. In August 2006, she was named to the national Nonprofit TimesTop 50 for Power and Influence.
Jack Owen is an attorney in the Pittsburgh law firm of Rhoades & Wodarczyk, LLC, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of tax-exempt organizations, employee benefits, business law and tax law. He received the Outstanding Volunteer Attorney award from Executive Service Corps in 2004 and serves on the advisory board for the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management and as president of the Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council.
Sylvester Pace received a “last dollar” financial grant from the Negro Educational Emergency Drive (NEED) in 1972 to complete his undergraduate education at Cheyney University. Today, he leads the organization as only the second Executive Director in over 40 years of service. A Pittsburgh native, Pace received his Bachelor’s degree from Cheyney, Pennsylvania’s oldest historically black college. Upon graduation, he returned to Western Pennsylvania as a teacher/counselor at Pressley Ridge Wilderness School. He earned a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently a doctoral student at Duquesne University’s School of Education.
Spero Pepakis is the coordinator of Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh’s Access Technology Center. He has over 30 years of employment in the blindness field. For the past 23 years, he has been providing instruction in the use of accessible technology. Besides working with AT, he has served on a number of advisory boards and committees for the University of Pittsburgh, the Community College of Allegheny County and the Port Authority. An experienced speaker, he has given presentations about different aspects of blindness to a variety of populations.
Joyce Rothermel is the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank which provides more than 110,000 people with food every month. With a background in elementary education, Joyce served as associate director of the Thomas Merton Center before co-founding the Jubilee Kitchen in 1979 and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in 1980 where she has been CEO since 1987. She was named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Frieda Shapira Medal - an honor presented annually for exemplary nonprofit leadership - by the Forbes Funds in cooperation with the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.
Brigette Rouson, Principal Consultant, Rouson Associates, brings over 25 years experience building nonprofit effectiveness toward a just society. Brigette led development of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management’s Cultural Competency Initiative and co-authored Embracing Cultural Competency (2009). Previously, Brigette served as senior consultant for Mosaica: The Center for Nonprofit Development and Pluralism; program director of the Alliance; consultant with Management Assistance Group and Maryland Nonprofits; and Senior Program Officer at Ms. Foundation for Women. Brigette graduated from Howard University (B.A.), Georgetown University (J.D.), and University of Pennsylvania (M.A.) where she completed all coursework toward a Ph.D. in communications and culture.
Tom Ryan is a Partner at the accounting firm of Horovitz, Rudoy and Roteman, responsible for assurance services provided to firm clients in the nonprofit sector. Tom has worked with both business and nonprofit clients during his career. Although he is actively engaged in serving business clients he specializes in the nonprofit industry due to his extensive work experience in that sector and commitment to community-based organizations. He received his undergraduate degree in accounting and master’s degree in Taxation from Robert Morris University, where he serves on the advisory board for the department of accounting and taxation.
Janet Sarbaugh is the Senior Program Director of the Arts & Culture Program for The Heinz Endowments which focuses on making arts central to the education of children in Pittsburgh; creating a healthy arts and culture ecology; and using the arts to advance broad community goals. Previously, Janet was a Program Officer at The Pittsburgh Foundation, where she worked on arts, human services, and education projects. She has received awards from City Theatre and Pittsburgh Dance Alloy for leadership in the Pittsburgh arts community, and in 2003 was named Pittsburgh’s number one cultural force by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Nancy Simpronio, SPHR is Director of the Human Resources Collaborative providing human resources services to Bethlehem Haven, POWER, and the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime. Her innovative and award-winning work has garnered the attention of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Pittsburgh Business Times, and others.
Megan Spak is the board president of the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library. Now in its 36th year as an all-volunteer, cooperative organization with more than 90 volunteers, the PTLL’s mission is to provide children, their parents and caregivers with a safe, fun place to play and access to high quality, age-appropriate toys for home play. Like the many other volunteers who help to run the PTLL, Ms. Spak balances her work at PTLL with parenthood and her career; she is a stay-at-home mom to three children under the age of six and works part-time as a reference librarian.
Lucy Spruill has been employed at United Cerebral Palsy of Pittsburgh for twelve years as Director of the CLASS Attendant Care Program and, more recently, as the Director of Public Policy and Community Relations. She serves as an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences where she teaches a course in Current Issues in Health Care, and is a frequent lecturer on issues related to disability studies. Luci is the recipient of the 1995 UCP of Pennsylvania Citizen of the Year Award and the 1994 Ruth and George Brenyo Achievement Award from the Three Rivers Center for Independent Living.
Maria Zeglen Townsend, Ph.D., is the President of Townsend Associates LLC and adjunct faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs where she has taught evaluation, statistics and policy analysis. Over the past ten years, Dr. Townsend has conducted needs assessments and evaluations across Pennsylvania. She has also trained staff from local and county human service agencies in Western Pennsylvania, county and state Mental Health and Developmental Disability providers, and countrywide child care planning committees across Pennsylvania on evaluation methodology.
Robert "Bobby" Vagt joined the Heinz Endowments as President in 2008. During his career, Bobby has been warden of a North Carolina prison; Director of Clinical Programs in an Alabama mental health center; Assistant Director of the Budget for the state of New York; President of Davidson College; and Executive Director of several public benefit corporations. Bobby earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Davidson College and a Master of Divinity magna cum laude from Duke University.
Yvonne Van Haitsma has been a Consultant at the Bayer Center since 2000 and is Coordinator of the ESC program. She has 14 years of experience with nonprofit organizations locally and internationally and has consulted with nonprofit organizations in collaboration development, strategic planning, board development and executive transitions locally and in El Salvador and Ecuador. Yvonne earned her master’s in community organizing and nonprofit management at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ed Vogeley is a new ESC volunteer having recently retired from Westinghouse Electric Company where he served as Director, Compensation & Benefits. He has his own Human Resources consulting company specializing in pay and benefits programs. Ed is a Certified Compensation Professional and teaches certification seminars around the country including through the Allegheny County Library Association. He is a volunteer recruiter for Catholic Charities of Greensburg, works with several charities in North Carolina, and has his green belt in Six Sigma.
Michael Weiss is CEO and co-founder of imagistic, a Los Angeles-based Internet strategy, marketing and development firm. Along with his extensive management, marketing and sales experience, Mr. Weiss has a background in education and counseling. Michael is a contributor for the Nonprofit Technology Network as a conference speaker and offers expertise to nonprofits through webinars, online office hours and writing articles. Mr. Weiss holds a BA in Psychology from Boston University, and MA in Counseling Psychology from Loyola-Marymount University. He is on the Advisory Boards for The Ojai Foundation and the Wildwoods Foundation.
Jake Wheatley Jr., represents the 19th Legislative District in the PA House of Representatives, including the Hill District, North Side, South Side, Allentown, Hazelwood, Downtown, the Bluff, Knoxville, Beltzhoover, Manchester, Arlington, Arlington Heights, and West, South and North Oakland. He was selected to serve on the Appropriations Committee as a first-term legislator. Jake also serves as Majority Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and the Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Health, as well as being Treasurer for the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Vice Chair for the Democratic Policy Committee, and Deputy Majority Whip for the House Democratic Caucus.