Serving Nonprofits. Strengthening West Virginia.

2018 Nonprofit Leadership Summit Presenters

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TUESDAY, SEP. 25TH

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM   
Welcome and Keynote Luncheon: The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Linking Self-Care and Wellbeing to Organizational Impactwith Beth Kanter

Beth Kanter is a well-established international nonprofit thought leader. Her first book, “The Networked Nonprofit,” introduced the sector to a new way of thinking and operating in a connected world. Her second book, “Measuring the Networked Nonprofit,” is a practical guide for using measurement and learning to achieve social impact. She published her third book, “The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit:  Strategies for Impact without Burnout,” in 2016. She is the author of Beth’s Blog where she writes about networks, data, learning, training,  facilitation techniques, nonprofit organizational culture, and self-care for nonprofit professionals. Her blog is one of the longest running and most popular nonprofit blogs. Beth has over 35 years working in the nonprofit sector in technology, training, and capacity building and has facilitated trainings for nonprofits on every continent in the world (except Antarctica). She is experienced in participatory facilitation techniques such as design thinking, open space, peer learning, and more. She has over twenty years of experience facilitating online and virtual meetings. She is an in-demand keynote speaker and workshop leader. Named one of the most influential women in technology by Fast Company and one of the BusinessWeek’s “Voices of Innovation for Social Media,” Beth was Visiting Scholar at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation 2009-2013. Her past and current clients include Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Gates Foundation, Brainerd Foundation, Knight Foundation, Knight Digital Media Center, Edutopia, HHS, and others. She currently serves as adjunct professor at Middlebury where she prepares graduate students for their internships at international nonprofits and to use online networking tools to advance their careers. She is on the board of NTEN and Leadership Learning Community.

1:15 – 2:45 PM
Learning Labs Session 1

A. Performance Management and Best Practices for Supervisors with Tammy Baker

Tammy Baker is an HR professional with over 20 years of experience in the field. She has worked in human resources her entire career in a variety of different industries. She has focused on compensation, employee relations, and benefits administration. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from WVU in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. She currently resides in Hurricane, WV with her husband and two daughters.

B. Combating Distraction and Enhancing Productivity: Technology Wellness for Nonprofits with Beth Kanter

Beth Kanter is a well-established international nonprofit thought leader. Her first book, “The Networked Nonprofit,” introduced the sector to a new way of thinking and operating in a connected world. Her second book, “Measuring the Networked Nonprofit,” is a practical guide for using measurement and learning to achieve social impact. She published her third book, “The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit:  Strategies for Impact without Burnout,” in 2016. She is the author of Beth’s Blog where she writes about networks, data, learning, training,  facilitation techniques, nonprofit organizational culture, and self-care for nonprofit professionals. Her blog is one of the longest running and most popular nonprofit blogs. Beth has over 35 years working in the nonprofit sector in technology, training, and capacity building and has facilitated trainings for nonprofits on every continent in the world (except Antarctica). She is experienced in participatory facilitation techniques such as design thinking, open space, peer learning, and more. She has over twenty years of experience facilitating online and virtual meetings. She is an in-demand keynote speaker and workshop leader. Named one of the most influential women in technology by Fast Company and one of the BusinessWeek’s “Voices of Innovation for Social Media,” Beth was Visiting Scholar at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation 2009-2013. Her past and current clients include Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Gates Foundation, Brainerd Foundation, Knight Foundation, Knight Digital Media Center, Edutopia, HHS, and others. She currently serves as adjunct professor at Middlebury where she prepares graduate students for their internships at international nonprofits and to use online networking tools to advance their careers. She is on the board of NTEN and Leadership Learning Community.

C. Create a Website That Makes an Unforgettable First Impression: 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes with Andrea Shirey

Andrea Shirey spent 20 years working for other people in both the for profit and nonprofit worlds before deciding that she would follow her heart and become an entrepreneur. In early 2017, she launched One Nine Design, a website design company created to help small businesses and nonprofits make a great first impression. Originally from Parkersburg, Andrea left the area in 1997, graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Business and Marketing, and spent the next 16 years gaining valuable work experience in a variety of industries. She returned to Parkersburg in 2013 where she was honored to lead the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley as its Executive Director and was named the Young Business Leader of the Year by the Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2015. Using her work experience from the West Virginia University Foundation, the University of Florida, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, Baylor University, and United Way, her background and insight into what customers and donors are looking for provides the perspective clients want when designing their next website, brochure, or writing content for their marketing materials. Outside of running One Nine Design, Andrea has been married to Scott for 15 years, a mom of two boys and an adorable labradoodle puppy named Kai. Her idea of a great night includes a Netflix binge of The Gilmore Girls, reading a book, or planning a trip – all enjoyed with a glass of wine.

D. Panel Discussion: Best Practices for Working with State Agencies with Sue Chapman, Lance Schrader, Philip Uy, and Renee Margocee

Sue G. Chapman is the Director of Finance for the School Building Authority of West Virginia. She began working for the Authority in June 2018. While raised primarily in WV, she was born in Tripoli, Libya, Africa.  Ms. Chapman’s education includes a bachelor’s degree from WV State University in Business Administration, and she completed her graduate work in Leadership at University of North Carolina with a focus in Communications.  She is also a graduate of Leadership WV Class of 2017. Prior to coming to the Authority, she had over 22 year of experience in WV State Government with a focus in financial management, operations, accounting, and internal controls of various areas within WV State Government.

 

Lance Schrader is the Director of the West Virginia Arts, Culture and History’s Arts section.  Schrader has more than 30 years’ experience working in West Virginia’s film industry in a variety of capacities, having served as the location coordinator for the West Virginia Film Office from 2016-2017. He worked on notable media and broadcast projects including We Are Marshall, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The CBS Evening News, What the Night Can Do, and My Brother, My Brother and Me. Schrader has simultaneously been involved in theater productions. He owned a production company and was previously director of events at Huntington’s Big Sandy Superstore Arena, director of event services at Seneca Communications, and creative director for American Technology Rentals. He has a passion for West Virginia Radio’s Mountain Stage and has been on its technical crew for a combined 15 years. Schrader has a master’s degree in radio/television broadcasting from the William Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a bachelor’s degree in communications, with a double-track emphasis in film and theater (and a minor in art), from West Virginia State College.

Philip Uy – Bio and Picture coming soon!

Renée Margocee has served as the Executive Director of the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts since March 2017. With a background in liberal arts and arts administration, she is also an accomplished ceramic artist. Renée is at the forefront of growing West Virginia’s creative economy by promoting quality of life, economic development, social equity, and connecting artists and creatives to their communities in new ways that truly raise the value of art and creativity. A native of the southern coalfields, she has held multiple leadership positions in the arts including Director of Arts for the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, ex-officio member of the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, member of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and a State Arts Agency Representative for the National Endowment for the Arts. Her nonprofit affiliations include Americans for the Arts West Virginia State Captain for National Arts Advocacy, the Friends of West Virginia Public Radio, BB&T Community Development Committee, National Consortium for Creative Placemaking 2018 Leadership Summit Planning Committee, and grant reviewer for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mid-Atlantic Foundation, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Beckley Area Foundation. Renée received her B.A. in English Literature from Marshall University and studied ceramics at West Virginia University.

E. How to Get Your Board to Ask for Money with Jeanette Wojcik

Jeanette Wojcik served as the Executive Director of Faith in Action Caregivers, Inc. from 1995 until her retirement in 2016. During that time she took the organization from the initial start-up to a program that provided services annually to more than 1,950 elderly and disabled individuals in a three-county area by matching these individuals with volunteers. Prior to accepting the position as Executive Director, Jeanette had an extensive career in volunteer recruitment, training, and management that included five years as a teacher, seven years in the community mental health system as a prevention consultant, and almost ten years with Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council as a Field Director. Through the Faith in Action National Program Office, Jeanette served as mentor to Faith in Action programs in West Virginia, Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania. In 2005, she played a key role in the establishment of the National Volunteer Caregiving Network, a membership organization for Faith in Action programs. She has presented workshops at conferences and webinars on the national, state, and regional level on a variety of topics including volunteer recruitment and management, coalition development, board development, nonprofit executive transitions, and program sustainability. Jeanette holds a bachelor’s degree from West Liberty University in secondary education with specializations in social studies and public speaking. She completed her master’s degree in American Frontier History at West Virginia University in 1973. She is active in her church where she serves as a sacristan and with fundraising for the parish school. She is a volunteer at Laughlin Memorial Chapel and at Altenheim Resource and Referral Services, both located in Wheeling. Jeanette also serves on the West Virginia Nonprofit Association Board of Directors and resides in St. Clairsville, OH.

3:00 – 4:30 PM
Learning Labs Session 2

A. Dealing with Conflict in the Workplace with Tammy Baker

Tammy Baker is an HR professional with over 20 years of experience in the field. She has worked in human resources her entire career in a variety of different industries. She has focused on compensation, employee relations, and benefits administration. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from WVU in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. She currently resides in Hurricane, WV with her husband and two daughters.

B. Panel Discussion: Best Practices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Kenosha Davenport, Gabrielle Chapman, Tonia Thomas, and Kenyatta Grant

Alabama native, Kenosha Davenport believes in a strong work ethic and is dedicated to serving others. Kenosha is the Executive Director of Family Refuge Center (FRC). She currently directs a staff of 23 and oversees efforts in four counties. She is responsible for the overall agency direction, fundraising, fiscal oversight, programmatic oversight, and managing external relationships and collaboration. Kenosha has dedicated 15 years in the movement to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Early in her career, she worked as a shelter relief worker, volunteer coordinator, prevention educator, and rape response program coordinator. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual major in psychology and sociology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Marylhurst University. Kenosha is currently working on a Doctorate of Business Administration from Walden University. Throughout her career, Kenosha has served on many community and state level boards. She is currently serving on the board of directors for the West Virginia Coalition against Domestic Violence, West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services as President, Women of Color for Change, and Greenbrier Valley Health Alliance Treasurer.

Gabrielle Chapman is the inaugural director of Call to Action for Racial Equality, a statewide racial equity coalition geared towards dismantling oppressive structures and institutional racism plaguing black and brown communities across the state of West Virginia. She carries the story and perspective of a millennial who is a mixed race, black woman in West Virginia and lends her skill set to open up often complex conversations around race and identity with hopes to strengthen her community and to grow a statewide racial equity network.


Tonia Thomas
is one of two Team Coordinators of the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  In 2004, Tonia joined the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence team where she has focused on building a strong statewide domestic violence network. Tonia’s work includes raising public awareness about the prevalence and prevention of abuse and violence in intimate relationships, training professionals in their response to domestic violence, providing technical assistance to licensed domestic violence programs, and expanding leadership capacity within the statewide coalition. For over a decade, Tonia Thomas worked at the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services as a Justice Programs Specialist where she administered Department of Justice Grants including: STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program, Victims of Crime Assistance (VOCA) Program, and Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program. Tonia received both her Bachelor and Master Degrees from Marshall University with majors in Criminal Justice. Tonia is a lifelong resident of West Virginia and currently lives in Eastern Kanawha County.

Kenyatta Coleman Grant is employed with the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and has been a rising voice, community organizer, and coordinator in the domestic violence movement since 2001. She is an active participant in the social justice movement and is committed to advocating for social change and equality. For five years, Ms. Grant was the Criminal Justice Specialist at the WVCADV where her role focused on statewide coordination of the Batterers Intervention Prevention Programs, collaborating with law enforcement agencies and coordinating statewide trainings. She is currently the Community Organizing Coordinator and is responsible for educating and raising awareness of domestic violence in marginalized communities such as communities of color and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQQI) community. She coordinates and facilitates culturally specific trainings on anti-oppression, diversity, cultural competency, and awareness to statewide domestic violence advocates, law enforcement, and other nonprofit agencies. Ms. Grant is a member of the statewide Civil Rights Task Force, Call to Action for Racial Equality Coalition, YWCA Racial Justice Committee, and West Virginia Women’s Commission. She is passionate in advocating for justice and equality through community organizing and promoting cultural accountability and awareness. Ms. Grant received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Marshall University and her Masters of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall Graduate College. She resides in Charleston, West Virginia with her partner, Derrick Grant, and three children.

C. Shout It Out Loud: Equipping Donors and Volunteers to Tell Your Story with Becky Mathis-Stump

Rebekah D. Mathis-Stump, Esq. is the Chief Operating Officer of Ethos Leadership Group, LLC. Becky has a rich background in leadership, strategic analysis and planning, organizational development, governance, fundraising, communication, and legal issues in the workplace. Becky earned a life membership in The Order of the Barristers, a national honor society recognizing excellence in oral advocacy, while completing a doctorate of jurisprudence at West Virginia University College of Law. Becky is married to West Virginia native, Jeff Stump, and spends a good portion of her free time with him – golfing or cheering on the Mountaineers.

D. Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way – Cultivating the Ultimate Gift with Mike Bell

Mike Bell serves as Executive Director of the Davis Health System Foundation in Elkins, WV. Prior to joining DHS, Mike served as Executive Director of the Suncoast Hospice Foundation in Clearwater, Florida and Vice President for Community Development at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee. He holds a BS in Secondary Education from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, and a MEd in Institutional Advancement from Vanderbilt University. Mike is the current President of the Board of Directors of the Elkins Main Street organization and Vice President of Leave a Legacy of Central Appalachia. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) and a past Development, Public Relations, and Marketing Chair of the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals. Mike and his wife Donna reside in Elkins, WV.

E. Storytelling: Clarifying Your Non-Profit Message with Tricia Kingery

Tricia Kingery is the founder and president of Kingery & Company, LLC.  She is living the dream of providing effective and affordable communications consulting for West Virginia’s nonprofit organizations through marketing, planning, and training. With an MA in Counseling and BA in Psychology from Marshall University, along with an MBA from West Virginia University, she understands how to work with people and organizations to help them achieve personal and professional goals. She practices a relationship-based communication philosophy that empowers people, develops organizations, and strengthens communities. She is an expert strategic planning facilitator and has developed a unique approach to assessing community needs. In addition, she has served in a variety of national and regional marketing and public relations positions. Tricia’s passion lies in serving as a voice for abused, neglected and troubled children. She is the Executive Director for West Virginia KIDS COUNT. She also manages the John K. Clendenen Scholarship Fund, a legacy of her father who was a dedicated principal for many years. Tricia enjoys mentoring young people, collecting children’s books, and traveling. She lives with her husband and daughter, Alexandra, in Charleston, WV.

F. Be Careful What You Wish For…You Just Might Get It: Meeting Grant Requirements with Violet Burdette

Violet Burdette has worked for nearly thirty-five years, primarily in administration and management. Violet is currently employed at MountainHeart Community Services, Inc. (a Community Action Agency). The agency provides a variety of services targeting individuals, families, communities, and businesses throughout West Virginia. There she has two primary roles. The first is to identify and pursue funding, business development, and cost reduction opportunities for her organization. The second role is to offer consulting services to increase organizational capacity and promote sustainability in other organizations. She is part of MountainHeart Consulting (MHC) – a team that offers marketing, public relations, information technology, business development, and human resources consulting services. Ms. Burdette has a Master’s Degree in Management and is certified through the Grantsmanship Training Program and multiple other organizations. She has extensive experience working with local, state, and federal funders, foundations, and businesses.

WEDNESDAY, SEP. 26TH

9:00 – 10:30 AM
Learning Labs Session 3

A. Mystery to Magic: How Your Nonprofit Can Use Social Media to Inform, Engage, and Recruit with Sara McDowell and Chris Strub

Sara McDowell is the owner of The Media Squirrel, a social media and digital marketing company. She is also the founder of the Social Media Association of West Virginia, which is dedicated to promoting the art and science of social media and digital marketing. Her experience includes more than 20 years of executive leadership, communications, fundraising, and government relations. She began her professional career as a political appointee for the Office of the State Treasurer, which included lobbying on behalf of the treasurer on issues related to banking, investments and other areas of interest. She went on to the Missouri Senate as a communications liaison, where she assisted members of the Senate with message development, speech writing, and media relations. She worked closely with the senate president on issues of economic development, tax increment financing, workers compensation, and monitoring hundreds of other legislative measures each year. Later, as an independent lobbyist, she worked with various industries with interests in banking, telecommunications, education, children’s issues, and animal welfare. More recently, Sara was the executive director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central West Virginia and development director for Marshall University’s engineering facility. Sara is a graduate of William Woods University with a degree in marketing and business administration. A native West Virginian, Sara resides in South Charleston with her husband, Charles McDowell, a rotary and fixed wing pilot for the State of West Virginia. Their daughter, Ashley, lives in Missouri.

Chris Strub is a leading voice in the millennial social good space. In 2017, Chris visited Salvation Army locations in 25 states in 38 days along the 6200-mile #FightForGoodTour, raising thousands of dollars as a national Red Kettle Ambassador. Chris is the author of ’50 States, 100 Days: The Book,’ about his solo, social media-powered adventure to volunteer with youth related organizations in all 50 states in 2015. Chris has worked with Humana, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the live-streaming app Live.me, and is the creator of the ‘Livestreaming for Nonprofits’ course.

B. Fund Development: It Isn’t Rocket Science (Or Is It?) with Susan Adkins

Susan L. Adkins served as Executive Director of Carnegie Hall from July of 2005 to March 2016. During Adkins’ tenure as director, numerous improvements were made to the historic facility and programming, and resources increased, including the establishment of an approximate $300,000 operating reserve. Recognition of her accomplishments includes a 2015 WV Governor’s Arts Awards for “Leadership in the Arts,” 2015 WV Magazine “West Virginia Wonder Woman,” and 2013 City Magazine of Roanoke “Woman of the Blue Ridge.” Adkins is a founding member of the West Virginia Nonprofit Association and presently serves as chair of the organization. In the summer of 2016, she helped establish the Greater Greenbrier County Long Term Recovery Committee following the flood of June 23, 2016 and presently is owner/consultant of Stinson-Lane, LLC. Prior to joining Carnegie Hall, Adkins was a music educator for 29 years. She earned a B.S. from Concord University in 1976 and an M.A. from WVU in 1985. She has been a member of the Lewisburg Rotary Club and has served as organist of St. James Episcopal Church for 27 years. Adkins is married and has 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

C. Nonprofit Board Governance: Putting the Pieces Together with Tasha Anderson

Tasha Anderson is the Program Coordinator for the USDA RCDI Grant, a project shared between the WV Nonprofit Association and Philanthropy WV. She is originally from South Dakota and currently living in southern WV. With experience in both nonprofit and private business, her background includes serving as executive director for both crisis service and enrichment service nonprofit organizations. Tasha has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of South Dakota with a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Administration and Public Policy. Her specific research focuses on board governance and nonprofit effectiveness in rural nonprofits. Tasha holds an undergraduate degree in Business Management and Marketing as well as a Master’s in Business Administration. After working nearly 15 years in the nonprofit sector, she is focused on nonprofit administration, board governance, and capacity building.

D. Can This Grant Be Saved? Ways to Improve Your Grant Writing Skills with Alice Ruhnke

Alice Ruhnke is the founder and owner of The Grant Advantage, a progressive, innovative consulting business devoted to helping nonprofit organizations unleash their strengths to embrace tomorrow’s opportunities. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, The Grant Advantage’s services include grant writing, funding searches, qualitative evaluation, capacity building assistance, and learning opportunities through trainings, workshops, webinars, and manuals. Alice has raised over $27 million writing federal, state, foundation, and corporate grants and has been in charge of awarding and monitoring federal funds to nonprofit organizations throughout West Virginia. If Alice is not at her computer writing, she can usually be found facilitating trainings for individuals
and organizations. Alice is also the author of Mapping the Course: A Practical Approach to Grant Writing, a practical, step-by-step manual that walks through an entire grant proposal from start to finish. Alice received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Relations and Master of Arts degree in Education/Counseling Psychology from the University of Connecticut. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Alice is married to Tim and has two amazing sons, Michael and Luke.

E. Stop Wasting Time Managing Your Time! Manage Your Priorities Instead with David Ray

David Ray is the Chief Strategy Officer of Ethos Leadership Group, LLC. As CSO, David splits his time between learning what makes great leaders and organizations tick and leveraging that knowledge to the competitive advantage of clients. David has a passion for personal and organizational development and frequently works with leaders in the nonprofit sector to live and lead well. Driven by a relentless curiosity on how to maximize his life, David is an avid reader, lifelong student, and aficionado of podcasts dealing with personal development. David’s greatest joy is being wherever his wife is and teaching his son how to live life to its fullest.

F. Wellness for Organizational Health with Jeanne Harrison

Jeannie Harrison is the Executive Director and Founder of Gro Huntington, a nonprofit that uses urban farming, yoga, and other natural healing modalities to aid in addiction recovery. She also serves as the Director of Community Engagement for Murphy Media, a film and production company best known for the creative direction behind Huntington’s America’s Best Community victory. Her career began in the basement of Huntington’s City Hall, where she spent five years as the Student Coordinator of West Virginia SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions, while earning degrees in Political Science and Psychology at Marshall. Before “boomeranging” back to Huntington in 2015, Jeannie earned her M.A. in American Government from Georgetown University and managed a marketing agency specializing in nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C. Jeannie highly values service to the community which is the cornerstone of her positions at Gro Huntington and Murphy Media and drives her to teach trauma-sensitive yoga for organizations like Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Golden Girl Group Home, and Marcum Terrace through her service-based yoga studio, the Karma Yoga Institute.

10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Learning Labs Session 4

A. Your Personal Guidebook to Alignment, Balance, and Living Centered with Kami Wernimont

Kami Wernimont is a graduate of both West Virginia Wesleyan College (B.S. Communication, English), and West Virginia University (M.A. Communication Theory and Research) and has always had a passion for communication and diving deep in personal development. She worked as a Nonprofit Event Manager for the National MS Society in West Virginia until 2011 when she moved back home to Ohio. Kami works part time as a Marketing Manager at Farnham Equipment Company and serves as President of SMPS Columbus. Kami has merged her background and passions to become a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach leading others toward authenticity, passion, and action. Kami received her CPCC and training from the Coaches Training Institute.

 

B. Questions and Answers About Cybersecurity with Mike Gallogly

Mike Gallogly, Founder and CEO of MiTec, is a self-admitted Techno Geek, Engineer, Businessman, and Educator. His joy in life comes from learning new things, solving problems, looking at issues from different perspectives, and helping others reach their potential. A Pittsburgh native, he fell in love with West Virginia earning his BS in Biology from D&E College in Elkins. He has worked as Program Director for the Boy Scouts, managed his family’s supermarket in Pittsburgh, and worked in Computer Aided Design and Industrial Controls for Advanced Technology in Reston, VA. He worked for DuPont at their major research facility in Wilmington, DE designing computer integrated control systems and earned his Masters in Education at night. He then accepted a position as Technology Director for a school district in NJ where he also taught A+ and Net+ certification courses. On the side, he assisted businesses and nonprofits with their technology and networks. He was on the ground floor of the internet boom as part-owner of a tri-state internet services company in the early 90’s. He has written numerous grants including a $250k ARC Workforce training grant for the Wood Technology Center in Elkins and moved to West Virginia in 2001. Seeing a need for a professional IT services company in the area, he founded MiTec in 2006 to bring 21st century technology solutions to small businesses and nonprofits. Twelve years later, he and his staff service over fifty clients, monitoring hundreds of computers and users throughout the area and in nearby states. He is constantly reading, writing, and researching the best technology solutions for his clients.

C. Where’s the Money? How to Find Funds and Work with Funders with Alice Ruhnke

Alice Ruhnke is the founder and owner of The Grant Advantage, a progressive, innovative consulting business devoted to helping nonprofit organizations unleash their strengths to embrace tomorrow’s opportunities. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, The Grant Advantage’s services include grant writing, funding searches, qualitative evaluation, capacity building assistance, and learning opportunities through trainings, workshops, webinars, and manuals. Alice has raised over $27 million writing federal, state, foundation, and corporate grants and has been in charge of awarding and monitoring federal funds to nonprofit organizations throughout West Virginia. If Alice is not at her computer writing, she can usually be found facilitating trainings for individuals
and organizations. Alice is also the author of Mapping the Course: A Practical Approach to Grant Writing, a practical, step-by-step manual that walks through an entire grant proposal from start to finish. Alice received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Relations and Master of Arts degree in Education/Counseling Psychology from the University of Connecticut. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Alice is married to Tim and has two amazing sons, Michael and Luke.

D. New Approaches to Volunteerism: VolunTourism, Entrepreneurs and Social Change Models with Danny Swan, Judy Rodd, Bill Kuhn, Kelly Stadelman, and Callie Cronin Sams

Danny Swan is co-founder and executive director of Grow Ohio Valley. He particularly likes hosting groups of volunteers for multi-day events, such as their Food Justice Immersion and says it allows for deeper relationships and understanding of their work. He believes that involvement in our communities is critical because we are a relationship-driven species and that we depend on each other to create friendships and partnerships around wellness.

Judy Rodd has been the Executive Director of Friends of Blackwater since 2000. This West Virginia conservation group has 4,000 supporters across the state and has protected key scenic landscapes in Tucker, Preston, and Monongalia Counties. Under Judy’s leadership, Friends of Blackwater (FOB) is working to maintain trails on the Monongahela National Forest and to mitigate acid mine drainage pollution in the Blackwater River. FOB’s heritage programs interpret the famous historic railroad, coal, and coke industries of West Virginia Senator Henry Gassaway Davis with tours, wayside markers, and newspaper articles. FOB members communicate with elected officials at the state and federal level on issues of concern involving West Virginia wildlife and public lands. Judy is married to Thomas Rodd, Esq. former Senior Clerk at the WV Supreme Court and has three children and five grandchildren and a large extended family in West Virginia.
Bill Kuhn is the Chapter Engagement Director at Generation West Virginia (GWV) and for the past year, has overseen the Impact Fellowship where fellows volunteer one day out of their work week with a nonprofit or on a community-based project. At GWV, Bill was amazed to see how Impact Fellow Corey Shetler applied his financial acumen to assist women in seeking financial independence through the YWCA and how Sara Cottingham’s research helped the Tamarack Foundation survey artists from around the state. Bill believes being involved in your community helps build bridges while expanding your network and personal growth and refilling your internal motivation fuel tank.

Kelly Stadelman is the Development Director for Tucker Community Foundation. Her favorite volunteer experience was working at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics at the Track & Field and baseball events. She believes that getting involved in the local community can change the life and direction of individuals and families. She also finds it enriches her own life and teaches her things she would have never learned otherwise.

Callie Cronin Sams has worked as Information Coordinator & Grant Writer for the City of Buckhannon since January of 2018. Prior to accepting the position, she worked for six years as District Environmental Coordinator for the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Youth Environmental Program and REAP and continues to enjoy volunteering in outdoor education settings and events. She lives in Buckhannon with her husband, Nathan, and two-year-old daughter, Willow, who are her reasons for wanting to serve to make the community better especially through initiatives that increase access to healthy outdoor experiences and walkable, bikeable streets.

E. Create a Plan to Promote Your Value with Emma Pepper

Emma Pepper, a native of Charleston, WV, is the Director of Strategic Network Communications for the WV Community Development Hub. Emma’s career spans 10+ years with a focus on marketing, communications, and public relations in the public and nonprofit sectors. In her role with The Hub, Emma oversees a training and technical assistance program to support communications capacity-building for nonprofit and community groups across the state. Emma is a graduate of West Virginia University, serves on the marketing committee for Charleston Main Streets, and is a published writer and essayist. She returned to West Virginia in 2013 after building her career in Washington, DC and Berkeley, CA.

 

F. Meeting the Collaboration Challenge: Building Strategic Alliances with Jeanette Wojcik

Jeanette Wojcik served as the Executive Director of Faith in Action Caregivers, Inc. from 1995 until her retirement in 2016. During that time she took the organization from the initial start-up to a program that provided services annually to more than 1,950 elderly and disabled individuals in a three-county area by matching these individuals with volunteers. Prior to accepting the position as Executive Director, Jeanette had an extensive career in volunteer recruitment, training and management that included five years as a teacher, seven years in the community mental health system as a prevention consultant, and almost ten years with Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council as a Field Director. Through the Faith in Action National Program Office, Jeanette served as mentor to Faith in Action programs in West Virginia, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. In 2005 she played a key role in the establishment of the National Volunteer Caregiving Network, a membership organization for Faith in Action programs. She has presented workshops at conferences and webinars on the national, state and regional level on a variety of topics including volunteer recruitment and management, coalition development, board development, nonprofit executive transitions and program sustainability. Jeanette holds a bachelor’s degree from West Liberty University in secondary education with specializations in social studies and public speaking. She completed her master’s degree in American Frontier History at West Virginia University in 1973. She is active in her church where she serves as a sacristan and with fund raising for the parish school. She is a volunteer at Laughlin Memorial Chapel and at Altenheim Resource and Referral Services, both located in Wheeling. Jeanette also serves on the West Virginia Nonprofit Association Board of Directors and resides in St. Clairsville, OH.

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