Speak Now: Learning Lab Leaders
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Dr. Susan Aloi
Dr. Susan Aloi, Associate Professor of Business
Davis & Elkins College
Dr. Susan Aloi is an Associate Professor of Business at Davis & Elkins College, where she teaches courses in management, marketing, and nonprofit. Dr. Aloi is committed to guiding students to learn by doing, applying course content to real-life projects in the community. Aloi is active in several community development-focused nonprofit organizations across West Virginia.
Mike Bell

Mike Bell, Executive Director
Davis Health System Foundation
Mike Bell has held leadership positions in the field of philanthropy for more than thirty years. Currently, Mike is Executive Director of Davis Health System Foundation in Elkins, West Virginia. He also serves as health system director for volunteer services and pastoral care. Prior to joining DHS, Mike served as Executive Director of Suncoast Hospice Foundation in Clearwater, Florida, and Vice President for Community Development at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, and a Master of Education in Institutional Advancement from Vanderbilt University. Mike also serves as an adjunct professor of nonprofit leadership at Davis & Elkins College and is the Board President of the Randolph County Housing Authority and Secretary of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.
Sara Blevins OToole

Sara Blevins O’Toole (She/Her), Director of Development
Branches Domestic Violence Shelter
Sara Blevins O’Toole is a certified domestic violence advocate at Branches Domestic Violence Shelter where she works as the Director of Development. Sara has a long history of community organizing, collective impact and prevention work in the non-profit sector. She is the co-chair of the WVCADV Aspiring Allies initiative and sits on the advisory council for the first ever culturally specific program for survivors, Shoulder to Shoulder. In 2023, Sara was the recipient of the 2023 Purple Ribbon in Advocacy award for her work to reduce barriers for survivors from marginalized communities.
Emily Brammer
Emily Brammer, Technical/Grant Writer
WV Grant Resource Centers
Emily Brammer was born in Huntington, West Virginia, where she later attended Marshall University. Interested in the power of storytelling, Emily earned her degrees in Communication Studies (MA), English (BA), and History (BA). While pursuing her education, she gained experience writing about cultural and historical sites across Appalachia and teaching others to use their voice about what they find important. Emily worked as a technical writer, adjunct professor, and grant writer before joining the West Virginia Grant Resource Center. Now, she uses the skills she has learned from her education and experience to help communities, organizations, and individuals in West Virginia develop their own grant-writing capabilities.
Dr. Tracie Doddson
Dr. Tracie Dodson, Professor of Business
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Dr. Tracie Dodson is a professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College in the Albinson School of Business where she teaches classes in business and management. Her research and applied interests include organizational behavior, human resources, project management and success, and ethics and justice.
Eddrick Martin

Eddrick Martin, Managing Partner/CEO
Elevated Momentum
Eddrick Martin is the Managing Partner and Lead Consultant for Elevated Momentum Consulting LLC. He has vast experience working with non-profit organizations in which he has provided leadership in various capacities. He is a twenty-five-year veteran of working and collaborating with nonprofits. His areas of expertise range from board development, strategic planning, leadership skills, organizational effectiveness, volunteer and stake holder development, and more. Eddrick holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration and a bachelor’s degree in public policy/political science. He also currently serves as the Board President of a charter school.
Morgan Robinson
Morgan Robinson, Owner/Chief Marketing Officer
Focus Marketing Company
Morgan Robinson is the dynamic Owner and Chief Marketing Officer of Focus Marketing Company, bringing over two decades of extensive experience in marketing, public relations, leadership, and development. As a seasoned nonprofit leader, Morgan has built a distinguished career dedicated to fostering empathetic and compassionate work cultures, developing strong leaders, and mastering the art of communication for success.
Morgan’s expertise is nationally recognized, having earned acclaim as a public speaker and presenter. Throughout her career, Morgan has demonstrated a unique ability to connect with diverse audiences, delivering impactful presentations that inspire and empower. Her speaking engagements often focus on the essential qualities of empathetic leadership, the importance of cultivating a supportive workplace culture, and strategies for effective communication.
Morgan holds a deep belief in the transformative power of compassionate leadership and has dedicated her career to sharing this vision with others. Through their work, Morgan aims to create environments where everyone can thrive, fostering a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and shared success. Her presentations are not only informative but also highly engaging, often incorporating interactive elements that encourage participation and active learning.
Whether speaking at national conferences, leading workshops, or consulting with organizations, Morgan’s dedication to nurturing success through empathy and effective communication has made her a sought-after speaker and a respected leader in the field.
Priscilla Santos
Priscilla Santos, Director
WV Grant Resource Centers
Priscila Santos serves as the Director of the West Virginia Grant Resource Centers – WVU Office and collaborates with the leadership team to provide administrative and organizational oversight of projects, staff, and activities, manage a diverse portfolio of grant applications, and provide grant writing, proposal development, and other technical assistance services to applicants. Priscila brings expertise in grant writing, economic development, policy analysis, project management, and proposal development.
Priscila is also a Research Scholar with Startup West Virginia — an office focused on operationalizing WVU’s mission, advancing prosperity, and supporting economic transformation in West Virginia. As a Research Scholar, Priscila formulates and writes grant proposals and prepares application packages for funding opportunities provided by private foundations, the Economic Development Administration, Small Business Administration, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and other funding agencies, analyzes and interprets data to inform research, proposals, and publications, including for the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research, and builds capacity and provides bandwidth for entities across the state to launch and advance transformational economic development initiatives.
Together with the Startup West Virginia team, Priscila has helped to raise millions of dollars to fund economic development projects in the state. Priscila has also authored and co-authored several publications focused on workforce barriers and economic development issues in West Virginia. Prior to joining Startup West Virginia, Priscila was a Research Scholar with West Virginia Forward and was responsible for carrying out policy analysis, in collaboration with state, business, and university experts, and advancing community and economic development projects based on a shared blueprint of nonpartisan, data-driven recommendations.
Previous to her work at West Virginia Forward, Priscila was a Legislative Analyst and Committee Clerk for the West Virginia Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Priscila graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Shawnee State University and a master’s degree in Political Science from Marshall University.
Tabitha Surface
Tabitha Surface, Technical/Grant Writer
WV Grant Resource Centers
Tabitha Surface is a native West Virginian and former 4-H Agent. She is passionate about making a difference in Appalachia. With years of delivering and managing grant-funded programs, along with writing them, she understands the grant process from conception to delivery. She also understands the importance of storytelling and brings with her a background in creative writing to weave together the dream of a brighter, better Appalachia with the realities of delivering robust programming. She looks forward to collaborating with partners to bring their visions into focus and into funding.
Shannan Tschopp

Shannan Tschopp, Program Director
Nonprofits LEAD
Shannan Tschopp, Nonprofits LEAD Program Director at Marietta College. Shannan has nearly 10 years’ experience working in nonprofit organizations. She has over 8 years of experience planning events for youth, adult trainings, conferences, and revenue-generating programs. She is a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy.