Nonprofit University Faculty

Chris is Partner with Advantage Consulting, LLC and former Executive Vice President of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. He received his Doctorate in Counseling (Georgia State University, 1993). Chris has excelled as a nonprofit professional for more than 30 years, performing a variety of nonprofit sector roles including as an executive director, funder, researcher, and independent consultant.

Jack is considered the small organization specialist of GCN’s consulting team, bringing both a wealth of experience and a passion for working for nonprofits with small budgets and limited or no staff.

Amanda Bisgaard is the Director of Volunteer Strategy & Engagement for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and has worked in the Volunteer Engagement field for over 7 years. She also serves as a volunteer for a number of organizations, including as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Atlanta, and was part of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2021.

Mary-Kay Boler is a Certified Fundraising Executive and Director of Development at Kennesaw University with a passion for high quality, all-inclusive education.

Rochelle B. Dennis possesses over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, specializing in fundraising strategies, communications, and branding. Her areas of fundraising expertise include annual giving strategies, capital campaigns, data-driven fundraising strategies, and donor database systems.

Chris Fields is a Director with Mauldin & Jenkins and brings nearly 30 years of dedicated financial advisory experience. He has over a decade of experience serving in senior leadership roles with fast-growing organizations, and also serves as Treasurer for the Cobb Collaborative and served as a Co-Chair of the Marietta/Cobb Continuum of Care.

Fee Freeman is a bold and creative storyteller and communications strategist with a decade of experience in nonprofits, policy, and political communication. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Fee Freeman Consulting LLC.

Kristin D. Hemingway is a 16-year youth advocate and ministry veteran residing in Atlanta, where she is a nonprofit professional, youth leader, and highly sought-after curriculum developer, trainer, and speaker.

Dr. Brandi Rae Hicks has over 20 years of experience as a grant writer, nonprofit consultant, entrepreneur, and fundraising diversification specialist. Her background as a nonprofit executive and her experience as an entrepreneur positioned her with a unique perspective to support community-based nonprofits, higher education institutions, churches, government agencies, and businesses.

Dr. Stephanie Hodge, SPHR, is CEO and Principal Consultant for Essex Consulting, LLC; a certified woman owned-small business, providing executive coaching, human resource, and business consulting for small and mid-sized companies. She has over 24 years of global HR experience leading teams in North America, Canada, and South America, in the financial services, software/technology, and non-profit industries.

Brenda is a nonprofit development professional with a passion for connecting donors at every level to the causes they are passionate about. Her areas of expertise include capital campaigns, data-driven fundraising strategies and donor database systems. Brenda held senior development positions at several national organizations addressing human rights, civil liberties, and women and girls’ empowerment.

Kinetra Joseph is an integrated marketing and communications leader currently serving as Campaign Director at the CDC Foundation.

Beth Keller is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and is currently the Director of Individual Giving at Habitat for Humanity International, where she works with a team of senior development officers to raise funds through major gifts from individuals.

Coach Tracey Knight is an accomplished trainer, speaker, and certified life, career, and personal empowerment coach. She leverages more than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, and educator to help organizations shift culture and build high-performing teams.

Vic serves as Managing Partner of McCarty Collaborative Consulting, LLC, offering consultation services to nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations. Since 2000, Vic has been creating and improving signature fundraising events, managing budgets and timelines, and working closely with planning committees and volunteers. Vic has a strong background in building events in statewide market areas.

Sonya A. Milner is a philanthropic advisor for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Sonya currently cultivates, stewards, and solicits a portfolio of nearly 500 donors for St. Jude’s bequest and planned giving program, helping to make it the 2nd largest bequest program among all charities nationally.

Jim Neal is GCN Director of Consulting. He is an experienced nonprofit consultant and executive with expertise in strategy development and the art of linking strategy to operations. Over a 25-year career, Jim has worked extensively in strategic planning, strategy execution, business planning and budgeting, organization assessment and alignment, and performance improvement. He is an experienced facilitator of board-level strategy for both public s

Shelley is a CPA with over 30 years of accounting experience. For the past 16 years she has provided accounting and consulting services to nonprofit organizations. She also served as Accounting Director for the Arthritis Foundation’s national office, Controller for a manufacturing company and Auditor for a public accounting firm.

Toni Paz, CFRE is a development professional, fundraising educator, and nonprofit consultant with a history of growing renewable philanthropic revenue. Toni has spent over 20 years in the orchestra industry as a fundraising professional, which includes serving as Director of Development for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Director, Corporate Philanthropy for The Woodruff Arts Center.

Elizabeth possesses a unique background, having both generated and implementing innovative and breakthrough ideas in the social sector. Elizabeth has worked with low-wealth and marginalized populations for over 12 years, and has advised dozens of nonprofits and small businesses on strategy and business models, social enterprise, and more.

Paula Scotman has 20 years of experience in nonprofit financial management and human resources, including work with KPMG conducting nonprofit audits, as Associate Director of Finance for Emory University, and as CFO of New American Pathways. Paula is currently CFO at Interdenominational Theological Center.

Devoting her career to equitable access to health and social services for low-wealth communities, Tiffany is the founder of Nia Unlimited Consulting Services LLC, which works to transform the healthcare experience through training and virtual program management.

Brandon is passionate about helping nonprofit organizations deliver their missions effectively. Brandon is a Certified Public Accountant at Mauldin & Jenkins, where he has more than nine years of experience serving tax-exempt organizations of all shapes and sizes, through capacity building, management consulting, and traditional accounting services.

Matthew works as Communications Director for Dad’s Garage Theatre in Atlanta. In this role, he provides much of the written word across multiple platforms for Dad’s Garage – including newsletters, annual reports, grant writing, board and staff updates, building signage, and policy documents.

April is co-founder and Chief Zealotry Officer at GRM. She believes that the best marketing work is a multi-faceted, creative blend of all related touchpoints for a particular brand. April’s professional career began as a client services manager for renowned advertising agency Cole Henderson Drake, where she became Director of Client Services.