Tim Rusk brings over 30 years of nonprofit work experience to his position as Nonprofit Education Specialist at NAO. He was executive director of an early childhood program in Central Oregon and led the organization from start-up, to a well-respected, tri-county program, and through a successful leadership transition when he left after 20 years. He loves learning, helping people succeed, applying best-practices, and being a part of a strong team. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz (go slugs!), has a Masters in Organization Development from Sonoma State University, and believes in the transformative power of working together for the common good.

Sarah Spangler, based in Corvallis, Oregon, is the Director of Nonprofit Education at the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. Throughout her career, Sarah has embraced various opportunities to serve nonprofits—from a hands-on volunteer to executive director to board member—each contributing to her comprehensive understanding of nonprofit management. Since coming to NAO in 2022, Sarah has leveraged her deep knowledge and diverse experience in the nonprofit sector to empower and educate nonprofit professionals, enhancing their capacity to serve and impact their communities effectively. Sarah has a proven track record of empowering teams and leading successful initiatives. Her journey through the sector has equipped her with a deep understanding of what it takes to drive an organization's mission forward, particularly through developing the internal capacities of staff and board teams. Most recently, Sarah was the executive director of a nonprofit wildlife hospital and nature education center that cares for more than 2,000 animals annually. In her time there, she led the organization through the retirement and transition of its founding executive director, a more than doubling of the organization’s budget, the acquisition of property and capital improvements, the creation of new programs and service area expansions, the expansion and development of the staff team, and the professionalization of its board of directors. All of these exciting changes required careful and strategic planning, a firm grasp on change management principles, and the implementation of effective financial, human resources, operations, fundraising, and other systems. Sarah is enthusiastic about building strong, inclusive teams and creating an environment where nonprofit professionals can improve both their confidence and competence. Her approach is hands-on and community-focused, always aiming to foster environments where passionate individuals can come together to make a significant impact.