Agnes has a wealth of expertise in operational and strategic leadership within nonprofit organizations and over 30 years of experience in governmental affairs and financial services. For 12 years, she was Executive Director for Willamette Valley Development Officers (WVDO) where she created a number of programs focused on teaching the art and science of professional fundraising to help nonprofits thrive. Under her leadership, WVDO started the Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising in 2011 for 40 weeks of basic fundraising skills training, and in 2012, the Leadership Academy for advanced fundraisers who wanted to move into director-level roles. In 2017, they launched the Management Academy to help mid-level nonprofit managers grow their skills, and in 2019, the Grants Academy for hands-on grant writing tools and techniques. In 2012, NPN formed as a WVDO program out of a growing number of program participants who wanted to know where they might find success and enjoy their work, alongside nonprofits who wanted to hire professionals dedicated to long-term growth within their organization. NPN served as the middle piece to make those partnerships happen. In 2016, NPN became a wholly-owned corporation of WVDO, and Agnes served as leadership to both until 2020 when she began dedicating herself to NPN full-time. Agnes is passionate about identifying what drives people in their professional roles, supporting them in their careers, and helping them find success and fulfillment in their work. Most of all, she’s driven by finding the right partnerships to help nonprofits achieve long-term success. She holds a master’s in business administration from Willamette University Atkinson School of Management, Seth Godin’s altMBA, and a bachelor’s in business from Carroll College.

Kaye has spent 25+ years working in the nonprofit, consulting, and high-tech industries. She brings broad and deep expertise in corporate foundation leadership, business strategy, operations, project management, human resources and data driven storytelling. Her broad professional and academic experiences have all centered around how to align strategy, people, and processes to create organizations that consistently achieve audacious goals and where people thrive. She believes deeply in the potential of every individual and the collective power of people, and that organizational and individual success must be symbiotic. Kaye holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and multiple coaching and consulting certificates.

Melissa Auchard Scholz is an attorney with Scholz Nonprofit Law, which she started in 2007 to provide practical legal and strategic advice to nonprofits. She and her colleagues serve nonprofits and mission driven business of all sizes and types throughout the country, ranging from small community-based organizations to statewide affordable housing providers, national advocacy organizations, cooperatives, land trusts, and various kinds of businesses (usually with a connection to a nonprofit). Melissa now lives in Eugene, OR and her firm will begin serving Oregon-based clients in March in partnership with her new colleague, Laurie Hauber (formerly with the UO Law School).

Allison Stark is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Albertina Kerr, a nonprofit human services provider dedicated to empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental health challenges to lead self-determined lives in their communities. Under her leadership, Kerr successfully merged with Exceed Enterprises on August 1, 2024, combining 167 years of collective experience and expanding Kerr’s service array. The merger enhanced Kerr’s Supported Employment programs and introduced new Day Support Activities (DSA) services, which Kerr had not previously offered. As a result, Kerr is now one of Oregon’s largest providers for individuals with I/DD, increasing the number of people supported by 30% and revenue by 15% in a key strategic program area. Allison serves on the Board of Directors of the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), a national organization that enables her to represent disability service providers in federal policy discussions in Washington, D.C. In Oregon, she contributes her expertise to several boards and councils, including the Governor-appointed System of Care Advisory Council, The Arc Oregon, and the Oregon Resource Association. Her career includes significant public-sector leadership as Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities at the Illinois Department of Human Services, where she championed initiatives that drove statewide funding increases and meaningful system improvements. She also previously served as President and CEO of Orchard Village, a Chicago-based nonprofit providing comprehensive services to people with I/DD. Allison holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from North Park University in Chicago.

Jessica Bowersox became Executive Director of SMART Reading in July 2022, the first day SMART Reading and the Children’s Book Bank formally merged into one legal entity. Having joined SMART in 2010 as Communications Director and later serving as Deputy Director, she was a member of the executive leadership team in the year leading up to the merger and played a key role in planning and executing the integration. As ED, she has led the unified organization through operational and cultural alignment, expanded statewide impact, and deepened access to books and literacy support for children across Oregon. In addition to her executive leadership experience, Jessica brings over 15 years of experience in public relations and integrated marketing communications across agency and nonprofit sectors, previously working with nonprofit, education, and corporate clients including Microsoft, and earning a MarCom Gold Award for media relations. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Public Relations and Magazine Journalism from the University of Oregon and an MBA from Willamette University.

Ronecca Norvell is a nonprofit leader and community champion with a 20+ year nonprofit career built on expanding access and driving impact. She has raised millions of dollars and helped scale programming across education, health, human services, and youth organizations — strengthening communities' ability to help individuals and families thrive. As CEO of Financial Beginnings, a national nonprofit that empowers youth and adults to take control of their financial futures, Ronecca leads efforts to deliver equitable financial education through partnerships in communities and across the nation. Recently she led Financial Beginnings to successfully complete a three-way merger, reuniting the national hub organization with its affiliates, building a stronger national organization that is better able to adapt to the fast-changing needs of community members and partners.