Scott Schaffer, Principal of Public Interest Management Group, is an experienced nonprofit leader and consultant with a background in economics, finance and behavioral science. He is a four-time past CEO of regional, statewide and national nonprofits. He's directed growth, designed financial turnarounds and built high-performance organizations in the food security, environmental and housing fields. Scott's consulting practice links expertise in financial analysis and organizational development, and radiates from a core principle that social change requires passion and great ideas along with smart strategy and skillful execution. His work with a range of clients is an extension of this philosophy. He's played a key role in over twenty nonprofit mergers and restructuring projects, and launched social enterprises promoting affordable housing, technology adoption and environmental conservation. Scott has also developed a range of innovative business strategy methods, and delivers training workshops on strategic nonprofit management. Scott's education includes the Harvard Kennedy School, Carnegie Mellon University, and Columbia Business School. His writing on organizational development, finance and public policy appears in his blog. Off the clock, he's a guitarist, runner, and frequent hiker in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

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.

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).