15th Annual Nonprofit Institute Conference Speakers

 Conference Speakers

(Speakers appear in alphabetical order.)

Dr. Sybol Anderson
Executive Director
Leadership Southern Maryland

Dr. Sybol Anderson is the executive director of Leadership Southern Maryland, a nonprofit organization that fosters collaboration among executives and emerging leaders for the greater good of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties. Dr. Anderson earned her Ph.D. in philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, becoming the 19th African American woman to earn a doctorate in philosophy in the United States.

As associate professor of philosophy at St. Mary's College of Maryland, she taught courses in ethics, race, and 17th/18th-century philosophy. She also co-founded and directed the DeSousa-Brent Scholars Program, whose concept and design were rooted in her philosophical work on recognition. Dr. Anderson has served as executive director of equity and inclusive diversity at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) and as the inaugural chief diversity officer at Loyola University New Orleans. As director of diversity in research programs at National Medical Fellowships, she led innovative initiatives to promote equity in clinical research.

Dr. Anderson has published several books and articles in philosophy, including "Hegel's Theory of Recognition: From Oppression to Ethical Liberal Modernity." Her awards include the Lucille Clifton Award, Homer L. Dodge Award for Excellence in Teaching, and Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship.

Christie Burnett
Executive Director
Charles County Charitable Trust

Christie Burnett, a proud Charles County native, has served as the executive director of the Charles County Charitable Trust since 2021. The Trust, a nonprofit organization, is responsible for managing the county's nonprofit grant program on behalf of the Charles County government. In addition to overseeing grant distribution, the Trust collaborates with local nonprofits to offer educational, networking, and capacity-building opportunities with the overarching goal of strengthening the nonprofit sector. Before joining the Charitable Trust, Burnett spent over 12 years with another local nonprofit, where she managed retail operations to boost funding and provided volunteer and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities. A dedicated supporter of nonprofits in Southern Maryland, Burnett is an alumna of the College of Southern Maryland, a former Charles County Chamber of Commerce board member, and currently serves as a community representative for the chamber.

Joe Corbe
CEO and Founder
1631 Digital

Joe Corbe is the CEO and founder of 1631 Digital. He has over 30 years of experience in advertising and has worked for organizations ranging from The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Times, and The Daily Caller before founding 1631 Digital in 2016. Corbe has worked with a broad range of nonprofit, advocacy, political, and retail clients including Goodwill of the Chesapeake, Monticello, Internet Security Alliance, AV24, National Pork Producers Council, Visit Annapolis, and many others. In addition, Corbe and the team at 1631 Digital have won 11 Reed Awards for political and advocacy strategy, Al, creative display ads, connected TV, and bootstrapped campaigns.

Megan D'Arcy
Program Administrator
Rural Maryland Council

Megan D’Arcy’s life’s work has been dedicated to land conservation resource stewardship, and fostering strong connections between people and their environment—relationships that shape culture and drive positive change. With over 15 years of experience in the land trust community, she has worked extensively with landowners to navigate the complexities of conservation easement stewardship and land preservation. In January 2020, D’Arcy joined the Rural Maryland Council (RMC), where she expanded her focus to address the broader challenges facing rural communities. Her work at RMC integrates economic and community development strategies to strengthen rural areas, enhance opportunities for growth, and support sustainable progress. In her role, she provides administrative support, staff and program management, policy insight, and public policy research. She also oversees the Council’s two grant programs—the Maryland Agricultural Education & Rural Development Assistance Fund and the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund—which invest in projects that improve infrastructure, workforce development, and economic resilience in rural Maryland. D‘Arcy holds a bachelor’s in cultural anthropology from Kutztown University and a master’s environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania. She serves as a member of the Maryland Environmental Trust Board of Trustees and the Country School’s Library Co-chair. She is also a LEAD Maryland Class XII Fellow.

Ann Davis
Day and Community Program Supervisor
Spring Dell Center

Ann Davis brings a great deal of personal and professional experience to her role as a day and community program supervisor with the Spring Dell Center. She has taken the skills gained from her many personal and professional roles to develop her abilities to create a positive supervision style. She has previously used her talents in many arenas, including retail, administration, hospitality, travel, and criminal trial sectors.

Davis has been employed with the Spring Dell Center since December 2011. She has demonstrated the expertise needed in managing successful coordination of projects, and scheduling of staff ˞ and events to develop skills and provide meaningful outcomes for adults with developmental disabilities. She has the keen ability to forge teamwork and positivity while working with diverse groups of employees when executing projects. Davis has consistently and successfully managed the coordination, implementation, review, and revision of Spring Dell’s employment and volunteer-related projects to deliver opportunities, experience, and training for all, regardless of disability, while supporting the array of needs and learning styles.

Maisha Douyon Cover
Consultant
Community Health and Social Impact
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Maisha Douyon Cover is a member of the Community Health and Social Impact team at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and oversees the place-based strategies portfolio that addresses the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact the health of CareFirst associates, members, and communities across the region. With deep expertise on issues of maternal and child health, and health equity, Douyon Cover has over 20 years of experience developing programs to improve individual and community health. Working across organizations, and with stakeholders and communities, she has helped facilitate multi-sector collaborations and community engagement with particular attention to centering the voices of communities. A Baltimore native, Douyon Cover began her career in public health as a sexuality educator in Cambridge, Mass., public schools, and led HIV prevention and adolescent health promotion programs.

Douyon Cover's public health career has spanned nearly every sector, working in academia, healthcare, community-based settings, and state public health departments. For over 10 years, she led health equity programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, developing effective strategies to address the inequities that contribute to the gap in birth and health outcomes among residents of color. Prior to joining CareFirst, she worked at the Maryland Department of Health leading equity efforts in the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity and Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Douyon Cover received an MPH in maternal and child health from the Boston University School of Public Health and a bachelor's in biology and anthropology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She lives in Baltimore with her husband and two spirited daughters.

Dr. Kandace L. Foreman, DBA, MBA, PMP, UX, ACUE
Assistant Professor
College of Southern Maryland

Dr. Kandace Foreman is a dedicated educator at the College of Southern Maryland. She teaches various courses in the Business Department including principles of marketing, business communications, principles of management, and human relations/leadership. Dr. Foreman is experienced with in-person, hybrid, online, and real-time technology class formats. She is a member of the Equity in Education Leadership team and is the faculty advisor for the Business and Accounting Club.

Dr. Foreman is also the co-chair of WomenLead, a one-day conference, in celebration of Women's History Month, designed to empower and energize female students, faculty, staff, and those in the CSM community who aspire to be entrepreneurs and nonprofit pioneers. She has been a conference presenter or panel member on a variety of topics including early college, growth mindset, career readiness, and public relations. She is also a mental health advocate. Dr. Foreman believes every person has the right to a quality education delivered in a manner best suited to their learning style and needs. Her teaching includes a mix of hands-on, visual, auditory, and written learning experiences.

Dr. Foreman comes from the marketing and communications industry as an award-winning executive with more than 23 years of experience managing personnel, creative services, brand marketing, strategic communication, website design and maintenance, market research, social media strategy, advertising, special events, crisis communication, and departmental functions. She also has certifications in effective college instruction and as a project management professional.

Dominic Fragman
Program Manager
Leadership Southern Maryland

Dominic Fragman is the program manager for Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM). He is passionate about the LSM mission to connect, educate, and inspire Southern Maryland leaders to collaborate for positive community impact. His work at LSM is an extension of his work as a musician. As a member of Sonic Spirits, he shares programming and music designed to bolster creativity, innovation, leadership, positive community values, and freedom for all. Fragman also serves as the director of partnerships for AFCEA Southern Maryland.

Chiara Frechette
Director of Nonprofit Programs
Spur Local

Chiara Frechette is the director of nonprofit programs. In this role, she leads and manages Spur Local's partner application process and the organization's capacity-building and professional development efforts for Spur Local's 400-plus nonprofit partners in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. Her work focuses on Spur Local's skill-strengthening and network-building programming as well as the organization's consulting efforts. She previously worked as a program manager at a D.C.-based nonprofit managing and facilitating leadership development programs for federal employees.

Matt Gayer
Executive Director
Spur Local

Matt Gayer is the executive director at Spur Local. He has worked with Spur Local since 2017, focusing on nonprofit capacity building and community engagement. During this time, he has led hundreds of workshops, community meetings, webinars, and retreats for 20,000-plus participants. Spur Local has also raised $20 million-plus for local nonprofits since Gayer became involved with community engagement efforts. He believes in the power of community and that Spur Local is positioned to play a unique role in building community, supporting local changemakers, and prioritizing regional resiliency.

Before joining Spur Local, Gayer worked in healthcare consulting at The Advisory Board Company. He is a Truman Scholar, who has experience in several nonprofit settings, largely in civic engagement and public health prior to Spur Local. Matt is a 2022 Washington Business Journal "40 under 40" local leader and a 2023 recipient of the David Bradt Nonprofit Leadership Award. He holds a master's of public administration with a focus on nonprofit management from Syracuse University and a bachelor of arts in public policy and political science from Southern Methodist University.

Elisabeth Hyleck
Vice President of Programs and Engagement
Maryland Philanthropy Network

Elisabeth Hyleck is the vice president of programs and engagement for the Maryland Philanthropy Network (MPN). She manages MPN's affinity groups and 100-plus educational programs with a focus on moving funders from learning to actions that support equity and justice. Prior to joining the Maryland Philanthropy Network in 2007, she worked at the Annie E. Casey Foundation as the leadership development program assistant and as the administrative coordinator for a residential treatment facility for chemically dependent women and their children. With a master's degree in city and regional planning from Morgan State University, Hyleck has a great interest in the relationship between people and the natural and built environment. She has a bachelor's degree in English and French and a minor in women's and minorities' studies from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has served on the board of directors of City Neighbors Hamilton as director of family participation and on the board of Blue Water Baltimore.

Wendy Jeffries
Founder and Lead Consultant
Spark Solutions Consulting

Wendy Jeffries (she/her) is the CEO and lead consultant of Spark Solutions Consulting, a consulting practice supporting nonprofits and social entrepreneurs committed to meaningful change. She is a seasoned facilitator, coach, and strategist specializing in guiding nonprofits through pivotal moments. Jeffries helps organizations strengthen board governance, navigate executive transitions, and drive strategic initiatives forward. A leader with 20-plus years of experience in education and nonprofits, Jeffries leads with her values of curiosity and respect, works collaboratively to ensure the best results, and is committed to centering equity in her work. An educator at her core, she infuses learning in every project and always uses a strength-based approach.

Prior to her consulting practice, Jeffries was the founding executive director for nine years of TasteWise Kids, a Baltimore City nonprofit teaching food literacy skills and empowering kids to build healthy eating habits. Jeffries has also led impact measurement and program development for national and international projects. She is an experienced educator, including teaching in Baltimore City Public Schools, writing curriculum, and committed to the highest level of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations. She has a certificate of nonprofit board consulting from BoardSource and was trained in the SOAR framework for leading transformative conversations. Jeffries is a licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence Institute®, a nationally recognized program providing consulting services to nonprofits.

Dynell Kellyman, Ed.D.
Founder and Principal Consultant
Purposed for Partnership

Dynell Kellyman, Ed.D., is the founder and principal consultant of Purposed for Partnership, a consulting practice dedicated to helping nonprofits build strategic partnerships and enhance operational efficiency. With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Kellyman has served as chief operating officer at Children’s Futures, as associate director at Educational Testing Service (ETS), and led initiatives supporting community-driven outcomes. Her research on sustaining programming in urban schools informs her commitment to fostering equity and long-term impact in nonprofit work. She is also a Deeper Learning Equity Fellow and holds a doctorate in education leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Kellyman is a licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence Institute®, a nationally recognized program providing consulting services to nonprofits.

Kevin Maljak
Chief Systems Officer
1631 Digital

Kevin Maljak is the chief systems officer for 1631 Digital. He has over 30 years of experience in advertising and has worked for organizations including CQ-Roll Call, The Washington Times, Salem Communications, Adams Publishing Group, and Business Wire. Maljak has worked with a broad range of clients including Boeing, Airbus, Toyota, the National Association of Counties, the American Cancer Society, Historic Hotels of America, and many others.

Kelly McLaughlin
CEO
From Scratch Fundraising

Kelly McLaughlin (she/her) is a dynamic creator, engaging speaker, systems architect, and passionate advocate for nonprofits. With a love for crafting the perfect recipe for success, she excels in assembling the essential ingredients to make your individual giving program not just efficient but downright delightful. McLaughlin started fundraising as a five-year-old, changing the world one bake sale at a time, and has been a professional fundraiser since 2009. Creator of the Framework for Fundraising Sustainability, McLaughlin excels in guiding nonprofits through crafting, building, and scaling individual giving systems that not only banish burnout but also empower clients to create a more substantial impact.

Kelly has a bachelor's degree in Spanish (literature) and international studies (political communications), and a master's in social justice and human rights, with a concentration in nonprofit management. She's scaled an individual giving program from $300,000 to $1 million in annual revenue in just four years and she ran a capital campaign for a brand-new nonprofit that raised $250,000 in six months.

Dr. Tristi Nichols
Principal, Program Evaluation and International Development
MANiTOU, Inc.

Dr. Tristi Nichols brings nearly 20 years of international evaluation experience, primarily as an independent evaluator through her consulting business, Manitou, Inc. Her professional career encompasses impactful roles with the United Nations and various not-for-profit organizations. With a doctorate from Cornell University, Dr. Nichols has successfully designed, managed, and implemented monitoring and evaluation projects across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Caucasus, and the South Pacific. Her approach is supportive and collaborative. Dr. Nichols is a longstanding member of the national professional association, the American Evaluation Association (AEA), and she currently serves as secretary for the Washington Evaluators.

Darin Nielsen
CEO
ACE Consulting Group, LLC

Darin Nielsen, a naval flight officer who flew A-6E Intruders and EA-6B Prowlers, left active-duty service in 1999 and retired from the Navy Reserves in 2009. He worked as a systems analyst supporting electronic warfare systems development and support at the Airborne Electronic Attack Weapons Systems Support Activity in Point Mugu, California. During his time there, he took on roles with increasing leadership and management responsibilities at Engility, Inc., ultimately becoming the regional director for all West Coast Navy programs. In 2018, he served as vice president of Elbit America's San Antonio operations, overseeing an aircraft maintenance and modification facility as well as contract aircraft maintenance for federal agencies. In 2023, he became the CEO of Air Combat Effectiveness Consulting Group, LLC (ACE Group), providing engineering and technical services to the Department of Defense.

Dr. Trenace Richardson
CEO
REAL Women Inc.
Trenace Richardson Enterprises

Dr. Trenace Richardson is a highly respected keynote speaker, singer, educator, yoga instructor, and author with over 20 years of leadership experience. She was featured on the Netflix special "Voices of Fire," produced by Pharrell Williams. Dr. Richardson earned her master's in divinity from Howard University and a doctorate in higher education administration from The George Washington University, focusing on spirituality in leadership among female African American college presidents. She leads yoga sessions both in-person and virtually and emphasizes the mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of yoga. Dr. Richardson published works on servant leadership and personal development, including “Purpose Pushers: The Journey of Discovering & Walking in Your Life’s Purpose.” She oversees Trenace Richardson Enterprises and directs the nonprofit REAL Women Inc., which supports women's personal development. Currently, she serves as the associate vice president of organizational development, talent, and equity at the College of Southern Maryland. Dr. Richardson has received numerous awards, including the Woman Empowerment Entrepreneur of the Year and the Trailblazer Award. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and resides in the D.C. metropolitan area with her husband Gregory and their two children, Nhi’ya and Nigel.

Chris Ripley
Assistant Professor
College of Southern Maryland

Chris Ripley has more than 40 years of business experience in various industries. For his first 20 years, he worked in the retail industry, starting in a Macy's training program and working his way up to becoming the divisional vice president and general manager of a $55 million store. In his second act, he founded the Strategic Marketing Group and worked with hundreds of small businesses to help them get better results from their marketing and advertising. Now in his third act, Ripley is an assistant professor for the business department at the College of Southern Maryland.

After being an adjunct professor for 16 years, he decided to teach full-time. He teaches a variety of topics, which include marketing, human resources, business strategy, and communications. Ripley is the faculty advisor to the Kappa Beta Delta Business Honor Society and an accreditation advisor for the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. He is also a course coordinator for CSM's introduction to business, business math, and marketing courses. Additionally, he is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where he teaches various human resources classes.

Ripley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia and his Master of Science in Management from the University of Maryland University College. He is an active member of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce and a regular driver for Charles County Meals on Wheels, Inc. He is also the past president of the Kiwanis Club of La Plata, Maryland, and the former president of the United Way of Charles County's board of directors.

Stephanie Rolle
Director
Nonprofit Institute at the College of Southern Maryland

A results-driven leader, Stephanie Rolle is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with a double major in business administration and retail. She holds certifications as a facilitator, corporate trainer, and grief coach. Driven by a desire to be a part of the forces that uplift and develop people, her professional achievements have made a successful impact in corporate, nonprofit, government, and faith-based spaces nationwide including international work in South Africa, western Canada, and Brazil.

With a keen commitment to college student success, Rolle worked as a managing director for the nonprofit career development organization INROADS. For 12 years, she led the successful start-up team for the Miami, Florida, affiliate, grew the affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina, and opened INROADS offices in western Canada and South Africa. Born into a family of community servants, her additional passion is for serving and advocating for the most vulnerable people in communities.

As the director of the Nonprofit Institute, Rolle continues supporting the critical work of the nonprofit community, while driving innovative pathways to support student success. She is a skilled strategist and creative thinker with deep respect for the work of uplifting and enhancing the lives of people in need.

Reflecting on this new opportunity, Rolle says, “This professional assignment speaks directly to my personal calling to serve the community of life changers working in our nonprofit organizations. The Nonprofit Institute is a well-respected community resource and the opportunity to scale its impact is a task to be excited about every day. The important work they do is a critical component to a thriving society and supporting their ability to make a positive impact on the people they serve, while enhancing new pathways to student success represents a perfect fit for me."

In addition to her passion for supporting people to achieve successful life journeys, she loves good music, the performing arts, reading, and traveling the world.

Dr. Ashima Singh
Owner and Principal Consultant
AshimaSingh.org

Dr. Ashima Singh has over 20 years of experience in program evaluation, higher education administration, educational assessment, and institutional accreditation. Along the way, she learned how to incorporate existing data with data gathered just-in-time to help programs discover what they were doing well and where they needed some extra care. She takes pride in working with her head and heart to understand the needs and motivations of the people she works with. She works with joy to bring joy. In her journey to who she is, she worked with programs funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, Tribal and Historically Black Universities, a small faith-based institution, and large research-intensive multi-campus universities. She is a member of the American Evaluation Association and the newsletter chair for that organization's independent consulting topical interest group. In her spare time, she gazes with awe at birds, bugs, rocks, flowers, and plants. Walking and hiking with her is extremely annoying because she stops to look at every leaf and life along the way. She can tell you more bird stories than you ever wanted to hear.

Michelle Sullivan
Director of Philanthropy
Chesapeake Charities

Michelle Sullivan is the new director of philanthropy at Chesapeake Charities, the community foundation serving the Chesapeake Bay Region, including Southern Maryland. Sullivan also serves as the executive director of All Ages Read Together serving Northern Virginia, where she assumed the role of the first executive director. She grew the nonprofit's revenue from around $100,000 to over $1 million. Sullivan also worked at the Nonprofit Institute as a consultant from 2016-2024. She is a licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence Institute®, a nationally recognized program providing consulting services to nonprofits.

Ashley Teagle
CEO
Southern Maryland Regional Library Association

Ashley Teagle is the CEO of the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association (SMRLA). Ashley has a bachelor's degree in English and communication arts from Hood College and a master's in library and information science from the University of Southern Mississippi. Teagle currently serves on the Maryland Library Association's Legislative Panel and the Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators Inter-Governmental Relations Task Force to support advocacy efforts for public libraries. She has a passion for libraries and enjoys telling anyone who will listen about how awesome they are! Teagle is enjoying using her library experience to further the United Way of Southern Maryland’s mission to impact lives in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties by mobilizing the caring power of the Southern Maryland community to advance the common good. She is the current board chair and the resource development committee chair.

Sacha Thompson
CEO
The Equity Equation, LLC

Sacha Thompson is the visionary founder of The Equity Equation, a pioneering consultancy dedicated to fostering diverse and inclusive corporate cultures. With over two decades of professional experience spanning education, nonprofit organizations, and the tech sector, Thompson is a go-to expert on psychological safety and issues surrounding inclusion in the workplace. She is committed to inclusive leadership development at all levels of the organization, aiming to break down barriers and provide unwavering support in the pursuit of equity. Thompson empowers her clients to unlock their fullest potential by identifying areas for growth, setting clear objectives, and nurturing a culture of accountability.

Her remarkable journey has earned recognition in esteemed publications such as Forbes, Newsweek, and Business Insider. Thompson has also shared her expertise as a thought leader on MSNBC's "The Cross Connection" and hosts the podcast "DEI After 5." She holds multiple certifications including Associate Certified Coach (ICF), Certified Professional Diversity Coach, 4 Stages of Psychological Safety Certified Coach, Maslow Certified Leadership Coach, and Maslow Certified Executive Culture Coach. Her tireless dedication to building inclusive corporate cultures and commitment to equity makes her a transformative force in the field. Through coaching, consulting, and leadership development, Thompson inspires organizations to create psychologically safe environments and foster inclusive leadership for a brighter future.

Yolanda Wilson, Ed.D.
President
College of Southern Maryland

Dr. Yolanda Wilson became president of the College of Southern Maryland on January 3, 2023. She is the first African American president in the college’s 67-year history.

Prior to her presidential appointment, Wilson worked in the North Carolina and South Carolina Community College Systems for more than 23 years, beginning her career as an adjunct faculty member before moving into more progressive leadership roles in both academic affairs, student services, and campus operations. Her work in higher education has centered on creating a student-ready college culture, mitigating institutional barriers to access, retention, and completion, and strategically focusing on programming and policies that support all students to success.

Wilson has completed the 2019-2020 Aspen Rising President's Fellowship program, received the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator's Awards – both internationally and within the Carolinas – and was recognized as the South Carolina Technical Education Association Administrator of the Year at York Technical College. She is the Region 2 director for the American Association for Women in Community Colleges, serves as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and is a Leadership Coach for Achieving the Dream. In June 2023, she was appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on College Readiness for a three-year term. She is also on the USM at Southern Maryland Board of Advisors, the Charles County Chamber of Commerce Board, the Charles County Economic Advisory Board, the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Board, the Calvert Health Board of Directors, the Maryland Association of Community Colleges Presidents' Council and Board of Directors, the Transform Mid-Atlantic Board’s Presidents’ Council, The Patuxent Partnership Board of Directors, the Southern Maryland Task Force – Catholic Charities, and the Southern Maryland Workforce Development Board. She is a graduate of the Leadership Southern Maryland Executive Program (’24).

Wilson earned her bachelor’s degree in English education and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Maryland, College Park, her developmental education specialist certification from the Kellogg Institute at Appalachian State University, and her Ed.D. in adult and community college education from North Carolina State University. She is blessed to be married to her best friend, Dale, and they have three sons: Bryan, Brandon, and Braxton.