Rev. Dr. Z. Allen Abbott

Allen currently serves as the Vice President of Philanthropy for the Baptist Homes Foundation in Pittsburgh. Previously he held a similar position with Cypress Cove in Fort Myers, Florida. Most of his career has been in leadership and philanthropy with the American Baptist denomination nationwide. An ordained minister with credentials in five denominations, Allen has served as pastor or interim minister with four congregations. He is a frequent guest speaker, teacher, author and editor.

Recently Allen was the chapter president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and vice president of the Planned Giving Council, both in Southwest Florida. He is a board member and chairs the programming committee for the Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council. He earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential, recognizing the highest standards in ethics and effectiveness. He earned the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from Indiana University, the Certificate in Financial Planning from Emory University, and the Certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University.

He holds the M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Seminary in Louisville and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Kentucky University. His post-doctoral work includes studies at Dartmouth College and Harvard Divinity School.

His community involvement includes work with public media, the American Red Cross, local community foundations and United Way.

http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/ZAllenAbbott Alex Abboud, Principal, Works Progress Strategy

Alex Abboud is the Principal of Works Progress Strategy, a consulting firm that works with purpose-driven organizations to advance their mission through effective marketing, fundraising, and strategic positioning. 

He spent his early career in municipal politics, then switched into the non-profit sector, working for Homeward Trust Edmonton – a funder of homelessness and affordable housing programs – in progressive roles culminating in Director, Communications & Fund Development. He later consulted for public, corporate, and non-profit clients, and worked on contract for the Multicultural Family Resource Society building its fundraising program and then then joined the Canadian Mental Health Association – Edmonton Region as the head of its fundraising and communications team. 

Alex holds a master’s degree with a specialization in marketing from the University of Glasgow, where his dissertation focused on cause marketing and corporate social responsibility’s impact on consumer behaviour amongst Millennials. 

He is also an experienced board member, having served as Chair of the Edmonton Heritage Council, Vice-President of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and on the boards of charities including Health Nexus and the Friends of Jasper National Park. 

Mary Ellen Austin, Board Member, Friends of Pittsburgh Fisher House

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ellen-austin-08957715/

 Michael Bell, M.Ed, President, Mike Bell & Associates

Mike Bell is President of Mike Bell & Associates, LLC, providing strategic counsel to nonprofit organizations in philanthropy, planning, engagement, and governance. With over 30 years of leadership experience in health and human services, Mike has held senior roles spanning fundraising, public policy, communications, volunteer management, and foundation administration.

He has led advancement efforts for organizations such as Davis Health System Foundation in West Virginia, Suncoast Hospice Foundation in Florida, and Alive Hospice in Tennessee. A respected educator and advocate, Mike teaches nonprofit leadership at Davis & Elkins College and serves in leadership roles with several organizations, including the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, where he chairs the Government Relations & Advocacy Committee.
Mike holds degrees from Tennessee Technological University and Vanderbilt University and is known for his thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to advancing generosity and mission-driven impact

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbellwv/ 

Beth Brodovsky, President, Iris Creative Group Inc.

As the President of Iris Creative Group Inc., Beth Brodovsky works with nonprofits to focus their audience and inspire them to action. For 28 years, Beth and her team have developed branding, marketing and fundraising communication. She’s helped thousands of marketers build skills specific to nonprofit communications through workshops and educations sessions including the 200-episode Driving Participation podcast, the Nonprofit Toolkit education program and presentations for hundreds of conferences. 

Kristin Brown, CFRE, Women's Center & Shelter 

Kristin has presented on board engagement and planned giving for The Forbes Funds. Kristin has also taught as part of AFP’s Fundamentals of Fundraising and CFRE Review Course. Most recently, she served on the Fund Development Group as part of Pittsburgh’s Capacity Building Initiative that ultimately led to the creation of Elevate NP of Southwestern PA. 

www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-brown-a858599  

Alyssa Cholodofsky, CEO, 412 Food Rescue

Alyssa has spent over two decades leading impactful nonprofits with a career focused on sustainability and community impact. Before joining 412 Food Rescue, she held several executive roles at United Way of Southwestern PA, most recently as Chief Program & Policy Officer. Alyssa also held leadership positions at Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and the Veterans Leadership Program. She is a former President of the AFP Western PA Chapter, and has presented at several past conferences and chapter meetings.

Mary Frances Dean, Esquire, Dean Nonprofit Consulting Services- Bio & photo coming soon

Danielle DeWitt, VP of Advancement, 412 Food Rescue

Danielle is a seasoned fundraising strategist with over 14 years of nonprofit experience. She’s built sustainable donor programs, led major campaigns, and guided teams through organizational change. At 412 Food Rescue, she oversees individual, corporate, and foundation giving, and recently led a successful restructuring of the development department to align with strategic growth goals. Danielle brings a collaborative, data-informed approach to fundraising and has a passion for donor-centered storytelling that drives both revenue and relationships. 

Graham Fandrei, Chief Development Officer, Persad Center

Graham is the chief development officer at Persad Center, he leads with a strategic fundraising vision. His role is centered on amplifying our mission to serve the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS communities. Effective donor engagement and the execution of major events, like Art for Change, reflect our dedication to long-term support and organizational growth.

Previously, as a Major Gifts/Planned Giving Officer, Graham managed a substantial donor portfolio and designed major gift programs that produced an 11% uptick in new contributions. His approach blends innovative fundraising with a commitment to fostering enduring relationships, leveraging technology, and enhancing operational efficiency to empower the nonprofit sector.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamfandrei/

Ryan Ferrebee, CFRE, MA, Development Director, UpstreamPgh 

With over 12 years of experience in fundraising, Ryan has raised more than $16 million to support impactful programming and operations. His expertise lies in foundation relations, strategic planning, and operational management—all rooted in a commitment to equity, learning, and community-driven outcomes.

Ryan's  Professional Mission:
To inspire generosity that facilitates meaningful change through the alignment of my talents, skills, and values.

Guiding Values:
-Leave people and places better than you found them.
-Be ready to learn—everyone has something valuable to teach.
-When possible, choose the most just option.
-Understand your "why" in every action you take.
-Express gratitude often—there's no such thing as too much thanks.
-Ask for help, and be the helper when needed.

Ryan approaches his work with an abundance mindset and a community-centric philosophy. His greatest joy comes from transforming ambitious ideas into reality, whether it’s theatrical productions or innovative green stormwater infrastructure. He excels at distilling visions into actionable programs, identifying the right philanthropic partners, crafting compelling proposals, and guiding projects to fruition.

As a trained storyteller and experienced fundraiser, Ryan bridges the gap between nonprofits, philanthropists, and community. He thrives in creative, collaborative environments that encourage problem-solving, foster inclusivity, and center justice in their operations.

Success to Ryan:
It’s not just about the dollars raised; it’s about the communities we strengthen, the connections we build, and the sense of belonging we nurture among all stakeholders—beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, board members, and staff alike.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-ferrebee/

Nick Gigante, Chief Development Officer, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

Nick has spent his nearly thirty-year career in non-profit management, as he values building and stewarding relationships between donors and the charities they support.

Nick serves as Chief Development Officer for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. He is responsible for the organization’s fundraising department, which generates between $20-$30 million each year for operations, special programming, capital projects and endowment. Under Nick’s leadership, the Cultural Trust has grown from 2,000 donor households to 15,000 in ten years and seen its major gift program grow to nearly 1,000 contributors, up from 100. He is also part of the leadership team that has raised in excess of $500 million for the Trust over the past 20 years, including a recent $175 million comprehensive capital campaign and current $50 million capital initiative. Prior to his current role at the Trust, Nick served as Senior Vice President of Development and Real Estate, as well as Vice President of Development.

Nick has been a member of the Boards of Point Park University’s Rowland School of Business, Pittsburgh Musical Theater and the Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council. He is a frequent speaker on non-profit management for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council, Carnegie Mellon University, Point Park University and the Performing Arts Center Consortium (PACC), among others.

Rachel Griffo, Director of Grants and Special Projects, Carlow University 

Rachel Griffo is a fundraising professional with a strong background in education and a passion for expanding access and equity. After more than a decade teaching college and technical writing, she transitioned into grant writing and management in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her current work centers on advancing diverse pathways into the secondary education workforce, developing apprenticeship opportunities to strengthen the child care sector, and supporting dyslexia intervention initiatives. In addition to this work, she also teaches Grant Writing for Educators and Curriculum Methods at Carlow University.

Steve Higgins, CFRE, President & CEO, Carter

Pittsburgh native, Steve Higgins is one of the most respected and seasoned nonprofit consultants in the profession. He works with organizations’ development staff, executive leaders, trustees and volunteers, providing counsel in fundraising, governance and strategic planning for organizations located around the world. 

Steve co-founded Carter with Bob Carter in 2011. He was promoted to President of Carter in 2015, and assumed the CEO role in 2020. Prior to co-founding Carter in 2011, Steve spent six years as a Senior Vice President of Ketchum. In his role as a member of Ketchum’s Senior Leadership Team, Steve directed Ketchum’s client development efforts. He also held leadership positions with Saint Edward’s School in Vero Beach, Florida; The Pittsburgh Technology Council in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and The Gow School in South Wales, New York. 

A frequent speaker at international, national and regional fundraising conferences, Steve is a Past President of Indian River County’s, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and has served on AFP International’s Committee on Directorship. Steve is currently serving on the Board of Directors at The Gow School. Previously, Steve served as the Church Moderator at The Community Church of Vero Beach, and on the Industry Advisory Council for CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) and the Boards of; Education Foundation of Indian River County; Leadership Pittsburgh; Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania; and The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

Angie Zambito Hill, MPA, CFRE, Chief Development Officer, Catholic Charities Pittsburgh

Angie is the Chief Development Officer for Catholic Charities Pittsburgh, where she has grown fundraising efforts in support of both annual revenue and a historic capital campaign. She and her team reached a more than $10 Million fundraising goal during fiscal year 2024, making it the most successful fundraising year in the history of the organization. She is an experienced nonprofit leader with over 18 years in professional development and a demonstrated history of working in a variety of sectors including higher education and human services. She earned her CFRE in 2013 and is skilled in fundraising, nonprofit organizations, proposal writing, stewardship, management, major gifts, capital campaigns, strategic planning, and leadership. She also holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in History & French from Wheeling Jesuit University. She serves the Association of Fundraising Professionals Western Pennsylvania Board of Directors as its VP of Education and is passionate about continued education and professional development. She is committed to building trust with donors and teams to pave the way for long-term relational fundraising and organizational growth.

She is also the proud mother of three sons, who she and her husband, Chad, are raising to give back to their community and support the nonprofit sector. 

Presentation experience includes guest lecturing for University Fundraising Courses, Volunteer presenter for AFP Fundraising Fundamentals, and countless Board and staff trainings, orientations, and reports. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-zambito-hill-mpa-cfre-46987764/

Cecilia Hughes, Director of Gift Planning, Seton Hill University- bio  & photo coming soon

MJ Meenen, JD, MJM Envision Consulting

MJ has engaged in coaching and training (court mediators and child advocates) for many years. In her current role, she presents reports, and engage in strategic planning with boards. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjmeenen/  

Rebekah Nesbitt, Assistive Technology Professional, Speech Language Pathologist, CLASS/TechOWL

Bekah  presents various TechOWL trainings and presentations for my company on a weekly basis (learn more about what we do in assistive technology here: https://techowlpa.org/). From hospitals, to universities and conferences, Bekah has conducted well over 200 public speaking events in and around Allegheny County. Recently, she was featured on Fox 53's news channel "issues on the point."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-bekah-nesbitt-a97a9119b/

Christy Pietyga, CEO, HEARTH 

Christy has presented at the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans in DC, Homes Within Reach Conference in Pennsylvania and spoken at numerous gatherings. 15 years of experience in Pittsburgh's nonprofit field.

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-pietryga-91b78740/

Jimmy Smith, Assistant Vice President of Development & Strategic Initiatives, Cathedral Preparatory School

As an Alumnus and the Assistant Vice President of Development & Strategic Initiatives at Cathedral Preparatory School, Jimmy is deeply committed to advancing the mission and vision of this historic institution. His role allows him to intertwine my passion for empowering our youth with strategic fundraising, cultivating relationships, and spearheading initiatives that ensure our schools' continued success. Whether it’s hosting The Rambler Podcast, developing corporate partnerships, securing major gifts, or driving revenue through innovative programs like the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, his focus remains on building a vibrant and sustainable future for Cathedral Prep and its students.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-smith210/

Natalie Taylor, Senior Director of Development & Gift Planning, Carnegie Mellon University

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-t-3434747/

Dave Tinker, CFRE, FAFP, (AFP Master Trainer, GPA Certified Trainer), Chief Development Officer, Partner4Work

Dave Tinker, CFRE, FAFP, Chief Development Officer at Partner4Work, is a seasoned fundraising and nonprofit management professional with over 35 years of experience. He has worked with education, health, and disability nonprofits across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. For nearly a decade he has been a Special Projects Consultant for GoalBusters Consulting on an ad hoc basis. 

Currently a committee member of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project of AFP, and an AFP PAC Board Member, he is an AFP Master Trainer, he is also a Grants Professionals Association approved trainer. He has presented keynote, plenary, and break out sessions to groups as large as 4,000 people. He also was an adjunct professor in a graduate IT program for over a decade.

A Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2001, Dave was honored in 2017 as part of the inaugural class of Distinguished Fellows of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (FAFP). He was among the first 20 graduates of Indiana University’s Master of Public Administration program with a concentration in nonprofit management—now part of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. He also earned a Master of Information Strategy, Systems, and Technology from Muskingum University.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davethecfre/ 

Abigayle Tobia, MNM, CFRE, Director of Development, University of Cincinnati Foundation, College of Medicine

Abigayle Tobia, MNM, CFRE, is Director of Development for the College of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati Foundation. With more than 20 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, she has led advancement efforts in higher education, healthcare, and social impact organizations. Abigayle currently serves as President of AFP Western PA, Board Chair of Laura’s Light, and is a certified AFP Master Trainer. She is known for translating research into practical fundraising strategies and for her commitment to building donor relationships grounded in trust and clarity.

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigayletobia/

Erik Tomalis, Chief Evangelist, Avid AI

Erik has over two decades of professional fundraising experience, having successfully conducted more than 5,000 face-to-face donor solicitations, raising millions for various non-profit organizations across sectors, including healthcare, education, human services, athletics, and youth-based initiatives. In his role at Avid AI, Erik spearheads revenue generation strategies, focusing on expanding the company's market presence and enhancing client engagement. His extensive background in mid-level and major giving, capital campaign management, and business development & strategic sales leadership roles position him to drive significant growth for Avid AI. Overall, Erik is committed to helping nonprofits grow generosity in their communities. He believes that charitable giving is about personal connections, not transactions. Generosity is driven by our passions and relationships – and givers want to feel like they are part of a movement bigger than themselves.

Wendy Wilsker, Managing Partner, Boyden

Wendy has dedicated her entire career to the non-profit sector, serving in leadership roles within charitable organizations and working alongside them as an executive recruiter and consultant. She excels at identifying the unique challenges and opportunities non-profits face, and partners with senior leadership to build successful organizational structures, teams and advancement programs.

https://www.boyden.com/wendy-wilsker/

Greg Wilson  CAP, CFRE, MS in Nonprofit Management Director of Client Success, Planned Giving Marketing

 In his nearly 25 years of frontline fundraising and managing frontline fundraisers, Greg has served in various leadership positions including Chief Development Officer/Associate Vice President, Development for Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, Director of Leadership Gifts and Planned Giving at Muhlenberg College, Senior Director of Individual Giving at East Stroudsburg University Foundation, Director of Development for Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, and multiple assignments with the Boy Scouts of America.

While he’s held literally every position possible in fundraising, planned giving has always been his favorite area as it scratches the donor visit and technical itches. Now that he’s no longer a frontline fundraiser Greg has found (some) time to research some of those pesky questions in planned giving.

Greg is a certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) from the American College of Financial Services, a MS in nonprofit management from Eastern University and a BA in history from Lebanon Valley College.

You’ve probably also seen Greg in various Planned Giving Marketing YouTube videos focused on practical planned giving fundraising advice or speaking in-person across the country. He currently serves as the Director for Client Success with Planned Giving Marketing where he helps clients convert marketing leads into meaningful conversations.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-wilson-ms-cap%C2%AE-cfre-3108504/

Holly Wolk, SPHR, Senior Associate, Boyden

Holly Wolk has nearly 25 years of leadership experience in human resources, recruitment, and talent management. As an executive and public speaker, she has brought transformational practices and strategies to various organizations, including renowned institutions within higher education. Clients benefit greatly from her expertise in talent acquisition and alignment with organizational goals.

 https://www.boyden.com/holly-wolk/

Paul Yeghiayan, CFRE, CSPG

With more than 20 years of nonprofit management, fundraising, and consulting experience, Paul supports clients in preparing for and operating campaigns. Along with previous experience as a senior consultant, Paul brings to clients the expertise and insights he has gained as a nonprofit leader: he was Vice President of Development for the American University of Armenia, affiliated with the University of California; President and CEO of The Foundation for the Public’s Health, the fundraising arm of the National Association of County and City Health Officials; and Associate Director of Philanthropy for Heifer International.

Paul is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, serving as former president for
the nation’s largest chapter in Washington, DC, and he is an AFP Master Trainer. Paul is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving, a Fellow in Charitable Estate Planning, and is currently earning the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation.

Paul earned a graduate degree from Harvard University and his undergraduate degree from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulyeghiayan/