The 2021 ENGAGE conference will feature four half days of relevant programming with a lens towards engaging nonprofit staff, board, and volunteers in effective leadership and collaboration to rebuild, strengthen, and succeed. The conference will feature 24 sessions covering current topics from diversity, equity, and inclusion and fundraising to leadership and board governance.
We are also happy to announce a new additional attendee rate and that individual scholarships are available for organizations to attend this year’s virtual conference.
Broaden your knowledge and network with other nonprofit professionals to strengthen Arizona’s sector.
We offer educational sessions for everyone: from EDs/CEOs, to development teams, to program staff, and even board members.
Meet fellow nonprofit professionals in our dedicated networking and Ask The Expert sessions that will be held on the interactive platform, Wonder.
Catch every keynote and educational session at this year’s virtual 2021 ENGAGE conference. Each session is categorized into eight different Content Types so that you can easily find what you want to watch.
Can’t watch all four days? No problem! After each day, if you registered, you will gain instant access to all the recordings from the virtual conference.
Each session is categorized either as a Learning Session 
or a Workshop 
and is broken into the following 8 Content Types so that you can easily find topics of interest to you:
Advocacy
Development
Board Development
Marketing
Executive
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Programs/Volunteers
HR/Finance
Tim Delaney
Nonprofit Impact Matters: How America’s Charitable Nonprofits Strengthen Communities and Improve Lives
Bruce Weber
CEO/Board Chair Partnership: A Case Study in Engagement
Suzanne Berrios
Audience Engagement: The Key to Creating and Building Your Social Channels
Michele Rebeor
Strengthening Organizations Through the Strategic Engagement of Women Donors
MaryEllen Clausen
A Cafe with a Cause: A Sustainable Mission Forward Model
Cheryl House
Fundraising: Whose Job Is It, Anyway?
Pam Gaber
Are Founders Hiding in Your Organization?
Stephen Hodges
Content Creation and Diversity: Moving Towards Inclusion Through the Use of Story and Shared Narrative
Molly Coke
How Rockstar Leaders Cultivate Growth
Sybil Francis, Ph.D.
Building A Bright Future Together
Charlie Smith
CEO/Board Chair Partnership: A Case Study in Engagement
Sarah Griffiths
Leveraging Neuroscience to Make Feedback Work, Shift Culture, and Feel Better
Paul Allvin
Sunshine On a Cloudy Day: Preventing, Planning For, and Mastering Crisis Communications Events
Harriet Cutshall
Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Organizations
Scott Morrissey
Design Thinking and Social Innovation
Julia Patrick
Engaging and Cultivating Millennial Donors
Catherine Alonzo
How to Engineer Change Through Your Vision
Katherine Cecala
CEO/Board Chair Partnership: A Case Study in Engagement
Wallace Hudson
LGBT Workplace Inclusion
Kristi Tate
The Arizona We Want Community Conversation
Julie Euber
Working Board Warriors
Kimberly Hall
The 3 L’s of Leadership: Learn, Love, Lead
Stephanie Small
Are Founders Hiding in Your Organization?
Jannah Scott
Shape Arizona's Future: Start Here
Virginia Nelson
Audience Engagement: The Key to Creating and Building Your Social Channels
David Martinez
Building a Diverse & Inclusive Board
Karolyn Benger
On My Own: Running a Small Nonprofit
Nicolie Lettini
Understanding Indirect Cost and the Impact on Grants
Geri Wright
Facilitated by Geri Wright – President & CEO, Act One
Patrick McWhortor
Are Founders Hiding in Your Organizaiton?
Nora Hannah
Is It Time to Swipe Right? How and When to Consider a Collaboration with Another Nonprofit
Staphanie Waldrop
Attract, ENGAGE, and Retain Employees
The schedule spans across each Wednesday in August and features four days of relevant programming with a lens towards the current landscape of our sector and advancement of thought and skills.
Key:
WorkshopLearning Session
Advocacy
Board Development
Diversity, Equity, &
Inclusion
Development
Executive
HR/Finance
Marketing
Programs &
Volunteers
Kristen is a proven leader across multiple sectors invested in the development and success of others. She has more than 17 years’ experience leading efforts to support community stakeholders, including extensive involvement working with professional associations, Chambers of Commerce and various community and business organizations, both public and private. Kristen is a fierce competitor, never satisfied with resting on her laurels and is always looking for the next big challenge to conquer. She is driven to be the best while remaining authentic and invested in the success of others. Experienced, calm under pressure, a seasoned leader and skilled communicator, she knows how to solve the big problems and create consensus around complex issues. Her WHY is to be the best version of herself so that she can share her knowledge and experience with others to help them reach their full potential.
Bruce Weber is President and CEO at the Weber Group, an independent consulting firm that assists organizations in realizing their potential in achieving long-term sustainability. His firm brings over 40 cumulative years of experience to the non-profit and for-profit community strengthening organizations through, strategic planning and visioning, organizational development, leadership and board development, board recruitment, and board onboarding, all with an emphasis towards mission attainment and fulfillment.
Charlie brings decades of experience in the financial services industry including an extensive background working within organizations to develop high performance teams. Charlie’s focus is working with nonprofit CEOs, Executive Directors and Board Chairs to build smarter boards focused on strategy and execution. He is a BoardSource Certified Consultant, a certified 6 Sigma Black Belt and a Master Black Belt.
Lesli Pintor is the Executive Director of Growth Partners Arizona (GPAz), a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides accessible, fair, and responsible loans and support to Arizona nonprofits and underserved small businesses outside the economic mainstream. She launched GPAz’s small business loan and Kiva community-backed loan programs and has had over 200 one-on-one coaching interactions with small businesses and nonprofits since 2019. GPAz has closed 15 nonprofit and small business loans and provided $739,000 to fund 18 PPP loans through GPAz’s SBA affiliate, Business Development Finance Corporation. To date, Kiva Tucson has assisted 23 borrowers crowdsource 0% loans. Overall, over $2.2 million in loan capital has been invested in dozens of Arizona nonprofits and small businesses. Lesli has 33+ years of business lending experience, taught Business Communications at UA’s Eller College of Management, was a corporate leadership and credit trainer, and is certified in conducting behavioral assessments. She created and led a professional women’s networking group and a formal mentoring program, and is a mentor for the Tucson Metro Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Council. Lesli has served on many nonprofit boards over the years, including Earn to Learn, a scholarship program for low-income, first generation college students, the Pima Community College Foundation, Metropolitan Pima Alliance, and CREW Tucson (Commercial Real Estate Women). In addition, her work at Eller included student consulting projects for 13 Tucson nonprofit organizations. She currently serves on the advisory board for the CDFI MetaFund and the board of the Arizona Small Business Association.
Valerie serves as Managing Director, Listen4Good, which is the signature feedback capacity building program of Fund for Shared Insight. As the founding director of Listen4Good, Valerie led the initial design of the offering and now oversees a coaching and central product and program team that supports more than 570 organizations. She is considered to be an industry leader in the feedback space. She is also Principal of Ekouté Consulting, which advances the use of feedback to inform strategy and measurement efforts for social-sector organizations. Previously, Valerie served as founding director of the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s (CEP) YouthTruth Project, scaling the project from an idea to a nationally recognized survey and data analysis organization that elevates youth feedback to inform educational decision-making. Prior to joining CEP, Valerie was part of the core business team that built a successful start-up biotechnology company, Momenta Pharmaceuticals (publicly traded, $750 million at peak).
Alicia leads project management for organizational culture development, staff engagement practices and program evaluation implementation planning on behalf of ICAN. In this role, she provides technical assistance to implement high quality feedback systems for clients, volunteers and employees and serves as chair of ICAN’s Equity and Empowerment Task Force, focused on reviewing, exploring and advising strategies that guide ICAN’s pursuits of equity. Alicia worked for 11 years as ICAN’s Family Programs Manager prior to her current role. She led the implementation of Listen4Good on behalf of ICAN. Alicia is also a feedback coach for Listen4Good, supporting organizations around the country to build strong feedback practices.
John Scola serves as a key member of the Senior Management Team, working closely with the CEO on BGCAZ’s long-term development goals. He leads a team of resource development professionals who implement annual giving, major gifts, special events and gift planning for the organization. A seasoned Phoenix professional, John has worked with some of the Valley’s most prestigious organizations, including Phoenix Rescue Mission and the Catholic Community Foundation. He is also a sought after speaker and educator for the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. He holds a bachelors from University of Dallas. In his free time, John can be found on the ice playing hockey!
Catherine Alonzo helps organizations and individuals create change in their communities. She is CEO and founding partner of Javelina, a company that is advancing equality and human dignity through social, political and economic change. Javelina helps their clients realize their vision of change in the world by marrying together cutting-edge strategies from the worlds of marketing and political campaigns. Catherine has been integral in growing Javelina to be one the Valley’s pre-eminent marketing and campaign agencies. She combines her political background (having served on the teams that raised the Arizona minimum wage in 2016, and elected Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell) with her passion for storytelling in the digital age. Catherine was named the Athena Young Professional Recipient by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce in 2016, and has been recognized for her business leadership by Arizona Business Magazine, Arizona Big Media, and the Phoenix Business Journal. She is originally from the UK and lives happily in Phoenix with her husband Ruben and their bunnies.
Souta is the Founder and Executive Director of Indigenous Vision. For 20 years she has focused her efforts on water quality, mining contamination clean-up, and water-treatment. She has a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship and has experience in groundwater monitoring, watershed health, and community participatory-based research. She believes that land and Indigenous people are inextricably linked and that sustainable land management must include Indigenous perspectives. In 2018, Souta was chosen for a Boldly Better Roddenberry Fellowship to pursue her interactive map of social, environmental, and climate injustices. A graduate of the University of Montana and the University of Phoenix, Souta holds a BA in Environmental Studies-Water Resources and a MIM in Innovative Leadership and Change Management.
Abby Wilkymacky, the founder of Mindflower Studio, is a facilitator and visual practitioner. Mindflower Studio is a creative consultancy that helps socially-driven organizations define and solve problems through thoughtfully designed and facilitated workshop experiences. Abby is known for her animated doodles, innovative facilitation, and human-centered techniques that drive creative participation in surprising, fun ways. Abby holds a BS in Industrial Design and Spanish from The Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!). As a former adjunct professor at Arizona State University, she taught undergraduate and graduate-level Industrial Design and Qualitative Research courses. Outside of her work you may find Abby romping around in the desert on foot or a mountain bike, gardening, or talking about cats.
Dr. Linda Groomes, President & CEO Achieving My Purpose Dr. Groomes founded Achieving My Purpose, Inc. in 2013 to establish a vehicle to pursue her passion of working and supporting young women, ages 18-30, to discover their life’s purpose. Purpose Driven Diversity is a fee for service initiative that challenges organizations, schools, and government to evaluate their diversity and inclusion practices while investing in future leaders. Previous to AMP, Dr. Groomes demonstrated her leadership skills in the public and private sectors during her tenure at Hallmark Cards, LGC Enterprises and the City of Scottsdale. Dr. Walton operated her own business, LGC Enterprises, Ltd. for seventeen years. Under her leadership, LGC established itself as an international management consulting firm specializing in the area of diversity and organizational development with clients throughout the United States. She is a certified coach and diversity trainer. Dr. Groomes completed her Ph. D in Psychology at Grand Canyon University, holds an MBA in Finance from Indiana University, a BS from Florida State University and a Certificate of Continuing Education from The Tuck School of Business Executive Program.
Rori Minor has spent her entire life in Chandler, Arizona. The daughter of a teacher and a firefighter, she knew from a young age that helping people was her calling. After receiving her International Business Degree from Hawaii Pacific University and completing multiple marketing internships, Minor returned to Chandler to serve her hometown. She immediately got hired at the City of Chandler to oversee programs for people experiencing homelessness where she helped to create and deliver training for City staff on the topic of homelessness. Eventually, Minor transitioned into her current role: Community Resources Coordinator. Now she focuses on creating connections between nonprofits, businesses and faith based organizations and serves as the government liaison to For Our City – Chandler, a nonprofit and community coalition.
Matt Lehrman is co-founder of Social Prosperity Partners, an Arizona-based firm that works nationally to help nonprofits advance strategy, sustainability, and community support. Previously, he was the founder & long-time Executive Director of Alliance for Audience & ShowUp.com, the collaborative endeavor of Arizona’s arts & cultural community.
Lisa Robinson has dedicated her professional career to working with non-profits in the Tucson community. Her work has been instrumental in the development of effective fundraising plans for non-profit organizations, including grant writing, corporate partnerships, and individual gifts. Lisa currently works as a consultant with Alexander | Carrillo Consulting offering unique perspectives, experiences and leadership of non-profit programming and fundraising. Her prior roles include positions as a director of development and executive director.
Jennifer M. Tersigni is the founder and CEO of Raise the Bar Consulting. Founded in 2009, Raise the Bar Consulting specializes in comprehensive fundraising, organizational alignment, transitional leadership, and interim executive solutions. We dig deep and aim high with you to help your organization grow and flourish. The proud holder of an unanticipated 25-year fundraising career, Jennifer has helped more than 140 clients, served six organizations as an Interim Executive, and raised more than $130 million dollars in her career. Jennifer enjoys collaborating with leaders to transform organizations, develop new initiatives, build sustainable funding, and make a meaningful impact in the world. Jennifer’s introduction to fundraising began in the Office of the Social Secretary at The White House, where she planned and implemented political and social events for the President and First Lady of the United States. Jennifer is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a Lifecycle Capacity Consultant, and a graduate of The Third Sector Interim Executives Academy. A first-generation college graduate and holder of bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Arizona, Jennifer has called Tucson home since 1996, has lived and traveled in forty-three countries, brings cross-cultural experience to her work, and always looks forward to life’s next great adventure.
Ashley Bright is The Message Fixer. He is passionate about helping visionary nonprofit leaders bring their ideas to the world. He created The IMPACT Speaking Method to empower leaders with skills to increase their influence, attract donors and volunteers, and avoid communication mistakes that cost them millions. HonorHealth, United Way and ASU are amongst the many clients who rely on Ashley’s 1:1 remote coaching and group workshops to teach their leaders how to conquer their fears, avoid costly mistakes and ensure they get the money they need to succeed.
A seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience working with WordPress, she has tenaciously embraced the technology sector. In 2010, Carol created Tech Tools, LLC, next she joined forces to found FreeUp Web Studio in 2013, and then took over the operation of RadiateWP in 2016. Her work also extends to the nonprofit sector with over 14 years of experience in executive roles. Her volunteer contributions include service on the WordCamp organizing team every year since 2012 and leading the ArizonaWordPress Meetup Group since 2011. Carol has been recognized over the span of her career as President of AzSAE, AzSAE Association Executive of the year, and was featured in the open.film documentary about the WordPress Open Source project. Lastly, alongside her warm personality, interest to help people, and love for animals; Carol’s resilience and love for learning have been key in her approach to the dynamic world of technology. She embraces change and harnesses new abilities and tools with ease. Carol lives with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and her hedgehog named Poe.
Dan has dedicated the majority of his career to nonprofits because he believes deeply in the power of people to impact their communities. His expertise includes grant accounting, month-end closings, and the creation and interpretation of financial reports. When he is not serving his clients, he enjoys spending time with his daughters, Wren and Opal, and his wife, Kim.
Deanna is a driven and dedicated professional accountant with both non-profit and Big 4 accounting firm experience. Her expertise includes streamlining processes and procedures, preparing for a seamless audit, and collaborating with executives and board members to provide timely and accurate information that facilitates executive decisions. Deanna’s unique background offers a rich blend of accounting, taxation, budgeting, strategic planning, reporting, and non-profit industry expertise. Deanna is passionate about providing accounting services for a bigger purpose. She enjoys using her accounting expertise to assist non-profits further their mission, help their communities, and make the world a better place.
Heather Burright specializes in creating dynamic, people-centric solutions that drive business goals. By working with individuals and organizations to identify the core competencies necessary to see positive, identifiable results, and through creating the learning strategies and solutions needed to develop those competencies, employees and organizations can better succeed. Prior to focusing on nonprofits, Heather led the way in innovative training design in industries, with a focus on for-profit higher education and government agencies. She brings her expertise in instructional design, change management principles, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to each project, ensuring all voices are heard and valued.
Angela Hughey exemplifies leadership through her work within the LGBTQ community and the broader business and political communities in Arizona. Hughey’s leadership and diligent efforts have direct statewide economic development impact. She co-founded ONE Community in 2008 with the goal of engaging socially responsible businesses, organizations and individuals who support and promote diversity, inclusion and equality for all Arizonans. In 2013, Angela and the ONE Community team launched the UNITY Pledge a concerted effort by Arizona businesses and individuals to advance workplace equality and equal treatment in housing and public accommodations for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ) individuals and their allies. More than 3,300 businesses and 20,000 Arizonans have taken the UNITY Pledge; the largest equality pledge in the nation. Angela has won multiple awards for her work on inclusion and awareness including the Human Rights Campaign Individual Equality Award, Echo Magazine’s Woman of the Year, and the Anti-Defamation League’s Al Brooks Community Leadership Award. Angela is a 2021 Phoenix Business Journal, Most Admired Leader.
Cindi Phallen, Founder and President of Create Possibility, consulting firm serving nonprofits nationally in areas of governance/board development and strategic planning. Fierce advocate for nonprofit leaders so they build strong boards and attract more money, people, and awareness. 18 years experience as a nonprofit Executive Director with YMCA’s around the country, managing boards of 8 up to 45. Author of the book The Impact Triangle, 3 Essentials to Accelerate Your Nonprofit Impact. Writes a bi-weekly blog focused on key issues nonprofit leaders face. An experienced practitioner combined with engaging style results in being sought after for speaking, guest blogging, podcasts, and virtual presentations. Instructor in the University of San Diego’s Nonprofit Management Certificate program. Serves on the Advisory Board of NonprofitPRO. Cindi asks the tough questions and is a champion for changing the way nonprofit leaders think in order to move from intention to execution. Cindi is a proud mom, avid snowboarder, beach jogger and Philadelphia sports fan. 
Sophie Allen-Etchart was born in Connecticut but raised and educated in England, receiving her B.A. in Modern Languages from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Upon graduation, Sophie joined a financial services agency specializing in board-level strategic HR consulting. Soon after, Sophie moved to Peru and began managing SKIP, an international development organization. Sophie met her husband, an Arizona native, in Peru and moved to Phoenix in 2012. Once in Phoenix, she spent 2 years managing the JA BizTown team at Junior Achievement. There, Sophie identified the need for basic reading comprehension support. The JA BizTown program serves over 20,000 students per year, an alarming number of whom had neither the focus nor the foundational reading skills to obtain the most value from the experience. In 2010, when Arizona’s “Move On When Reading” law was announced, Sophie decided that the timing was critical to support those 3rd graders at risk of not being promoted to 4th grade because of a lack of reading proficiency. In 2017, Sophie was recognized as one of Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and was nominated for the Greater Phoenix Chamber’s ATHENA Award in both 2019 and 2020. Sophie currently lives in Downtown Phoenix with her husband, her son Cody, and daughter Joey. In her free time, she is driven to continue to advocate for those causes about which she is passionate – either by canvassing locally or participating in lively discussions with friends and neighbors.
Jeffri-Lynn Campbell found her passion with her first byline at the age of 15. Pursuing that passion led her to a bachelor’s degree in communications and an MBA. Her career has taken her from the helm of a media and event company to the Philippines where she marketed an American International School. Upon her return to the US, she went to work as a brand strategist for a well-known boutique firm serving the hospitality industry. Jeffri-Lynn formed Blaze to specialize in brand, marketing, and small business culture. Her team creates strong, sustainable 360º brands based on the values and personalities of the organization’s leadership. With an affinity for the nonprofit sector, she and her team create strong and sustainable 360º brands based on the values and personalities of the companies’ leadership. From strategy to tactics, Jeffri-Lynn loves all things dealing with brands, marketing strategy, graphics, aesthetic design and the written word.
Bethany Snyder is the founder of Snyder Strategies, a boutique consulting firm she formed to share and leverage her deep understanding of the advocacy world with non-profits and social justice organizations. Bethany has been on all sides of the advocacy world – as a grassroots advocacy director, a lobbyist, a consultant, and a US Senate staffer. She knows how to engage your donors, members, and supporters and turn them into lifetime advocates and donors. With 20 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and public affairs, Bethany is an expert in managing strategic communications, leading successful advocacy initiatives, designing innovative outreach and engagement programs, and running high-profile campaigns. Having worked for various non-profit organizations, consulting firms, and a US Senate staffer, she has a passion for ensuring non-profits and social justice organizations use their voices and expertise to influence policies that impact those most in need. Bethany received her bachelor of arts in sociology and women’s studies from the University of Iowa and has a masters degree in public policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Bethany and her family recently moved back to her home state of Iowa from California and is excited to help even more organizations leverage their people power.
Linda Jennings, SPHR-SCP, local Human Resources Consultant, is the owner of LJ Consulting. Linda has over 30 years of experience in the private sector where she most recently served as a Human Resources Director for a nationwide distribution company. In the last few years, she has worked as a Human Resources Consultant exclusively with small businesses. At LJ Consulting, we specialize in creating and updating customized employee handbooks for small businesses (for-profit and non-profit).Days until the big event
INDIVIDUAL
(1 person)
EACH ADDITIONAL REGISTRANT
(for organizations registering multiple people)
*Only Alliance members qualify for discounts. Interested in becoming a member? Click here.
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE courtesy of
See if your organization qualifies here.
Important Notes on Registration:
- You may not share your registration link. Identified shared links will be asked to leave the event and will not be able to access 2021 ENGAGE session recordings and follow-up resources.
- Registrants who are unable to attend the 2021 ENGAGE conference may substitute someone to attend in their place; please submit the change via email to our Events Team. Cancellations received by July 23 will receive a full refund. No refunds will be provided after July 24.
Virtual Conference Orientation Sponsor – 0/1 available – $5,000 (SOLD)
Nonprofit Networking Sponsor – 0/1 available – $5,000 (SOLD)
Keynote Introduction Sponsor – 2/4 available – $2,500
Commercial Break Sponsor – 1/1 available – $2,500
Session/Speaker Introduction Sponsor – 12/16 available – $1,000
Conference Supporter – $500
Member Scholarship Supporter – $500 (supports 5 attendees)
ENGAGE 2021 offers a unique opportunity for you to get your brand in front of Arizona’s nonprofit audience. Connect with nonprofit professionals in a way you never have before with our sponsorship opportunities!
If you have any questions about these or other sponsorship, exhibiting, or advertising opportunities, please contact Jennifer Purcell, Senior VP and Director of Development, at JenniferP@arizonanonprofits.org or call 602-279-9166.