Rob Acton, Founder & CEO, Cause Strategy Partners

Rob Acton, J.D. is the Founder & CEO of Cause Strategy Partners and author of the book entitled, Becoming a Causie: Champion Your Cause Through Nonprofit Board Leadership, published by ForbesBooks. Through his firm’s signature program BoardLead, Cause Strategy Partners has placed nearly 3,000 professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom on nonprofit boards, while training tens-of-thousands more in high-impact nonprofit board service.

Rob is a recognized expert on nonprofit governance and leadership, training thousands of professionals each year on high-impact board service. He has nearly three decades of experience founding, leading, and scaling social good organizations as both a nonprofit chief executive and board leader. He served for 11 years as Executive Director of two nonprofit organizations: Taproot Foundation in New York City and Cabrini Green Legal Aid in Chicago.

Rob has served on numerous governing and advisory boards over the years, and currently chairs the Board of Directors of Broadway Inspirational Voices. His causes are second chances for formerly incarcerated individuals, nonprofit capacity building, and the performing arts.

David Bea, JD, Principal, Bea & VandenBerk Attorneys at Law

David Bea is an attorney with the firm of Bea & VandenBerk in Chicago. The attorneys at Bea & VandenBerk concentrate on serving nonprofits and social entrepreneurs. They have successfully taken a wide variety of organizations through the start-up process, advised both large and small organizations on issues of governance, leadership, management, corporate re-structuring, taxation, international operations, operation of foreign subsidiaries, protection of intellectual property, real estate, and employment administration. Their clients are nationwide. Bea’s clients include start-ups, nonprofits, religious organizations, private foundations, entrepreneurs, publishers, authors, artists, and other creatives. David has presented seminars for the Chicago Bar Association, the IRS TE/GE Advisory Council, and numerous other organizations about matters of nonprofit law, social enterprise law, or intellectual property. He is a member of the Exempt Organizations Division of the Federal Tax Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and formerly served as the committee chair. He has served on boards or volunteered for several nonprofits.

Andreason Brown, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at the Spencer Foundation in Chicago

Andreason Brown is chief financial officer and treasurer at the Spencer Foundation in Chicago which supports high-quality investigation of education through its research programs. He is responsible for all accounting and information technology functions of this $500+ million private foundation. Brown most recently served in the roles of chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Forefront (formerly Donors Forum), the Illinois membership association for grant makers and nonprofits.

Brown serves on several local and national boards in support of the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. He is an African American Legacy Fund Life Director and an appointed board member of the Illinois State Treasurer’s Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund. Brown frequently speaks and advises on organizational sustainability, accounting, budgeting, and strategic development. Born and raised in West Michigan and a Chicago resident since 1995, Brown holds a B.S. in economics from Central Michigan University and M.S. in nonprofit management from DePaul University.

Amanda Delheimer

Amanda Delheimer’s scholarly and artistic work circles around the intersections of story, psychology, biases, and the body. She was chosen for the inaugural artEquity Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Facilitator cohort, funded by the Mellon Foundation and hosted by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015. As the Artistic Director of 2nd Story, she has created countless performances, and has also facilitated trainings, workshops, and experiences for partners on a local and national level, including work with Jenner & Block, Skadden, Motorola, Comcast/NBC Universal, Wounded Warriors, the Donnelley Foundation, the Gender and Sexuality Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the National Able Network, and Leadership Greater Chicago, among others. She was an inaugural recipient of the Leadership U: One–on–One Fellowship, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by the Theatre Communications Group, which placed her in residence at Lookingglass Theatre Company from 2012–2015 as a Strategic Planning Consultant. AB, University of Chicago; AM, University of Chicago. (she/her/hers)

Sidney Freitag, Chief Development Officer for Delta Institute

Sidney Freitag (Sid) serves as the Chief Development Officer for Delta Institute, a Midwest-focused environmental and economic development nonprofit. Sid is celebrating 20 years of resource development experience, with expertise in individual giving (annual fund, major gifts, and planned giving); board relations and recruitment; grant writing and prospecting; corporate sponsorship; event planning fundraising strategy; and marketing. Sid previously served as development director for a small regenerative farming and food safety nonprofit, a gifts officer for Heartland Alliance for Human Rights & Human Needs, and in steadily increasing development roles for multiple Chicago-based social service agencies since 2006. He is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Mongolia while undertaking grassroots fundraising activities to fund community development projects; taught grant writing as adjunct faculty at Loyola University Chicago; and has been a presenter for the Axelson Center since 2014. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Chicago Area Peace Corps Association.

Gillian Gorra Bio, Senior Consultant, BDO FMA

Gillian is an experienced nonprofit professional skilled in fiscal management, strategic planning, human resources, and facility oversight, with a deep commitment to empowering organizations and professionals. With nearly two decades of management experience in both nonprofit and specialty retail, she has brought her expertise to BDO FMA. Most recently, she served over ten years as general manager and then managing director of Emerald City Theatre in Chicago. There, she created and managed financial and HR systems, led budget development and monitoring, established a partnership with the Chicago Public Schools Real Estate department, and formalized the organization’s first donor acknowledgment and stewardship plan.

In her corporate career, Gillian demonstrated the skills that laid the foundation for her nonprofit leadership success. She guided a boutique business through significant transitions, including ownership changes, inventory restructuring, and rebranding. As assistant manager at a national boutique retailer, she cultivated meaningful client relationships, resulting in nationally recognized high sales. Gillian is also a performing artist with extensive experience in arts education and administration. She served as governance chair of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was a long-time member of the artistic-technical team of the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee. She holds a Master of Management in nonprofit administration from North Park University in Chicago and a Bachelor of Music in musical theatre from Baldwin Wallace University.

Kelli Lester, Co-Founder and Partner of Onyx Rising

Kelli is Co-Founder and Partner of Onyx Rising, a change management consulting firm specializing in individual, team, and organizational behavior change. With over two decades of experience in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), her professional skills encompass DEI leadership development and coaching, change management, strategic consulting, problem-solving, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness. As a dynamic executive leader, she has led DEI initiatives in CPG and multi-media companies, excelling in strategic planning, leadership development, and market analysis. Kelli is adept at helping organizations define their vision, develop strategies, and execute action plans with measurable outcomes.

Throughout her career, Kelli has been a consultant, entrepreneur, coach, leader, facilitator, change agent, community activist, and ambassador to various local and national groups. She was a partner at Infinite, Inc., a multi-service marketing firm specializing in reaching minority populations, and was named one of 30 Young Leaders of the Future by EBONY magazine. Kelli is known for her strong analytical thinking, project management skills, and ability to foster collaborative relationships. She holds a proven record of leading change that produces long-term sustainable results.

Amber Mason, PhD, Associate Director of Evaluation (TGSO) at Emory University

Dr. Amber Mason brings over fourteen years of professional experience in education, research, measurement, and evaluation. Her work champions the importance of good research and evaluation practices, aiming to be a change agent for educational and social organizations. Amber advocates for traditionally oppressed and marginalized groups, focusing her research and evaluation studies on diverse social and ethnic backgrounds. She has been instrumental in developing data infrastructures that help partners use data to inform programmatic practice and policy decisions. Amber’s career began as a high school mathematics instructor in Chicago, where she infused anti-racist practices into her work. Most recently, she served as an expert panelist at the Bright Promises Foundation’s event on race-based trauma in children, offering a culturally responsive evaluation perspective.

Amber continues to facilitate and instruct as a volunteer for the Pathways Initiative, which aims to diversify the Chicago program evaluation field by recruiting, training, and retaining culturally responsive evaluators of color. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College, an M.S. in Education from Quincy University, and a post-master’s certification in program evaluation from Georgia State University. In 2019, she earned her Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies with a concentration in Research, Measurement, and Statistics from Georgia State University.

Mary Morten, President, Morten Group LLC

Mary Morten is the president of Morten Group (MG), a national consulting firm serving nonprofit, for-profit, governmental, and foundation clients. Known for her role as a bridge-builder and connector, Mary guides diverse voices towards common goals and mutual accountability. She has intentionally assembled a multiracial, cross-generational team at Morten Group, emphasizing social justice, diversity, racial equity, inclusion, executive placements, and research. Mary hosts the podcast “Gathering Ground,” focusing on nonprofit management, foundations, and equity and inclusion. Her previous roles include associate director, interim executive director, and board president of the Chicago Foundation for Women, as well as director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the Chicago Department of Public Health, appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Collaborating with senior project director Geneva Porter, Mary recently contributed to “Leading Systems Change in Public Health: A Field Guide for Practitioners,” published by the de Beaumont Foundation and Springer Publishing. Their chapter, “Organizational Leadership: ‘We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For,’” explores fostering equitable organizational change through power transfer and community-based collaboration. Mary has received numerous accolades from organizations such as Women in Film, Equality Illinois, YWCA of Evanston/Northshore, and About Face Theater. In 2020, the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago established the Mary F. Morten Justice Award in recognition of her activism and advocacy for social justice. Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in radio and television from Loyola University Chicago.

Cori Moschberger, LCSW, MSW, Counselor and Organizational Development Consultant

Cori, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), has been dedicated to social services since 1998, earning her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2003. Based in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, she serves as a clinical therapist and organizational development consultant and trainer. Beyond her professional roles, Cori is an author, dog enthusiast, and advocate of compassion and lifelong learning.

Specializing in the nonprofit sector, Cori’s consultancy focuses on administration, management, team building, leadership, and mentoring. Drawing from her experience as an executive director in Chicago, she offers practical insights to effectively mentor and manage employees and teams. In her clinical practice, Cori employs a strengths-based approach to create a supportive environment where clients can uncover their strengths and lead more fulfilling lives.

Harold Rice Jr., President and CEO of CEDA

Harold Rice Jr. serves as the President and CEO of CEDA, a $200 million private, non-profit Community Action Agency in Cook County. With over 30 years of executive leadership experience across various industries, he is recognized for his persuasive C-level leadership and ability to build strong stakeholder relationships. Prior to his current role, Mr. Rice served as Executive Director and CEO of the Albany Park Community Center, Chief Development Officer for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and owned and operated seven McDonald’s franchises. His early career included roles such as Marketing Manager at Baxter’s American Hospital Supply Division.

In addition to his executive roles, Mr. Rice is actively involved in non-profit and governmental boards, including the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation and advisory positions with the State of Illinois Comptroller’s Office. He serves on the boards of the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies and the National Community Action Foundation, among others. Recently appointed as Chair of the Illinois Association of Community Action Agency Covid Outreach Taskforce in 2020, Mr. Rice has focused since 2014 on transforming CEDA’s corporate strategy, implementing new service delivery models, enhancing budgetary controls, and expanding client capacity to ensure long-term organizational stability.

Shailushi Ritchie, Sevah Consulting

Shailushi is a dedicated advocate, writer, and nonprofit professional with extensive experience addressing women and girls’ issues, including domestic violence, reproductive health, rights, justice, and media’s impact on girls’ self-esteem. Since returning to Illinois in 2016, she has focused on assisting nonprofit organizations as an independent consultant, tackling strategic and operational challenges. Shailushi has led media and legislative advocacy campaigns in California and was featured in San Francisco Magazine’s December 2015 “Women in Power” issue.

In her role as an interim director for various Chicago and national organizations, Shailushi has provided critical stability and strategic guidance during periods of transition, adeptly managing executive departures and facilitating the development and implementation of strategic plans. As a strategic and operations planning consultant, she has led the development of strategic plans for organizations such as CAF in Illinois, the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, and Alcohol Justice (formerly Marin Institute). With over 25 years of experience in small and midsize nonprofits across programs, advocacy, communications, development, and operations, Shailushi brings a wealth of expertise to her consultancy work.

Aimy Tien

Emily White Hodge, PHR, HR Consultant, White Hodge HR, LLC