Cynthia M. Adams - CEO & Founder, GrantStation
Cynthia Adams has been dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations identify and secure the funding they need to do their good work for well over 45 years. Cynthia founded GrantStation because she believes that grantseeking requires a thorough understanding of the funders and sound knowledge of the philanthropic playing field. Her life's work has been to level that playing field, creating opportunities for all nonprofit organizations, regardless of size or geographic location, to secure grant support.
Bryan Breckenridge - Head of Social Impact, Snyk
Bryan Breckenridge spent the past twenty plus years at iconic Silicon Valley Companies like Salesforce.com, LinkedIn, Box & Zillow, helping them weave positive social and environmental impact and nonprofit networks into their core company operating models. He is a proven social intrapreneur, a builder that thrives at the intersection of corporate and nonprofit mission fulfillment. Bryan drives strategy, programs, partner ecosystems, revenue and partner loyalty, in service of maximizing social, environmental and economic returns for all stakeholders. Bryan is an adaptive leader fueled by an intense passion for building global nonprofit capacity and positive impact it empowers. In sum, Bryan’s work helps companies, communities and the planet succeed together.
Gayle Carpentier - Chief Business Development Officer, TechSoup
Gayle Samuelson Carpentier is the Chief Business Development Officer at TechSoup. Upon joining the TechSoup Global in 2001 as the program’s founding Business Development lead, Ms. Carpentier developed the strategic structure of its product donation service. The service allows nonprofits to find a large array of donated technology in one place, while still reflecting each donating company’s unique philanthropic goals.
In her expanded role, Ms. Carpentier works with all sections of TechSoup to grow and maintain the unique focus of direct services and benefits to the nonprofit and civil society sector. Whether scoping business criteria for new international partners, negotiating multi-national donation programs, developing business strategies and structures for new initiatives or speaking out on the essential need for corporations to support nonprofit efforts, she continues to expand and stretch the market understanding and interpretation of the role technology plays in the overall health of the sector.
Mike Chamberlain - CEO, Grant Professionals Association
Mike Chamberlain, MBA, CAE is the Chief Executive Officer of the Grant Professionals Association. He is responsible for the strategic operation of the association and works with the GPA Board of Directors and staff to reshape the world through the transformative power of grants.
He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Kansas City Society of Association Executives. He serves on several nonprofit organization boards in the Kansas City area. Mike is a Certified Association Executive with over 25 years of experience in association management in a variety of roles. Mike and his wife live in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Stephanie Hyre, MA - Senior Program Officer, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
Stephanie received her BA from West Virginia University and her MA from the University of Georgia. Prior to her work at the Foundation, Stephanie directed a small, basic needs assistance agency and before transitioning to the social sector, Stephanie taught composition and rhetoric to college freshman. In her current role, Stephanie leads the Foundation’s education and arts initiatives by working with nonprofits to convene stakeholders, leverage resources, and improve the lives of Greater Kanawha Valley residents. Stephanie is a 2017 class member of Leadership WV. She is co-chair of Philanthropy WV’s Education Affinity Group and co-chair of the Appalachia Funders Network’s Arts & Culture Working Group. As a certified instructor, she volunteers with various nonprofits to guide participants through yoga and stress management. Outside of her community-driven activities, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.
Fallon Peterson - Health and Social Services Program Officer, The Nord Family Foundation
Fallon Peterson, M.A., CHES®, serves as a Health & Social Services Program Officer at The Nord Family Foundation. She is responsible for reviewing grants consistent with the Foundation’s mission, there is a core value of service to the under-resourced, ensuring access to basic services that support the overall well-being of children, youth, families, and communities.
Fallon is a graduate of Exponent Philanthropy's 2020 Next Gen Fellowship program and Rockwood Leadership Institute’s Art of Leadership program.
Fallon holds a Bachelor of Chemistry degree from Hampton University and a Master of Science in Health Education with a concentration in Public and Community Health from the University of Cincinnati. In addition, Fallon is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio where she enjoys playing sports and spending time with family.
Michael Renner - Strategist, Missouri Foundation for Health
Michael Renner, MSW, is a strategist with Missouri Foundation for Health, the largest health philanthropy in Missouri, where he is responsible for leading strategy development and implementation of the Foundation’s behavioral health initiative. He has nearly 30 years of experience in grantmaking, strategy development, community engagement, freelance writing, and translating jargon. He lives in the City of St. Louis.
Kevin Truong - Grants Program Analyst, Bezos Family Foundation
Kevin Truong is currently a Grants Program Analyst supporting the development of grantmaking strategies by researching and measuring early childhood and adolescent development focus areas for the Bezos Family Foundation. Prior to working at the Foundation, he spent over eight years working in postsecondary access where he successfully launched a college mentorship nonprofit organization. Kevin is passionate about socioeconomic mobility for underserved communities of color, especially BIPOC youth.
Kevin Wiberg - Philanthropic Advisor for Community Engagement, The Vermont Community Foundation
Kevin Wiberg is a member of the Grants and Community Investments team of the Vermont Community Foundation. He is responsible for reviewing and recommending grants for the Foundation’s discretionary grants programs covering a range of issues from early care and learning, college and career training, supports for youth and families, and community and economic vitality. Kevin brings to his work 25+ years of nonprofit development experience with a focus on rural communities and anti-poverty/community development work. Kevin has been a trainer for the Grantsmanship Center teaching both the core curriculum and competing for federal grants. He lives at the base of Camels Hump Mountain in Huntington, Vermont, in a lovingly restored 1830’s farmhouse.