Philanthropy WV is committed to providing YOU, our members and partners, with an incredible professional development and collaborative experience featuring dynamic speakers.

Below you’ll find more information about some of the incredible speakers (in no particular order) joining us for the 2022 Annual Conference. Read on here, then check out what they’ll be speaking about in the Agenda!

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Satonya C. Fair, JD

President & CEO, PEAK Grantmaking

Satonya (she|her|hers) brings more than 25 years of experience working in corporate community relations, private philanthropy, and nonprofit management. Her extensive knowledge on the funder landscape, nonprofit structures, compliance, change management, philanthropy technology, outcome measurement, and knowledge management have allowed her to navigate and support strategic efforts across many fronts.

She is dedicated to helping create equity and parity between funders and nonprofits, particularly those whose work supports communities of colors, children, and families. Satonya thrives when managing large-scale initiatives, helping reframe procedural norms, and aligning organizations around innovative best practices.

Satonya will deliver our Thursday Luncheon Keynote: We’re Not Going Back: A New Way of Grantmaking

Courtney Haynes

Courtney is the Coal Communities Lead at the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). Courtney’s role is to both develop and manage the Coal portfolio at the EDA in supporting current Coal grantees and extending resources and network support to potential Coal grantees across the country. As a daughter of a coal-miner and growing up in Beckley, West Virginia, Courtney believes in the worker potential and economic development transitions of our Coal communities and serves as the point of contact to bridge both federal and non-federal resources to those that need it most.

Courtney will speak at our Friday Breakfast Keynote: Cultivating Effective Government & Philanthropy Partnerships to Leverage Local Impact

Chantel Rush

Managing Director, American Cities – Kresge Foundation

Ms. Rush has been a great partner with Philanthropy West Virginia with our learning exchange in 2016 and 2017 among Philanthropy WV members and the Kresge Foundation. We are honored to have her joining us for the 2022 Annual Conference.

Chantel M. Rush is managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s American Cities Program. Her work advances the foundation’s efforts to catalyze more effective community and economic development practice that expands opportunities for people with low incomes in American cities.

Chantel manages Kresge’s American Cities Program grantmaking to support: knowledge exchange among community development practitioners; national community development intermediaries; innovative and scalable community development solutions; pioneering research; and city-based dialogues aimed at promoting effective practice and policy. Chantel also stewards the foundation’s place-based work in Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Chantel joined the foundation in 2015, working as a special assistant to Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson.

Before joining Kresge, Chantel served as senior analyst of global strategy and business development at Gap Inc. She started her career in management consulting, where her responsibilities included advising both corporate and private equity clients.

A native of Orange County, California, Chantel earned bachelor’s degrees in international relations and Spanish language from Stanford University and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. Chantel serves on the boards of the National Housing Law Project, the Greater New Orleans Funders Network and Signal-Return. Chantel will be speak at our Closing Keynote: Doing the Work & Building Trust in Communities

Jennifer Simon, MBA & MPA

Program Manager, Business & Workforce Development, Appalachian Regional Commission

Jennifer Simon became the Program Manager for business development at the Appalachian Regional Commission in October 2019. Before joining the Appalachian Regional Commission, Jennifer Simon was the Executive Director of Regional Innovation at Ohio University (OHIO). Ms. Simon managed a network of twelve place-based makerspaces and incubators serving entrepreneurs in the Appalachian regions of Ohio and West Virginia. Previously, she directed OHIO’s Innovation Center (IC), providing a supportive environment where entrepreneurs flourish. As a result, successful companies graduated and created jobs in the community. In addition, Simon raised more than $4 million in grants to support the facility’s infrastructure and critical programming for businesses. Simon led Athens County Economic Development and Athens Chamber of Commerce and served as Assistant Director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia. She received a BA in political science, an MPA, and an MBA from OHIO. She lives in DC with her husband, Dave, and their dog, Jax.

Jennifer Simon will speak at our Friday morning Keynote: Cultivating Effective Government & Philanthropy Partnerships to Leverage Local Impact

Stephanie Tyree, JD

Executive Director, WV Community Development Hub

A native of Charleston West Virginia, Stephanie has nearly 15 years of experience in policy, community development and community organizing, she has dedicated her career to advancing community-based, systemic solutions for rural, coal-impacted communities in Central Appalachia. Her work has taken her from New York City to Mingo County WV and many places in between.

Stephanie has an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh (2003) and a law degree from NYU School of Law (2007). She was a 2016 BALLE Fellow, recognized as a “WV Wonder Woman” by WV Living Magazine in 2016, was a recipient of The State Journal’s “Next Generation: 40 Under 40” award in 2018, and is a current Fulcrum Fellow with the Center for Community Investment.

Stephanie will speak at our Friday Closing Keynote: Doing the Work & Building Trust in Communities

Phil Buchanan

President, Center for Effective Philanthropy

Phil is a passionate advocate for the importance of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. He shares CEP’s belief that effective donors, working collaboratively and thoughtfully, can profoundly contribute to creating a better and more just world. Hired in 2001 as the organization’s first chief executive, Phil has led the growth of CEP into the leading provider of data and insight on philanthropic effectiveness.

Phil is author of Giving Done Right: Effective Philanthropy and Making Every Dollar Count, published in 2019 by PublicAffairs and named the “Best Philanthropy Book of the Year” by Inside Philanthropy. He is co-host of a podcast, also called Giving Done Right, with CEP’s Grace Nicolette. Phil is a frequent blogger for the CEP Blog, author of op eds that have appeared in publications such as The Financial Times and The Boston Globe, and a frequent commentator on philanthropy in the media.

Phil is co-founder of YouthTruth, an initiative of CEP’s designed to harness student perceptions to help educators and funders accelerate improvements in K–12 schools and classrooms. In 2016, he was named the Nonprofit Times “influencer of the year” and he has been named 10 times to that publication’s “Power and Influence Top 50” list. Phil serves on the boards of directors of Philanthropy Massachusetts and the National Council on Aging, where he chairs the Governance Committee.

Phil has an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University, where he majored in Government, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He lives in Concord, Massachusetts with his wife, two daughters, a dog, and a cat.

Concurrent Workshop Session Presenters:

Nicole Christian

President & CEO of the Charleston Area Alliance in Charleston

Nicole is a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), one of only about 450 in the country, and is a 27-year veteran of the chamber and economic development industry. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management (IOM).

Nicole has held senior level/CEO positions at four other chamber/economic development organizations in four other states. Over the past 27 years she has earned many awards and accolades for her work in the Chamber profession and for her community service including being named the 2017 Maryland Chamber Executive of the Year by the Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Nicole is an active member of many national organizations and has twice been invited to the White House for special meetings, once by President George W. Bush and once by President Obama. She has been appointed by Governors to serve on state committees and task forces and is often requested to speak on chamber, economic development, tourism and leadership topics. She is frequently asked to facilitate strategic planning sessions.

Nicole has a BA from the University of Kentucky where she studied Political Science and Advertising. She is a native of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky but now happily calls Charleston home.

Nicole Christian will speak on Friday during the Attracting & Growing Talent for a Vibrant Future Breakout Session.

Marian Clowes

Executive Director, Parkersburg Area Community Foundation

Marian has more than 25 years of experience working with foundations and nonprofits, having previously served as Executive Director of Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, worked as a consultant to nonprofit organizations and foundations, and worked in development for Winterthur Museum in Delaware and Penn State University. Marian serves on the board of Philanthropy WV, the board the West Virginia Nonprofit Association, and the Advisory Committee for Nonprofits LEAD.

Marian will begin a new position as Associate Director of the Sisters Health Foundation in January 2023. She will speak on Friday about Attracting & Growing Talent for a Vibrant Future.

Beth Collins

Executive Director, Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation

A native of Belleville, WV, Beth completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Environmental Science at WV Wesleyan College in 2009. After graduation, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA and went on to receive her master’s in Education at Wheeling Jesuit University in 2012. She served as the Director of the Clifford M. Lewis, SJ Appalachian Institute focusing on promoting service learning, research initiatives, and advocacy efforts around social and environmental concerns within the region.

In 2017, Beth went on to become the Northern Regional Director of Catholic Charities WV where she oversaw five offices that provided basic needs assistance and long-term case management for individuals and families in poverty. While there, she created a sustainable workforce case management initiative for low-income workers, implemented a relative as parents outreach, and worked on a wide range of grant-funded, collaborative programs to empower local communities.

In late 2019, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation as the Executive Director overseeing grantmaking efforts to support agencies promoting the health and well-being of WV’s children. Over the past two years, Beth has led the organization’s Covid-19 response efforts in collaboration with other WV Health Funders, developed a public-private health partnership focused on promoting minority health initiatives, and shifted the SSJHWF’s grantmaking approach to be more in line with the values of trust-based philanthropy. She currently serves on the board of the Big Laurel Learning Center and the WV ACEs Coalition. Beth resides in Wheeling, WV with her husband and three children

Beth Collins will speak on Thursday during the Program Officers and Grants Managers Breakout Session.

Bryan Cooper

Charleston Creativity Connector

Bryan Cooper works with The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation as the Charleston Creativity Connector. Bryan earned a BA in Sociology at West Virginia University where he was also a member of the WVU Drumline.

Bryan’s experience as a web designer, support analyst, Network analyst and IT director augmented his education by developing his ability to use technology in every aspect of his work.

Bryan’s goal is to help grow all types of art–visual, music, literary, culinary, and performing arts–into the fabric of Charleston, making it an even more creative and vibrant city. He will speak Thursday on Creating Thriving Downtowns through Art & Business Partnerships.

Lori Dubrawka

MA, Executive Director, The Appalachian Reading Center, Inc.

In 2004, Lori Dubrawka co-founded the Appalachian Reading Center, Inc. She has assessed and/or taught more than 750 children and adults at the Reading Center. Lori has her master’s degree in Special Education from The University of Arizona, where she studied with Dr. Nancy Mather, who is considered to be one of the country’s foremost experts in the field of dyslexia identification and instruction.

She was taught by Barbara Wilson, author of the Wilson Reading System (WRS), through a graduate level class at Trinity College and the International Dyslexia Association Delaware Valley Branch. Lori has been using the Wilson Reading System (WRS) for 28 years and is a certified WRS Dyslexia Practitioner.

Lori has also completed the Barton Dyslexia Screening class taught by Susan Barton, founder of the Barton Reading System. Lori coordinates the state’s only Learning Ally (formerly Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic) institutional site at The Appalachian Reading Center, Inc.

She taught graduate level classes at Marshall University in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Characteristics of Students with Learning Disabilities. She has presented sessions at The International Dyslexia Association and Learning Disabilities Association of America national conferences in Atlanta, Washington DC, and San Diego.

Lori Dubrawka will speak on Wednesday during the Education Affinity Group Breakout Session.

Amy Fauber

MA, Impact Fellowship Director, Generation West Virginia

Amy Fauber became the Fellowship Director for Generation WV in January 2020. She joined the team ready to take her skills as a relationship-builder, mentor, and organizer to help take on GWV’s overall mission.

Prior to embarking on this journey, Amy was a local middle school teacher for seven years. As a former educator, Amy felt called to carry on her passion for guidance and love of West Virginia. As a native West Virginian, Amy understands the struggles the state faces daily, but also just how much West Virginia has to offer to its current occupants, those homesick for their native home, as well as those hoping for new opportunities.She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Berea College and a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California.

Amy Fauber will speak on Friday during the Attracting & Growing Talent for a Vibrant Future Breakout Session.

Bradley Harris

Senior External Affairs Specialist, West Virginia American Water

Bradley Harris serves as the Senior External Affairs Specialist for West Virginia American Water. In his role, Bradley spearheads all corporate giving, community engagement and philanthropic efforts for the largest publicly traded utility in West Virginia. He builds relationships and partnerships for the company through programming that supports water, community sustainability, healthy living and environmental education across the state.

Bradley serves as a board member for the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Foundation, the YMCA of the Kanawha Valley and the Kanawha Valley Council on Philanthropy. A graduate of the University of Charleston with a background in public policy and public relations, Bradley had the honor to serve the West Virginia secretary of state and the West Virginia cabinet secretary of commerce in his previous roles. Bradley resides in Charleston, West Virginia with his partner Dr. Wes Lafferty.

Bradley will speak Friday morning at the Corporate Responsibility Breakout Session.

Elizabeth Hofreuter

Head of School, Wheeling Country Day School

Elizabeth Hofreuter (Head of School): Elizabeth is a graduate of education programs at Princeton University and Harvard University with three decades of experience in the education field. As the Head of School for WCDS for the past 13 years, Elizabeth has brought a disruptive approach to education emphasizing the process of learning (over an outcomes-only approach) focused on evidence-based best practices. The pre-eminent example of that was the creation of the Center for Multisensory Learning at WCDS, now known as Edge, which is joining with out-of-school time organizations across West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan to pilot a national tutoring corps of highly trained educators empowering students with literacy and math skills that transform their lives.

Elizabeth Hofreuter will speak on Wednesday during the Education Affinity Group Breakout Session.

Stephanie Hyre

Chief Program Officer, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

Stephanie received her MA from the University of Georgia and her BA from West Virginia University. 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 invest in positive change. Stephanie is a 2017 class member of Leadership WV.

Stephanie will speak Wednesday on Addressing Dyslexia and Student Success and on Friday about Creating Thriving Downtowns through Art & Business Partnerships. She will also lead a Yoga class on Thursday morning!

Chad Matlick

MA, Director of Finance and Operations, Philanthropy WV

Chad earned his Bachelor and Master degrees in English at West Virginia University. Prior to his hiring at Philanthropy WV, Chad spent twenty-two years employed with West Virginia Public Broadcasting, serving the state of West Virginia and its people. In 2014, he was promoted to the newly created role of Director of Digital Services, where he led the digital operations for WVPB’s member-based, non-profit media organization. In 2021, Chad was hired as the Director of Finance and Operations at Philanthropy West Virginia where he leads the charge modernizing the organization’s work with innovative technology and solutions for our membership.

Chad will speak on Thursday during the Finance & Operations Managers Session Breakout Session.

Ben McDearmon

Staff Counsel, Council on Foundations

Ben responds to members’ requests for legal analysis and information on a wide range of subjects. He also serves as a legal reviewer for the National Standards for Community Foundations accreditation program and as a contributing editor to Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources.

Ben is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia and holds a J.D. from the Washington & Lee University School of Law. A recent transplant to Richmond, VA, Ben enjoys exercise, music, and reading in his free time.

Ben will speak on Wednesday during our Annual Legal Matters & Briefing session, providing an in-depth briefing on current trends, changes, and legal matters for all foundation types presented by the expert legal team of the Council on Foundations.

Judy Moore

Executive Director, WV Hive Network

Judy has been the executive director of the West Virginia Hive Network, the entrepreneurship program of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, since November 2017, where she focuses on establishing partnerships and alliances that provide increased access to resources for businesses and entrepreneurs.

Beginning in early 2019 Judy also assumed the role of managing director for the Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN), a program initiated by the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and administered by the WV Hive. Judy now serves as President of CRAN. Before joining the WV Hive she was employed as an Assistant Director at West Virginia University’s National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium.

Judy will speak on Friday during a breakout session on Cultivating Entrepreneurship & Economic Development.

Shei Sanchez

MA, Grants and Communications Manager, Sisters Health Foundation

An Ohio transplant raised in the east coast, Shei earned her bachelor’s degree in art history from New York University and a master’s degree in teaching English from School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Before joining the Sisters Health Foundation in 2017, Shei served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member for Live Healthy Appalachia, where she helped build capacity for healthy eating and active living programs through strategic plan implementation and volunteer coordination for the children’s program Live Healthy Kids. She also has had 12 years of experience in education and leadership in both the U.S. and Southeast Asia, primarily in Thailand. As an educator, she led adult programs and taught university courses in various institutions and learning centers, in online and classroom settings. Shei also trained Thai teachers of English through the U.S. Embassy Regional English Language Office and the Royal Distance Learning Foundation. Since moving to Athens County, Shei has been involved in the community through different volunteer opportunities and community groups in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

In her free time, Shei writes short stories and poetry, teaches yoga, enjoys chicken husbandry, and plays with her four dogs.

Shei will speak on Wednesday during a breakout session on PEAK Grantmaking Chapter Meeting.

Kelly Shafer

CPA, Subtle & Stalnaker

Kelly Shafer has over 15 years of experience in public accounting. As a member of the audit and consulting department of the firm, her primary focus has been on serving clients in the financial institution, higher education, governmental, and nonprofit sectors.

Kelly graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and a Masters of Professional Accountancy. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (WVSCPA) and the Charleston Chapter of the WVSCPA. She serves on the Banking, Industry, and Government Services Committee and Chairs the Awards Committee of the WVSCPA.

Kelly currently holds a seat on the board of directors as Treasurer of Education Elevators and the Glotfelty Foundation. She is a member of the Leadership Kanawha Valley Class of 2013 and the Leadership West Virginia Class of 2018. She is the recipient of the 2015 Young CPA of the Year Award and the 2017 Women to Watch Emerging Leader Award sponsored by the WVSCPA. Kelly is also the recipient of the YWCA Women of Achievement “Woman to Watch” Award for 2019.

Shei will speak on Thursday during the Finance & Operations Managers Session Breakout Session.

Debbie Stanton

Program Officer, Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley

A Graduate of Ohio University. Currently a Program Officer at the Community Foundation For The Ohio Valley located in Wheeling, WV. She has been in this role for just over seven years. Debbie manages grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the Upper Ohio Valley as well as manages grants and distributions from the Foundation’s Donor Advised Funds. Debbie also directs the Foundation’s youth retention summer internship program. Debbie is a community volunteer taking part in many of the area’s nonprofit fundraising events.

She is a member of the committee for the Belmont County Imagination Library, a member of the allocation panel for United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, a member of the Rotary club of St. Clairsville, Ohio and a member and committee member of PEAK Mideast Chapter and PEAK Grantmaking. Her most important and favorite role is as mother of two to Vivian (19) and Cole (16). In her free time, she enjoys long walks, reading, nature, yoga and meditation.

Debbie Stanton will speak on Friday during the Attracting & Growing Talent for a Vibrant Future Breakout Session.

Susanna Wheeler

Farm Director for the New Roots Community Farm

Susanna is the Farm Director for the New Roots Community Farm. As the organization’s first official employee she brought a skill set needed to build out an integrated farm operation that can serve as a training ground for new farmers, a satellite site for local food hub operations, and a space that is healthful and convenient for the local community.

Susanna Wheeler will speak on Friday during the Cultivating Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Breakout Session.

Other presenters include:

The Honorable Sharon Cruikshank, Fayetteville, WV Mayor
Janell Ray, CEO of the Pallottine Foundations of Huntington & Buckhannon
The Honorable Mitch Carmichael, WV Secretary of Economic Development
Jina Belcher, New River Gorge Regional Development Authority Executive Director
Sara Payne Scarbro, Chair of the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern WV
Melanie Seiler, CEO of Active Southern WV
Jess Puglisi-Sanders, Program Officer of the Community foundation for the Ohio Valley
Robert “Bob” Boone, President of the Bernard McDonough Foundation
Additional speaker announcements coming soon! See our Agenda for More Details…