JGA - Key Persons
Abigail L. Coleman, MPA, Associate, offers deep experience with strategy, messaging, and fundraising and campaign planning through her work with dozens of nonprofit organizations at JGA and other professional and volunteer roles. She serves on JGA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Gallup CliftonStrengths teams.
Prior to joining JGA in 2014, Abigail was a Development Officer for Women's Fund of Central Indiana at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) and served in development, communications, membership, and program roles at Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
A volunteer and leader with several nonprofit organizations, Abigail was in Indiana Philanthropy Alliance's 2022 cohort of the John Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute. She is an Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)-Indiana board member, mentor, past Governance Committee and Indiana Philanthropy Awards chair, and 2017 President's Award honoree. Abigail is also a Seeds of Caring Indianapolis Launch Board member, Girl Scouts assistant troop leader, and Indianapolis Public Schools volunteer. Other organizations she has been involved with include Kiwanis International and the Junior League of Indianapolis.
Abigail earned a Master of Public Affairs degree concentrating in nonprofit management from Indiana University. She also attained a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University, where she graduated from the Honors College and was a contributing author and ethnographic researcher to The Other Side of Middletown: Exploring Muncie's African American Community.
Previous Experience
Senior Writing Associate, Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
- Senior Consultant and Director of Data Analytics
Andy Canada brings to JGA's clients significant development experience focused on campaign development and implementation, major and planned gift development, data analytics, and annual giving. During his successful career in development, Andy has had experience with large transformative campaigns, participating on the development teams during a $1.1 billion campaign at Indiana University and a $1.7 billion campaign at Purdue University. At JGA, Andy was integral to developing and launching Acuity®, JGA's proprietary scoring system that teams with DonorSearch to forecast donor potential.
Before joining JGA in 2010, Andy served as Development Director for the Indiana University Foundation, where he served as lead fundraiser for the School of Health Physical Education and Recreation (HPER). Prior to joining the Indiana University Foundation, Andy distinguished himself within the development team at Purdue University, serving as Director of Development for the Krannert School of Management. Andy also worked in Purdue's Planned Giving area, leading key initiatives to increase donor gifts through estate planning vehicles. By educating donors on planned giving opportunities, he helped to raise $26.5 million in new documented gifts for the university.
Andy is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board
- Senior Consultant
- Vice Chair of the Board
- Member of the Faculty at the Fundraising School
Angela E. White, CFRE, has been instrumental in JGA's success since 1996, when she joined the JGA team. In 2011, she became CEO of JGA, responsible for providing day-to-day leadership to the firm and guiding the JGA staff, while continuing to provide tailored consulting services directly to our clients. Angela has a high level of expertise in philanthropic consulting in healthcare, education, social services, arts, and faith-based organizations. She also has considerable depth in strategic planning and data analysis.
Among Angela's passions are women's issues and women-serving organizations. Angela is a member of the faculty at The Fundraising School at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and often presents on behalf of the Women's Philanthropy Institute.
Before joining JGA, Angela was the Executive Director for Institutional Advancement at the University of Indianapolis. There, she managed the functions of development, alumni relations, marketing and media relations, publications, and prospect research. She began her career in development at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where she served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement.
She currently serves on the Committee on Directorship for CFRE International, a member of the Editorial Review Board for Giving USA, and a member of the steering committee for the Arago Honors, a program of the Meridian Foundation to identify and reward nonprofit innovation. She has served as the Conference Co-Chair for CASE District 5 and the Vice President for Membership for the Indiana Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is a faculty member at The Fundraising School at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and often presents on behalf of the Women's Philanthropy Institute. Angela was recently named the 2021 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Indiana Chapter.
Previous Experience
Executive Director for Institutional Advancement at the University of Indianapolis
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Director of Business Development
- Certified Fundraising Executive
- Consultant, Business Development
With his background in data analytics and a passion for philanthropy, Brian Gawor, CFRE, plays a key role in helping our clients harness the power of data to drive their fundraising efforts. Brian brings more than 25 years of higher education experience in donor engagement and development to JGA. As Consultant, Director Business Development at JGA, he uses this experience to assist nonprofits in engaging with JGA to grow their philanthropy using JGA's innovative new data analytics tools and traditional philanthropic and strategic consulting services.
Before joining JGA in 2024, Brian served as Vice President for Research at Ruffalo Noel Levitz for ten years. He has a significant reputation as an expert on fundraising and engagement with a thorough understanding of the trends and issues impacting nonprofits. Brian frequently presents at industry conferences, has been regularly cited in publications on trends in philanthropy, and created the Fundraising Voices podcast.
Prior to his role at RNL, Brian served as director of development for the Illinois State University College of Fine Arts. He began his career in student affairs, admissions, and fundraising at Knox College.
In addition to his formal experience, Brian volunteers his time to help advance the field of philanthropy through the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) having served as a faculty member for CASE Senior Annual Giving and the CASE Symposium on Students in Philanthropy/Diversity in Student Philanthropy, and as a a member of the CASE Insights advisory board.
Brian is a Certified Fundraising Executive via CFRE International, is pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Illinois State University, holds a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University, and is also a graduate of Knox College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Previous Experience
Vice President for Research, Ruffalo Noel Levitz
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Big Impact Committee
Gina shares development experience with JGA clients focused on information gathering, analysis, and annual fund management. Gina joined JGA in 2020 as a Project Manager, providing organizational and donor relationship expertise, and became an Associate in 2022.
Gina previously managed the annual giving program for the athletic development department at the University of Indianapolis, overseeing all events and relationships with corporate partners. Gina began her development career at The Oaks Academy in Indianapolis.
A graduate of Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and the University of Indianapolis, Gina is an active member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Big Impact Committee and has been a Big Sister for over three years.
Previous Experience
Assistant Director for Athletic Development at University of Indianapolis
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Client Service Coordinator
Jamie works closely with JGA consultants and other team members to support client engagements and provide excellent client experiences. She is responsible for the day-to-day logistical support of projects and interview coordination, schedule and calendar management, and travel arrangements. Jamie excels in relationship building and communication with clients, as well as the JGA team, providing thoughtful and professional project organization.
Jamie joined JGA in 2023 after more than 22 years supporting local nonprofits in various roles. After beginning in public accounting, she was instrumental to small non-profits by providing strong accounting information for decision-making, daily operations, strategic partnerships, communications and events, and forward-thinking leadership to make a difference in our community.
Jamie is a Manchester University graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Accountancy.
Previous Experience
Communications Coordinator, Saint Roch Catholic Church
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
- Senior Consultant
John Keith, J.D., brings to JGA an extensive depth of expertise in planned giving, major gift development, campaigns, leadership annual giving, and the role of volunteer engagement in fundraising.
John is an 18-year veteran of the Indiana University Foundation where he most recently served as Associate Vice President of Individual Giving. In this capacity, he focused on gift planning services, women's philanthropy, reunion giving, parent and family giving, and participated in the principal gifts program, which included naming gifts of $5 million and above.
While at Indiana University, John and his gift planning team assisted development officers and generous IU alumni and friends to secure more than $500 million in new major and planned gift commitments for the future of Indiana University, a crucial aspect of five IU campaigns. Other roles he held at Indiana University Foundation include Executive Director/ Director of Gift Planning, Associate Director of Planned Giving, and Staff Attorney for the Office of General Counsel.
As an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University for five years, John shared his experiences and knowledge with IU undergraduate students by teaching courses in major and planned gifts, campaign planning, and estate planning. Prior to working at Indiana University, he practiced law at Keith & Keith attorneys, a firm focused on wills, trusts, probate, philanthropic planning, and real estate.
John is a member of the Indiana State Bar, the Indiana State Bar Association, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Partnership on Philanthropic Planning, and a past board president and board member of the Planned Giving Group of Indiana.
John obtained his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, and holds a Bachelor's in Religion from Wabash College.
Previous Experience
Associate Vice President of Individual Giving at the Indiana University Foundation
Juli Knutson brings significant experience in writing, editing, and publications management to the JGA team. Coming from a background in nonprofit publications, Juli has unique insight into client work that informs her role as Senior Writing Associate. She particularly enjoys partnering with clients to learn about their mission and vision to articulate their stories in cases for support. Juli works to improve JGA's writing projects, synthesizing complex information into clear and concise products that are immediately useful for clients.
Prior to joining JGA in 2002, Juli held various positions in the nonprofit world. She began working for the American College of Sports Medicine as a Production Editor and later as Publications Coordinator, writing and editing publications as well as overseeing all internal and external design, print, and mailing projects. Following that assignment, Juli moved on to Pi Lambda Theta, the International Honor and Professional Association in Education, as Director of Publications and Programs, and later a similar role at Kappa Delta Pi, a 55,000-member society of educators, where she was managing editor of the KDP Record as well as leading the creative team and serving on the management team for the organization.
Previous Experience
Director of Publications and Managing Editor at Kappa Delta Pi
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Member of the Board
- Secretary of the Board
Prior to joining JGA in 2020, Karen was controller at Buddy Roger's Music in Cincinnati, Ohio, responsible for all accounting activities as well as human resources, while serving as a member of the leadership team. Karen's focus on providing exceptional oversight of day-to-day accounting activities and guidance on the direction of the company will be valuable for assisting JGA's client project teams in accurately estimating fees and expenses as well as providing strong insight on projections for JGA's future.
Karen also worked as an accounting manager for Steven Potter & Co. CPAs, managing annual audits of non-public companies in the nonprofit and restaurant franchisor industries. Before joining Steven Potter & Co., she served as controller and director of finance for SYSCO Food Services of Cincinnati, where she supervised an accounting staff of 24 and implemented new processes resulting in significant savings for the firm. Karen began her career specializing in government and non-profit auditing with KPMG LLP, a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services.
Karen is a graduate of Siena College and a certified public accountant, licensed in Ohio and Indiana.
Previous Experience
Accounting Manager, Steven Potter & Co. CPAs
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- COO
- Member of the Board
- Senior Consultant
In addition to providing counsel to a wide range of nonprofit clients in education, social services, and the arts, Lee Ernst serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and leads new product development and strategic industry partnerships for JGA. As a Senior Consultant, Lee has demonstrated a keen understanding of the philanthropic landscape and actively shares her deep experience working with donors at large universities and social services organizations with JGA clients.
Before joining the JGA team in 2013, Lee provided counsel as a Development Officer Consultant with the Women's Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She previously served as Associate Director at the University of Chicago during the institution's $2 billion campaign and worked closely with the boards and giving councils to create the inaugural Parents Program fundraising initiative. She began her career at The Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in Chicago.
Lee provides leadership in the field by volunteering with several local and national organizations. She is past chair of the Miami University MUDEC Alumni Advisory Board and chaired The Giving Institute's Summer Symposium in 2023. Lee is also a member of the Communications Task Force for The Generosity Commission. This national, nonpartisan group brings together stakeholders, voices, and expertise to explore questions that will shape the future of giving, volunteering, and other forms of civic engagement in America. She has served on The Oaks Academy Task Force and as an Annual Fellow with the Development Leadership Consortium in Chicago. In 2022, Lee completed the University of Oxford's Said Business School Women's Leadership Development Programme certificate program.
Previous Experience
Development Officer Consultant, Women's Philanthropy Institute, The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Writing Associate
As Writing Associate at JGA, Mackenzie Steagall brings a wealth of experience in communications and marketing to provide strategic, customer-focused support to JGA clients. Mackenzie uses her writing and editing skills to help JGA clients tell their stories with compelling, donor-centric language. She also synthesizes data and prepares written products to help JGA clients make informed strategic decisions.
Prior to joining JGA, Mackenzie was a Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Johnson County Public Library, where she increased awareness for library programs and outreach initiatives using communications, social media, and public relations. Mackenzie has also served as a freelance copyeditor and writing tutor, collaborating with authors and tutoring individuals and groups to help them enhance their writing skills. She was a staff member with Apogee, Franklin College's annual literary journal, during her college career, progressing from Social Media Coordinator to Managing Editor, during her four years at the school.
Mackenzie is a graduate of Franklin College, with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in creative writing.
Previous Experience
Marketing and Communications Specialist, Johnson County Public Library
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- ESOP Trustee
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Service and HR
Stephenie Jay, SHRM-SCP, brings a wide range of skills to Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates. As Director of the client service team, Stephenie heads up a team that works to ensure that JGA's clients receive excellent service while finding efficiencies in JGA's internal workflow.
Stephenie arrived at JGA in February 2015 after having spent the past nine years in Human Resources with the Indiana University School of Medicine's Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics.
Prior to her position with Indiana University, she worked at Wishard Health Services, supporting the leadership in the Department of Medicine. Stephenie is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a B.S. degree in Psychology. She is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and received her SHRM-SCP in 2021. She is also a member of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). Steph and her husband Anthony are committed foster parents and were nominated by Damar Services to receive the Fostering Families Award in 2018 from the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis.
Previous Experience
Human Resource Specialist at Indiana University School of Medicine
Job Titles:
- Client Service Assistant
- Key Member of the JGA Team
In her role as Client Service Assistant, Susan Oslos is a key member of the JGA Team. Since joining our team in November 2012, Susan has offered excellent support to the JGA consultants and staff to help keep client projects and the JGA office running efficiently.
Susan is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Promotion and Health and Fitness. Her previous experiences combined organizational, customer service, account management and administrative skills with her passion for helping individuals and communities reach their health and fitness goals. At JGA, she has found an opportunity to lend her skills to assist JGA's clients in making the world a better place.
Previous Experience
Administrative Assistant at Herron Associates, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Founder
- Senior Consultant
- Chairman of the JGA Board of Directors
Ted Grossnickle brings decades of experience in advancement to help clients to think strategically about their fundraising efforts. A leader to the JGA team and to the broader nonprofit community, he is known for his authentic voice and commitment to guiding organizations to achieve their best.
After graduation from Wabash College, he worked at Procter and Gamble Company, his alma mater, and then at Northern Illinois University where he served in several roles including advancement and corporate relations. From 1983 until 1993, he served as vice president of development and public affairs for Franklin College and then as acting president in 1993. He co-founded JGA with Don Johnson in 1994.
Ted serves as chair of the JGA board of directors, as managing counsel to several clients, and as a mentor to staff. He is deeply engaged in the nonprofit sector as an author, speaker, teacher, and board member and has received numerous honors and awards for his achievements, including the Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fundraising. He currently serves as a member and is a former chair of the Giving Institute, serves on the board of Garrett Theological Seminary, and is counselor to The Generosity Commission: A National Conversation on Giving and Voluntary Action. Ted is serving in his second term on the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Board of Visitors and is a past board chair. He is a former Wabash College board member and served as co-chair of Wabash College's Challenge of Excellence Campaign.
Previous Experience
Acting President of Franklin College
Job Titles:
- Consultant, Data Analytics
Tim also worked as a district manager with ADP, a payment and benefit solutions provider, earning multiple awards for exemplary sales and customer service. Before joining ADP, he served as controller for Indesign where he managed accounting, financial and benefit programs for the company. His introduction of a new costing and work flow system created greater efficiency and accuracy for client work estimates.
A graduate of Butler University and Certified Public Accountant, Tim volunteers with Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy and Reach for Youth as a board member, and former Board Chair. Previously, Tim volunteered at Actors Theater of Indiana, as a board member serving on the Finance Committee.
Previous Experience
Senior Accountant, Alerding & Co., LLC