MOONRIDGE - Key Persons
Heather is passionate about philanthropy and giving back to the Las Vegas Community that welcomed her in 2014. She began working for Moonridge Group in August of 2017.
Heather was born and raised in Carmel, Indiana. She graduated from Purdue University (Boiler Up!) with a degree in Health and Human Services and a minor in Psychology. While in school, she volunteered her time once a week at the Crisis Hotline Center, interned with 2 Make-A-Wish Chapters, and held various positions within her sorority, including the Vice President role.
After graduation, Heather moved to Chicago where she advised and supported TransUnion LLC employees from the Human Resources Department. Upon falling in love with a Las Vegas man (now her husband), she moved her life to be with him! She shifted her focus back to children battling life-threatening medical conditions and poured her passion into Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, where she had the privilege of turning wishes into reality for a little over three years. She held positions in roles focused on Wish Granting, Volunteers, and Medical Outreach. Because of Heather's experience working in the non-profit sector, she provides an interesting and wholesome perspective to collaborative philanthropy, community investments, and mutually meaningful giving.
In her free time, Heather loves doing and teaching yoga, eating all things Mexican, traveling, listening to podcasts, tending to her house plants, participating in the Jameson Fellowship, serving on the Local For All board of directors, and most importantly- spending time with her husband, family, and friends. She appreciates a good Sudoku, mindful consumerism, and small steps people take to eliminate their single-plastic use.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- President
- PRINCIPAL
A highly sought after philanthropy expert, board member and business leader, Julie Murray has led numerous successful public/private partnerships and social impact projects for corporate funders, family foundations and community leaders. Principal and CEO of the Moonridge Group, and President of the Moonridge Foundation, she is widely credited with transforming social impact in Nevada to be more strategic and collaborative.
As the President and Board Chair for the NV International Women's Forum, she formed successful strategic alliances with the National Association of Corporate Directors, and the Million Women Mentors movement.
Murray has been honored for the strategic and collaborative nature of her work. She co-founded with business leader and philanthropist Eric Hilton the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas, a $55m annual operation that is sought after for its award-winning national-model best practices. She worked with philanthropist athlete Andre Agassi to launch the national model charter school, Agassi Prep, and is the co-founder of the "I Have a Dream" Foundation Nevada.
She is currently guiding Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman on The Mayor's Fund to combat the growing homelessness issue and other social challenges in Southern Nevada.
Julie Murray, CEO and President of Moonridge Group, is a Downtown Achieves Advisor, and the Moonridge team provides administrative support as well as consulting services for the project. In addition, numerous connections were created across sectors and among nonprofits in our community. A number of opportunities were identified that allow for greater coordination and less duplication of services. The Jameson Fellows found the program to be an incredible leadership development experience. Jameson Fellows will launch their 2015 class soon, which will be led and guided by past years' alumni, with the guidance of the Moonridge Group.
Julie Murray is one of Nevada's foremost social entrepreneurs. Throughout her two decades in public life, she has founded and advised a range of organizations that seek to improve the quality of life for those at risk by supporting hunger relief, educational outreach, public safety, and corporate philanthropy. Seeing a greater need for strategic philanthropy in Southern Nevada, she founded Moonridge Group in 2011. Her leadership skills have helped create strong coalitions, bringing together stakeholders, elected officials and philanthropists to solve our most pressing social problems.
Job Titles:
- Owner
- FINANCIAL COORDINATOR
Kathryn Jacobs is the owner and operator of Umbrella Bookkeeping LLC, and she began her work as the finance administrator for Moonridge Group and The Moonridge Foundation in July of 2017.
Kathryn was born in Arizona and moved to Las Vegas in 2007 to pursue Culinary Arts. She graduated from the Art Institute of Las Vegas with an A.S. in Culinary Arts, and a year later from UNLV with a B.S. in Hospitality Management. After graduating, she opened her own catering business in Las Vegas, serving high end parties across the valley. At age 23, she and her older brother opened Bobby D's BBQ, a full service restaurant in Jerome, AZ, and the #1 rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in the Verde Valley to date. It was through Kathryn's studies and early career as a restauranteur and private caterer that she realized her affinity for accounting.
Kathryn is a certified bookkeeper through the American Institute for Professional Bookkeepers, a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, as well as a Notary Public. Her nationwide bookkeeping firm, Umbrella Bookkeeping, specializes in Small Businesses and Non-Profits. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and many pets. She still pursues her culinary passion with friends and family, and competed on the Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen in 2014.
Job Titles:
- EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR and SPECIAL PROJECTS
Morgan joined the Moonridge Group team as a Project Intern in August of 2019. She moved to Las Vegas from Southern California in the Fall of 2013 to pursue her dream of playing Division I college softball while earning a bachelor's degree. She graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2018 with a Bachelor's of Science in Secondary Education. In the fall of 2018, she began a Master's in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management and will graduate in May of 2020. Morgan is also a graduate assistant for the UNLV Athletics Department where she leads the community engagement initiatives of the department. She implemented the first annual "Rebels Give Back" initiative in March of 2019, a 24-hour service project involving all student-athletes, coaches, and athletic department staff members.
In her spare time, Morgan enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking at Red Rock Canyon with her dog Hudson, and giving back to the Las Vegas community.
Tiffany is a driven leader who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of the people and the community of Las Vegas and beyond. A longtime member of the Moonridge team, Tiffany has supported a number of Moonridge clients throughout the years and brings a wide range of experience, solutions, and support to any philanthropic opportunity. Tiffany is also the Executive Director of The Moonridge Foundation and leads their work elevating philanthropy in the community.
Tiffany's experience includes charitable event strategy, donor relations, relationship development, Board development and oversight, and foundation management and execution.
Tiffany is a native Las Vegan. She attended The Meadows School and went on to graduate from the University of San Diego where she earned her BA in Liberal Studies. She has had a lifelong passion for supporting others. In college, she was employed by The Autism Group engaging in relationship development intervention for children with autism. She began her philanthropy career while working as the Executive Director to establish the Las Vegas nonprofit Create A Change Now.
Tiffany greatly enjoys traveling near and far and spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Specialty Retail Executive
- STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Wendy is an experienced Specialty Retail Executive with a solid reputation for making a positive impact. During her 20-year career at American Eagle Outfitters, she had a front-line, leading role in building the AE Brand to what it is today.
Wendy is guided by her personal and business philosophy; "get the most out of everything you do" and her greatest passion is helping to improve the lives of others and bringing joy and support to those who need it. Her role as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Moonridge Group allows her to help others by shaping and guiding corporate charitable giving strategies for strategic focus and amplified community impact.
In 2005, Wendy moved from Pittsburgh to sunny Henderson, NV where she immediately immersed herself into the Las Vegas community. Wendy serves on the Board of Directors for The Ogden Family Foundation and Community Outreach Medical Center and has held VP, Board Member, and advisory roles for various other organizations.
When Wendy isn't connecting with the community, she loves catching some live music, vintage shopping in downtown Las Vegas, hiking the gorgeous surroundings of the valley, and spending time with her husband, Darren, daughters Nina and Mia, and doodle, Oliver.