TNPA - Key Persons
Abby organizes and facilitates TNPA's Essential Leadership Lab, conferences, workshops, and webinars, as well as writes and edits for the TNPA website, blog, and newsletters. She brings over 25 years of nonprofit leadership, from community organizing to staff recruitment, from fundraising to program directing, on issues as varied as women's leadership, environment, and arts. Prior to coming to TNPA, her recent career highlights include being the Director of the Women's Leadership Center at Omega Institute, the Director of Organizing at Idealist.org, and Executive Director of Arts Gowanus. She also led projects at GivingTuesday. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, where she can be found at art openings, walking in the park, taking photos and making sketches of everyday objects, and keeping up-to-date on her two college-age children.
Benjamin is responsible for maintaining and growing the brand image, messaging, and overall internal and external communications strategies for TNPA. He brings a diverse range of experience and knowledge from various sectors that include consulting, higher education, collegiate athletics, politics, and nonprofits. Prior to joining TNPA, Benjamin directly supported the President and Executive Director at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) during a historic year, where it was the first midterm year the party in power hasn't lost a single legislative chamber since at least 1934. He also started up and fostered The Bond Educational Group, a nonprofit organization doing work in educational and racial equity, as their first-time Chief of Staff and Chief Administrative Officer. Benjamin splits his time between the Washington, D.C. area and his hometown of Bensalem, Pennsylvania. He is a proud graduate of American University, an avid Philadelphia sports fan, and foodie.
Job Titles:
- Member Relations & Engagement Specialist
Heidi has worked with several significant associations in the Northern Virginia area and has over 23 years' experience. She holds a Bachelors's degree in Marketing and Business Administration from West Virginia University and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the American Society of Association Executives™ (ASAE). She is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and during football season, you may see her in the stands rooting for her beloved Steelers* or Mountaineers. Heidi loves to be outside working in her garden or just being in the sun.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Government Affairs
Mark supports TNPA's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. He has a long career in government affairs, including serving as the Direct Marketing Association's Vice President, Government Affairs from 1992 to 2008. During his tenure at DMA, Mark represented the Association on its full range legislative issues before Capitol Hill. Mark also created and coordinated DMA's "Capitol Hill Days" program, which brought industry executives to Washington to lobby members of the House and Senate important to the direct marketing industry. Earlier in his career, Mark worked for six years on Capitol Hill for the late Congressman Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois, the then-chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. In 2020, Mark was named Leading Lobbyist by Association TRENDS for his work with TNPA to promote and protect nonprofit interests on the Hill. Mark's not one for sitting still and is often spotted on a tennis court with his wife, the Colorado ski slopes with their two sons, or in an airport en route to their next travel adventure.
Prior to joining TNPA, Bob was General Counsel to the Association of Direct Response Fundraising Counsel (ADRFCO), and Regulatory Counsel to the DMA Nonprofit Federation, both of Washington, D.C. As lawyer/advisor to these two major direct response fundraising industry organizations, he worked on federal and state legislative issues, interacting with regulators, legislators, media, nonprofits, and fundraising consultants. Bob helped develop and implement the first comprehensive code of ethical standards for direct mail fundraising counsel. He also serves as volunteer General Counsel to the Multi-State Filer Project, Inc., a collaborative effort between the nonprofit fundraising community and state charity officials to simplify reporting under state solicitation laws. Bob was educated at Johns Hopkins University and the National Law Center at George Washington University. He began his nonprofit career as General Counsel and Director of Program Services at HALT, a nonprofit working to promote citizen self-reliance in legal matters. Bob is a frequent speaker on nonprofit legal issues and has participated in many voluntary sector activities as a board member or consultant.
He lives in the WWII-era condo development of Fairlington in south Arlington. He loves his road bike, lacrosse, and his close-by adult daughters - in reverse order.
Shannon is leading TNPA's rapid growth and sector-wide impact. Previously she spent two years as Charity Navigator's Chief Development Officer, facilitating communication with nonprofit organizations and dramatically increasing resources to support successful implementation of a new strategic plan. She now serves on their board of directors. She spent 17 years with Special Olympics International, most recently as Vice President of Donor Development, building and managing a multichannel individual fundraising program. Shannon has been an engaged member of the DMA Nonprofit Federation, with past roles as Chairperson of the Advisory Council and Chair of the Ethics Committee. She is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and has a master's degree in nonprofit and association management. She was named to the NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50 list in 2022 and 2023. Home is outside the hustle of D.C. in rural Maryland - although with two teenagers and a rescue pup, it's really just hustle of a different variety.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Internship Experience
Shelby is responsible for designing, developing, and managing TNPA's new internship program to support student involvement and diversity in the nonprofit sector. She brings 15-plus years of nonprofit leadership with extensive experience in program development and marketing for various membership organizations. Most recently, Shelby has worked with the Solid Waste Association of North America where she oversaw the development of their Young Professionals Group, Future Leaders Student Program, and MentorMatch Program from their inceptions. Some of her greatest career highlights include being featured in two industry publications for her mentorship program design, earning her master's degree in nonprofit and association management, and starting her own graphic design business to help solo-entrepreneurs. Shelby is a Jersey girl who currently resides in Maryland where she still enjoys exploring the DMV area with friends and family.