BDI - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Strategist / Account Director
Amanda Kirby has more than 12 years of marketing and fundraising experience, bringing the same detailed eye, strategic insight and heartfelt support to everything she does with the BDI team and the incredible clients we serve. Amanda started her agency career serving large national brands like Honda and Acura before moving on to manage key marketing efforts for a community developer in Los Angeles. Since then, she found her calling working with nonprofits and faith-based organizations, including Rescue Missions, The Salvation Army, Food For The Poor and World Vision.
At BDI, Amanda is responsible for partnering with clients on their annual fundraising goals - providing both strategic insight and tactical support. She's a trusted advisor when it comes to direct response strategy, creative development, multi-channel marketing and effective messaging. Amanda has a heart for helping and believes it's a true honor to partner with our clients in their life-changing work.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Associate
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Data Management
With over 25 years of overall agency fundraising experience, Angella brings her knowledge of data intelligence and donor-centric insights into the Data Services Team. She's had the pleasure of working with charitable organizations such as Rescue Missions, Food Banks, World Vision, Operation Smile, Salvation Army and Best Friends Animal Society. Angella also serves as a judge for the ANA International ECHO Awards and in 2020, was appointed to the ECHO Board of Governors.
Angella takes the lead on providing quality service on donor data, studying trends and working with industry leaders on how to best gather and distribute results. Her team also handles donor selection and analysis in support of all our marketing campaigns. Her vision for our data team is to build stronger research and analysis within the agency.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President, Finance
Anna has been a trusted member of our team for nearly 13 years, and currently serves as BDI's Vice President/Finance. With more than 30 years of experience in accounting and administration - serving in industries such as hospitality/tourism and aerospace/aircraft industries - Anna offers a wealth of financial expertise, enthusiasm and dedication. Witnessing God's outpouring of blessings on others is what continually motivates her to devote her time and best efforts in her daily work.
In her role overseeing the Finance Team, she is the leader of BDI's capital resources, responsible for compliance and reporting and is also responsible for financial planning, management, forecasting and analysis, and financial relations and policies. Her goal is to think and lead strategically, all while keeping the best interests of our company, clients, associates and vendors top of mind. While perfecting her calligraphy skills, Anna was inspired by Leonardo DaVinci (another left-handed artist) to learn how to write backwards in cursive.
Job Titles:
- Creative Administrator / Content Specialist
Job Titles:
- Senior Digital Implementation Specialist
Prior to joining BDI, Ashley gained extensive digital marketing experience working at both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and entrepreneurship, she has served at charities nationwide, including the Alzheimer's Association and several educational organizations. Her work has spanned everything from social media management to email marketing, event planning and public relations.
In her role as a Senior Digital Implementation Specialist, Ashley oversees email marketing campaigns for over 15 of BDI's Rescue Mission clients. Also leading BDI's social media team, she helps manage both client and corporate social media campaigns, including content creation, campaign implementation, and data reporting and analytics. Her vision is to see every BDI client harness the power of digital and social media marketing to grow their support base and benefit their organization.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President for Finance & Business and CFO for Life Pacific University
Bob Johansen brings a pastor's heart and over 40 years of experience in finances and operations to the BDI Board. Throughout his career, Bob has had the pleasure of serving many nonprofit organizations, as Senior Vice President and CFO at Azusa Pacific University, and as CFO for Russ Reid Company. With his B.S. in Accounting from Cal Poly Pomona, his M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University, and as a CPA, Bob is a highly skilled trusted advisor in the financial services space.
Today, Bob serves as Vice President for Finance & Business and CFO for Life Pacific University, in San Dimas, CA. He loves Jesus Christ, lives to serve, and is a family man through and through. When he's not serving nonprofits, he enjoys serving his family through the gift of hospitality, spending time with his four children and nine grandchildren who keep him busy on weekends.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Client Strategy and Planning
Job Titles:
- Director of Production and Purchasing
Carmen Campbell brings more than 24 years of experience to the table in the field of production and purchasing. She spent 5 years working on the vendor side before transitioning to the agency side of things, where the majority of her work was with for-profit clients before she joined Brewer Direct.
In her position at BDI as the Director of Production and Purchasing, Carmen oversees the Print Production team to ensure that every appeal goes out correctly and on time, and manages all the agency's purchasing to ensure that BDI is in compliance with our purchasing policy. She also serves as a liaison between all the other departments to check and confirm that everything uploaded to print is accurate and on-point for each client.
Job Titles:
- Director of Project Management
- in 2017 As a Senior Project Manager
Carol brings 20 years of experience in the field of project management. She started her career in cable advertising and her organizational talents soon led her to the traffic department… where everything clicked into place. Her first agency job was as a project manager for the United Mileage Plus account. She's also worked on nonprofit accounts including Salvation Army, Red Cross, Habitat and Lutheran Ministries.
Carol joined BDI in 2017 as a Senior Project Manager. She oversees project schedules along every step of the creative process to monitor workflow and keep everything on track. She's thrilled to be part of the BDI family, and her stellar skills make her a valued member of the team.
As a Writer at BDI, Courtney Hlebo combines her passions for writing and editing with her love of ministry and serving others. Prior to working with nonprofits, Courtney edited manuscripts for a variety of authors and genres for more than 7 years, and also proofread curriculum for a faith resource publisher. She is also a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course, where she received professional training on all aspects of print and digital media publishing.
Courtney spent her first four years on BDI's Creative Team dividing her time between proofreading and writing, developing an expertise on our clients and in nonprofit fundraising writing before moving to her dedicated role as a Writer. She is also involved in the creation and implementation of content shared across BDI's growing corporate social media accounts.
Job Titles:
- Strategist / Senior Account Director
With 10 years of experience partnering with Rescue Missions and nonprofit organizations, David Stolberg brings his own unique perspective and passion to his role as Account Director and Strategist. Prior to joining the team at BDI, he worked for Nike corporate in sports marketing and worked in sales with a commercial real estate marketing company, and that competitive drive and spirit of innovation still fuels him today.
David oversees each of his client accounts, managing portfolios and ensuring that campaigns go out successfully. But more than that, he is deeply committed to his client relationships and keeps them informed about the latest strategic and creative insights to make their fundraising efforts shine. His vision is to expand BDI's offerings to other verticals, serving as a trusted advisor to help more nonprofits pursue their passion and purpose to make the world a better place.
Throughout her 30+ year career in direct marketing and fundraising, Debbie has held positions in client service, creative management and copywriting. She's worked for a number of organizations, including Hallmark Cards, Unity School of Christianity, Resource & Development Group and Summit Marketing, and has served nonprofit clients such as The Salvation Army and American Red Cross.
In 2009, she turned her attention solely to nonprofit fundraising as a senior copywriter for ENEX Group, creating appeals, newsletters and marketing materials for Rescue Missions across the country. She continued in that capacity when the company merged with Brewer Direct in 2016, and today, partners with BDI as a contributing writer to pitch in whenever her talents are needed.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Dr. Reynolds has offered consulting, coaching and counsel to non-governmental organizations in over 40 countries. He previously served as World Vision International's global chief information officer (1991-2000), and as executive VP at Azusa Pacific University for 12 years. With a PhD in Higher Education Leadership, and a formidable history of serving and leading others, John regularly speaks both nationally and internationally as a specialist in applied organizational effectiveness.
Today, John oversees providing flexible and affordable higher education, as president of Los Angeles Pacific University, and he serves on several other nonprofit and educational boards, including Christian Leadership Alliance (current chair), LCC International University (Lithuania), African Enterprise (USA), Azusa Pacific International (South Africa) and LCC International Fund (USA). In all things, he seeks to follow his personal life mission statement: "to positively transform lives through learning and knowledge, in a way that develops others to maximize their God-given potential."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Dr. Lorna DeShay has over 30 years of marketing experience. Having worked in publishing, construction, non-profit, and education institutions, Lorna brings marketing knowledge from these various entities. She received a B.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MSA in Leadership from Central Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in Marketing from Northcentral University.
Currently, Lorna teaches Marketing for several universities in their online programs for undergraduates, MBA students, and doctoral students. She has a passion for teaching and assisting students in helping them reach their education goals. Lorna believes that Jesus went to the cross for all to be saved and for Christians to rely on the word of God over things we can see, feel, or experience. Her favorite scripture is Matthew 6: 33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Lorna believes that God wants us and expects us to seek him first in our decisions. We should not come to God after we made our own decisions and then want him to bless them, but instead seek him about what decisions he has outlined for our lives and then follow his path. She honors her relationship with Christ and seeks him daily.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President, Creativ
- Senior Vice President, Creative
For more than 25 years, James has helped nonprofits and cause-driven organizations communicate their world-changing ideas in ways that inspire and motivate people. He has served more than 50 organizations in the United States, Canada and Great Britain, and he helped raise more than a billion dollars. James's experience includes work for American Red Cross, Muscular Dystrophy Association, World Vision, The Salvation Army and the University of Chicago, along with numerous food banks, rescue missions, cancer centers, humane societies and Christian ministries.
In his role as Senior Vice President, Creative, James works to turn our clients' visions into reality. His passion is helping to create messaging that moves people to action. He believes that the best days for cause marketing and fundraising are ahead of us and that there's nothing he would rather do than help great causes tell their story, strengthen their brand and raise more money to change the world.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant Analytical Ones
As the Senior Consultant at Analytical Ones, Jennifer has the privilege of helping a variety of clients achieve their objectives on several fronts including research, strategy, and both high-level and deep-dive data analytics.
Jennifer has served in the database marketing, data analytics and research industry for most of her career. Before joining Analytical Ones, Jennifer worked with Summit Marketing for the better part of 20 years - starting straight out of school with an MBA in Direct Marketing. She has also worked with a handful of other amazing nonprofit and commercial organizations. Plus, she's a certified Integrated Nutrition Health Coach and Kiss the Ground trained Soil Advocate!
Job Titles:
- Client Partnership Specialist / Executive Assistant
Job Titles:
- Studio and Storytellers Manager
Before coming to BDI as an Account Specialist, Jhovany was an account manager for Made Goods. There, he supervised more than 300 accounts and had the pleasure of traveling the country to educate customers on the quality of their products.
Jhovany currently serves as our Storytellers Manager/Digital Assets Manager. In this role, he acts as the point person for BDI's testimony, transcription and photography branch - which we call Brewer Storytellers. Along with this role, Jhovany applies both his creativity and background in photography to his role as the BDI Office Photographer. His vision is to expand the creation and organization of photographic content and stories to build a comprehensive library of assets for the agency to use in both internal and external communications.
Job Titles:
- President / CEO Citygate Network
John came to his CEO post at Citygate Network in 2007 from Christian Camp and Conference Association, where he served for 15 years in the COO role. The combination of the two positions has given him a career of almost 30 years in association management. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible, with a social work emphasis, and a Master of Organizational Management. He is the author of Invisible Neighbors, considered by many to be the "how-to manual" for followers of Jesus who are serious about meaningful engagement with the poor. He also serves on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals. He and his wife, Judi, enjoy tennis and overnight hikes in remote, mountainous regions. Thanks to their three married children, they now have a growing collection of amazing grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Senior Digital Implementation Specialist
Job Titles:
- Account Director / Strategist
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree at Azusa Pacific University in 2018, Katrina set out to find an agency that would not only grow her skills in writing and marketing but would serve a greater purpose to help others. It wasn't long until she found Brewer Direct and started her professional career at the agency.
Katrina currently works as BDI's Marketing Manager, where she oversees the coordination and timeline on corporate projects, manages the processes of BDI's external communication, and works with the Corporate Marketing team to develop and brainstorm development strategies. She hopes to continue learning and growing at BDI so that she can develop an even stronger marketing department and further her passion for helping hurting people.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Partnership
Internationally recognized as an ECHO and ADDY Award winning creative talent, Kevin is a fundraising veteran with clients including; The North American Mission Board, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Precept and Guidepost Ministries, and Samaritan's Purse. Having worked on both the agency and client side, he's dedicated to building a bridge between the two to make programs and partnerships successful.
As our front line personality, Kevin opens new relationships for Brewer Direct - matching the needs of an organization to our agency's talents and expertise. His vision is to provide solutions that are specific for every ministry's market, goal, budget and resources to maximize their communications and fundraising programs.
The author of 14 books, including Jesus CEO, Laurie has received global recognition for her leadership principles that empower people to discover the divine excellence in themselves and in those they serve. Having owned a successful marketing company, Laurie brings her business and leadership expertise as a speaker and trainer to all pillars of society, including business and government, faith and service organizations and the disenfranchised.
She was recently named one of the top 30 leaders in the United States by Barna Group. As a business-development coach and consultant to CEOs and organizations, Laurie has shared her wealth of experience with major companies including Tyson Foods, Purina-Nestle, Neiman Marcus, Pfizer, CitiFinancial and American Express. In all she does, Laurie states her guiding personal life mission statement as follows: "to recognize, promote and inspire divine connection in myself and others."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Exec Vice President, Client Services
With over 30 years of program and agency experience, Lolly Colombo has brought her passion, expertise and heart of service to some of the world's most beloved charities and faith-based organizations. She has had the pleasure of serving with The Salvation Army, Operation Blessing International, Food for the Hungry, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, CBN, In Touch Ministries, and others. Lolly feels called to minister to and "bind up the brokenhearted," serving alongside ministries to raise resources for the extraordinary work they do to restore hope and dignity.
With extensive expertise in direct response marketing, Spanish language outreach and broadcast media, Lolly brings a vast amount of knowledge to BDI. As Exec Vice President, Client Services, she takes the lead in introducing cutting-edge strategies for integrated, multi-channel fundraising and works to assure exceptional service for our clients. When she's not working, you can find her talking to the plants in her garden, frolicking with her chickens and grandkids, or enjoying some other adventure in the SoCal sunshine.
Job Titles:
- Account Strategist
- Strategist / Senior Account Director
For 20 years, Matt's work on both the agency and nonprofit side to bring faith-based solutions to issues of homelessness, poverty and addiction. Prior to joining BDI, he was an Account Manager at an agency serving nonprofits and provided leadership at Christian nonprofits, including as Executive Director of Family Promise of San Gabriel Valley, Director of People Assisting the Homeless and Development Director at The Jonah Project. In these roles, Matt spearheaded fundraising efforts to increase housing, as well as coordinated a highly-successful shelter network of faith communities in the greater Los Angeles area.
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
- HR Director
As BDI's HR Director, McKennah is responsible for benefits administration, recruiting, new hire onboarding, training & development, and fostering a healthy culture of development. She's a Society of Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) who uses her mix of expertise, energy and enthusiasm to make BDI an agency that promotes positivity and provides tremendous HR support.
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Specialist
Job Titles:
- Strategist / Senior Account Director
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President
Michael J. Tomlinson, better known as "MT," is an accomplished marketing and media executive who has developed highly successful fundraising programs for faith-first charities and organizations across the U.S. and abroad. He brings more than 25 years of executive leadership in business and holds a master's degree in Organizational Management and Marketing. His entrepreneurial spirit made him a natural fit at faith-forward organizations including: Focus on the Family, David C. Cook International, Dunham+Company and Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk ministry, where he led all marketing and communications and served as Chief Operating Officer. In all his work, he strives to: "Champion, drive and risk creativity in myself and others for a hurting world."
MT is inspired by the abundance found in our loving Heavenly Father and the faithful people carrying out His word to make the world a better place. In his current role, he leads BDI's strategic direction, ensuring that the agency is equipped with the talent, tools and technologies to effectively serve others by cultivating heart-connected donors. When not working, MT can be found playing the guitar, watching motorsports, creating art and scuba diving with his wife, Kelly (who he met at church when he was 8 and she was 4!).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Director of Camping for Transformation Ministries
Mike Pate is the Executive Director of Camping for Transformation Ministries (TM), a regional association of more than 170 churches. TM camps minister to tens of thousands of people of all ages every year, and under Mike's leadership, the camps have tripled in impact, size and revenue in the past 10 years.
Mike has sat on numerous boards for nonprofits and local governing bodies over the years, and he currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Christian Community Credit Union (with over $600 million under management). Mike has seen fundraising from all sides - as a Project Director for an international relief agency, as the owner of an advertising business and as Director of Development for Multnomah University. In all things, he seeks to follow his personal life mission statement: "to help people and organizations be all that God has designed them to be."
Job Titles:
- Senior Designer
- Studio Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Client Support
Job Titles:
- Director of Digital Analytics and Operations
Mindy offers more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising with experience on both the agency and the nonprofit side, having previously worked at Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles. Mindy draws on her knowledge of direct response, analytics and digital marketing to guide clients in their digital fundraising programs and utilize smart, strategic efforts.
In her role at BDI, Mindy is committed to growing the effectiveness of digital fundraising programs through better online strategies in website optimization, email marketing, digital media, analytics and leading industry trends. Her vision for the digital team is to implement new ways to use improved tracking and analytics to gain better insights and help our clients in the ever-changing digital field.
Job Titles:
- Digital Production Designer
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Leadership Team
Phil Stolberg, BDI's Chief Operating Officer, has more than 40 years of experience in marketing and communications including consulting, managing major donor and capital campaigns, and developing special event and foundation fundraising. He has dedicated his career to working with nonprofits because he enjoys starting and finishing every day knowing that his energy and efforts help worthy organizations fulfill their missions.
At BDI, Phil manages internal and external business relationships, contracts and policies. His responsibilities include defining agency strategies and goals, and implementing systems and processes throughout every team in the agency. Phil continues to serve on a number of boards addressing the business needs of nonprofit organizations. He's an avid cyclist whose biggest adventure was over two incredible days: the first, climbing up Mt. Whitney (the highest elevation in the continental U.S.) and the next, riding down into Death Valley (the lowest elevation).
Randy Brewer spent his professional life in marketing, PR and fundraising for nonprofit organizations. At Brewer Direct, Randy's leadership led to multiple millions of dollars generated and hundreds of thousands of new donors acquired to help nonprofit ministries throughout the United States.
An ordained minister with degrees in Education and Ministry, and graduate studies in both Theology and Business Management, he has worked for Focus on the Family, World Vision and at a local newspaper group. Randy also served on the board as Vice Chairman of African Enterprise USA, a 50-year-old evangelistic and relief ministry in Africa and was an active member of International Full Gospel Fellowship, which both provide help to the world's hurting. In the last several years of his life, he launched his own philanthropic venture, Randy W. Brewer Foundation, to further Christ's love through supporting wellness and education for young people around the world.
Randy authored three inspirational books. In his last book, In the Valley of the Shadow of Death Randy wrote about his final journey. His words will give you a vibrant hope as you discover that God is still good, even in the darkness, even as we wait restlessly for God's voice: "Enter into my presence." In Finding My Voice: A Story of Grace, Hope and Healing, Randy told the gripping true story of his battle with a rare throat cancer that threatened his speaking voice entirely, but led him to discover a new Voice calling. In his book, Releasing Generosity, Randy explored a key question that Voice challenged him to answer: "What will you do with the love you've been given?" His response, expressed in this powerful book, is a compelling "manifesto" on the heart behind giving. Learn more about the books and ways to get your own copies by clicking the link below.
Job Titles:
- Strategist / Senior Account Director
Rob brings over 40 years of business and accounting experience to a wide array of clients, including nonprofits. Working with senior nonprofit executives, he has developed and implemented strategic plans and critical performance measures, as well as overseen process improvements across departments. He has also advised business corporations and partnerships, and he frequently leads seminars on accounting and other key issues nonprofits face.
Highly skilled in tailoring experiences that benefit others, Rob does this both professionally and personally - through his management services for nonprofits, and in his vacation time spent leading adventure trips to Costa Rica and China that encourage people to stretch their limits.
Job Titles:
- Senior Production Manager
Job Titles:
- Junior Production Manager / Purchasing Agent
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Creative Director
With nearly 10 years of nonprofit and Rescue Mission experience, Sarah Wallin brings her expertise and imagination to the creative work at BDI. She draws from her background as a college English instructor and writing work for a variety of clients, as well as her Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing.
Sarah currently serves as the Associate Creative Director at BDI, where she provides creative solutions and campaign concepts for the strategies offered to clients. She approves and oversees all copy direction for BDI client campaigns, with an especially close eye on digital development and creation. She also takes the lead on putting together the agency's monthly and weekly corporate digital communications, BDI Inspire and BDI Quick Shot.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Associate
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President, BDI Academy
With over 30 years of partnership in Rescue Missions and nonprofit organizations, Shellie Speer brings her expertise, counsel and philanthropic-centered passion to assist in furthering the work of BDI's Rescue Mission clients. For 22 years of her career, she served as the Founder and President/CEO of her own agency, ENEX Group, which helped her clients capture hearts and donor loyalty in their communities. She first volunteered at City Union Mission as a teenager, and inspired her lifelong involvement with Rescue Missions so she can share her talents with those who serve on the frontlines.
Shellie currently leads as the Senior Vice President, BDI Academy, where she provides direction toward the expansion of services and capabilities that suit specific client needs. As a BDI ambassador for Rescue Mission clients, Shellie's services include onsite deep-dive training sessions, new client onsite onboarding, organizational development audits, and consultations for best practices and strategic development planning. Shellie is an avid runner and hiker who loves to travel, but her greatest joy is spending time with her family and grandkids.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder & Managing Partner the Global Village Agency
Steffi brings great depth of talent and creativity to the Global Village leadership team with 20 years of field experience in marketing, film and digital media, strategic planning and project management - with specific expertise in the non-profit arena. She graduated summa cum laude from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1999 and went on to co-found Global Village, Inc., where she currently serves as Managing Partner. She is self-taught and fully bilingual in the Spanish language, has a tremendous heart for Latin America, and has served the Anglo and Hispanic community over the last 20 years, both within the United States and abroad, in ministry development and grassroots community service.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President, Digital Strategy
With more than 20 years of professional experience in digital media and cross-channel marketing, Stephanie has spent her career helping clients realize the potential of digital. Prior to joining BDI, Stephanie led her own digital design firm, and also had marketing roles with Fortune 500 companies in the Insurance, Education, and Service industries. Having seen her cousin and childhood best friend lose his life at age 42 due to addiction and homelessness, Stephanie is committed to giving back to nonprofit ministries so other families won't lose their loved ones.
As the Vice President, Digital Strategy for Brewer Direct, she uses her experience to guide clients through digital development such as website optimization, email marketing, data-driven analytics and tracking, paid digital media and new media trends. She regularly coaches internal and external teams on digital marketing strategies and tactics to reach more donors and generate increased revenue. Her passion outside of work is spending time with her family and riding her horse, Jazzy, every chance she gets.
Job Titles:
- Expert
- Expert Marketer and Nonprofit Fundraiser
Thom Scott is an expert marketer and nonprofit fundraiser, who spent 30 years honing his marketing and advertising credentials in the for-profit world before stepping into the role of Development Director at Water Street Mission in Lancaster, PA. After four years spent moving Water Street to the next level, he transitioned into his current role as a full-time Professor of Marketing Communication at Lancaster Bible College.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Associate