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Breakout 1A: The Data Tells a Story: Transforming Data and Anticipating Leadership | Salon C-5, LL
Just like Goldilocks, so often the data we have available is not exactly right. In this session, we will cover how to take the data you have and transform it into the data you need to see trends, make recommendations, influence decisions and tell (data) stories. As part of influencing decisions, we will explore how to anticipate leadership and tailor to their learning styles. This session is part philosophy and part hands-on. it's appropriate for folks who know basic functions; if you know how to slicer in Excel, you probably don't need this session for technical support but the information in the session on philosophy and storytelling may be of interest. Grab your porridge and picnic basket!
 Anne Dean is the assistant vice president of Strategic Advancement Solutions, overseeing the Campaign, Donor Relations, Philanthropic Proposal Development and Research & Relationship Management. Anne liaises with GW's Communications and Marketing and Events on large scale projects like GW's Bicentennial in 2021, which won three CASE District II awards. A 15-year veteran in the higher education nonprofit fundraising industry, Anne joined GW in 2012 following stints in frontline fundraising, alumni engagement, and prospect development at UC San Diego, Hood College, and Vanderbilt University. An industry volunteer, speaker, and writer, Anne was named an EverTrue 40 under 40 in 2019 and Apra Professional of the Year in 2020.
Breakout 2A: Building the Plane While Flying: The Data Exchange Project at UC Berkeley | Salon C-4, LL
Realigning your data and integration tools after years of inconsistent management can seem overwhelming at best and impossible at worst. To meet the demands of today's tools and analytics, it is a worthwhile investment to strategically improve your data quality and accessibility. Whether you are preparing for a CRM conversion or just trying to get a better handle on managing your data, this session will take you through UC Berkeley's initiative to create business and technical solutions to increase transparency, governance, and data intake while decreasing customizations and confusion for stakeholders.
 Robyn Doughty is the Director of Data Quality and Management at the University of California Berkeley. With 20 years of experience in public higher education, Robyn possesses a deep understanding of the issues and challenges unique to the field. For the past 19 years she has focused her career in Advancement, making her well-versed in the business needs of university stakeholders and the data, systems, and processes that are critical to a successful fundraising enterprise. This knowledge translates to breaking down silos between teams, extensive campus outreach to obtain, integrate, and steward data, and implementation of process and system improvements in all areas of the organization. Using a “start-up” approach to solving business, organizational, and technical issues, Robyn is adept at developing strong, cross-functional teams, strategies, and services. Past successes include database conversions, business process improvements, instituting collaborative data management, and training programs that encompass the entirety of the Advancement organization.
 Christa Schnur has extensive experience as a change catalyst, influencer and initiator in operationalizing how fundraisers bring money into the University of California, Berkeley. Her work is founded in deep hands-on technical experience which drives her to solve problems and streamline processes. With an even keel, positive and professional demeanor, she smoothly navigate complex organizational structures engaging business partners from across campus to produce business solutions and lead teams harmoniously to success.
Breakout 3A: AI Modeling: Prospect Identification is Just the Begining | Salon C-3, LL
AI modeling can better predict how people feel and who is most likely to give at what levels. AI-driven portfolio optimization can drive more impactful fundraising programs, but what else can it do? Join BWF's Alex Oftelie and Josh LaBorde as they review emerging applications of AI and how it's empowered and scaled fundraising operations at multiple organizations. Which organizations will be highlighted, and which specific examples will be chosen closer to the conference. Priority will be given to organizations willing to attend and participate in the presentation.
Alexander W. Oftelie is a Senior Vice President of Decision Science. He oversees all analytics engagements, workshops and trainings, and product implementation. His specific areas of expertise include predictive modeling, business impact analysis, survey design and sampling methodology, analytics training, and analytics implementation.
Prior to his work with BWF, Alex worked as a non-profit subject matter expert for IBM, and an advanced analytics consultant for Gallup. He is a recognized leader, speaker, and trainer for CASE, AHP, and Apra. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Olaf College and a Masters of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota.
Joshua LaBorde is an Associate Vice President in the Systems and Operations consulting practice at BWF. He brings almost 25 years of experience in operations, information, and technology. He has served as a practitioner holding leadership positions in advancement services and philanthropy operations in higher ed, the arts, and healthcare. At BWF, he partners with clients on strategically deploying best practices, process optimization, leveraging data and technology, and maximizing the return on their systems and operations investments. Joshua is a regular presenter at aasp Summit, has presented previously at CASE and AHP conferences, and is on the faculty of AHP’s Madison Institute. He is an active aasp Mentor and has previously contributed at various times on aasp Best Practices, Program, and Partnership committees. When not discovering, developing, and deploying best practices, Joshua enjoys traveling with family, listening to live music, and watching live sports.
Charlene Harner
Breakout 4A: Piles to Paperless: The Future of Fund Management | Salon C-1, LL
Join the University of Nebraska Foundation's Aaron Rouse, and Zuri Group's Kate Nimety, to walk through UNF's 3-year journey from piles of paper to fully digital and automated fund creation and management. Fundraisers can generate compliant gift agreements on their own! Deans can submit expenses through a portal rather than a paper form! Spending authority approval routing is automatic! Fund criteria is searchable for scholarship matching and audits! Aaron had a vision in 2002 of a way to eliminate their use of reams and reams of paper, streamline requests and communications from 4 different campuses, and automate the creation of new funds. He saw a way to eventually sunset their internal fund audit process altogether, and use UNF's existing Blackbaud CRM, FE NXT, and PaperSave systems to capture fund details on the gift agreement and carry those details through expenditure approval.
 Aaron Rouse is the Director of Fund Stewardship and Management at the University of Nebraska Foundation. In this role, he leads a team that manages over 11,000 active donor funds that provide critical financial support to the University of Nebraska system and its four campuses. Aaron joined the Foundation in 2014 as a Prospect Information Manager and move into his current role in 2016. Before that, Aaron served as the Donor Relations Manager for Omaha Performing Arts from 2012-2014 and as the Special Projects Assistant and Assistant Director of Development at the Hastings College Foundation from 2008-2012. In addition to his work at the Foundation, Aaron is a long-time volunteer with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He has spoken and numerous CASE conferences, been a part of many conference planning committees, and currently serves as the chair for CASE District VI. Aaron graduated from Hastings College (Neb.) in 2008 with a B.A. in Business Administration and Human Services Administration and later earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2010.
 Kate Nimety serves as President, Management Consulting for Zuri Group. Kate's deep focus on the people and processes within a fundraising landscape positions her as a leader in organizational management, functional system design, and change enablement. She brings more than 15 years of experience in fundraising systems consulting. Kate has an extensive background in system selections, process design, information delivery and reporting, and conversion mapping. Partnering with organizations in various roles from strategic advisor to end-user trainer, Kate fuses with project teams to design creative solutions that fit organizationally.
Breakout 5A: The First Leg of the Ultramarathon: Learn how the Rutgers Foundation Aligned Vision, Mission, and Strategy to Create Constituent-Centric Experiences and Drive Organizational Transformation, Powered by Technology | Salon C-6, LL
Organizational transformation can begin anywhere. For RUF, their journey launched from Cornerstone, a University-Wide technology modernization initiative. Embedded was the Scarlett Journey, an Enterprise-wide CRM endeavor, where the Foundation was a core component. Leadership quickly recognized the opportunity to use technology transformation as a catalyst for organizational change and operational excellence, along the path to improving the donor, alumni, and staff experience. The journey to a delightful and personalized constituent experience is a long, ULTRA marathon. Join us to learn how the Rutgers Foundation leveraged a gift-management business process assessment (amidst a CRM implementation) to align a shared vision and mission with a group responsible for one of its most critical business functions and developed a roadmap and playbook for their organization's transformation. Their work is just getting started, but they have so many lessons to share from their journey so far.
 Jeffrey Wat is a consultant in Huron’s Higher Education Strategy & Operations practice. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and higher education arenas, including leadership in the areas of Advancement Services, constituent record management, gift administration, CRM strategy development, business process transformation, and Organizational Change Management. Jeffrey approaches each of his client partnerships as a strategic change initiative, ensuring he is supporting the organization in achieving their vision and engaging stakeholders in support of cultural transformation.
 Jessica Vincello is the Assistant Director of Special Projects for Digital Engagement at the Rutgers University Foundation (RUF). She began her advancement career in major gifts fundraising before transitioning to student engagement and more recently into project management. Since February 2023, she's served as the Project Manager on RUF's Commerce Cloud transition, one piece of the larger Scarlet Journey Salesforce project. As an agent of change at RUF, Jessica prides herself on working with the Scarlet Journey team to embed organizational change management throughout every phase of the project. Jessica's goal as a Project Manager is to motivate everyone on the project team to "think differently" about how advancement work can be done in the context of a vast new technological ecosystem.
 Marina Lopez is the Associate Director of Special Projects at the Rutgers University Foundation. She has served for over 6 years in diverse roles, honing her expertise in event planning and special projects across the central fundraising and engagement vertical and beyond. Currently, she spearheads the Salesforce Marketing Cloud integration as a project manager, with a special focus on enhancing the Foundation's mission and vision through strategic partnerships. Marina holds both a BS and an MA from Rutgers University and takes pride in being a RU alumna. She is a first-generation immigrant and college graduate, also being a member of the inaugural class of the Rutgers Future Scholars program. Her motto, "If you're not having fun, what's the point?" has guided her through challenging moments and empowered her to reframe her thoughts in a positive way. When she's not deeply engaged in Salesforce work, you can find her preparing for the PMP Certification, taking long walks with her spouse and dogs, reading a psychological thriller, coloring, or practicing yoga!
 Heather Greig is a Salesforce Consulting Director and the Industry Delivery Lead for Huron’s Advancement Portfolio. Her focus is digital transormation in Higher Education Advancement. Most recently, Heather led Advancement’s digital transformation to a Salesforce ecosystem for the University of Florida. With more than 15 years of experience, Heather has served numerous roles across the Advancement profession – from student caller to annual giving director to consultant to executive leader. Heather is commited to the role that Advancement plays in actualizing an institution’s mission and believes in the power of innovation in a Salesforce ecosystem to drive growth in private support and constituent engagement. |
Hear from St. Ambrose University their experience with two different Ellucian CRM Advance implementation plans, and how the shift to the signature model was the recipe for success. This presentation will feature tips and tricks and advice for how to get the most out of a Ellucian CRM Advance implementation package, and which institutions/organizations may benefit most from the newly designed signature plan.
Meagan Kilcoyne leads the Ellucian CRM Advance Professional Services team that implements clients onto the CRM Advance product. Meagan has a strong career history in higher education advancement work, having spent more than 7 years in various advancement roles with large universities, spanning from roles in alumni engagement, to major and principle gift front line work. Most recently prior to her tenure at Ellucian, Meagan owned her own consulting practice setting up advancement shops and advising on strategy and organizational structure for smaller non-profit organizations. Meagan is a key member of the design team for the Signature CRM Advance implementation package, having parlayed her work in strategically guiding smaller advancement shops into a new scope and sequence and methodology to more successfully implement the CRM Advance platform.
As Director of Administrative Services for Advancement, Kris Burt oversees all the backend operations including gift processing, reporting, database management, and research. Kris recently lead the implementation team on the conversion from Ellucian Colleague Advancement to Ellucian CRM Advance.