Brian has extensive nonprofit experience, launching local chapters, directing new nonprofits, and building cross-sector partnerships for community development. He has worked across education, healthcare, mentoring, and human services, helping nonprofits secure funding to drive transformative outcomes.

As General Manager of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, Brian leads a team of fundraising professionals serving clients nationwide. With over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, including nine in capital campaign management, he has helped raise over $150 million for organizations across the country.

Carson-Newman College, Johnson City, TN (BA, Business Management & Marketing)

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With a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising, Daniel Hall has been instrumental in helping organizations raise over $50 million for mission-driven projects. 

Today, Daniel serves as the Senior Director of Managed Services at Harness Giving, providing Development Staffing Solutions to nonprofit organizations. 

Daniel’s leadership at Harness Giving continues to empower nonprofits by offering accessible, cost-effective fundraising solutions, helping organizations diversify their income and build sustainable donor bases.

Dennis Fraise hosts the #1 economic development podcast Develop This! and the retired president and CEO of the Lee County (Iowa) Economic Development Group. 

He is a progressive economic development professional with an eclectic background, including being a business owner who has generated more than $3 million in sales. Dennis has led not one but two economic development organizations in setting Guinness World Records. He is a national award-winning marketing professional, public speaker, facilitator, photographer, and sought-after thought leader on workforce development issues, strategies to build collaborations in communities, and creating organizational excellence. 

Dennis is an Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute graduate and a Certified Economic Developer. Dennis serves on the IEDC board of directors.

On July 8, 2013, Dr. John J. Rainone became the fourth president of Mountain Gateway Community College. He brings over 35 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and chief executive officer to this College.

Dr. Rainone received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern New Hampshire University and earned a doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University. He is a first-generation college student and the first member of his family to earn an advanced degree. He is also a graduate of the League for Innovation Executive Institute and completed the Harvard University Seminar for First-Year Presidents.

He’s the founder of MarketSmart and the creator of the Fundraising Report Card — a tool he originally built about 8 years ago and has been giving away for free ever since.

In that time, over 27,000 fundraising data files have been analyzed through the platform (over $145 billion analyzed) — all in an effort to help fundraising consultants and fundraisers (and their leadership and board members) easily understand what’s working, what’s not, and how they stack up. Learn more: https://imarketsmart.com/

Joe has more than 30 years of experience in community college resource development programs as a staff member and consultant. His professional expertise includes major gift campaigns, planned giving, and strategic planning for foundation boards and advancement teams. As a consultant, Joe has led more than 55 feasibility studies, development assessments, foundation strategic plans, community summits, industry forums, and alumni strategic planning efforts. S

Katie Davenport’s experience in nonprofit work in the past 10 years includes a primary focus on organizational growth and development, innovation, and fundraising. Katie has a diverse background, ranging from a medical/scientific post-secondary education, a career as an educator, and as an Executive Director of an educational nonprofit, developed from a public/private economic development county organization’s strategic plan.

Katie also served on the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Greenwood during its capital campaign, which lead to a new facility and a program overhaul. As a former client of Convergent, as an ED and a Board Member, Katie has seen firsthand how transformative an organized capital campaign can be not just for an organization, but for an entire community.

Li Li is Managing Partner for FourSquare Research, Inc. She is responsible for project direction, client relations, and business development.

With more than 15 years experience in market research and business planning for non-profit organizations, Li Li has extensive hands-on experience and a wealth of knowledge concerning non-profits. In her previous role as Senior Vice President at The Winfield Consulting Group, she led and directed over 300 projects from start to finish and has worked on over 500 studies for non-profit organizations nationwide.

Email Li Li at lili@foursquareresearch.com

As President & CEO of the YMCA of Catawba Valley, I am responsible for providing visionary leadership, overseeing operations, developing impactful programs, engaging with the community and stakeholders, fundraising, and ensuring compliance and risk management.  I find the most enjoyment in working closely with the people who make our YMCA a home/hub/family - our staff team, volunteers, and members of the community.

Pam has served a variety of nonprofit organizations over the years that have a primary focus on homelessness, domestic violence, low-income populations, youth, seniors, veterans, and animal welfare.  She continues to be inspired by the community leaders, stakeholders, and business owners who advocate and support the organizations that provide a safety net for their communities.

Pam has a natural talent for assessing the strengths and inefficiencies within an organization, and she consistently demonstrates her ability to elevate the engagement and productivity levels of the staff and volunteers who are on the front line. Pam has engaged with and cultivated strong relationships with C-level executives, as well as private investors and donors, throughout her entire career.

Rex has generated over $100 million for various nonprofit organizations over his 30+ year career. He has led development efforts for churches, nonprofits, and universities.

During his career, he has had the opportunity to work with over two dozen college, university, and private college-preparatory institutions, with responsibilities ranging from directing capital and comprehensive campaigns to the overhaul of development operations. For instance, he reworked Catawba College’s (NC) annual fund program, exceeding their $1.2 million goal each year, and energized Rockford College’s (IL) annual fund, doubling the four-year campaign goal and raising over $10 million.

Rex’s talents are suited for his role, interfacing with Convergent clients and assisting the Project Directors who serve them.

Sarah Sprinkle is the CEO and Founder of Sarah Sprinkle Philanthropy. She is a strategist who helps organizations grow by prioritizing the initiatives that will be the catalyst for smart growth. Her practice is simple: collaborate, listen, think, and implement. When organizations operate like a business, they can see the bottom line quicker so that they can focus more time and effort on their mission. 

Tom Ralser has worked with organizations of all kinds, from Chambers of Commerce to religious organizations, from national museums to rural health networks, and from local youth organizations to international research institutes. He is one of the founding partners of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, which provides the framework for his Investment-Driven Model™ of fundraising. 

Tom is a frequent and highly acclaimed speaker, usually addressing topics revolving around the Investment-Driven Model™ for fundraising, outcome-based sustainability planning, and delivering value to nonprofit investors.