2025 CAPLAW National Training Conference

Kenneth is the Director of the Boston Area Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He has sat on several Boards, such as the New England Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans and Quincy Asian Resources, Incorporated. He was a member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Regional Networking Group for Region 1 and served as a Commissioner on the Massachusetts Asian American Commission. Kenneth received awards for his professional and personal accomplishment that include an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Federal Asian Pacific American Coalition; EEOC District Director’s Awards; EEOC Chair’s Organizational/Core Awards; and an Unsung Hero Award from the National Organization of Chinese Americans. At the EEOC, Kenneth conducted training for new investigators and on topics that include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights; the Genetic Non-Discrimination Information Act; Fact-Finding Conferences; Pre-Determination Interviews; Human Trafficking; and, Cultural Awareness/Asian-American Pacific Islander. Kenneth immigrated to America with his parents from Taiwan when he was five-years of age and received his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. 

Betsey serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC), where she leads initiatives aimed at addressing poverty and improving the quality of life for individuals and families throughout the region. With over 28 years of leadership in public health and human services, Betsey has been instrumental in expanding CAPSC’s programs, fostering community partnerships, and driving innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of Strafford County residents. Under her leadership, CAPSC has grown to offer comprehensive services, including early childhood education, housing support, nutrition assistance, and workforce development programs. Betsey holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Boston University School of Public Health and is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. She brings extensive expertise in organizational development, public health policy, and non-profit management, coupled with a collaborative leadership style that builds strong community relationships and drives impactful, sustainable programs. In addition to her role at CAPSC, Betsey is deeply involved in regional and national leadership. She currently serves on the board of CAPLAW, the New England Community Action Partnership, and Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation.

Savanna Arral is a Staff Attorney at CAPLAW. She advises community action agencies nationwide on legal matters including corporate governance, federal government grant compliance, and tax-exempt law. Prior to joining CAPLAW, Savanna was an associate at Ropes & Gray LLP, where she advised public and private companies as well as institutional and strategic investors on a range of transactional and compliance matters related to employment, benefits, and tax issues. She also developed a pro bono practice focused on immigration, including naturalization and asylum. Savanna previously worked as a legal intern with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and is a graduate of Harvard University and Boston College Law School.

Craig is the Chief Financial Officer of Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation. With a career spanning leadership roles as both Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, he has gained extensive experience across multiple industries, including banking, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, business brokerage, and nonprofit. Known for his financial expertise and client-centered approach, Craig leverages his bachelor's degree in economics and MBA to help businesses navigate every stage of the business cycle with confidence. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Craig is deeply committed to his community. He has served as chairman of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Advisory Board and actively supports organizations such as Relay for Life, Knights of Columbus, the Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, and Lions Club International.

Aaron, a CCAP, Nationally Certified ROMA Advocate, and CAPLAW Board member, has been a part of Nebraska's Community Action network since 2005, and his passion for the history, impact, and always evolving work of our anti-poverty movement runs deep. He has served as Executive Director of Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) in Omaha, Nebraska since 2016. Aaron loves working with his team to improve the impact of ENCAP’s programs, collaborating with like-minded peers, and thinking big about the future. His CAA’s current priorities are raising funds to transform a former public library into a full-service choice pantry and community hub, building a coalition of seniors focused on increasing health equity, and launching an evidence-based matched savings program to help folks improve their financial health. Aaron holds a bachelor's degree from Hastings College and a master's in English literature from the University of Wyoming.

For more than 30 years, David has been one of Washington’s leading advocates on behalf of low-income programs. In 1981, David helped found the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF). As a private nonprofit organization funded solely by non-governmental contributions, NCAF represents funding and policy interests of the nation’s 1,000 Community Action Agencies before Congress and the Executive Branch. In this role at NCAF, David was the primary architect of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act. Besides the CSBG, David’s legislative activities include Weatherization Assistance, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start, and job training programs. In an age in which partisan gridlock is too often the norm, David has shown an uncanny ability to make poverty issues a concern to both parties. After facing elimination in the 1995 House Republican’s Contract with America, David was able to work with key House Republican leaders to ensure CSBG funding procured the largest percentage received of any domestic program in FY 1997. In his role at NCAF, David has also helped power CAPLAW and CAPPAC, a Political Action Committee. Prior to joining NCAF, David worked in Congressional Affairs at the Small Business Administration under President Jimmy Carter. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from George Washington University. In 1987, he was a Senior Executive Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. David’s mentor, Sargent Shriver, perhaps described David’s advocacy best when he wrote “no one has done more to keep the War on Poverty fresh in the hearts and minds of individuals than David Bradley.” 

Angie is the new Chief Executive Officer for South Central Community Action Partnership (SCCAP) in Twin Falls, Idaho as of January 2025.  She has worked for SCCAP for the past six years, starting out as a part time financial assistant for three of those years, Chief Operating Officer for a little over two years and now the Chief Executive Officer.  Before coming to SCCAP, Angie worked in Public School Finance where she managed finances for school districts. She has an MBA from Idaho State University, a bachelor's degree in business from Boise State University and an associate’s degree of arts and accounting from the College of Southern Idaho.

Catherine has served as a development and marketing leader since 1985, creating success for organizations large and small in multiple sectors. She excels at creating innovative strategies, and inspiring staff, volunteers and boards to achieve audacious goals. Catherine has worked at organizations of all sizes, including Community Action of Washington County, Oregon, raising millions of dollars to help address issues of hunger and homelessness, find cures to cancer and heart disease, and educate our next generation of leaders. Much of her career was spent in higher education where she helped create successful annual and capital campaigns at organizations including the University of Portland, Pacific University and Lewis & Clark College. Catherine’s experience in large and small organizations lends her a unique set of skills. She is trained in the best practices of major gift fundraising inside large capital campaigns and uses her creative abilities to bring those vital tools to organizations with small staffs and limited budgets. Catherine holds a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College.

Lee is a Senior Partner in the Law Firm of Davis & Hamrick  in Winston-Salem, N.C.  Lee received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from N. C. State University and his law degree from Wake Forest University.  He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of North Carolina, the U.S. District Courts for North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.  Lee represents individuals, corporate clients, and non-profit organizations in civil litigation and insurance claims. He argued the landmark case of Patterson v. McLean Credit Union before the United States Supreme Court.  Lee was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Wake Forest where he taught Advanced Trial Advocacy for 25 years. He is a  member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy faculty. Lee is a frequent planner of and speaker at Legal Seminars across the country. He has been a Certified Mediator since 1993. Lee is a Member of the N. C. Association of Defense Attorneys, the Defense Research Institute, The Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and other Bar Organizations. He has been the Chair of the Wake Forest School of Law Board of Visitors and served on many non-profit Boards. He is the proud grandfather of five girls.

Jacqueline is currently the Director of Professional Development for the National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (PMFO). She brings years of experience as director, project manager and training and technical assistance specialist for early care and education. She assumed a lead role in developing and publishing a suite of products for emerging leaders in early childhood, a series of interactive homelessness lessons for staff who work with families, and a suite of human resource modules. Jacqueline has continued her work as a principal contributor for the leadership messaging and human resources work that comes through PMFO. She has earned a master’s in public administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University. Recently, Jacqueline earned certificates from Cornell University in Strategic Human Resource Leadership, Leading Remote Teams, and Systems Thinking.

After graduating from Western Carolina University, Davis accepted a position at Mountain Projects Community Action Agency as Director of the Foster Grandparent Program in 1990. Traveling across seventeen states with seniors, including her own grandmother, helped her develop a keen sense of awareness for the needs of that generation. In 1998 she became Executive Director of Mountain Projects, an organization now in its 60th year. This represented a “full circle” milestone, as Davis had first encountered Mountain Projects as a child raised in poverty in Western North Carolina, when she enrolled as a Head Start Student years previously. Under Patsy’s leadership, the agency expanded many programs and leads relief efforts in Western North Carolina following a number of natural disasters. Patsy maintains many community board of director roles including, President of the N.C. Community Action Association Board, Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies, the Workforce Development Board, Jackson County Public Transit, and The Center for Domestic Peace. She makes her home in Waynesville, NC and has twice been named the Mountaineer Person of the Year for her work. In 2024 Patsy was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. Considered the state’s highest honorary society, the Order promotes its ideals of civic leadership and service.

Lucy is the Executive Director of the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute (SSPI). She is responsible for outreach and community building, and curates the digital and physical archives of the Institute. Lucy is part of the team that developed conflict resolution workshops tailored to community action agencies and has conducted both virtual and in-person training sessions in various states. As part of her archival work, Lucy discovered an unpublished memoir by Sargent Shriver that details his time as the Director of Economic Opportunity under President Lyndon Johnson. She has led the team that annotated and edited the manuscript, which will be published under the title We Called It a War by Apprentice House Press. Lucy is an experienced instructor and researcher who holds a Ph.D. in Italian studies from the University of Toronto.  

Amanda is a manager on Wipfli’s talent management consulting team with more than 12 years of experience in human resources. As a Senior Certified Professional in HR (SHRM-SCP), Amanda delivers a strategic and innovative approach to translating business visions into actionable HR initiatives. Her collaborative approach balances both an employee-centric perspective and understanding of the business’ needs. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Governors State University and an MS in human resource management from Roosevelt University. 

Gina is the Chief Operating Officer at Comprehensive Community Action Program, Inc. (CCAP) in Cranston, RI. With over two decades of experience in healthcare administration, Gina has played a pivotal role in overseeing and enhancing the operations of medical, behavioral health, and dental services within CCAP's Federally Qualified Health Center sites. Her expertise extends to compliance management, program integration, and the development of health information technology systems. Gina's healthcare career began at a CHAMPUS (now Tricare) Fiscal Intermediary, where she served in various roles concluding with Field Services Coordinator. She later transitioned to healthcare delivery sites where she honed her skills in medical and billing operations and IT troubleshooting. At CCAP, Gina has held multiple leadership positions, including Assistant Vice President of Ambulatory and Behavioral Health, Director of Operations, and Health Information Technology Administrator. Her contributions have been instrumental in maintaining compliance with JCAHO certification, NCQA accreditation, and Health Resources and Services Administration funding.

Her dedication to improving healthcare delivery and her ability to navigate complex operational challenges make her a respected leader in the industry.

Eleanor is Partner in the nonprofit practice at Hemenway & Barnes LLP. She has over 25 years’ experience representing community action agencies and other tax-exempt organizations in a diverse range of legal, governance and compliance matters. She provides practical advice on strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations in areas such as shared services and mergers, bylaws, government grants and data privacy and security. Prior to joining Hemenway & Barnes, Eleanor served as Executive Director/General Counsel of Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW) and as General Counsel of Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD), Boston’s Community Action Agency. She is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Smith College. 

Joel is the President and CEO of Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC), a nonprofit community action agency serving some of Missouri’s most impoverished counties. DAEOC employs over 400 individuals with an annual economic impact of over $150M. He is most proud of DAEOC's “outside of the norm” projects that have helped boost “quality of life” and “quality of place” in the Bootheel, including partnering with the Department of Defense to bring no-cost medical/dental/vision clinics to underserved communities, leading the creation of an adult education center, and launching a Center for the Arts. Joel has served as President of the Missouri Community Action Network's Board of Directors, President of the Missouri Community Action Executive Directors Association, President of the Region 7 Association of Community Action, and is currently the Treasurer of the CAPLAW Board of Directors. Joel earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration majoring in marketing at Southeast Missouri State University. He later returned to Southeast to complete the secondary education program in business education and master's work in secondary education administration. He also completed graduate work at Fachhochschule (University of Applied Science) Schmalkalden Germany focusing on international economics and German language and culture.

Brenda has been the Vice-Chairwoman for the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation for the past nine years and has served her community for the past 33 years in a variety of positions on the Tribal Council. She has been administering CSBG for her community since 2012 in order to provide emergency services to tribal members. For the past 10+ years, Brenda has served as Chairwoman of NAHAC (Native American Heritage Advisory Council), an organization tasked with ensuring that Native American ancestors and belongings can be returned to their ancestral homelands for repatriation. She is currently authoring a book on historical trauma within Native communities and co-producing the film What It’s Like to Be a Native in CT.

Steve Gross is a clinical social worker and the Founder of The Playmaker Project, a nonprofit dedicated to providing training, resources, and ongoing support for childcare professionals — enabling them to use the power of play to build healing, life-changing relationships with the children in their care. 

For over 30 years, Steve has pioneered innovative, play-based, trauma interventions for communities around the world. Steve’s work is rooted in his belief that play is the universal language of children and that adults must speak it fluently in order to help them heal, grow, and thrive. His unique approach has been instrumental for communities around the world facing large-scale trauma events. Steve’s work has been celebrated by international trauma experts and was featured as an example of how play can be used in therapy in the longtime #1 New York Times Bestseller, The Body Keeps the Score. 

Steve believes that how we care for our kids, especially our most vulnerable and wounded kids, will influence how far we evolve as a society. Join Steve in his mission to transform children’s lives by investing in the professionals who serve them. Learn more at lifeisgood.com/playmakerproject.

Denise has served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Community Action Partnership since December 2014. She has been with the Partnership since 2011 and served as Senior Director of Training and Technical Assistance and Interim Chief Operating Officer. Prior to her tenure at the Partnership, she was the CEO of the New York State Community Action Association and Sr. Vice President for Capacity Building for the New York Council of Nonprofits. Denise has more than 35 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, has served on several nonprofit boards of directors, and was an appointee to the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council in New York State. She started her Community Action career as a social worker with the Schenectady Community Action Program. She has a master’s degree in social work from the University at Albany where she was also a Fellow on Women and Public Policy at the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, and holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Valparaiso University.

Dawn is the Chief Executive Officer at the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAASNM), a position she has held since 2011. She is an outspoken advocate on issues that affect families and communities in New Mexico. At CAASNM, along with her team, she created and expanded several family centered initiatives. Under her leadership, CAASNM has garnered millions of dollars to advance family wellbeing and boost the economy. She holds an MBA from New Mexico State University where she also received her Bachelor of Business Administration, with distinction in university honors.

Keith is a partner at Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI). With 25 years of diversified CPA experience, Keith provides accounting, auditing and consulting services to governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations across the United States. As a part of the firm’s governmental and not-for-profit audit team, Keith participates extensively in audits of community action agencies, Head Start programs, and state and local government, specializing in the Single Audit Act and the OMB Uniform Guidance. Additionally, Keith provides accounting and consulting services to not-for-profit organizations in the areas of internal controls, budgetary compliance, indirect costs and cost allocation plans, tax planning and compliance, fiscal operations training and technical assistance, and board training. Keith regularly serves as a continuing education leader for CRI and is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA). Keith is a graduate of Troy University and an inductee to the Troy University Accounting Hall of Honor.

Teresa leads CLA’s national System Implementation Advisory practice within CLA’s client accounting and advisory services (CAAS) team. Teresa is a seasoned financial professional with over 30 years of experience. Her areas of focus include financial and operational department assessments, system implementations, financial analysis acquisition due diligence, and organizational re-structuring.  Prior to joining CLA, Teresa was in the CFO role across various industries. Teresa currently works with a variety of higher educational institutions and nonprofit industries: Affordable Housing, Human Services, Shelters, Foundations and Associations. She holds a BS from Salem State University.

Liz is executive director at MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota in the heart of three Ojibwe nations. Her commitment to upward mobility and wholeness is deeply rooted in her own personal odyssey out of poverty and trauma. For more than twenty years, she has led organizations and advocacy to be more inclusive and effective in creating opportunity for people. She serves on national, state, and local committees focused on service integration, leadership, and multi-generational strategies to end poverty and homelessness. She holds a BS in chemistry and an MA in political leadership. 

Ed is Counsel at the law firm Ballard Spahr LLP. His practice focuses primarily on the legal requirements that apply to employer-sponsored health and other welfare benefit plans. He helps clients implement programs to comply with rules under the Affordable Care Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act, HIPAA, COBRA, cafeteria plan requirements, and other federal and state laws. He assists clients with the design, implementation, and administration of health plans and initiatives, such as employee wellness programs. He negotiates contracts with plan vendors and assists in the drafting of plan documents and communications. Ed received his law degree from Harvard Law School and his undergraduate degree from Haverford College. 

Anita is a partner in the Nonprofit Organizations Law practice of Casner & Edwards, a Boston law firm which provides comprehensive legal advice to tax-exempt organizations and businesses and individuals involved in nonprofit matters. Her areas of legal expertise include nonprofit formation and affiliations, governance, fundraising, lobbying and political activity, tax exemption, employment, and government and foundation grants and contracts. Before joining Casner & Edwards, Anita served for fifteen years as both the General Counsel for Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Boston’s community action agency, and Executive Director of CAPLAW. In those positions, she advised, provided training, and wrote numerous articles and publications. She presented hundreds of in-person workshops and webinars across the national Community Action network. Prior to holding those positions, Anita was a senior trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice handling white collar criminal cases in federal courts in New England and practiced with the Boston firm Hill & Barlow and the Washington D.C. firm Steptoe & Johnson. Anita is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Cornell University.

Sharon is a Partner at Casner & Edwards, LLP and enjoys the challenge and creativity of advising nonprofit organizations on a wide variety of strategic matters related to their tax-exempt status, governance, and operations. In addition, she assists clients in matters directly involving the Internal Revenue Service, including audits and in Tax Court. Her clients range from small startup nonprofits to well-established charitable institutions. Sharon graduated from Dartmouth College (summa cum laude) and from Harvard Law School (cum laude), is licensed in both California and Massachusetts, and is admitted in Tax Court and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Katie is a trial attorney in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Boston office, and was previously a trial attorney in the EEOC’s Detroit office. Prior to joining the EEOC, Katie was an attorney at the Center for Civil Justice in Michigan, where she represented low-income individuals in federal class action lawsuits. She also worked as an attorney-advisor to the Enforcement Director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C. She has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate to children in foster care, is a graduate of Northwestern University and Ohio State University’s College of Law.

Daniel is a professor, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Dean's Distinguished Scholar at Boston College Law School. He specializes in property, telecommunications and internet law, and administrative law. He has written on cutting-edge administrative law issues and has participated in rulemaking proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission and several state regulators. Before joining BC Law, Daniel practiced at the firm of Munger, Tolles and Olson in Los Angeles. He also clerked for Judge Cynthia Holcomb Hall of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His work has appeared in legal journals such as the Emory Law Journal and in the popular press, including Forbes Magazine, US News and World Report, and the Wall Street Journal. He received his A.B. from Harvard College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Allison Ma'luf is Executive Director and General Counsel of Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW). She advises community action agencies on a wide range of legal issues, including board responsibilities, Head Start, employment law, and tax-exempt organization law requirements. Prior to joining CAPLAW, Allison practiced law as a corporate associate at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston, Massachusetts and Troutman Sanders LLP in Atlanta, Georgia where she represented public and private companies and nonprofit organizations in general corporate matters. She also completed a two-year appointment to the Staff Attorney’s Office at the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Allison received her undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University

Ronald Marlow serves as the Vice President, Workforce Development & Alternative Education at Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD). In this role, Ron oversees the development and delivery of workforce development and supportive services programs targeted to adults, young adults and youth; English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); two alternative education high schools ABCD operates in partnership with the Boston Public Schools — Ostiguy High and University High; and two one-stop career center systems, the MassHire Metro North Career Centers system; and the MassHire Boston ABCD Career Center system. 

Influenced by the policies and programs that have made his life’s journey possible, Ron has served in important roles in both the public and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining ABCD, Ron served as Vice President of Workforce Development for the National Urban League, Undersecretary for Workforce Development in the Executive Office of Labor and the Workforce Development (Massachusetts), and as Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity in the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (Massachusetts).

Ron’s service has led to his receiving a number of awards and honors, including the prestigious “Keeper of the Flame” award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

A proud alum of the Head Start program, Ron holds a bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree from Northeastern University.

Mark Mazon has over 30 years of experience serving in various leadership positions in local government and the nonprofit sector. His city management experience included oversight in the areas of court administration, human services administration, human resources, budgets, finance, and audits. Mark also served as President & CEO of one of the longest-standing nonprofit organizations in Arizona, offering services in charter school education and workforce development. As an Executive Coach, Mark worked with nonprofits on leadership development, board governance, and fiscal management oversight. Mark holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University.

As the Director of Community Investments Risk Management, Julia is responsible for overseeing the advancement of a portfolio of pre-stabilized LIHTC investments from construction loan closing through permanent loan closing and first year credit delivery. Julia has over 24 years of experience in the finance industry, holding positions such as a securities trader, a real estate professional, various analyst roles including business, systems, and financial, and prior to joining Evernorth, as an underwriter in the low-income multi-family industry. Julia holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. She has served on the boards of two non-profit organizations that served the LGBTQ community and woman's reproductive services. Julia lives in Concord, New Hampshire, and is based out of Evernorth’s Portland office.

Dr. O’Connell graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1970 and received his master’s degree in theology from Cambridge University in 1972. After graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1982, he completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). In 1985, Dr. O'Connell began fulltime clinical work with homeless individuals as the founding physician of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which now serves over 10,000 homeless individuals and families each year in two hospital-based clinics (Boston Medical Center and MGH) and in 30 shelters and outreach sites, and on the streets of Boston. With his colleagues, Dr. O’Connell established the nation’s first medical respite program for homeless persons in September 1985, with 25 beds in the Lemuel Shattuck Shelter. This innovative program now provides acute and sub-acute, pre- and post-operative, and palliative and end-of-life care in the freestanding 104-bed Barbara McInnis House. Working with the MGH Laboratory of Computer Science, Dr. O’Connell designed and implemented the nation’s first computerized medical record for a homeless program in 1995. 

From 1989 until 1996, Dr. O'Connell served as the National Program Director of the Homeless Families Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Dr. O’Connell is the editor of. His articles have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, Circulation, the American Journal of Public Health, the Journal of Clinical Ethics, and several other medical journals. 

Dr. O’Connell has been featured on ABC’s Nightline, CBS Evening News and in several feature-length documentaries including and . He has received numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award in 2012 and The Trustees’ Medal at the bicentennial celebration of MGH in 2011. Dr. O’Connell has collaborated with homeless programs in many cities in the USA and across the globe, including Los Angeles, London, and Sydney. Dr. O’Connell’s book was published in 2015 in celebration of BHCHP’s 30th anniversary. In 2023, Dr. O’Connell work was chronicled by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Tracy Kidder in Rough Sleepers, Dr. . Dr. O’Connell is president of BHCHP and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Jennifer is a Principal in CLA’s Nonprofit Assurance Practice. She has over eighteen years of experience working with nonprofit organizations to meet their compliance and financial reporting needs. Her areas of focus include social service organizations, health and human services organizations, associations, and arts and cultural organizations. Jennifer is also experienced in Single Audits, Uniform Financial Reporting, and providing consulting services on a variety of topics, including planning for risks and reserves, improving policies and procedures, and gaining efficiencies in financial reporting. She holds an MS/MBA from Northeastern University and a BA from the University of Massachusetts.

Michelle is currently the Chief Financial Officer for South Central Community Action Partnership (SCCAP) in Twin Falls, Idaho. She has worked with grant funded programs for over 30 years. She works extensively in the financial management as well as the administration of weatherization programs, Community Service Block Grants, Low Income Home Energy Assistant Programs, Mutual Self-Help Housing, other housing programs and other social services programs including Head Start. Michelle also helped SCCAP start a for-profit company which primarily makes weatherization services available to all residents in their service area. She has been providing financial management training and technical support to other non-profits for over 20 years.

Rick is a Partner and former Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Stinson LLP. He splits his practice equally between the labor and employment disciplines, and both counsels and litigates on behalf of clients. Rick also has considerable commercial litigation experience. He has appeared before numerous state and federal judges and administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Rick counsels clients daily in a variety of employment-related areas, including wage and hour, drug and alcohol testing, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), discrimination, hiring, discipline, separation, privacy, background checking, record keeping, and workplace violence. He also counsels clients on compliance with state and federal prevailing wage laws and transportation regulations. Rick frequently trains supervisors and employees on the basics of employment law, positive employee relations, and preventing workplace harassment and discrimination. He has been regularly selected for inclusion in both Super Lawyers® and Top 40 Employment Super Lawyers®. Rick received his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Arnold is Fiscal Team Lead for the National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (PMFO). He has over 44 years of Head Start experience at the local, state, regional, and national levels in grants management/administration, contract negotiations, community partnerships, governance, fiscal management, program planning/development, and human resource management. He has worked with Head Start Program Performance Standards from a service delivery standpoint, as a technical assistance provider, and an advocate for change. Arnold has directly operated programs and assisted agencies in meeting both program and fiscal compliance standard requirements. He received a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts, both from Arizona State University.

Caroline is an Associate at Nolan Sheehan Patten LLP, a law firm in Boston that specializes in affordable housing and community development real estate transactions. Caroline has experience representing nonprofit developers, public and private lenders, equity investors and syndicators in connection with complex projects involving various public and private funding sources. Before joining Nolan Sheehan Patten, Caroline was a Staff Attorney at CAPLAW and a corporate finance Associate at Ropes & Gray LLP.

Bio coming soon.

Chris serves as Sr. Associate-Weatherization Workforce Development with the National Community Action Partnership. In this role he works with community action agencies, national partners and educational organizations to advance career pathways across the work in weatherization efforts, as well as the broader clean energy sector. Prior to coming to NCAP, Dr. Small served as executive director of a small, rural agency where he implemented several risk assessment innovations and response models- both in pre-event planning, and post-event recovery. From 2001 to 2009 he served as chair of the risk assessment working group with the National School Boards Association, where programs were designed to assist in risk management efforts for over 15,000 public schools across the U.S. In addition, he served on the School Violence/Risk Assessment work group with the U.S. Secret Service from 1999 to 2001 in the immediate aftermath of the Columbine High School mass shooting event--one of the nation’s first such high profile risk events. He is an adjunct professor at two Midwest universities teaching leadership, policy analysis and risk management coursework both in the non-profit and public-school environments. 

Kay operates Kay Sohl Consulting where she has provided training and consultation for Executive Directors, CFOs, and Boards of Directors of over 8,500 nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. She focuses her work on rethinking nonprofit strategies for financial sustainability, Board financial oversight, compliance with federal funds management requirements, and the challenges of nonprofit accounting and financial reporting. She is a frequent presenter for state and regional coalitions of nonprofits, and continuing professional education programs for attorneys and accountants serving the nonprofit sector. She has worked extensively with Community Action Agencies, CAPLAW, and the National Community Action Partnership. Kay has authored multiple financial management toolkits for CAAs and other nonprofits, including resources for cost allocation, financial reporting, dashboard development, and the new OMB Uniform Guidance. She is a licensed public accountant and graduate of University of California at Berkeley. She has a master’s in teaching from Reed College and completed post-graduate work in accounting and business law at Portland State University.

Brian is Managing Director at Tipton KPCL in metro Atlanta, Georgia. Previously, he practiced law in Montgomery, Alabama, with Sasser, Sefton, Brown, Tipton & Davis, P.C., as a Shareholder. Prior to entering private practice, he completed a judicial clerkship with Senior United States District Judge James H. Hancock, of the Northern District of Alabama. His practice is concentrated in the representation of nonprofits and other tax-exempt organizations. He regularly represents Community Action Agencies and Head Start Programs in the areas of regulatory compliance, audits, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, and litigation. In addition, Brian consults with organizations on governance, human resources, programmatic, and corporate matters, and develops and presents training programs for nonprofits. He is a summa cum laude graduate of both the Louisiana State University and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.

Denes, a partner in Wipfli LLP’s nonprofit, government, and education practice, oversees audit engagements and consulting opportunities and works with clients to maintain compliance with laws and regulations. In addition, she trains nonprofits and government agencies in regulations, best practices, and governance. Clients appreciate the positive impact of Denes’s work and recommendations in helping them achieve their missions, improve their organizations, and the communities they serve. Denes earned her business administration and accounting degrees from University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Yasmina serves as Executive Director of the National Head Start Association (NHSA). As a seasoned leader in both executive and policy roles, her professional experience and capabilities have delivered improvements in the lives of children at the national, state, and local levels. Yasmina came to NHSA after several years as principal and founder of EDGE Consulting Partners. As the first Executive Director of the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (now Child Care Aware America), she led NACCRRA’s transition from an all-volunteer association of fewer than 200 child care resource and referral agencies to a powerful national network of 860+ community-based organizations. Under her leadership, NACCRRA organized the national grassroots campaign that was instrumental to securing the funding for child care in the welfare reform legislation. In State government, she had the opportunity to supervise Head Start research, administer the federal Dependent Care Grant and plan for New Jersey’s implementation of the very first Child Care and Development Block Grant. Yasmina currently serves on numerous advisory boards and is a member of the International Organizing Committee for the World Forum on Early Care and Education. Yasmina received her Master in Public Administration degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Minh is a Partner in the D.C. Office of Seyfarth Shaw and the leader of the ADA Title III Team at the firm. She has over thirty years of experience litigating cases in federal and state courts, and twenty years of experience defending clients in thousands of accessibility lawsuits and claims brought by individuals with disabilities under the ADA and similar state laws. One area of Minh’s expertise is defending claims and handling Department of Justice investigations involving allegedly inaccessible websites/mobile apps and advising clients on how to develop and implement digital accessibility programs and policies. Minh is a graduate of Columbia College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

David is a partner in the firm’s Philadelphia office and Chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Team, advising clients and formulating strategy for addressing the rapidly evolving challenges presented by the emerging role of AI in the workplace.  Dave’s work with AI is a natural outgrowth of his many years working at the intersection of technology and law. Since the 1990s, Dave has focused his practice on trade secrets, restrictive covenants and employment litigation, but with a particular emphasis on using legal innovation and evolving technologies to help achieve clients’ desired outcomes and enhance the delivery of services. He brings deep experience in labor and employment law, trade secrets, electronic discovery, privacy, data security and computer forensics to clients’ issues. A creative thinker and savvy negotiator, Dave devises cost-effective and pragmatic approaches to mitigate clients’ risks and achieve business goals. His trial work, especially in the area of trade secrets, has been nationally recognized. He has litigated numerous trade secret and restrictive covenant matters, as well as employment discrimination cases, ERISA disputes, and executive employment contract cases. He has secured mass-picketing injunctions and successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements. A Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), he frequently writes and speaks on legal technology, digital forensics, cyber law, e-discovery and employment litigation. He also recently obtained a Certification in Data Analytics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. David received his B.S.Ed. from Ithaca College and his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. 

Ted serves as the Managing Partner of the law firm Feldesman Leifer LLP and is a member of the Health Care and Federal Grants practice groups. Ted focuses his practice on helping organizations to solve problems, often in crisis situations. A national authority in the area of federal grants, particularly in the health and community service spheres, he advises clients on all aspects of program requirements, including issues such as cost-based reimbursement, governance and the never-ending list of grant administration matters. For over 35 years, Ted has counseled numerous health and community service organizations, negotiated with federal and state officials, and represented clients in front of state and federal courts, administrative tribunals, Offices of Inspector General, and federal agencies. Ted has extensive experience advising Boards and senior leadership in organizations undergoing major management changes, often in high-profile situations. He also serves as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School. Ted graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Alex is a Principal in ML Weekes & Company, PC located in Guilford, Connecticut. For over 30 years, he has provided a variety of services to assist clients who receive grants and contracts from federal agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH), Office of Naval Research (ONR), Department of Labor (DoL) and the Department of Defense (DoD). He assists in the evaluation, interpretation and implementation of procurement and administrative regulations related to government grants and contracts. He has extensive experience with the federal regulations and guidelines governing NIH and DoD grants and contracts including the Federal Acquisition Regulations and 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance). Alex has served many Hospitals, Not-for-Profits, and Colleges and Universities with various federal grant and contracting matters. He specializes in assisting clients with optimizing direct and indirect cost reimbursement while minimizing compliance risk. His experience and services include the preparation and analysis of Facilities and Administrative (F&A) and indirect cost rates and the negotiation of these rates with government representatives. He is recognized nationwide for his expertise on direct and indirect cost recovery. Alex earned his accounting degree from Plymouth State University. 

Dr. Williams is the Medical Director at Mattapan Community Health Center (MCHC), where she has served since November 2020. Board-certified in both Family and Addiction Medicine, she began her career at MCHC as a full-time Family Physician and later served as Director of Population Health, leading care management and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Williams is a member of the HIV treatment and Office-Based Addiction Treatment teams and founded the Health Center’s Hepatitis C treatment program. Her background includes health policy research at The Urban Institute, focusing on Medicaid expansion and coverage analysis. She earned her BA from Colby College and her MD from Jefferson Medical College, where she was a National Health Service Corps Scholar. She completed her residency at Boston University Medical Center and South Boston Community Health Center.

Cheryl is Executive Director of the National Association of State Community Service Programs with more than 20 years of public policy and operations experience in the federal government and nonprofit sector. As Vice President of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute, she provided strategic leadership to bring together women policymakers and trusted partners to advance issues important to women and girls, develop the next generation of women leaders, and foster a more effective and representative democracy. Previously, Cheryl served as Associate Director of Government Affairs for the United Negro College Fund, where she advocated on behalf of historically black colleges and universities and to increase access to higher education for students with low incomes. As senior legislative assistant to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, she was a trusted advisor on voting rights, women’s health, labor and employment, education, and appropriations, among other issues. A native Washingtonian, Cheryl serves on the boards of Everyone Home DC and the CKA SAVE Project. She also is a longtime volunteer with Food and Friends and SisterMentors. She earned her bachelor's degree from Spelman College and her law degree from American University. 

Jennifer is General Counsel at ABCD based in Boston, MA. In 2012, Jennifer joined the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families as a Presidential Management Fellow. In 2015, she moved to HHS’s Office of General Counsel, litigating Medicare, Medicaid, Federally Qualified Health Center, Head Start & employment matters. Jennifer graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University College of Law as a member of the Order of the Coif. 

Luther is Office Managing Shareholder and Assistant Director of Client Training at Ogletree Deakins. He spent the first several years of his legal career practicing in the general litigation area before joining the Labor & Employment team. He has significant experience in the areas of labor and employment law, corporate business litigation and complex litigation, including class action and collective action lawsuits. He typically represents management in all forms of employment discrimination litigation, including litigation based on federal anti-discrimination statutes, state statutes and common law, violence in the workplace, Fair Labor Standards Act claims and independent contractor disputes. Luther is a member of Ogletree’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Team that provides timely client advice and guidance on diversity related matters. Luther also devotes a significant amount of his practice to day-to-day client advice, general supervisor/employee training, training and advising on diversity and inclusion issues and workplace violence issues, and also acts as the Assistant Director of Client Training as part of the Ogletree Deakins Learning Solutions (“ODLS”) team. ODLS provides employee and supervisor training in a variety of formats, including in-person training, training by webinar/webcasts and customized video training products. Luther is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University School of Law.