Gregg Larson, Chair
Semi-retired, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Before retirement, Gregg Larson was responsible for the administrative and financial operations of a large infectious disease research network based at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The network conducted clinical trials at more than 200 locations in 35 countries, primarily focused on the treatment of HIV, Influenza and, more recently, Ebola. Prior to his work at the University, Gregg was Executive Director of an interstate compact commission and held environmental positions in Minnesota and North Dakota state governments and a private consulting firm. He has been a national officer in professional organizations, was a City Councilmember for nine years in Arden Hills, and has served on a variety of public and nonprofit boards. He and his partner are long-time supporters of the Council, and Gregg was a member of the Council’s Development Committee for many years.
Megan Genest Tarnow, Vice Chair
The Mobius Group
Megan Tarnow is founder and Principal of The Mobius Group, a QuickBooks-centric consulting practice focused on nonprofits since 2000. She is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) and an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, with a BA in Theatre from Gustavus Adolphus College. Megan is a member of the Intuit Trainer/Writer Network and an Account Manager with QuickBooks Made Easy. Megan coordinates the QuickBooks for Nonprofits meet-up, an affinity group of the Nonprofit Financial Group. She is crazy passionate about helping nonprofits capture and use their financial data, and is currently focused on the changes coming from the Cloud, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Mary Jo Schifsky, Secretary
GenSync LLC
Mary Jo has held several for- and nonprofit positions, most recently as executive director of Store To Door and including leadership roles at Target, Hazelden, and Pickle Product. She likes to build, lead, and manage successful businesses. After ten years as a nonprofit leader, Mary Jo left her role at Store To Door to explore another aspect of aging: Workforce development for mature workers. Mary Jo holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management and a BA from the University of Minnesota, as well as an Advocacy Leadership for Vital Aging Certificate from the University of Minnesota.
Carolyn Deters, Treasurer
Indelible Aging, Gifts for Seniors
Carolyn comes to the Council with extensive nonprofit administration, finance, and development experience. She is fiercely passionate about alleviating social isolation and leads the charity Gifts for Seniors as Executive Director. Through her consulting practice, Indelible Aging, she is striving to create innovative, inclusive social aging options. Carolyn earned her BBA from the University of St. Thomas, is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP), and is currently CFRE pursuant having completed the Fundraising Certificate Series at the University of St. Thomas. She considers herself an avid smart giver and actively supports the community by serving in volunteer roles with SHIFT, Community Involvement Programs, the Nonprofit Financial Group, and Evolve Adoption & Family Services.
Malissa Adams, Program Committee Chair
Stanton Adams Consulting LLC
Malissa Adams currently serves as COO for Stanton Adams Consulting LLC where she is a Senior Racial Equity Consultant. Malissa is a leader with over 15 years of experience working in the public, and private sector as well as the non-profit sector. She has worked with numerous organizations—within the Twin Cities and the broader US—to identify gaps in equity and access, and then to supply them with the tools needed to impact change. As a business consultant and professional development trainer, she brings robust and experienced guidance. Malissa received her B.A. in Business from Rasmussen College and is currently a Graduate student pursuing a Masters in Non-Profit and Public Administration from Metropolitan State University. Malissa has also served as an essential part working with other agencies in the Twin Cities to end homelessness. Malissa is most noted for her ability to motivate others, bridge gaps, and act as a conduit between organizations and underserved communities.
Sandra Agustin
Creative Consultant/Choreographer
Sandy has an extensive history of arts, social and racial justice, and leadership. She is a native Minnesotan, the youngest child of a Filipino immigrant and 5th generation Euro-Minnesotan. Since the age of 9, she has professionally performed and taught dance, later moving into arts administration as director at Intermedia Arts where she curated, fundraised, managed, and built relationships. She is a former co-artistic core member of Mu Performing Arts where she acted, directed, choreographed over 20 shows, and was an early member of the Asian American Renaissance. She has served as Artistic Director at the Neighborhood House and as Program Officer at the Minnesota State Arts Board helping Legacy dollars to flow into the State. She has been a facilitator-consultant conducting strategic planning to board development and has served on many nonprofit boards including the Minnesota Dance Alliance, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts/MCA, and the Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theatre Company. As a teaching artist through the Children’s Theatre Company, Sandy has been part of a critical in-school literacy program called Neighborhood Bridges and has helped develop curriculum for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old early learners. Sandy is currently a member of a new arts-based evaluation cohort through TerraLuna Collaborative and is an artist-in-residence working with individuals who have experienced drug or alcohol addiction and chronic homelessness.
Stacey Nelson-Kumar
Comcast
Stacey Nelson-Kumar serves as Director of Community Impact for Comcast Twin Cities Region where she is responsible for managing charitable giving and community partnerships in an effort to bridge the digital divide. She is also responsible for local implementation of the company’s national day of service, Comcast Cares Day, where more than 1,000 employees and family members volunteer on a single day, and for the region’s Employee Giving Campaign that benefits United Way. Stacey’s career in community relations spans nearly 20 years across several companies, industries, and geographies. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a dual master’s degree in Social Work and Business Administration where she was able to demonstrate her passion for the space where community organizations and for-profit businesses intersect. Stacey also holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family.
Courtney Poja, Governance Committee Chair
Cornerstone
Courtney Poja is the Director of Advancement at Cornerstone, a nonprofit serving families and individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. She received a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. In addition to her current service on the Council’s Board and Advancement Committee, Courtney volunteers with the Twin Cities Chapter of Social Enterprise Alliance and assists with fundraising for LegalCORPS’s Inventor Assistance Program, the first pro bono patent program in the country.
Ryan Stopera
Communications & Media Consultant
Ryan Stopera is a social worker, photographer, filmmaker, and educator. He has worked for over 10 years in human services including with individuals experiencing homelessness, children and families, and foster care youth, as well as in program development and affordable housing development. Ryan currently works at PRG, Inc. supporting their development and communications. He also teaches media workshops with youth and teaches in the social work department at Augsburg College. Ryan is driven by building a more just and equitable world by supporting individuals, organizations, and communities in their mission-driven work.
Stephen Thompson
Securian Asset Management, Inc.
Stephen Thompson is an investment officer with Securian Asset Management. Over a 33 year career with Securian, he has worked in consulting, technology, and investment positions. Stephen has an MBA and MS in software engineering. He has served in several volunteer positions with the YMCA Voyager parent-child program and with OTUG, a tech special interest group at the University of St. Thomas. He presently hosts two study groups on MeetUp.com: IdeaEcos for innovation and League of Extraordinary Algorithms for computational intelligence.
Lisa Zellmer
Women Venture
Lisa Zellmer is Senior Development Officer at WomenVenture where she manages corporate, foundation and government grants and partnerships supporting WomenVenture’s work. Previously, she was an independent consultant working with nonprofit leaders to build community partnerships, increase board engagement and plan for diverse and sustainable funding streams. She has served as Development Director for two Twin Cities nonprofits, Prepare+Prosper and Stages Theatre, where she managed all aspects of fund development. Lisa has degrees from St. Olaf College and the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota. Outside of work, Lisa spends time with family and friends trying new restaurants, going to movies and traveling whenever possible. She never gets tired of walking the Twin Cities lakes or better yet, the lakes and trails up north. Lisa is also on the board of the women-led ARCS Foundation Minnesota Chapter, another organization she admires.
