NPLI Staff (L-R: Nancy Heykes, Amanda Barth, Hope Schaefer, Andrea Peterson)

In May 2024, 18 nonprofit leaders embarked on a transformative twelve-month journey through our Leadership Institute. This year-long series of modules was designed to enhance their confidence and capabilities in critical areas such as leadership, management, technical skills, and governance. Covering topics from marketing and board governance to fundraising, finance, and ethics, this dedicated group of changemakers met monthly to share experiences, learn from one another, and grow as leaders in the nonprofit sector.

Their hard work culminated in a graduation celebration on Friday, April 11, 2025. Surrounded by fellow Leadership Institute alumni, community members, and guests, their achievements were celebrated, and their dedication to their missions was recognized.

The graduates of the 2024 – 2025 NPLI Leadership Institute Cohort are:

• Bob Adams – Executive Director, Foundations for Living
• Chantal Baseke – Co-Director, Hope and Help Together
• Ieva Engel – Executive Director, Oshkosh Area Humane Society
• Maria Guzman – Executive Director, CASA of the Fox Cities
• Sara Hanneman – Assistant Executive Director, Future Neenah
• Cathy Harvath – Executive Director, Fox Cares Foundation
• Hilary Haskell – Executive Director, CARES Fox Cities
• Hannah Keesler – Clinical Services Director, Samaritan
• David Mahan – Operations Director, Mission of Hope House
• Natalie Nelson – Executive Director, Women in Technology Wisconsin
• Carlos Salazar – Executive Director, Casa Hispana
• Erica Suchyta – Executive Director, Neenah Historical Society
• Lauren Sumnicht – Special Events Coordinator, Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley
• Leslie Thede – Program Support Specialist, Respite Care Association of Wisconsin
• Anne Van De Hey – Family Services Manager, Habitat for Humanity Oshkosh
• Jennifer Ven Rooy – Chief Operating Officer, Lakeside Packaging Plus
• Kiara West – Community Engagement Director, LEAVEN
• Molly Yatso Butz – Executive Director, Day by Day Shelter

Nancy Heykes, Retiring NPLI Coordinator

In addition to celebrating our graduates, we honored the retirement of Nancy Heykes, our esteemed Leadership Institute Coordinator and cherished friend. Nancy played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative and has been a steadfast support for Leadership Institute participants over the past nine years. While her regular monthly presence will be greatly missed, we are grateful that Nancy will return each March to teach the Legal and Ethics module, ensuring that future attendees will continue to benefit from her expertise and warm presence.

Our tenth cohort will commence in May with twenty nonprofit professionals participating. As we embark on the next decade, the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative remains dedicated to providing essential leadership development and learning opportunities to community nonprofits, empowering their staff and board members to more effectively achieve their missions.

Thank you to the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Thrivent, Community First Credit Union, United Way Fox Cities, Fox Valley Technical College, and the David L. & Rita E. Nelson Family Fund whose continued support helps make the Leadership Institute possible. NPLI would also like to thank the Theda & Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation for their scholarship support of our Oshkosh nonprofit participants.

Interested in learning more about Nonprofit Leadership Initiative? Visit us at www.npleadershipfv.org, or follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

You can view a list of upcoming NPLI events here.