Annual Nonprofit Conference

In an ever-changing environment, nonprofit leaders must anticipate challenges and seize opportunities to remain resilient and mission-focused. This session explores practical scenario-planning and revenue-diversification strategies that strengthen financial sustainability and organizational adaptability. Through interactive discussion and real-world examples, participants will identify key questions to ask during the planning process, learn how to test financial assumptions, and leave with tools to help their organizations respond confidently to change—rooted in mission, ready to rise.

Presenter: Michele Tobiassen – Your Part-Time Controller
Michele Tobiassen is a financial management professional who partners with nonprofit organizations to improve fiscal health, streamline systems, and plan strategically for sustainable growth. She brings extensive experience in accounting, internal controls, and nonprofit finance leadership.

Growing organizations often find themselves building systems mid-flight. This session outlines the essential operational groundwork that supports stability and growth—from governance and financial controls to HR, communications, and infrastructure. Participants will learn practical steps to clarify processes, align roles, and strengthen internal coordination so their organizations can scale with confidence while maintaining culture and impact.

Presenter: David McGoy – Community Resource Exchange (CRE)
David McGoy is a Senior Consultant with Community Resource Exchange (CRE), where he partners with nonprofits to strengthen operations, governance, and resource development. Drawing on more than two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, he helps organizations build sustainable systems that advance mission and impact. A Certified Fund-Raising Executive and former nonprofit executive, David brings a practical, coaching-oriented approach to helping teams translate vision into structure and growth.

High-capacity donors do not just respond to a mission, they respond to leaders who authentically connect and lead intentionally. This session will explore the role of leadership in donor engagement, including strategies to deepen relationships and inspire major support for organizational growth.

Presenter: Chad Reyes – Lion’s Pride Leadership
Chad L. Reyes is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, coach, global speaker, author, and multiplier of leaders. Since 2003, he has worked with CEOs, entrepreneurs, business leaders, highly successful families, and the next generation of leaders to reach their full potential. His journey from declaring chapter 7 bankruptcy at twenty-one years old to influencing highly successful leaders all started with a vision for how he and his wife, Danielle, would one day ignite positive change in the world.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming nonprofit operations—from data and communications to fundraising and service delivery—but ethics and equity must lead. This session introduces the COMPAS Framework, a practical model for evaluating readiness and guiding responsible AI adoption. Attendees will explore how to weigh opportunities and risks, safeguard data integrity, and ensure technology decisions align with organizational values. Whether you’re AI-curious or cautious, you’ll leave with a clear roadmap for integrating tools that support your mission without compromising trust.

Presenters:
Joshua Peskay – Meet the Moment
Joshua Peskay is a nationally recognized nonprofit technology strategist with more than 30 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations strengthen systems, security, and resilience.
Jessica Peskay – RoundTable Technology
Jessica Peskay specializes in digital transformation for nonprofits, helping organizations align technology with strategy and implement sustainable, people-centered solutions.

An engaged board is more than oversight—it’s a catalyst for mission impact. This session will help nonprofit leaders and board members strengthen governance practices that inspire accountability, alignment, and results. Through real examples and practical frameworks, participants will gain tools to elevate their boards from passive oversight to active partnership in driving vision and sustainability.

Presenter: Claas Ehlers – Support Center
Claas Ehlers is the Director of Executive Transition at Support Center, where he leads initiatives in succession planning, leadership development, and organizational change. With over two decades in nonprofit leadership, he previously served as CEO of Family Promise, guiding the organization through a major growth period that tripled its reach, budget, and staff. His leadership in network development and national collaboration has been recognized by Bridgespan, HUD, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Claas has also advised Sesame Street in Communities and Charity Navigator and supports leadership transitions across the human services, housing, and education sectors. He is a founding board member of Elevate to Even+, which provides paid nonprofit internships for students from underrepresented communities.

Public Relations shapes your reputation. Media Relations shares your story. In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to craft a clear elevator speech, write a strong press release, and build effective relationships with local media. Drawing from real examples and award-winning strategies, Alex Lutz will walk you through the essential elements of PR messaging, from writing headlines that capture attention to managing challenges with transparency and credibility. You’ll leave with a practical toolkit and a one-page reference guide you can adapt for your next announcement, campaign, or media pitch.

Presenter: Alexander P. Lutz, Jr. — Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC)
Alexander Lutz oversees public and community relations for RUMC and serves as the hospital’s official spokesperson. His award-winning team has been recognized internationally for excellence in messaging, design, and impact. Previously Executive Director of Nonprofit Staten Island and a senior leader with the American Red Cross in Greater New York, he brings decades of experience helping organizations tell their stories with clarity, empathy, and purpose.

With up to five generations now working side by side, today’s nonprofit leaders must balance diverse communication styles, motivations, and values. This session explores how to build inclusive teams that honor experience while fostering innovation. Learn strategies to engage and retain staff across generations, strengthen intergenerational collaboration, and align workplace culture with mission and modern expectations. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to improve communication, mentoring, and management practices that sustain a thriving, multigenerational workforce.

Presenter: Allison Quigney – Public Works Partners
Allison Quigney leads Public Works Partners’ Organizational Health practice, helping nonprofits and public agencies design systems that strengthen collaboration, culture, and team effectiveness. She specializes in leadership development and adaptive management strategies that support people-centered workplaces.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at a real cyberattack on a healthcare system. Joseph Cuozzo will walk through the timeline from initial alert to full restoration, highlighting operational impacts, key decision points, and coordination across organizational leadership. He’ll close with actionable recommendations nonprofit leaders can use to bolster preparedness and resilience.

Presenter: Joseph Cuozzo – Richmond University Medical Center.

A Staten Island native, Joseph leads IT, telecommunications, and biomedical systems at RUMC and its affiliates, advancing strategic technology planning and cybersecurity readiness

Have something on your mind? Representatives from The Staten Island Foundation will be available for brief one-on-one conversations during the conference to hear from grantees and partners.
Appointment is required and must be scheduled in advance. Space is limited—reach out early to reserve your slot.

Dr. Joanne Gerenser has dedicated more than four decades to serving individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, beginning her work at Eden II in 1982 as a speech therapist. Today, she is recognized internationally as an expert, educator, and advocate in the field. She has served on numerous boards, advisory councils, and professional committees, and has authored publications and resources that have shaped best practices for autism services. Her leadership has fostered not only organizational growth but also a stronger, more connected network of supports for individuals and families on Staten Island and beyond.

As President of the College of Staten Island, Dr. Timothy Lynch has championed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while also leading transformative institutional change. Under his leadership, CSI significantly reduced its budget deficit, expanded academic excellence initiatives, and secured funding for vital campus improvements. A first-generation college graduate and accomplished historian, Dr. Lynch’s commitment to advancing access to education and elevating the voices of students and community members has strengthened CSI’s role as an essential anchor institution for Staten Island.

Mary Rafferty, Executive Director of Community Resources Staten Island, is a visionary leader with more than 30 years of experience in human services. Since taking the helm in 2020, she has guided the organization through strategic restructuring, restoring stability, expanding programs, and enhancing outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her dedication to person-centered services and her collaborative approach have made her a driving force for inclusive, responsive support systems across the borough.