What a day!

Thank you to each of our sponsors who made this year’s NPLA a success!

And a special thanks to everyone who attended, asked stellar questions and connected with us.

We appreciate everything you’re doing to build up our community!

Scroll down to check out the presentations from this year’s speakers.

Dr. Shaffer has held executive level positions with both the United Way of Metro Atlanta and the Fulton County School System. He is currently founder of The Mental Health Concierge, LLC in North Fulton County specializing in relationship coaching and mental health counseling for adults. 

Prior to opening his private practice, Dr. Shaffer worked with the Fulton County School System for seventeen years as a school counselor, assistant principal, principal, executive director for school counseling, social worker and graduation coaches, and area superintendent supervising 30 principals K-12, with a combined budget of more than 285 million dollars. Dr. Shaffer also worked as Vice President for Education with United Way with a budget of more than 15 million dollars and supporting more than 50 non-profits in the metro Atlanta area. 

Dr. Shaffer earned a BBA degree in Business Administration, with a major in Management and Finance from National University in San Diego, California, a Master of Science degree in Counseling from San Diego State University, and a Doctor of Education degree in School Improvement & Leadership from the University of West Georgia. Dr. Shaffer is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Professional Counselor Supervision, and a Private Pilot. Dr. Shaffer can also be heard on 104.1 radio, the Frank Ski morning show with Nina Brown where he provides parents and adults with expert advice for daily challenges.

Vic McCarty serves as Chief Community Engagement Officer at Hemophilia of Georgia.  Vic has been with HoG for almost 15 years.

In this role, he manages:

• Client Engagement Events and Activities 
• HoG community fundraising efforts and events
• The communications department – oversees the HoG website content, social media and brand awareness marketing and collateral materials.  

Since 2000, Vic has been involved in nonprofit organizations and fundraising, where he has created signature fundraising events, managing budgets and timelines, and working closely with Board of Directors, planning committees and volunteers.

In addition, Vic has a strong background in building events in statewide market areas. He possesses extensive knowledge, skills, and expertise in the areas of event planning and coordination of event logistics and building relationships with donors and stakeholders.

Vic also has a strong background in strategic and visionary planning, engaging community stakeholders, securing charitable support from corporations, and providing training to event support teams. He has worked with business executives, community leaders, and staff on creating and implementing fundraising events as well as developing vision plans and timelines for events. In fact, Vic created the Trot to Clot 5K & Walk event for Hemophilia of Georgia!

Vic resides in Marietta with his wife, Shanie, and their two kids. His son, Dalton, attends Kennesaw State University and his daughter, Chelsea attends Hillgrove High School in West Cobb.

Tim Clark is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming lives. As President & CEO of TreeHouse, he is leading a nationwide movement to unleash hope in teens through mentorship and support.

Previously, Tim served as CEO of Urban Ventures, empowering families through education and employment, and as Chief Investment Officer at CarVal Investors, a global investment firm. He is also a longtime advocate for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, serving in leadership roles with JDRF after his daughter’s diagnosis.

With an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a background in finance and psychology, Tim blends business acumen with nonprofit leadership to expand TreeHouse’s reach—ensuring every teen knows they are lovable, capable, and never alone.

Maggie DeCan stepped down on October 5th, 2024 as the CEO & E.D. of the Children’s Development Academy (CDA), providing high-quality early education to children from low income families to publish her first book, Humbled on Purpose. She will focus on speaking, coaching, consulting and writing about early education, mental health and women in leadership. 

Before leading the CDA, DeCan was the President & Chief Operating Officer at The HoneyBaked Ham Company, LLC, where she led 500 stores and  over $500M in revenue. Prior to HoneyBaked, she held operational and HR leadership roles Circuit City, Belk and Macy’s. 

Known for serving those who serve the customers, she has been recognized by the National Diversity Council, as a most power woman, Womenetics with their P.O.W award, with the Turknett Character in Leadership Award and The Georgia PTA for Visionary Leadership.  

Ms. Hardage joined Jesse Parker Williams Foundation in 2016 after serving 17 years in healthcare marketing and development at a metro-Atlanta based community hospital, a spinal cord and brain injury specialty care and rehabilitation hospital and a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center, specifically designated to care for individuals living in homelessness. This broad experience informed understanding of the complex nature of our healthcare sector, how it is financed and the access issues that come with complex care and healing; especially as it relates to marginalized members of our community. 

The mission of Jesse Parker Williams Foundation is to support highly effective organizations that emphasize preventive, comprehensive health opportunities and enhance access to health services for women and children. The Foundation supports individual and population health programming with priority given to programs addressing health equity and social determinants of health in community-based services. The Foundation support addresses prevention, primary care, and mental health services strengthening integrated care models that remove systemic barriers to advance health equity and reduce health disparities for women and children in Metro Atlanta.

Cynthia E. Currence has worked with large nonprofit organizations for over 30 years. She was VP for Brand Strategy and Marketing for the American Cancer Society and more recently led corporate engagement operations for World Vision and Children International. She has a proven track record of creating powerful partnerships that go far beyond simple “check” for “halo” transactions. 

Currence’s relational approach to defining partner needs and co-creating shared value has produced innovative solutions and impactful results in cancer prevention, women’s economic development, childhood poverty, and more. With her teams, she has generated more than $100 million in partnerships with investors and major companies. The insights in this book are rooted in her expert knowledge of brand strategy and marketing and in her deep belief in the power of connection.

Currence has chaired national nonprofit marketing conferences, lectured internationally on cause marketing, and served on boards for the American Marketing Association Foundation, Institute of Management Consultants, and NetHope.

Tim Clark is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming lives. As President & CEO of TreeHouse, he is leading a nationwide movement to unleash hope in teens through mentorship and support.

Previously, Tim served as CEO of Urban Ventures, empowering families through education and employment, and as Chief Investment Officer at CarVal Investors, a global investment firm. He is also a longtime advocate for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, serving in leadership roles with JDRF after his daughter’s diagnosis.

With an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a background in finance and psychology, Tim blends business acumen with nonprofit leadership to expand TreeHouse’s reach—ensuring every teen knows they are lovable, capable, and never alone.

A Georgia native, Brian Abernathy’s nonprofit career began in Gwinnett County, and he has been engaged in nonprofit programming and fundraising activities in communities across the northeast metro area. A graduate of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2019, Brian has seen first-hand the community and economic development dynamics that are shaping the future of the Peach State. From education and healthcare to mentoring and human services and everything in between, Brian has worked with nonprofits of all types and sizes to secure funding to deliver outcomes that are transforming communities.

As General Manager for Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, Brian leads Convergent’s team of seasoned fundraising professionals providing services to clients around the country. In his 20-plus-year career working with nonprofits Brian has spent the past nine years in capital campaign management, and has helped raise more than $150M.

Pam Reid has over 20 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry and has an extensive background in nonprofit leadership and fundraising that spans an additional 20. 

She has successfully started both for-profit and nonprofit businesses, creating impactful programs and fundraising indicates that remain active today. Pam is a certified DISC trainer and a three-time best-selling author. Pam serves on nonprofit boards in her local community and is a graduate of Leadership Fayette. 

Currently, she serves as a Senior Funding Strategist with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, responsible for overseeing fundraising services in the metro Atlanta area, bringing her strategic vision and experience to drive sustainable growth. Pam is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren.

Antoine Boynton, Sr., is the Vice President for External Affairs and Institutional Advancement at Athens Technical College. He has over 18 years of experience developing targeted marketing campaigns for organizations in financial services, airline, higher education, and governmental industries. With expertise in social media, Antoine uses that experience to reach, attract, and convert customers.

A graduate of Georgia Southern University (B.B.A.) and Western Governors University (M.B.A.), he has focused on his passion for education and non-profit organizations. Antoine has used the knowledge gained through his degrees well. He has developed and implemented social media campaigns that have increased awareness and engagement — ultimately leading to conversion actions taken. Most recently, he has garnered recognition by being nominated and selected to participate in the Spring 2024 Cohort of the Internal Management Academy.

When he is not at work, Antoine enjoys spending time with his family and friends, golfing, traveling worldwide, and listening to his vinyl record collection.