Clark Gafke, Chief Executive Officer
Clark Gafke enables nonprofit institutions to attract and motivate donors to achieve the organization’s strategic goals.
He helps the organization’s senior leadership evaluate and design strategic fundraising plans in the context of contemporary giving trends. He also assists the organization’s development staff to implement the plan through the design and conduct of specific communication initiatives for Capital and Annual Fund programs.
Clark’s experience enables him to provide guidance on using appropriate channels to reach prospects and donors in ways they want to communicate – face-to-face, special events, peer peer-to-peer texting, calling programs, direct mail efforts, email campaigns, crowdfunding & giving days, online technologies, digital communications, text-to-give, text-to-pledge and a host of other mobile channels.
In his 30+ years providing fundraising counsel, Clark has served more than 260 organizations in the US and Canada representing education, healthcare, arts, museums, zoos, aquariums, public broadcasting and membership organizations. In the process, he’s trained and coached more than 11,000 communicators.
Beyond this direct service to organizations, he is a frequent speaker at fundraising conferences including NCDC, CASE, AFP, PSI, GEAC and on many college campuses. He is Past President of the Las Vegas AFP Chapter, a former national delegate, and Past Chair of the chapter’s Education Committee and Every Member Campaign. Clark is also a CASE Currents contributor.
Clark began his fundraising work as a student caller in the alumni annual fund program at the University of Missouri. After graduation, he worked at the National 4-H Council in Washington, DC. Clark has served as Vice President and Senior Consultant for a variety of consulting firms.
He created the first online caller training program for colleges and universities and served as Dean for 21 PHONE/MAIL 101 workshops.
He is an avid supporter and volunteer for 4-H. Both Clark and his wife were named to the University of Missouri Extension Leaders Honor Roll for their long-term commitment and support. Clark resides near St. Louis, MO and enjoys fishing and traveling with his wife and their two daughters.
Clinton Crow, Chief Operating Officer
Clinton Crow embodies LEAD’s “Client’s First” philosophy as he helps LEAD partners combine the art and the science of fundraising in ways that connect hearts and minds to an organization’s mission. Clients know him for his positive attitude, enthusiasm and laser-focus attention to their institution’s specific needs. Additionally, they learn from Clinton that giving is personal. He helps package their organization’s inspiration through various giving channels that drives prospects to become part of a greater whole.
As a first-year student at Alma College in 1992, a phonathon sign caught his attention. He applied, was hired, and named the school’s top student caller four years in a row. He also showed a talent for coaching and training as he held the positions of Mentor Caller, Student Assistant, and Student Supervisor.
Since Alma, Clinton has spent nearly three decades helping nonprofits maximize their fundraising potential. His specialties are the pillars of development operations – leadership Annual Giving, sustaining gifts, employee giving, philanthropic awareness campaigns, tribute and reunion campaigns, and communication channels designed for phone, direct mail, digital, and fulfillment outreach.
Clinton’s professional responsibilities have included the management of complex fundraising operations involving 40 active fundraising campaigns at any given time. He also oversaw 125 calling stations that served healthcare, community organizations, PBS stations, and museums to name a few.
Additionally, Clinton has provided direct counsel and guidance to over 100 nonprofit organizations. He is a member of AFP, and resides in Grand Rapids, MI with his husband and their dog, Duke. His passions are travel, music, and any time he can be with family and friends across the country.
Angie Myers, Vice President of Operations
Angie built her career around fundraising. She has over 25 years of fundraising experience, specifically in higher education. Her professional life began at the Geisinger Foundation in Danville, PA and, as her passion for development and fundraising grew, she moved into higher education.
Angie provides leadership in the development and implementation of all Annual Giving activities including direct mail, employee campaigns, student philanthropy initiatives, digital fundraising and student engagement/philanthropy phonathons. Through her strategic data skills and analytics, she identifies giving trends and develops various approaches to ensure each Annual Giving metric achieves success.
Angie’s professional tenure has her providing consulting services to higher- education institutions as she creates Annual Giving strategies for domestic and international organizations. These organizations have benefited from her advice on realigning processes as well as reviewing data, segmentation, and ask strategies across all channels with a critical eye.
She’s served as a member of the Parents Leadership Council at Bloomsburg University and is a member of CASE and the Annual Giving Network. Angie also received the 2020/2021 NEAGC Diane Thompson Award for her work in her practice and commitment to the Annual Giving profession.
Angie lives in Northumberland, PA and married her high school sweetheart. They have two grown children.
Doré Medina, Senior Communications Consultant
Doré has 20 years of experience in business administration and development. Her focus is on streamlining process flow, aligning goals, and providing robust support.
Doré moved into philanthropic fundraising in 2008 and has since provided stewardship and support for an array of industries. Her diverse background includes working within the nonprofit sector and service industry, specifically hospitality, travel and vacation, banking, and mobile gaming.
Doré’s expertise spans human resources, communications, social media, copywriting, marketing, CRM management and reporting, streamlining administrative governance and organizational procedures. In doing so, Dore has facilitated various Board activities, C-Suite Communications, and large-scale events such as the LPGA Tournament of Champions in Orlando, FL.
A proud Miner from the University of Texas at El Paso, Dore served as an officer in the UTEP Business Professionals of America. Her current passion project is hosting networking events in support of local female artists and entrepreneurs.
Doré’s other passions include homeschooling her two children and being a wife who enjoys kayaking and hiking with her family.
Kate Brennan, Senior Consultant
Kate’s development journey began as an undergraduate Psychology student at Saint Louis University (SLU). She soon developed a passion for higher education development and started her fundraising career just two weeks after graduation.
As Director of Annual Giving at SLU, Kate restructured the department, doubled the size of the team, and was instrumental in creating the Development Communications department. Kate recently led her team through the University’s largest campaign in history, closing in June 2022 at $604 million, $104 million over the goal.
Kate’s experience includes direct mail and digital appeals, leadership giving, giving days, crowdfunding, student philanthropy, reunion, and affinity fundraising, as well as parents and faculty and staff giving programs. Her strategic planning and project management skills allow her to build and execute a robust multi-channel annual plan that maximizes segmentation.
Kate also proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Family Health Council. As the current board Secretary and chair of the Fundraising Committee, Kate is working with MFHC to build an individual fundraising program. From the fundraising feasibility study, to creating job descriptions and goals, Kate has supported and mentored the organization throughout the entire process.
Kate served as co-host for the first LEAD Connections Annual Giving Conference. In 2020, Kate continued co-hosting the LEAD Connection Minis, a series of interactive webinars covering a variety of fundraising topics. Kate is also a frequent presenter at CASE.
Kate lives in Saint Louis, MO with her husband, P.J., and son, Jude. The Brennan family loves Sunday morning pajama dance parties, using their imaginations with Legos, and visiting the many wonderful parks and museums Saint Louis has to offer.
Julie Kraft, Senior Consultant
With 26 years of experience in higher education, Julie has dedicated 23 of those years to Advancement
Services and fundraising, making a significant impact on development and alumni relations efforts. She
is deeply committed to supporting the mission of higher education institutions by assisting them with
their philanthropic efforts.
Julie’s passions include leading initiatives that help secure vital funding and foster lasting donor
relationships. She also appreciates when she can build strategic partnerships and drive institutional
growth through philanthropy.
With an extensive Advancement data background, she’s seen institutions through multiple database
conversions, and is intimately familiar with Raiser’s Edge / NXT, and Jenzabar One software programs.
Julie brings this expertise as a Senior Consultant at LEAD, focusing on data integrity and the effectiveness
of LEAD’s clients’ fundraising efforts through analyzing results.
When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Charles, and two sons Charlie and
Spencer. Julie is also a voracious reader, truly enjoying the writings of Diana Gabaldon and Nora Roberts. She has also carried on the family tradition of sky-diving as a hobby.
Jarred Carey, Visual Designer
Jarred comes to LEAD with a passion for teaching, education, and non-profits.
He is a passionate graphic artist with over 10 years of experience who believes in the transformative power of visuals. With a deep love for creativity and storytelling, Jarred is dedicated to bringing ideas to life through the magic of art and design. His work combines artistic expression and thoughtful communication, resulting in visually compelling narratives.
Jarred has a keen eye for aesthetics, diverse skill sets, and enjoys all things design-related. He is dedicated to crafting visually appealing solutions that make an impact.
In addition to the time spent designing fundraising materials for LEAD’s clients, Jarred is a pageantry arts designer and designs anything from Color Guard Costumes, Marching Band Uniforms, Flags, Vinyl Props and large scale marketing materials. Jarred currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana where he enjoys spending time in the gym and exploring the city and all of the things Indy has to offer!
Alicia Barnes, Senior Consultant
Alicia brings to LEAD over 20 years of Annual Giving experience working in both Independent School and Higher Education Advancement operations. Alicia is skilled in multi-channel fundraising, volunteer management, call center operations, and in the utilization of social media in relationship building and fundraising.
Alicia most recently oversaw the Annual Giving program at Shady Side Academy. Under her direction, the program exceeded its $7 million goal as part of the overall $35 million comprehensive campaign. Alicia also integrated several successful direct mail, telemarketing, digital, and peer-to-peer appeals.
Prior to working at Shady Side Academy, Alicia was the Director of Annual Fund at Saint Vincent College for 13 years where she also received her Bachelor of Arts’ degree.
Alicia resides in Murrysville, PA with her beloved Labrador retriever. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Amy Amason, Senior Consultant
Amy has spent her career working with nonprofits in the areas of fundraising, alumni relations, communications, and government affairs. Her breadth of experience includes higher education, healthcare, arts, social services, and religious organizations across the country.
She is passionate about the role of philanthropy and volunteers in the nonprofit sector. Amy has directed capital campaigns from $8 million to $500 million, each having a significant impact on the organizations and the people they serve.
Amy has provided training for staff and volunteers while also offering guidance for annual giving, stewardship, major gift start-up programs, ongoing strategies for engagement and solicitation, and prospect management. She also served as a grant evaluator for the National Endowment for the Humanities Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants.
Amy serves as chair of the Stewardship Commission for the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri and volunteers for several non-profits in the Springfield, Missouri area.
A resident of Springfield, Missouri, Amy and her husband, Craig, enjoy outdoor opportunities like kayaking and hiking in the Ozarks. Amy and Craig have two grown sons who live in Georgia.
Todd Miller, CEO, and Founder of Parlance
After several successful start-ups, working at a few Fortune 500 companies, and two-thirds of the way through a PhD in Computer Science, Todd created Parlance, a LEAD-owned company, to fill a need… to fill a need at his childrens’ school. While volunteering to ask fellow parents for donations to the school’s annual fund campaign, Todd found text messaging worked better than calls or emails. He also noticed the labor intensive process the advancement office used to manually update spreadsheets provided to volunteers and track results. After helping them evaluate off-the-shelf options, he realized that no solution truly fit the needs of academia and certainly not at a price schools could afford. It was then that Todd set to creating the first peer-to-peer texting system designed specifically for independent schools. A couple years later, COVID hit and Todd evolved Parlance into a full-fledged calling solution, enabling schools to remotely run successful phonathons. He continues to lead and tailor Parlance to fit the evolving demands of fundraising faced by academic institutions, while being a husband and father to his four children.
Tola Oguntoyinbo
Tola Oguntoyinbo is the CEO and Founder of ShineBig, a LEAD-owned company. ShineBig is an instant video survey platform that allows users to ask questions and receive answers via video. This platform energizes above and beyond a standard survey and gets the target audience to engage on a whole new level.
Tola is a Park Fellow graduate of the University of North Carolina’s School of Journalism and Media. He’s received grants for developing media-focused applications from both the Knight Foundation and the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.
Tola is currently an executive committee board member of his hometown Chamber of Commerce, the Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce in North Carolina where he resides with his wife. Their two youngest children are still with them at home while his oldest is at Bowdoin College.
Roger Gafke, Senior Consultant
Roger Gafke provides training and program planning, development and evaluation services to LEAD clients.
Roger assists executive-level administration in creating partnerships with corporations, foundations, associations and individuals who share the organization’s priorities. He also specializes in staff training and organization communications by use of the Internet and related digital technologies. He has created audio, video, and Web-based training programs, commercial Web sites, Web and email solicitation projects, newsletters, articles and other print support pieces.
These approaches grow from some five decades of experience in Institutional Advancement as a faculty member of the Missouri School of Journalism. He has served the University as Vice Chancellor for Advancement, Associate Dean of Journalism, Department Chair, and Director of Program Development for the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.
In these roles, Roger supervised his first phone program as a Department Chair in 1980. As Associate Dean in the early ’80s, he led the successful solicitation for the first two endowed professorships at the University. In the ’90s, serving as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, his team doubled the number of donors and dollars coming in annually to the University and successfully completed the University’s first comprehensive capital campaign. During his tenure at Mizzou, Roger has raised over $100,000,000, securing several seven-figure and two eight-figure gifts.
Before joining the faculty in 1968, he served as a radio news director, newspaper city editor, and public information officer for the U.S. Air Force as a political science instructor. At the University, he was Vice Chancellor for Development, University and Alumni Relations from 1984 to 1994 and Executive Director of the Accrediting Council on Education for Journalism and Mass Communications from 1983 to 1985.
Roger received a Bachelor of Journalism and a Masters of Arts degrees from the University of Missouri and holds professional accreditation from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and from Langevin Learning Services.
Roger resides in Columbia, MO, and enjoys dog training and traveling with his wife of 55 years.’
Peter Moes, Information Officer
Peter Moes brings over a dozen years of development experience to his role, with the majority of those years working in or leading Annual Giving operations. His experiences include non-profit, healthcare, and higher education fundraising as well as time spent traveling the country as an Annual Giving consultant. Peter’s ability to implement fundraising best practices by maximizing resources and using data to inform decisions has helped build strong Annual Giving programs.
Currently, Peter serves as the Chief Development Officer for United Way of Salt Lake. In his role, he facilitates all aspects of resource development for an organization transitioning away from a traditional United Way pass-through fundraising model to one focused on relationship-based fundraising and individual giving.
Prior to joining United Way of Salt Lake, Peter served as the Director of Annual Giving for the University of Utah where he oversaw the University’s Leadership Annual Giving Society and the central Development Office’s Annual Giving efforts, including assessing results and advising campus areas on their specific Annual Giving strategy.
He received a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina. Peter began his career in Student Affairs where he became involved in student philanthropy, which ultimately shaped his future career path.
Peter resides in Salt Lake City, UT with his wife, daughter, and two dogs Sophie and Stella.
Lila Gracey, Senior Consultant
Lila’s fundraising accomplishments span many State and National organizations. In addition to serving the Democratic National Committee as a major-donor fundraiser, she was the Director of Donor Resources working with our country’s largest individual donors for equality at the Gill Foundation. Lila also worked with the Women’s Foundation of Colorado as the first Program Director. She has established grant-application and grant-review procedures, identified programs for funding and worked to establish more equal partnerships between foundations and nonprofit organizations.
Lila’s US Foreign service includes serving Ambassador Swanee Hunt in Austria and in the United States for several years heading her political and business activities. In addition she managed a professionally diverse staff and guided grant-making initiatives for The Hunt Alternatives Fund in mental health, housing and homelessness, the expansion of reproductive options for women, and poverty programs.
Lila’s professional experience also includes directing grassroots advocacy efforts, managing high-level social policy initiatives, and developing programs and direct services. Lila has a broad background in politics that includes serving as scheduler for Governor Richard Lamm of Colorado. She served for six years in the Mennonite Voluntary Service. She helped create and operate programs for people experiencing homelessness as well as founding and directing a national advocacy organization aimed at reform of the criminal justice system. In addition, she worked with people experiencing major mental illnesses at a community mental health center.
Lila’s leadership skills developed through a variety of challenging positions: in the public and nonprofit sectors, as a donor, an entrepreneur, a management executive, a volunteer, a team member, and as a consultant. She has an unyielding commitment to help build strong communities through partnerships among government, nonprofits, philanthropists, and corporate entities. She is formally educated in Psychology. Lila resides in Denver, CO and enjoys walking, reading and spending time with friends.
Thad Henry, Senior Consultant
Thad has more than 30 years of experience leading fundraising operations and providing consultative services to a broad array of non-profit organizations. Combining his leadership and development experience, Thad is known for designing creative fundraising campaigns that optimize organizational growth and expansion of missional services and impact. Thad has led campaigns ranging from $1 million to $125 million at universities, colleges, food banks, independent schools, museums, art schools, historical museums, hospitals, social service organizations, faith-based denominations and organizations, and a botanical garden.
Thad has received numerous individual and organizational awards from national and international associations throughout his years of professional service. Some of his recognitions include the 2000 Greater Kansas City Council on Philanthropy Fundraiser of the Year, WV AFP Fundraiser of the Year, two Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Circle of Excellence Awards and the AAFRP Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year Award in the US and Canada.
Thad is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach and Consultant and has extensive experience in leadership development and facilitating workshops in the area of organizational change. Thad specializes in leveraging campaigns that accentuate brand identify and competitive advantages while optimizing engaged volunteer leadership. He provides innovative and creative approaches to engaging those who have the ability to provide transformational gifts and assistance to an organization.
Thad has a master’s degree from West Virginia University in Higher Education Administration and has completed coursework from Fielding Graduate Institute in Leadership Development. In his spare time, Thad supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) by riding 100-mile century bike rides through their Team-in-Training (TNT) program. He has ridden more than a dozen rides that range from 100-150 miles while volunteering to raise funds for LLS in honor of a number of people who have battled leukemia.
Thad has three grown children. He and his wife reside in Rhode Island. Both are active in supporting non-profits and volunteer for a variety of organizations.
Marilynn Gafke, Event and Project Coordinator
Marilynn Gafke coordinates special events and other projects for schools, colleges and universities, youth organizations, civic groups, and national professional associations. She enables the organization’s leadership and staff to focus on outcomes rather than the needed tasks required to implement the event. Regardless of location or duration, craft services or entertainment, Marilynn’s attention to detail offers peace of mind to all those depending on a successful outcome.
Marilynn’s abilities for successful event planning began in College while attending the University of Missouri and working for the St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau. Since graduation, she has continued to lead hundreds of events spanning from single meetings to large multi-day conference formats.
She is an avid supporter and volunteer for 4-H and her daughter’s high school band and color guard team. Both Marilynn and her husband were named to the University of Missouri Extension Leaders Honor Roll for their long-term commitment and support. Marilynn resides near St. Louis, MO and enjoys substitute teaching, traveling with her husband and their two daughters.
Steve Adams, Communications Coordinator
Steve Adams has spent his career in customer service-oriented fields. Since graduating from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Hospitality degree, he’s joined LEAD to spearhead CallerMax® projects and assist with running onsite calling programs.
Steve lives with his husband, Clinton, in western Michigan and their dog Duke. His passions include family, travel, and a good sci-fi movie.
Jim Napier, Technology Officer
Jim has been a self-proclaimed super geek ever since he got his first computer all the way back in 1992– and he has been ‘plugged in’ ever since. Fed by a steady diet of movies as a kid, he has expanded to new platforms to fuel his inner geek! Movies continue to feed Jim’s creative side, while technology is constantly changing and creating new toys that woo and draw him in! Social media helps Jim stay in touch with family and friends, keeping him grounded—or so he says! Fortunately, digital marketing and social media create the perfect synthesis, combining his creativity and use of technology under the same colorful and engaging umbrella. Jim loves this smorgasbord and invites clients to electrify their taste buds as well.
Christopher Hughes, Technology Officer
Chris brings to LEAD 19 years of IT experience. As a Web developer working in modern CMS platforms, Chris’ specialties include Django, HTML5, CSS, Vue.js, Python and MySQL.
Chris moved into education as the Webmaster for Spring Hill College. Since 1999, Chris’ experiences include Web Developer, Director of Web Services, Director of Client Services, and Director of Enterprise Systems.
Chris is an ardent supporter of Spring Hill College’s International Service and Immersion Program, a unique program where students travel to Central America to participate in cultural immersion and service projects in impoverished countries. Chris has served on five trips to Belize and Nicaragua and is looking forward to his next trip.
Chris resides in Mobile, AL with his son. He is an avid reader and enjoys spending time in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tanya Heath, Marketing Officer
Tanya is a graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism – Advertising. Her 26-year career includes serving as Adjunct Professor for the Missouri School of Journalism, Marketing Specialist at the MU Extension and the Director of Advertising in University Publications. She has also served as a fundraising consultant with SUNY Albany. Following her work with two Texas advertising agencies, Tanya was president of the American Advertising Federation of Mid-Missouri and served as Chair of the Education, Diversity and Public Service committees throughout the Federation’s 17-year existence. Tanya won Ad PRO of the Year and ADDY awards for her work in advertising. She helped the Mid-Missouri AAF chapter win second place in the public service category in the organization’s national competition.
Tanya stays involved in her community and continues to work in direct sales. Tanya resides in Columbia, MO and likes to travel with her husband and daughter.