Our Incredible List of Speakers for Princeton Community Works 2026….Currently being Populated. Stay Tuned..
Our Keynote Speaker: Andrews Manns, Jr.
Andrew Manns, Jr, a founding member of The Subconscious CodeBreaker™ Program—a transformative movement that does more than explore the mind; it activates its hidden power to create a life of purpose, breakthrough, and unstoppable momentum.
With a vision forged in service and a heart deeply rooted in justice and community, Andrew spent over three decades as the Chairman of the Board for a youth community center in Newark. Under his bold and compassionate leadership, the center raised over $3 million—funds that ignited educational opportunities, leadership training, and hope for thousands of Newark’s youth and their families.
But Andrew’s impact goes far beyond the boardroom. He is a fierce advocate for social transformation, dedicating his life to mentoring and empowering urban youth to rise above limitations and step into their greatness. His passion lies in building bridges through impact storytelling coaching—teaching others to speak their truth, lead with conviction, and connect across cultures with authenticity and strength.
A gifted communicator and fundraiser, Andrew has a unique ability to cultivate philanthropic networks that fuel lasting, soul-driven success.
Andrew holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and earned his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law–Newark. A retired criminal trial attorney, he brings the fire of advocacy, the discipline of law, and the soul of service into everything he does.
Fundraising Musts in Uncertain Times with Kathleen Streicher
Kathleen is a Senior Consultant at Fairmount Ventures, Inc. She believes that empowering client staff with a clear strategy—supported by the right tools, structures, and story—is crucial for success. Her expertise spans strategic planning, capital campaigns, grantwriting, leadership retreats, and resource development. With over 20 years of experience as an Executive Director, Development Director, and Board Chair, Kathleen has a proven track record of guiding organizations through periods of reflection, focus, and expansion. She has built and scaled development programs from the ground up, consulted with national funders, and coached large philanthropy teams for rapidly growing education and civic sector organizations. She also brings extensive experience in facilitation, change management, and board development—helping organizations clarify purpose, strengthen governance, and build the collective momentum needed to navigate growth and change.
What you must be doing in these uncertain times to
1) keep and grow you current fundraising
2) engage your board as ambassadors and
3) communicate your impact
Social Media Strategy and Training for Nonprofits with ALLISON MUELLER of MUELLER COMMUNICATIONS
Allison Mueller is a strategic communications leader with over 20 years of experience driving impactful storytelling, content strategy, and brand development. At Mueller Communications, she oversees content management, media analytics, crisis communications, and media training for a diverse portfolio of clients, including local government, emergency services, healthcare, education, and nonprofits. She helps organizations optimize their communications strategies to ensure they remain agile, relevant, and aligned with their mission. She has led digital strategy and community engagement efforts for the Princeton Council and Mayor’s Office, the Princeton Department of Emergency Services, and the Princeton Fire Department and First Aid & Rescue Squad.
Culture by Design: Identity, Power, and Organizational Belonging
Djenaba Figueroa is a seasoned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategist and communications expert with over two decades of experience leading innovative initiatives in higher education and nonprofit leadership. As the former Director of Strategic Diversity Communications at Purdue University, she crafted dynamic storytelling and communications strategies to support university-wide DEI efforts. At Rutgers University, Djenaba served as Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives for University Equity and Inclusion, where she developed impactful workshops, campaigns, and programs that highlighted belonging as a core institutional value and empowered individuals to communicate across differences.
In addition to her DEI leadership in academia, Djenaba has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, where she has raised over $2 million through grant writing, fundraising, and special events. She has designed and implemented programs addressing inequalities in urban communities and fostered partnerships to drive positive change. Her expertise in strategic communications, marketing, and community engagement has consistently delivered measurable results across both academic and nonprofit settings.
Djenaba is also the creator of Freestyle with Djenaba, a live podcast, and midweek motivation series dedicated to inspiring individuals to discover their unique purpose and embrace authentic living. Through storytelling, workshop facilitation, and strategic initiatives, she empowers others to take actionable steps toward building inclusive communities and fostering meaningful connections. Based in Trenton, NJ, she is deeply committed to improving the well-being of her community
CHANGE: Starting Your New Non-Profit with Dana Harris
Dana Harris is the founder of MoneySense, a nonprofit consultant, and a dedicated community leader committed to strengthening grassroots and community-based organizations. With more than 28 years of experience in banking and financial services, she brings deep expertise in financial systems, governance, and nonprofit operations.
Dana specializes in helping emerging nonprofits build strong and sustainable foundations. She works with organizations to secure 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, establish effective board structures, develop bylaws, and meet New Jersey state nonprofit requirements. She also supports organizations with financial management, including bookkeeping, IRS compliance, and preparation of Form 990 filings to ensure transparency and long-term stability.
Through MoneySense, Dana is also an active financial literacy educator, leading impactful workshops for youth and summer programs throughout Mercer County. Her work equips young people with essential financial skills and empowers communities through practical financial knowledge.
Dana serves on the Board of Trustees for HomeWorks Trenton and contributes to its financial and program Committees. She also serves on the Community Foundation of New Jersey’s Mercer County grant review committee and previously served as Treasurer for Women in Development New Jersey, where she was recognized for her leadership and service.
Dana is passionate about helping organizations and communities build strong governance, sound financial practices, and the leadership needed to create lasting community impact.
Avoiding Financial Pitfalls: Strengthening Your Nonprofit’s Financial Health with Gregg Indictor
Gregg Indictor, CPA, Director at Your Part-Time Controller, LLC. Gregg serves as the Market Leader of the Central New Jersey office. With over 35 years of accounting and financial management experience, Gregg has developed and presented a variety of training programs related to nonprofit accounting, financial management, and accounting systems and applications. He is a frequent presenter for YPTC’s national webinar series and is a staff trainer. Gregg is a recurring speaker for the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, NonProfitConnect, The Nonprofit Show, and at numerous nonprofit industry conferences, as well as continuing education podcasts for LumiQ, Kaplan Financial Education, and Earmark CPE. Prior to joining YPTC in 2011, Gregg was the CFO of a national light-industrial staffing firm and a Partner at a regional public accounting firm. Gregg received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Economics from Thomas Jefferson University and is a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Collaboration That Works: Why You Need It and How to Make It Successful with Jeannette Rizk, Susan Davelman and Sandra Toussaint-Burgher
Jeannette Rizk
Jeannette Rizk is the Executive Director of the WorkWell Partnership, bringing extensive experience in workforce development, community-based programming, and international development. She holds a master’s degree in anthropology from the American University in Cairo and has worked across the Middle East and North Africa on initiatives focused on economic empowerment, media production, and skills-based training in underserved communities. Her professional background includes developing sustainable enterprise models, supporting women-led economic initiatives, and building job-training programs rooted in community context. Through her leadership at WorkWell, Jeannette is focused on establishing a strong workforce development presence in Mercer County for justice-involved individuals, connecting participants to employers, service providers, and educational partners.
Susan Davelman
Susan was one of the first volunteers at Princeton Cornerstone Community kitchen when it was launched in 2012 as an all-volunteer non-profit serving a weekly dinner at Princeton United Methodist Church. She transitioned to Executive Director role in 2023 when she retired from Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Wealth Management after over 30 years as a technologist. Cornerstone Community Kitchen serves a nutritious dinner from TASK to approximately 80 guests and provides a free grocery and gently used clothing store It’s estimated that volunteers work about 150 hours each week to provide the Wednesday evening gathering. Many of the core group of volunteers have been with CCK for over 15 years resulting in strong ties with our local partners. In addition to Princeton United Methodist and TASK , local partners include Share My meals, Cherry Grove organic farm, Princeton Human Services Lillipies, Wawa, Jewish family services, Bentley Community Services, Princeton University Dining services and others.
Sandra Toussaint-Burgher
Sandra Toussaint has served as President and CEO of United Way of Greater Mercer County (UWGMC) since 2016, providing strategic vision and executive leadership to advance the organization’s mission. With more than 20 years of experience in fund development, strategic partnerships, community relations, and marketing, she is a visionary leader committed to building healthy, economically viable, and thriving communities. In addition to leading UWGMC, Sandra serves as Chair of the United Ways of New Jersey statewide association. Her previous leadership roles include positions at Youth Communication, Special Olympics, and the Twenty-First Century Foundation, following an early career in the insurance industry.
A recognized Champion for Business, she is a sought-after speaker who has presented for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, Princeton Community Works, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and other organizations on leadership, board development, team motivation, and corporate engagement. Sandra serves on several boards and committees, including the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. A 2021 Lead New Jersey Fellow, she is deeply committed to community-driven impact and cross-sector collaboration. Originally from New York City, she holds a B.A. from Hunter College, a Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Boston College.
Community Mission Building: Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Ecosystem: A Panel Discussion
Mathieu Nelessen President & CEO Steven Spinner, Princeton Area Community Foundation
A New Jersey native with strong ties to the region, before joining the Community Foundation, he served as the first CEO of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). Mathieu also spent more than a decade in leadership roles at the American Red Cross, both in New Jersey and at the national level. He led and managed the Red Cross Superstorm Sandy disaster response and recovery in New Jersey, served as the Executive Director of the Hurricane Harvey recovery program in Texas, and was the Red Cross’ National Vice President of Business Strategy and Planning, Biomedical Services.
Mathieu was previously the Executive Director of the New Jersey office of the American Diabetes Association, Director of Annual Giving at Rider University, and served in director roles at Special Olympics New Jersey. He is a graduate of Rutgers University, with a degree in psychology.
Mathieu is the third leader of the Community Foundation since its founding in 1991. He joined the Community Foundation in February 2025, following a national search.
Spinner, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Princeton Area Community Foundation
Steven B. Spinner is Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF), where he leads philanthropic services and asset-building strategies that support donors, families, and nonprofit partners across the region. With more than 20 years of advancement experience, he has led major gifts, annual giving, endowment development, board engagement, and campaign strategy, contributing to fundraising efforts totaling more than $200 million. Prior to PACF, Steve served as Director of Development for the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance, where he launched the organization’s first formal fundraising program, and held fundraising leadership roles at the state and national levels with the American Red Cross.
AI for Nonprofits: What You Need to Know (and What You Don’t)
Chris Strom
Chris Strom is the Chief Marketing Officer at Sunrise Association and an Adjunct Professor of AI and Digital Marketing at Seton Hall University. He has 20+ years leading marketing, digital transformation, and audience growth across mission-driven organizations, with deep experience in storytelling, automation, and modern fundraising communications. Chris focuses on practical, hands-on ways nonprofit teams can use AI to work faster, write better, and build stronger donor and community engagement.
Participants in this workshop will learn:
1. A practical AI workflow they can apply immediately to fundraising and communications (drafting, editing, repurposing, and planning)
2. Prompt patterns and reusable templates that improve quality, accuracy, and brand consistency
3. A simple “responsible AI” checklist for nonprofit teams, including human-in-the-loop review, privacy considerations, and guardrails
Volunteers are an Incredible Resource: Maximize Their Potential
Marge Smith is best known as a knowledgeable nonprofit leader/consultant/volunteer locally and nationally. Marge’s career encompasses a history of working with Volunteers as President on over nine nonprofit boards, as President of the Princeton YWCA, where there were over 1000 volunteers.
Marge is the Chair and Founder of Princeton Community Works, which for over 20 years has been a conference that has used the skill sets of over 150 volunteers annually. She has seen how volunteers transform themselves and their organizations to address the needs of our community and is passionate about enabling individuals and organizations to manage for success. In addition, she strives to connect people with each other and organizations because only by being and working together in a positive environment can we solve these major challenges.
Marge continues to be a much sought-after consultant facilitating board retreats, strategic planning initiatives, and team building workshops for literally hundreds of non-profits. She also teaches the Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management certification program as well as courses in leadership, emotional and social intelligence at Mercer County Community College.
In 2021, she was the Recipient of The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference Awards in the COMMUNITY category, which recognizes extraordinary women and men from around the world who have contributed to the economic empowerment of women.
BOARD NOT BORED: CREATING ENGAGED BOARDS with Adriana Abizadeh
Adriana Abizadeh-Barbour is the President of Catalyst Consulting Group (CCG), a boutique consulting firm moving projects forward for nonprofits and other stakeholders. The firm specializes in strategic planning, leadership development, and board governance. Adriana’s expertise is in supporting grassroots organizations with growth strategies and developing welcoming and inclusive work cultures. Adriana is also the executive director of the Kensington Corridor Trust in Philadelphia, the nation’s first neighborhood trust focused on a commercial corridor. There she focuses on the collective ownership of real estate and neighborhood governance. She has also served as a policy fellow at Rutgers University and Princeton University. Adriana’s professional experience has been in the nonprofit sector, and she is passionate about serving others. She has committed herself to serving on several boards that reflect some of her deepest passions: immigration, racial and health equity, and youth development. Adriana has a BA in Political Science from Rutgers University with a minor in Security Intelligence and Counterterrorism. She also has an MS in Public Policy from Drexel University.
Building an Engaged and Connected Team Culture for Board, Staff and Volunteers
Marge Smith is best known as a knowledgeable nonprofit leader/consultant/volunteer locally and nationally. Marge’s career encompasses a history of working with Volunteers as President on over nine nonprofit boards, as President of the Princeton YWCA, where there were over 1000 volunteers.
Marge is the Chair and Founder of Princeton Community Works, which for over 20 years has been a conference that has used the skill sets of over 150 volunteers annually. She has seen how volunteers transform themselves and their organizations to address the needs of our community and is passionate about enabling individuals and organizations to manage for success. In addition, she strives to connect people with each other and organizations because only by being and working together in a positive environment can we solve these major challenges.
Marge continues to be a much sought-after consultant facilitating board retreats, strategic planning initiatives, and team building workshops for literally hundreds of non-profits. She also teaches the Fundamentals of Nonprofit Management certification program as well as courses in leadership, emotional and social intelligence at Mercer County Community College.
In 2021, she was the Recipient of The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference Awards in the COMMUNITY category, which recognizes extraordinary women and men from around the world who have contributed to the economic empowerment of women.
Leadership Development and Organizational Strategy
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Blanche Brann has been working with nonprofits for the past 15 years as a strategic consultant. Great nonprofits aren’t built on heroic effort — they’re built on trust, clarity, and systems that scale. This fast-paced, practical workshop tackles the leadership challenges you face every day: how to delegate without losing control, create accountability through “trust but verify,” give feedback that strengthens rather than strains relationships, and communicate in ways that build confidence across your organization. We’ll explore why leadership is different from management, how strong cultures are intentionally shaped, and how to hire and develop people who elevate your mission. Leave with concrete tools to lead decisively, manage uncertainty, and build teams that perform — without burning out. She is a long-time committee member with Princeton Community Works.
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