Nonprofit Conference 2023

Melissa Borowicz is the CEO and an Owner of The Utech Group. With nearly 20 years of experience working with organizations across the United States and Canada, Melissa is an expert at defining corporate culture, as well as helping organizations to maximize and align their teams and people. Melissa also has a strong understanding of how relationship barriers limit personal and company growth. She works to provide practical, meaningful solutions to break down silos. As a result, Melissa can permeate organizations and establish buy-in at every level.  

Dedering Nonprofit Advising and Coaching provides a wide variety of services to nonprofits, including strategic planning, succession planning, capital campaigns, development plans, and support for boards of directors. Tonya has held various leadership roles in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors and is a Certified Fundraising Executive and certified Motivators and Drivers behavioral assessment trainer. She serves on the board of directors for the NEW Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Steering Council of the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative. Tonya is very passionate about helping nonprofits THRIVE by challenging the status quo to get results. 

Sean joined the Greater Green Bay YMCA as President/CEO in 2018. Prior to this position, he worked for the YMCA of Greater Philadelphia for 14 years as Vice President of Operations & Capital Development with over 20 years of YMCA Executive experience. Sean holds an MS in Organizational Leadership through Springfield College and has served on state, regional, and national YMCA committees. He serves as an Executive mentor and trainer for Y-USA and is the current Board Chairman for the Employee Assistance Fund through the Y Professional Network.  

David Jerrett brings 30 years of executive leadership and management experience, responsible for leading and motivating nationwide and regional teams. As chair of the Kibaoni Primary School Foundation, David leads infrastructure projects that enhance the learning environment in public schools in Tanzania. He also sits on the board of the Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé program where he helps woman and minority-owned business owners work through their entrepreneurial challenges. 

Shane Kohl's experience includes work in special events, alumni relations, annual giving, major giving, capital campaigns and planned giving. Prior to joining ThedaCare in 2012, he served in development roles with the CP Center of Green Bay, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Foundation and the Trout Museum of Art in Appleton. 

Frank Martinelli has over 40 years of work, training and consulting experience with a variety of nonprofit and public sector organizations. He is president of the Center for Public Skills Training where he specializes in strategic planning, governing board development, developing organizational capacity for advocacy and systems change work, and community partnership and alliance building. 

Emily Rendall-Araujo has been Director of Senior Services with the City of Sheboygan for the past two years. Previously, she served the Sheboygan County nonprofit sector in a variety of roles, including Executive Director of the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, Director of Community Development at United Way of Sheboygan County, and in an Alumni Relations role with Lakeland University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management and music-voice performance and pedagogy as well as a Masters of Business Administration, both from Lakeland University.  

Tia Sirmans has more than 20 years of human resources professional experience. As an HR Partner, she has specialized in strategic management, succession planning, employee relations, designing and delivering training programs, change management, performance management and high volume recruiting. She has also supported organizations in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging evaluations. Tia has worked across five states including international footprint in Europe/Middle East.

Eric Sponholtz has served as the Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of Brown County since September of 2016.  In this role, he manages the day-to-day operations of the center and works to fulfill the organization’s strategic plan and works to cultivate relationships throughout the community in the areas of marketing and fund development.  Eric is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Green Bay and is currently a Greater Green Bay Chamber Ambassador.  He also currently serves as a board member for the Children’s Museum of Green Bay. 

Erin has experience in special events, annual giving, major giving and campaign initiatives and brings a passion for keeping donors at the center of her work. In addition to her experience within the healthcare system, she has served in development roles with the Boys & Girls Club and CHAPS Academy, a youth-focused mental health organization.  

Chris Utech is an Owner of The Utech Group and leads Freshstart, a division of the company that is focused on personal development.   Having over 35 years of experience with organizational and behavioral development, Chris has established herself as a change agent, providing people a fresh start.  As a certified Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and the Emotion/Body Code, Chris coaches’ people to break down their limiting beliefs and construct achievable, positive outcomes to better their personal and professional lives.