Community Development Experts 2025

Extensive commercial real estate development experience focusing on retail, light industrial and multi-family projects. Responsible for managing a development team and portfolio of active light industrial projects in various stages of development including: site evaluation, due diligence, entitlements, design, permitting, construction and stabilization. Current ULI member active in ULI Next and the ULI Arizona Office & Industrial Development Local Product Council. Past member of the ULI Arizona Adaptive Reuse Local Product Council, Chair of the ULI Young Leaders Communication and Marketing Committee and past co-chair of the ULI Main Communications and Marketing Committee. Current member of AZ CREW and member of the Membership Committee. Previously held leadership roles in developing and managing best practice policies and standard operating procedures to create and execute successful national roll-out programs for multiple retail clients. These systems and procedures have been successfully utilized by multiple development teams across multiple states. Previously held a Senior Development Management role on a multi-parcel redevelopment site in Tucson, Arizona, which was nominated as a finalist for a Metropolitan Pima Alliance Common Ground Award for bringing together all stakeholders to develop a retail site that started with stiff opposition and resulted in a win-win solution for all stakeholders involved. Graduated with highest honors from the ASU WP Carey School of Business with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management and Marketing.

Kiron Chandy explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, urban design, and public policy. With over a decade of experience as a strategist and advisor to senior executives at companies like Google and PwC and public sector leaders like the Mayor of Turin, she specializes in building data-driven organizations and shaping narratives around emerging tech across the private and public sector. Kiron is the founder and Executive Director of Consult Your Community (CYC), a nonprofit she launched at UC Berkeley as an undergraduate and scaled nationwide while simultaneously executing strategy roles at Google and PwC. Consult Your Community is a national workforce development nonprofit mobilizing free business support for small businesses while helping early-career talent build workforce-ready skills. Kiron holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Harvard University.

I'm a self-motivated and resourceful marketing professional with years of experience in the field and a proven knowledge of client relations. With a background in education, I view digital marketing as an opportunity to pivot my passion for sharing information into a format that meets today's tech driven society. I am committed to creating content for diverse communities and markets and have successfully built meaningful customer relationships and engaging solutions across traditional and digital media in the past. Currently seeking the opportunity to leverage my skills and fill the Marketing or Community Engagement role at a new company.

At Community Care Durham, I focus on planning and executing fundraising campaigns, utilizing digital strategies to drive meaningful community engagement and donor participation. Returning to the nonprofit sector has allowed me to leverage my social media communication skills to effectively tell stories that resonate with our audience. During my time with The Lavin Agency, I led event logistics and managed relationships, ensuring the seamless execution of global speaking events. Our team's commitment to process improvement reflects my dedication to achieving excellence and innovation in high-pressure environments.

Building technology to power the future of recreation.

Adam Scuglia is Manager of Business Development for Cortex DM within Premier Construction Software. Based in Markham, Ontario, he leads go-to-market strategy, client acquisition, and solution positioning for a construction-industry SaaS platform built to streamline drawing and document workflows, reduce rework, and align field and office teams in real-time. With a deep understanding of construction processes and a focus on technology-enabled collaboration, Adam enables contractors and owners to adopt a next-generation document control tool that integrates with enterprise systems and drives measurable operational value.

Kishore Bitra is a veteran in the IT industry with over 15 years of experience, specializing in end-user technologies, Cloud Infrastructure, Data Center operations, and Enterprise Security. Currently, he serves a crucial role in local government in the United States. A proven leader, Kishore has successfully spearheaded major IT transformations, including complex infrastructure migration projects, ransomware recovery efforts, and system integrations during corporate mergers and acquisitions. Beyond his professional work, he is passionate about demystifying advanced security and AI adoption, making them practical for organizations from local governments to SMBs. He regularly shares real-world insights through writing, speaking, and volunteering on crucial topics like data protection, cyber resilience, and secure finance operations.

At Alice Lab, I specialize in bridging cultures, communities, and companies across the US and Asia. With extensive experience driving B2B growth, building long-term partnerships, and leading high-engagement international programs, I’ve helped startups, nonprofits, and innovation teams deepen relationships and successfully expand into new markets. My background spans event management, international business, partnership development, and customer success—allowing me to create impactful experiences and go-to-market strategies that resonate across diverse cultural and professional environments. I have led 50+ international programs across 15 countries, advised early-stage founders on networking, branding, and pitch communication, and supported cross-functional teams through accelerator management, B2B sales, and community development. As former Secretary-General of NATEA, I organized large-scale forums, women-in-leadership summits, and high-tech industry panels—moderating discussions with global leaders from organizations like 500 Global and Foxconn. My work centers on relationship building, cross-border collaboration, and fostering communities that thrive long-term. In addition to my work in the startup ecosystem, I bring a secondary expertise in language education. I teach Business English to professionals—focusing on email communication, meeting facilitation, and cross-cultural workplace communication—and I also teach Mandarin Chinese to young children to inspire early cultural curiosity. This blend of global business experience and language teaching allows me to offer unique insights into international work culture, multicultural teamwork, and communication across borders. #GlobalCollaboration #CrossCulturalCommunication #StrategicPartnerships #StartupEcosystem #BusinessEnglishTeaching

Jenny Wiley is the Director of Programming and Community Growth at Active Choices, Inc., where she leads IEP Method programs, live experiences, and strategic initiatives to build, re-energize, and support leaders and organizations seeking sustainable growth. As a certified life coach specializing in Community Coaching, Jenny helps organizations cultivate strong, values-driven workforces and communities that thrive on meaningful connections.In addition to being an experienced facilitator and relationship builder, Jenny has a keen eye for details, logistics, and project management, ensuring that every initiative she leads is executed with precision and thoughtfulness. She excels at crafting impactful 1-on-1 and group coaching experiences, guiding retreats, and fostering environments that promote open, growth-oriented interactions. Her approach is rooted in the belief that social capital is key to community success, and she integrates this philosophy into all of her coaching and leadership efforts.With a diverse coaching skill set and unique expertise, Jenny has an exceptional ability to connect and activate groups, even during sensitive transitions. She creates engaging content, leads guided meditations, facilitates grounding exercises, and cultivates an atmosphere of trust and playfulness, enabling communities to grow and evolve together.Jenny is also an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) and has lead transformational book clubs, retreats, and meditation groups. She is an experienced presenter and is comfortable developing and presenting workshops and speaking on topics such as leadership, personal growth, and community building, all while ensuring that the details and logistics of each event are meticulously handled.

Hey there! I'm Jena Lynch and I'm honored to serve as the Education & Community Engagement Manager at Donorbox.As someone who has had their boots on the ground and deeply cares about making a positive impact in the world, I'm passionate about supporting nonprofits in their mission to do good. My goal is to provide nonprofits with the necessary tools and resources to help them connect with their communities, raise funds, and create lasting change.I'm here to support you and your organization in any way I can. Whether you're just starting out or have been making a difference for years, I believe that together we can achieve even more.So, if you're looking for a helping hand, a listening ear, or just someone to chat with about your mission, feel free to reach out. I'm here for you!

Stephanie Zabriskie is a global development strategist, writer, and curator who serves as Managing Director at Tavistock Group, overseeing large-scale international development projects and government partnerships. Specializing in the intersection of international finance, public–private partnerships (P3), and social impact grounded in Indigenous systems and leadership, she is also the Founder and Executive Director of Humanculture, an Indigenous-led organization advancing decolonial humanitarian initiatives focused on water access, food security, and women’s economic autonomy in low-infrastructure environments. As a writer and cultural curator, her work bridges strategy and narrative, ranging from published research in the Journal of Nonprofit Innovation (2025) to curating high-profile exhibitions like The Untold Story at the World Trade Center. Recognized in Forbes 40 Under 40, her work informs international policy discussions related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contributes to global academic discourse through lectures at Columbia and Fordham Universities.

"Better, together." My founding principal and approach to working within corporate, nonprofit and even social settings. As a long-time connector, I focus on community building through mediums that include communication, events and more. My experience across multiple industries is amplified by my foundation in communication and my MBA training. I take visions and make them reality. Core Functions include but are not limited to: Communication & Marketing, Strategic Event Design, Real-time Digital Content, Business Development, Coaching (Leaders, Individual Contributors and Entrepreneurs), Business Consulting (marketing analysis and strategy development), Grants Management, Community Partnerships and Special Project Management.

With over 20 years of executive leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, I am passionate about creating positive social impact and system change through collaboration, strategy, and innovation. As the CEO of HealthForce Partners California, I lead a cross-sector, multi-regional, non-profit partnership that connects healthcare, education, and workforce development to mitigate workforce shortages and build career opportunities in the regions we serve.

¡Saludos! I'm an author, speaker, and leadership researcher passionate about helping leaders embody authentic leadership. Trusted by both small and large organizations, including ALPFA, Grant Thornton, Moss Adams, Thrivent, to name a few. I am committed to advancing transformational change and empowering individuals and organizations to embrace authenticity as a catalyst for success. With experience spanning higher education, nonprofit leadership, and leadership consulting, I bring a strategic lens to every context that aligns people, purpose, and performance. Whether advising boards, coaching leaders, or delivering keynotes, I create pathways for leaders and teams to thrive in rapidly evolving environments. Current Leadership Roles Associate Provost for Engagement and Inclusive Teaching and Learning (Chief Diversity Officer), Fresno Pacific University – Guiding institutional strategy for inclusive excellence, faculty development, and organizational culture as part of the executive leadership team. CEO and Lead Consultant, Empowerfy Consulting – Driving leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational transformation to unlock human potential. Founder and President, Faithful Teachings – Leading community transformation initiatives in Latin America through education, service, and strategic partnerships. I am passionate about reimagining leadership for an era where authenticity shapes stronger organizations and healthier communities. Specialties: Leadership Development | Organizational Culture | Inclusive Excellence | Coaching & Advising | Keynotes & Workshops

Mike Roberts is the founder and CEO of Creating Coding Careers (CCC), a trailblazer in the technology apprenticeship space. He has dedicated his career to helping underrepresented individuals enter the tech industry, and making apprenticeship models accessible and manageable for organizations of all sizes. With over four decades of experience as a software engineer and educator, he stands at the intersection of technology and workforce development. His work focuses on helping companies implement earn-and-learn programs that transform their approach to talent acquisition and development. He is an expert on securing apprenticeship funding and incentives, often seamlessly incorporating them into a company's existing training programs.

I challenge the status quo and inspire others to take a positive step towards progress. I do this through facilitating leadership development courses and coaching leaders through proven brain-based methods.

Aaron Chichioco brings a wealth of expertise in IT solutions designed to streamline business operations, enhance cybersecurity, and improve overall efficiency. As an IT Specialist at Partner Systems, he develops forward-thinking tech strategies that foster growth and adaptability in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Driven by his passion for innovation and effective problem-solving, Aaron provides strategic insights into network infrastructure, cloud computing, and IT best practices, ensuring companies remain secure, agile, and competitive.

Nia Rennix is a humanitarian leader, food systems architect, and social impact founder reshaping how communities experience dignity-centered food access. As CEO of The Rennix Weigh Group and creator of HungerDash™, she designs modern, trauma-free food systems that restore choice, reduce stigma, and bring culturally meaningful nourishment to families who have been historically overlooked. With 17+ years of experience across clinical nutrition, public health, and community mobilization, Nia has led large-scale food access redesigns, advised organizations on dignity-centered system transformation, and mobilized cross-sector partnerships that strengthen resilience across diverse regions. Her work bridges humanitarian leadership, system design, and community voice—creating models that blend compassion, innovation, and cultural understanding to generate long-term, community-wide impact.