Bio
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Gasby Brown
CEO
M. Gasby Brown is CEO & Executive Consultant of The Gasby Group, Inc. (TGG). As Consultants to Philanthropy, TGG is a full service strategic fundraising, communications, and organizational effectiveness firm located in Metropolitan Washington DC. Founded in 2001, the firm's client list represents a cross section of organizations and corporations nationwide. Brown is a faculty member of the prestigious The Fund Raising School (TFRS) at Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy where she teaches Principles & Techniques of Fundraising, Managing the Capital Campaign, Developing Major Gifts, Power Boards/Powerful Fundraising, and Faith & Fundraising, sharing her expertise with fundraising professionals, executives, and board members nationwide. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Public Policy, and serves as a trainer on Capital Campaigns for Partners for Sacred Places.In 2008 she launched “Non-Profit Thursdays”™, a lunch seminar series for invited nonprofit leaders in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. The series, underwritten by Merrill Lynch/ Bank of America, has received rave reviews from the non- profit community. Brown has authored 3 books: Art of Praise©, 7 Fatal Flaws of Non-Profit Boards and How To Fix Them© and The Seven Qualities of Capital Campaign Success©. She is also completing The Business of A Spiritual Matter©, specifically written for faith based organizations.
Ms. Brown has made her mark as an executive at national organizations such as Greenpeace, National Urban League and the Washington National Opera, bringing innovative and strategic programs that have remained in place. During her tenure at the opera, Brown proposed and developed an innovative national fundraising program to leverage the opera’s specific advantages: location in the nation’s capital, connections to the international community and Placido Domingo as Artistic Director. At the National Urban League she was instrumental in reconstituting the board of directors and revived the Development Committee which in turn led the successful effort raise $50 million for a comprehensive campaign, increased Board personal financial participation to 100%, initiated and implemented the "Circle of Excellence" for high net worth African Americans which raised $1.2 million in six months, increased special event revenue by 300% and revived the premiere publication, "Opportunity" Magazine after a 46 year hiatus. Gasby has been the New York Correspondent for BET, a reporter for Fox Television’s WNYW in New York City, where she was a Financial Correspondent for "The McCreary Report", host of WNYC-TV’s “Black Viewpoint” and host of “Starz Talk!,“ a syndicated radio show distributed to 250 stations across the country. Today she serves as the announcer for the “Developing Dynamic Disciples” radio and television broadcast ministry of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. Gasby Brown holds an MPA from Harvard University where she specialized in Communications Management. She conducted advanced research in New Communications Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and participated in its renowned Media Lab. Brown has served as an adjunct professor at City College in New York, where her highly popular courses in Black Rhetoric, Argumentation and Debate, and Communications enlightened students from a myriad of nationalities and cultures. In addition, Brown is a noted visual artist. She and her husband Kenneth reside in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
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Jody Johnson
Senior Video Production Consultant
Born and raised in New York City, where she trained for years in musical and theatrical arts, Jodie is a graduate of the renowned S.I. Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse University. She is a production manager par excellence, in video and radio. Her creativity and experience in telling the right story for the right client is unmatched. Jodie is the Production Manager for the First Baptist Church of Glenarden (FBCG), overseeing a multitude of productions, every week. She is also producer of the mega-church’s weekly television, internet and radio broadcast, ‘Developing Dynamic Disciples’. In addition to her responsibilities at FBCG, as Principal of Agape Couture Productions, LLC, Jodie produces Fashion Week caliber shows and special events for non-profit organizations. When not functioning behind the scenes, Jodie has been seen on runways in the DC area, as well as in front of the camera as the Co-Host/Red Carpet Correspondent for “In the GreeneRoom: LIVE”. -
Jason Satori
Senior Project Director
Holding a Masters Degree in Urban Development at the, University of Maryland, Jason Sartori is also a Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Richmond, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Political Science. Jason K. Sartori is a specialist in Project Planning and Budgeting, Quality Assurance, Process Analysis and Redesign as well as Relationship Building, Team Leadership, Development and Training. Mr. Sartori has held significant positions at global IT and Management consulting firms, namely Trenchant Solutions, LLC. and Renaissance Worldwide, Inc. He also served as Team Leader and Developer of Intranet and Application Development in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer for the Government of the District of Columbia and Senior Project Director for The Gasby Group, Inc. -
Jerome Johnson
Senior Facilitator
Jerome A. Johnson has overseen many team projects to successful completion and has a gift for relating to, and directing people with excellence and compassion. His expertise in this regard has engendered trust and consensus. His ability to effectively facilitate groups within organizations may be due to his talent as an unconventional and gifted choreographer and dance teacher. Steeped in the elements of creative expression, his love of dance and production has afforded him many opportunities in the fine and liturgical arts communities, including serving as Lead Dance Instructor of the Inspired Hearts Academy of Music and Dance in Kumasi, Ghana West Africa. Jerome’s deep understanding and respect for individual expression and group dynamics has made him a sought after consensus builder. Jerome also studied Kirov Ballet in Russia as part of an international exchange program with the United States. -
E. Rebecca Ballard
Senior Research/Writer
Ms. Ballard honed her research, writing, and advocacy skills through her position as an Attorney-Advisor with the United States Department of Commerce and fellowship in Nonprofit and Foundation Advocacy with Alliance for Justice. Passionate about faith-based and social justice philanthropy, Ms. Ballard served as the Mission Council Facilitator for Foundry United Methodist Church, worked with the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and Orange County (NC) Rape Crisis Center, co-developed an electronic compendium of resources to assist foundations in evaluating community organizing, and is published in the area of human rights. She is a cum laude graduate in Religion from Duke University, where she was the President of Student Religious Activities, an Eli Lilly Scholar, and a Student Pastor for the Duke University Wesley Fellowship. Ms. Ballard holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of Law and was a member of the award-winning Carolina Law Pro Bono Board. -
Heather Gee
Senior Principal
Heather Gee is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) with more than 25 years of fundraising, gift planning, and philanthropic guidance experience. During her career, Heather has served in various senior level fundraising positions including the University Of Baltimore School Of Law, United Way of Central Maryland, Baltimore Reads, Dallas Symphony and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Philadelphia, PA. And for the past 11 years, Heather was Vice President for Development and Donor Services for The Philadelphia Foundation. She spearheaded asset development and donor stewardship of this $270 million community foundation, bringing in tens of millions of philanthropic dollars for local and national causes. Heather is the former Chair of the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Philadelphia Chapter, former board member of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy, current board member of the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy and Inspired Legacies, guest faculty for the American College’s Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation, and is a member of several Estate Planning Councils in addition to serving on the Program and Allied Professionals Committees of the Philadelphia Partners in Philanthropic Planning. Ms. Gee is a Senior Principal at The Gasby Group and specializes in Planned Giving. -
Torry Johnson
Finance/Forecasting Consultant
In a word, Torry Johnson is a financial forecasting genius. He is an expert in profitability analysis through p/l statements and other financials and adept in tying together the fundraising goals of an organization with its operational and program costs. Having held positions as a business and financial analyst at NASA, USA Today, Allstate Insurance Company and Mutual Insurance Company, he holds a B.A. in Finance and Law from Syracuse University and a Master of Public Management/Business Administration from the University of Maryland. Torry provides in-depth analysis and multi year financial forecasting tied to strategic and fundraising plans for The Gasby Group, Inc. -
George Lambert
Senior Principal
Mr. Lambert's background spans careers in both the for-profit and non profit sectors. His expansive work in the for-profit arena has been as a public affairs senior executive spearheading strategic alliance initiatives on behalf of Fortune 50 telecommunications clients. In the non profit arena Mr. Lambert served more recently as the Senior Director for Resource Development Operations for United Way of the National Capital Area. His role was critical in the success of two consecutive campaigns each exceeding $30 million respectively. He is also the former Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Virginia Urban League and served as a Regional Consultant for the National Urban League. Notably, his experience in the non profit arena has been vast and covers almost all aspects of non profit management. Keenly interested in urban issues since commencing his professional career, Mr. Lambert has served as an advocate helping to shape the social service landscape in many venues. Moreover, his career path has been laced with visionary leadership and progressive managerial achievement. -
Sade Dennis
Senior Consultant and Image Strategist
Author, Visual Artist, Image & Branding Coach, are all a few words that describe Sade Dennis. A sought-after professional, Sade works with professionals seeking a more impactful life and business. Some of Sade’s amazing clients have been individuals and organizations such as Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, TV One, Black Entertainment Television, Flori Roberts & Iman Cosmetics, Zondervan, Essence Communications and Michelle Ebanks, Nationally Syndicated Columnist Michelle Singletary, tennis great Zena Garrison. Sade has also served on winning political campaigns with her expertise in marketing communications. Sade has also conducted image workshops and classes for Levick Strategic Communications, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Malaak Compton-Rock’s StyleWorks; as well as for women’s shelters in the Washington, DC area. Sade holds a Masters Degree in Management/Marketing from the University of Maryland, with a Bachelor Degree Business/Marketing from Bowie State University. Sade’s upcoming book, “Mosaic, Life, Love, and Beauty from the Diaspora” features her stunning visual art, photographic essays of some of the most compelling and beautiful women of color from around the world, as well her personal commentary about the Diaspora. -
Ron Crittendon
Senior Consultant Marketing/Branding
Ron has more than 15 years experience in marketing, publications and
management. He specializes in the design and implementation of strategic
marketing and communication plans that increase visibility and revenue.
His work reflects a broad range of skills, from strategic planning,
concept and content development, to award-winning design. Ron led an
in-house creative team at the international law firm, McKenna Long &
Aldridge LLP where he undertook market research, strategic planning,
messaging and brand design.