Our Team
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Caitlin Smith, Managing Director
Board of Directors, President. Caitlin Smith, South Bend, Indiana, counsels nonprofits, small businesses, and political campaigns on strategy related to marketing, fundraising, communications, philanthropy, grant writing, and social enterprise. Since 2006, she has worked on over 25 political campaigns at all levels of government and is an active member of her community as a volunteer for several organizations focused on economic empowerment and youth development. As a professional fundraiser, Smith has worked with nonprofit leaders to return $4 million dollars investment in human services organizations in Northern Indiana over the last eight years. She serves on the Board of Directors for a national organization that educates women leaders on issues related to foreign policy, nuclear arms, and defense. Smith holds degrees from University of Chicago (MA/MSW, Social Welfare Policy and Management) and Indiana University (BA, Political Science).
Insights from Caitlin's expertise are regularly seen in various news outlets including: Health Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, Yahoo! Finance, and online publications such as Cheapism and our Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors blog. If you'd like to schedule an interview or meeting with Caitlin, please email your request to info (@) blackbirdadvisors.org |
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Adriane Baker, Operations Manager
Board of Directors. Adriane Baker, resides in North Liberty, Indiana where she is the primary caretaker of her young family and active volunteer in her church. She is a consultant to two regional institutions of religious education and assists administrators on matters related to leadership, financial reporting, grant reporting, board development, fundraising, and special events. Adriane previously worked as a teacher and school principal in schools in West Lafayette and North Liberty, Indiana and is a graduate of Purdue University College of Education. Expertise: grant reporting, education administration, management, nonprofit entity formation, religious institutions, bookkeeping, and general business administration. |
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Rob Bartels, Executive Advisor
Rob Bartels serves as an executive advisor to Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors. After 35 years leading one of the nation’s largest family-owned retail chains, Martin’s Supermarkets Inc., he oversaw the sale of the $450-million annual revenue company in 2018. Under his direction, Martin’s Supermarkets operations grew from 235 to 3,500 employees and 21 stores in Indiana and Michigan and expanded to offer new services, such as pharmacies, pet supplies, deli-cafés, and gas stations. Rob is an experienced advocate in corporate affairs at the national level in government. He is a member of the Food Marketing Institute, the Retailers Association of America, and serves on the nonprofit Board of Directors of Delta Waterfowl and South Bend Education Foundation. He is a Director of Lakeland Financial Corporation and Lake City Bank, a $5-billion financial institution based in Indiana. “Rob adds invaluable insight and executive experience that strengthens our collective value in understanding the unique needs and priorities of corporate leaders. His ability to find immediate solutions to complex dilemmas makes him an invaluable advisor and friend.” -Caitlin Smith, Managing Director of Blackbird Rob provides executive expertise in the areas of leadership, general management, business development, strategic planning, partner relations, and corporate philanthropy in benefit to both businesses and nonprofit partners. If you'd like to request a speaking engagement or consulting opportunity with Rob, please email your request to info (@) blackbirdadvisors.org . |
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Abigail Gustin, Data Analyst
Board of Directors, Treasurer. Abigail Gustin, Valparaiso, Indiana, serves as an auditor for the State of Indiana through the State Board of Accounts. In her position, she reviews processing of municipal financial transactions for incorporated townships of 100 to 90,000 residents. Previously she worked as an accountant for the $9 billion dollar asset management firm Driehaus Enterprises in Chicago, Illinois. Abigail holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Northeastern Illinois University where she studied international finance abroad in Eastern Europe. Expertise: taxes, finance, accounting, auditing, accounting technology, bookkeeping, administration, and financial reporting. |
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Kristen Cassady, Consultant
A native of South Bend, Kristen joined Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors in February 2020 as a consultant focused on grant research and writing. Kristen’s career began as an educator, spending five years teaching high school in an inner-city school. During that time, she completed her master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Following her time as a classroom instructor, Cassady transitioned to the nonprofit field serving as a grant administrator, Director of Operations, and an Executive Director over the course of ten years. Cassady has expertise in grant writing, nonprofit administration, human resource management, and staff development. Kristen and her husband reside in South Bend with their son. Cassady holds degrees from Indiana University (B.S. Education) and the Citadel (M.Ed.) |
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Stephanie Krol, Consultant
Stephanie Krol is passionate about using her public relations superpowers for good. She founded SKPR in 2006, bringing her global agency experience to her own public relations practice focusing on helping organizations tell their stories. Raise visibility. Move people. And sometimes mountains. Stephanie’s background includes a successful career with top agencies including Edelman, the largest independent public relations firm in the world, Matrix Partners and Public Communications Inc. She has counseled major corporations, brands and nonprofits — from General Mills, Unilever and Verizon to Rockwell Collins, Limited Brands and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She started her communications career with the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland after graduating with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. Today Stephanie focuses on helping entrepreneurs seeking to build business, nonprofits looking to raise awareness and companies on a mission to give back. She has a proven track record of helping nonprofits successfully launch fundraising campaigns, rebuild their reputations and tell their stories to meet and exceed their goals and ultimately expand community services. If you'd like to request a speaking engagement or consulting opportunity with Stephanie, please email your request to info@blackbirdadvisors.org |
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Bridget Ladewski, Research Analyst
Bridget Ladewski provides administrative assistance, grants project management, and prospect research for Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors portfolio of clients. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Indiana University and will complete a Master of Social Work in 2022. Outside of her work with Blackbird Philanthropy advisors, Bridget is a skilled policy advocate and is a volunteer at Upper Room, an addictions recovery support nonprofit in South Bend, Indiana. |
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Maya Lerman, Board Member
Board of Directors. Maya Lerman is an archivist at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, where she preserves and provides access to multi-format cultural heritage collections, and undertakes digital preservation activities. Before working at the American Folklife Center, Lerman worked in the Recorded Sound Section of the Library of Congress’ Packard Campus for Audiovisual Conservation, helping to build the National Jukebox Project and to provide access to music and oral history collections, such as the Les Paul and Studs Terkel collections. Lerman was co-editor of the 2015 ARSC Guide to Audio Preservation and authored the Appraisals and Priorities chapter. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology from McGill University and a Master’s in Library Science with an archives specialization at Indiana University. Maya is an accomplished guitarist and songwriter, and recorded a full length album, Take This Song With You, in 2012. Expertise: digital preservation, cultural heritage, the arts, research |
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Nichole Rodriguez, Board Member
Board of Directors, Secretary. Nichole Rodriguez, Walkerton, Indiana leads policy, administration, financial, human resources, and strategy for the University of Notre Dame, University Health Services as the Chief of Staff. University Health Services is an accredited ambulatory clinic that serves the student body of undergraduate and graduate students and is responsible for over 32,000 clinical encounters annually. Previously, Nichole managed executive financial accounts for Wyoming's largest energy service. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs from Indiana University and is working toward completing a Master of Public Affairs degree. Expertise: human resources, copywriting, editing, institutional policy, strategic planning, management, and financial oversight. |
