Speakers

Dr. Rick Virgin is a nationally recognized, entrepreneurial, innovative leader in higher
education with 20 years in executive leadership, and was named a Latino Leader of
Influence in San Diego.

As Vice President for University Advancement at University of San Diego, Rick directs
all fundraising, institutional and enrollment marketing, media relations, communications,
alumni affairs for 80,000+ graduates, and government relations. Since 2018, Rick has
raised $275M+, leading to USD’s most successful five-year fundraising period in its 75
years.

Rick’s wife, Kathleen Rapp, and their daughter Kennedy live in Del Mar with a
golden doodle with a big personality named Scout.

Elisabeth M. Walker is a mission-driven Account Executive at EverTrue, where she partners with nonprofit organizations to strengthen their fundraising strategies through actionable insights, prospect research, and AI-driven analytics. With more than 20 years of experience across hospitality, marketing, and philanthropy—and as an Adjunct Professor of Integrated Marketing Communications—she brings a people-centered education-driven approach to every relationship. Her work in the classroom has directly enhanced her ability to help organizations articulate their value and secure meaningful donor engagement. Since joining DonorSearch, Elisabeth has supported more than 120 nonprofits, each representing a community, story, and a mission shes honored to help.

Amy Walling, AEP®, CAP®, CSPG, serves as Associate Vice President for Planned Gifts & Estates, Annual Gifts/Digital Marketing, and Prospect Development & Research at San Diego State University. With over 30 years of fundraising experience across higher education, healthcare, and community foundations, she is known for advancing innovative gift marketing strategies. In 2024, she launched the world’s first Planned Giving Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO)—a first in the CSU system—using AI as digital labor to expand marketing, build pipeline, and deepen engagement.

Shannon L. Watts, MA, CFRE, is Principal Consultant of Key Fundraising, which provides strategic, effective, and innovative fundraising results for nonprofit organizations. She is a three-time Past President of the AFP Virginia Piedmont Chapter. Shannon has co-chaired the Virginia Fund Raising Institute (VFRI) twice and has served as Review Team Co-Chair for the United Way of Central Virginia since 2010. Shannon currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Central Virginia Academy for Nonprofit Excellence (CVANE).

Elise Webster
Assistant Vice President, Advancement & Gift Planning
Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation

Elise Webster brings over 25 years of philanthropic experience to Rady Children’s. She leads efforts to expand the donor pipeline across all revenue streams and oversees gift planning, lead and annual giving, and grateful family programs. Elise collaborates with major gift officers to elevate major and principal gift opportunities. She has presented at numerous conferences, served on the Legacy Advancement Committee for The Woodmark Group, is an active member of North County Estate Planning Council, and a former board member of San Diego Planned Giving Partnership.

Dubbed the "fairy godmother of nonprofits," Stacey Wedding transforms organizations with her magic wand of 25+ years of sector expertise. Stacey and her team coach executives, elevate boards, and provide leadership development that actually sticks. One of only 80 BoardSource certified governance consultants, Stacey brings wisdom and wit as a sought-after keynote speaker and co-host of the popular Nonprofit Everything podcast. A certified facilitator of The Six Types of Working Genius, she's mastered the art of helping organizations identify their superpowers—having walked in their shoes as a former staff leader, board member, and now trusted advisor.

Jeremy R. Wells, MA, CFRE, currently serves as Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the country. Jeremy is a frequently requested speaker on a variety of nonprofit and fund development topics, including charitable tax policy, development planning, donor advised funds, donor engagement, stewardship, and ethics. He has served on the AFP Global Board of Directors, chaired the AFP PAC Board, was selected as a 40 Under 40 recipient by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and was the 2025 AFP Outstanding Fundraising Professional.

Aileen Wenzel is a Gift Planning Attorney at the Indiana University Foundation where she fundraises for all units on the IU Bloomington campus and manages IUF’s life insurance portfolio and charitable gift annuity state licenses. Aileen is a past president of the Charitable Gift Planners Indiana and currently serves on the board for the Hoosier Hills Estate Planning Council. Prior to joining IUF, Aileen practiced as an attorney for the Office of the Indiana Attorney General and for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

For over two decades, Lynne Wester has been a dynamic force in the fundraising world, redefining how organizations think about and engage with their donors. A bold believer that donor relations is the secret sauce to fundraising success, Lynne champions the idea that the donor experience should be just as intentional and strategic as the ask itself. Lynne earned her B.A. from the University of South Carolina, a Master’s in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy from Bay Path University, and proudly holds a DUCKtorate from the Disney Institute. She remains deeply engaged in the nonprofit world.

George Whelan joined Moore in January of 2021 as President of Moore’s Amergent Division before moving to his current Chief Client Development Officer role in February of 2025. His focus is on creating unique nonprofit marketing opportunities for clients seeking breadth and depth in their omnichannel, integrated opportunities. He brings more than 30 years of experience and thought leadership in the direct response and development industry. During his career, George has overseen a broad spectrum of nonprofit fundraising programs, including major gifts, midlevel giving, planned giving, and omnichannel marketing.

Josie White, CFRE, is the Philanthropy Officer at Shelter the Homeless in Salt Lake City and serves as Advocacy Chair for the AFP Utah Chapter. With a career rooted in small fundraising shops, she brings a nimble, creative approach to donor and volunteer engagement, grant writing, and major gifts. Josie has secured millions from public and private sources and thrives in roles requiring both strategy and hands-on execution. She holds a master’s in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University and regularly speaks on how nonprofits can grow capacity through clarity, compassion, and the confidence to try something new.

A fundraising executive with a provide track record in overseeing major fundriaing annual andcapital campaigns, Sylvia is a highly sought after advisor and mentor in the non-profit andfundraising sector. Throughout her 35 year career, Sylvia has led or served on teams that haveraised in excess of $300 Million. With substantial experience in principal and major gifts, boarddevelopment, and fundraising management, Sylvia has significant expertise in strategicplanning, fundraising and development, as well as, individual, corporation, public agency, andfoundation funder and donor relationship management and stewardship.

Carol Wick is an award-winning CEO, researcher, and nationally recognized expert on nonprofit growth and systems change. Over three decades, she has led organizations through turnarounds and major campaigns, advised foundations and social-impact leaders across the U.S. and internationally, and helped design evidence-based models that influence policy and practice—especially in the fields of domestic violence, child welfare, and community well-being. Drawing on this front-line experience as a practitioner, strategist, and evaluator, she developed the Five Factors™ Framework to show nonprofits how to scale with purpose and deliver measurable, lasting impact. Her book, Nonprofit, Inc. will be published worldwide next month.

LaShonda Williams MPA, CFRE, is a trainer with the National University Fundraising Academy and currently serves as Philanthropy Manager, where she manages a portfolio of 120 individual and mid-size corporate donor relationships. She brings 20 years of experience in higher education, with leadership roles at South Texas College of Law Houston, Prairie View A&M University and the University of Houston. LaShonda holds a Master of Public Administration from Troy State University and is certified in the Cause Selling Cycle. She is among the thousands of Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) members who posse a deep commitment to advancing philanthropic impact.

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both arts and social justice and organizations. He serves as a Client Experience Leader for Veritus Group, where he educates and coaches fundraisers across the country on innovative mid-level and major gift strategies. He is a proud Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).