Jeanette has been involved in development for 15 years. In her current position as the Founder/CEO of Rising Oak Foundation, Jeanette has developed the board recruitment and orientation packages, including assessment tools, recruitment letter, interview guidelines and commitment forms. Previously, as Chair of the Pacific NW Advisory Board of the United Negro College Fund, Jeanette was responsible for spearheading board recruitment and development by visiting with prospective board member and corporate donors, and facilitating the completion of members' annual assessment and commitment forms. At present she is Treasurer and Resource Development Chair of Women In Fatherhood, Inc., responsible for interviewing and recruiting potential board members, and facilitating board education around fiscal policy and board fundraising and engagement. Jeanette is a member of the Association of Black Foundation Executives, and The Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color. Jeanette is the author of "What Are You Bringing to the Party: A Model for Success," and most recently, a contributor to "A Philanthropic Covenant With Black America," (Wiley & Sons, March 2009). Jeanette earned her B.A. in social sciences from the Evergreen State College, and has completed course work towards her M.A. in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University.

Renee has been a consultant for the past five years and a development professional four years previous focusing on board development. As Board Development Consultant at the Chula Vista Nature Center, Renee created a board development plan, identified, recruited, and oriented new board members. She completed board talent assessments, developed board application materials, explained their roles and responsibilities, and completed the interview process. She also created the board manual and orientation materials, and developed annual board evaluation methods. Renee currently serves on the University of San Diego School of Leadership Alumni Council and the San Diego Women Film Foundation Board. She earned a Masters in nonprofit leadership and management from the University of San Diego and a Certificate in Fundraising and Development from University of California, San Diego. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. For more information about Board Development, please check out my blog: http://reneeherrell.wordpress.com/

Ruben has over twenty-five years of experience as a nonprofit leader. He has worked with several nonprofit boards in the King County area of Washington State since 2003, and has helped them in the areas of governance, board development, recruitment, strategic planning and evaluation. He currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Neurological Vocational Services where he works closely with the Board Chair on monitoring and oversight of the organization's activities. Ruben teaches a course for King County United Way’s Project Lead Program that prepares people of color who are interested in serving on nonprofit boards. He also serves on the Visiting Committee for Seattle University’s Institute of Public Service Nonprofit Leadership Center, where he earned an Executive Masters in Not-for-Profit Leadership in 2003. He also earned a B.A. from Pace University, New York City.

Mary has twenty years working with nonprofit organizations. In her current position as a consultant, she trains nonprofit boards, and helps to ensure that their roles and responsibilities are clearly understood. Previously she managed co-operatives in forestry and rural development, where she worked with boards on strategic planning, fiscal oversight, and managing their relationship with the executive director. She trained in Accounting and earned an honors bachelor's degree in psychology from Dublin City University. She undertook training in Facilitation Skills and Managing Workplace Conflict at University College Dublin. In 2004 she was awarded a Nuffield International Leadership Scholarship for her work with Leadership and Vision.