AIMEE ARGEL

SENIOR DIRECTOR | INDIVIDUAL GIVING | MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Aimee Argel’s organizational development experience spans over 19 years. During her professional career, Aimee has successful raised over $48 million in individual, foundation and corporate major gifts since 2000. She is a graduate of Michigan State University (Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies) and Wayne State University (Master of Public Administration). Her current position is Senior Director, Individual Giving for Michigan State University. She has worked at several major institutions throughout southeast Michigan, notable Henry Ford Health System, University of Michigan Health System, Michigan Opera Theatre, Community Foundation for SE Michigan, DEX Design and variety of other nonprofits in the region. She is the immediate Past-President for the Junior League of Detroit and part-time faculty at Oakland University, College of Arts and Sciences in the Masters of Public Administration and the Nonprofit Management Certificate program. She has served on a variety of nonprofit boards, fundraising association boards and has consulted in helping nonprofits with their strategic and fund development plans.

MAdeline Bialecki

Director | Gilda’s Club metro Detroit - Lake house location

Madeline Bialecki has thirty-five years’ experience in nonprofit management, primarily serving as the executive director for three Philadelphia area organizations before moving to Michigan seven years ago and assuming the director’s role at The Lake House (now Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit Lake House Location). For more fifteen years, Madeline participated in external evaluations of human service organizations, as both a team member and team leader, giving her greater insight into best practices for mission-driven organizations. She has served on several boards of nonprofit organizations and governmental departments, and she has experience with the RFP process as both a grant writer and proposal evaluator. Madeline attended Villanova University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Honors Program (1982) and Master of Arts in Religious Studies (1993). She is an avid reader, published essayist and blogger. She loves to garden, knit and bake.

CAROL BREEN

PRINCIPAL | SEDONA PARTNERS

Carol has more than twenty years of consulting experience, often focused on change related to developing and implementing new organization-wide programs and processes (compensation, performance management, and career development). She has developed a customized Total Rewards framework and tool that she uses to (1) develop Compensation/Total Rewards philosophy, and (2) drive design. She has varied industry experience including health care, manufacturing, non-profit and insurance markets. Her understanding of business issues and strategies combined with her strategic/systems thinking and ability to effectively interact at all levels of an organization, enhance individual performance and improve outcomes.

KATE CHELOVICH

PRESIDENT | NEXT LEVEL SOLUTIONS

Kate brings 15 years of experience in launching digital marketing campaigns and creating website experiences for leading e-commerce brands, including Moosejaw and Carhartt. Her latest involvement with VIZI, a HR SaaS technology focused on modern employer branding and candidate experience, has given her meaningful insight into recruitment practices and talent attraction teams. Kate is fueled by her drive to positively impact results through creative ideas and process improvement. She believes that communication and alignment are the two key factors for successful outcomes. To keep fresh ideas flowing, Kate finds inspiration and motivation from her favorite authors: Seth Godin, Malcolm Gladwell and Brené Brown.

Dr. Peter Dews, MD MS FACP

Peter Dews MD MS FACP is a native Detroiter, and the ‘middle child’ of five raised by loving parents on the west side of Detroit. Dr. Dews is a product of Detroit Public Schools. After graduating from The University of Michigan with a BS in Microbiology, Dr. Dews earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from The Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Wayne State University / Detroit Medical Center. During his early career years as a Wayne State University faculty member, Dr. Dews earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis at The University of Michigan Rackham School of Graduate Studies and completed a fellowship program in Health Services Research through The American Association of Medical Colleges.

Dr. Dews, while remaining clinically active throughout his career, has documented achievement in multiple progressive roles. In recent years he has served as a Chief Medical Officer within The St. Joseph Mercy (Trinity Health) System, and later in The VHA system as the Chief Medical Officer \ Senior Clinical Official for Veterans Integrated Network (VISN) 10, the second largest and most complex VISN in the Veterans Health Administration. Currently he serves in multiple (clinical, educational, research and administrative roles) within Ascension Michigan. His expertise spans multiple settings including clinical / academic medicine, scientific research, urban and rural health, program evaluation methods, healthcare administration / quality management, as well as physician development.

Dr. Dews is a member of many communities and (through them) is actively involved in mentoring at the middle school through early and mid-career levels. He also enjoys reading (social critiques / philosophy and fiction), basketball, golf, casual biking, planning to restore old cars and spending time with his wife and their four adult children.

Nicole Lewis

Founder | Nicole Lewis & Associates, LLC

Nicole Lewis is the founder of Nicole Lewis & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm which focuses on business strategy and development.  Through her firm, Nicole provides direction and resources related to career readiness to school districts, higher education, and other education based organizations. Nicole’s client experiences and training background combined with her role as an adjunct instructor at Wayne State University provide targeted insight into the challenges and opportunities for leadership in both secondary and higher education.

Prior to her current consulting role, Nicole held executive leadership positions where she provided strategic direction and identified opportunities for growth across various industries. Nicole is quick to recognize professional skills and backgrounds that can cross industry lines and shares with our firm an extensive network of talented professionals at both a local and national level.

Sara Thompson, CFRE

Co-Founder | Thompson Consulting Solutions L.L.C. (TCS)

Chief Development Officer | Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor (RMHCAA)

Sara Thompson offers 25 years of experience in philanthropy and campaign management. She has held various fundraising roles in non-profit, healthcare and higher education.

Sara is a certified fundraising executive and assists non-profits in strategic planning, campaign fundraising, stakeholder engagement and building strong teams. She has served on executive leadership teams for major health systems and non-profits across Michigan.

Sara’s professional experience includes her roles as Chief Development Officer (CDO) for Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor and Make-A-Wish Michigan. Prior to these executive non-profit roles, she served as the CDO for the Ascension Providence Foundation. She spent her earlier years in various leadership development roles at Trinity Health, Eastern Michigan University and Oakwood Healthcare System (Beaumont Health).  

Sara’s CDO roles provides insight as an executive leader in fundraising, marketing and communications and the necessary focus on fostering board and donor collaboration through strategic alignment, fundraising and marketing. At Ascension, she led all aspects of fundraising for three Southeast Michigan Hospitals and served as the philanthropic lead for the state-wide Cardiovascular service line for Ascension Michigan.

Sara is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Public Relations and Communications. To foster her love of fundraising, she has led strategic sessions for non-profit fundraisers across the spectrum and has also served as a guest lecture for philanthropic studies at her alma mater. Sara serves on the Board of the Northville Chamber of Commerce, the CDS Foundation and is past President of the Michigan Association for Healthcare Philanthropy.