Senior Consultant – Good Measure, Collective Impact, Mission Capital

With over nine years in the Central Texas nonprofit sector, Ashika Raval (she/her), MSW, brings experience as both an in-school worker and a consultant, collaborating with funders, nonprofit leaders, and organizations. Ashika empowers Central Texas nonprofits to leverage equitable data practices, fostering collective approaches that make data accessible, relevant, and impactful. By collaborating with sector professionals, Ashika helps organizations build data and evaluation capacity to support their missions and demonstrate their impact more effectively.Outside of work, Ashika volunteers with organizations like Asian American Resource Center, Asian Family Support Services of Austin, and Austin Parks & Recreation. In her free time, you’ll find her at Ruiz or Menchaca libraries or walking the trails with her Shih Tzu, Hazle.

Senior Consultant, Mission Capital

Sunjit Khamba, MBA, BEng, is a Senior Consultant on the Consulting, Learning, and Leadership team, specializing in organizational change within communities of color. With over eight years of experience, Sunjit combines human-centered design with JEDDI principles—Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, and Inclusion—to develop impactful, community-driven strategies for public sector clients. Sunjit’s academic background in Engineering and an MBA enhances his unique approach, balancing analytical rigor with deep empathy. Known for fostering inclusive workspaces, he ensures that all voices are heard, empowering participants to co-create solutions. Sunjit is committed to driving systemic change through thoughtful, equitable design.

Vice President, CCS Fundraising

Ashley Meruani, MPA, serves as a Vice President at CCS Fundraising. She brings extensive experience supporting the nonprofit sector to each engagement, leveraging her on-the-ground experience in Texas to ensure her work is aligned with the regional philanthropic landscape. Her areas of expertise include bespoke lead and major gift strategy, volunteer management, board engagement strategy, and structuring regional fundraising initiatives. Her clients include a wide range of organizations across subsectors of the nonprofit sphere. Her attention to detail and strong grounding in philanthropy allow her to be a strong resource to her partners. Clients of note include the Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital (WI), Kessler School (TX), and Dallas College Foundation (TX).

Founder and Chief Momentum Officer, Tara Levy Consulting

Tara Levy (she/her), JD, is an engaging partner, facilitator, and problem-solver. She has a unique ability to see both the forest and the trees in creatively addressing nonprofit organizations’ needs. Tara is an experienced trainer and consultant on nonprofit leadership and management. She has served nonprofits as a staff member, board member, and volunteer, so she brings a holistic and informed perspective to her work in the sector. Tara is a regular presenter and educator at the local, state, and national level, and she enjoys supporting nonprofit leaders in being well-prepared for their work. She specializes in change management—helping organizations plan and pivot through succession planning, strategic planning, organizational dynamics, stakeholder engagement, and board development. Tara is an attorney and holds a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. with Special Honors from UT’s Plan II Honors Program. She is a graduate of the Leadership Austin class of 2005 and served on their Board of Directors. She’d love to meet up for a cup of tea and talk about nonprofits, what you’re reading, and your favorite breakfast taco.

Nonprofit Consultant / Executive, Nonprofit Ombuds

Beverly Hamilton (she/her), PhD, is a 25+ year education and nonprofit professional, specializing in strategy and operational efficiencies to maximize mission outcomes. She has lead organizations in interim, fractional, and long-term leadership roles, as well as in consulting engagements. Nonprofit clients include Girlstart, Con Mi MADRE, E3 Alliance, Andy Roddick Foundation, and Texas 4000 for Cancer. She holds a Ph.D. Education from UT Austin and is a proud mom and mentor.

Interim Director of Childcare Program, Maternal Health Equity Collaborative

Tavia Williams, CRC, OTD, currently operates as the childcare director for the local nonprofit, Maternal Health Equity Collaborative. As a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and disability advocate, Tavia possesses a deep commitment to fostering equitable access to community resources. With a background in rehabilitation counseling and a specialization in maternal health occupational therapy, Tavia brings a unique perspective to the intersection of health, education, and advocacy. Tavia is currently building research focused on women’s health, furthering her mission to support underrepresented communities and empower women through her work.

As a novice leader in nonprofit program development, Tavia oversees a childcare program for a local nonprofit and has contributed to strategic initiatives like budget planning and community outreach. She combines her professional expertise with a passion for advocacy, striving to create sustainable change in Texas and beyond.

Master Trainer, BJR Solutions

With a heart for service and a passion for positive change, BillieJean Ring, MBA, Certified Coach, is on a mission to help nonprofit leaders balance compassion with self-care. As a career readiness coach, leadership trainer, and soft skills expert, she’s spent years empowering others to overcome challenges and thrive in their work. A breast cancer survivor, mindfulness advocate, and someone who has walked the walk, BillieJean brings a refreshing blend of positivity, wisdom, and practical strategies to every event.She knows firsthand the highs and lows of nonprofit work and believes that staying fueled by compassion doesn’t mean running on empty. From managing teams to fostering resilience, BillieJean’s unique approach shows leaders how to be both highly effective and deeply empathetic, without burning out. Whether she’s coaching organizations on stress management or leading workshops on leadership with a purpose, she lights up the room with her energy and relatable insights. When she’s not inspiring others, BillieJean can be found practicing mindfulness, creating innovative ways to promote positive thinking, or cheering on her favorite football team. Get ready for a session that’s as uplifting as it is practical!

CEO, BoardBuild

TD Smyers has more than three decades of executive leadership across the government, social, and private sectors. As BoardBuild’s CEO, he is focused on evolving the way we populate, strengthen and manage boards across the social sector by growing the impact of the platform’s industry-best training and automated matching to prospective nonprofit board members and social sector organizations across North America.A retired US Navy Captain (O-6), TD commanded a maritime patrol squadron and a joint military air base and served at the Pentagon. The Secretary of the Navy awarded him the coveted Legion of Merit for his transformational leadership of Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. After retiring from the Navy, TD began a second career as a nonprofit executive, serving as CEO of the American Red Cross North Texas Region, then President & CEO at United Way of Tarrant County. TD’s civilian leadership was also formally recognized when the Fort Worth Business Press named him their 2019 Nonprofit CEO of the Year. TD and his wife Barbara took a career pause between 2019 and 2021 to sail the Atlantic and Carribean about their sailing catamaran La Vie Dansante.

President, Colton Strawser Consulting

Dr. Colton Strawser, PhD, is a nonprofit and philanthropic consultant and the President of Colton Strawser Consulting—a consulting firm that works with mission-driven organizations to develop the funding, data, and leadership skills necessary to create change.He has provided consulting and coaching to organizations and leaders at community foundations, United Ways, homeless shelters, senior service agencies, youth programs, arts and culture organizations, and more.
Colton has trained over 1,500 organizations, generated over $25 million in government grants, and supported local and national research efforts to understand social issues and community challenges better. His research has been featured in numerous academic journals and practitioner outlets, including The Foundation Review, Journal of Advancement Analytics, Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, GrantCraft, CFInsights, and Candid.
Established in 2012, Colton Strawser Consulting was created to serve a need in the nonprofit sector to merge practical nonprofit management with rigorous academic research to address social issues. With a special emphasis on empowering organizations to create change®, Colton Strawser Consulting assists clients in the areas of organizational development, fundraising/philanthropy, research/evaluation, and leadership development.

Associate Professor, University of Texas at Dallas

Dr. Elizabeth Searing (she/her), PhD, CNP, studies how nonprofit and other social economy organizations become more resilient. This normally involves financial management, but also relies on strategic management, program evaluation, and the local community. She is a firm believer that scholars should be rooted in the needs of the community, and she focuses on finding (and teaching others to find) data-driven answers for social economy organizations around the globe.