Meet Our Team

The People Who Do The Things

KD Bauer
Consultant

KD Bauer (they/them) is a Campaigner (ENFP) and Enthusiast (Enneagram Type 7) with 18 years of experience as a marketing consultant, manager, and administrator for nonprofits. Recent roles include Managing Director at Wonderlust Productions, Director of Creative Strategy at Artistry, and Marketing Director at Trademark Theater. KD acquired their graduate certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications at St. Catherine University and their BA in Creative & Professional Writing at Bemidji State University. KD loves people, communication, and creativity; with an always-prominent growth mindset, they will be your most passionate advocate! (If you've ever needed a poignant, compelling major donor letter or a really, really, really, ridiculously good looking landing page, they've got your back.)

Keren Gudeman
Consultant

Keren Gudeman (she/her) has worked in nonprofits and the arts for the past decade as a founder, consultant, educator, and performer. She worked for The Theater for Public Policy and The Wildling after starting the nonprofit Improv Parenting, and she’s served as a grant evaluator for the Minnesota State Arts Board. Previously, Keren was an English teacher and athletics coach, with tenures at St. Paul Academy and Summit School and Carleton College. Keren holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Harvard University. As a Protagonist (ENFJ), Keren loves helping organizations hone their communications and strategy as they make the world a better place. Call her at 612-440-9008.

Chelley McLear
Consultant

Chelley McLear (she/her) has been working in the nonprofit world for ‘more than a decade or two’. She has a passion for the arts and has led renowned organisations, programs and projects in theatre, literary arts, visual arts and media arts (on both sides of the Atlantic!), currently serving on two Boards – Story Arts Minnesota and Four Humors Theater. As an Architect she is well aware of the need for the structures and details to be accurate, fully researched, and finely honed; (a skill she finds useful in her other role as a genealogist with a passion for solving DNA puzzles). Her qualifications in Theatre Arts, and Education, from the University of Ulster (NI) and Queen University Belfast (NI) are nicely complemented with a brief foray into… Accounting. Chelley is ready to tackle the creative and the technical with a powerful toolkit for mission-driven work – and finding your second cousin three-times removed.

Steve Boland
Director

Steve Boland (he/him) is a nonprofit veteran with over twenty-five years of experience helping charities grow with new ideas in fundraising and communications. He has served as executive director of three organizations before founding Next in Nonprofits in 2013. Steve has presented over 100 learning sessions on topics such as crowdfunding, engaging corporate philanthropy, and social media strategy for nonprofits. He disputes his Myers Briggs Type characterization of Commander (ENTJ) as any kind of apt descriptor, as authentic leadership never comes from issuing orders. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Steve holds a Master of Nonprofit Management from Hamline University and is an alumnus of the Shannon Leadership Institute. Call him at 651-356-8896.

Bruktait Kebede
Administrator

Bruktait Kebede (she/her) brings experience in operations and administration to the nonprofit sector, from managing operations at an architecture firm and overseeing a co-working space. She is currently pursuing a degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), focusing on how technology and systems can improve efficiency and drive meaningful impact. As an ENTJ, Bruktait is all about problem-solving and strategic planning, thriving on creating effective systems and processes that help organizations run smoothly. What really drives her, though, is the idea that planting the right seeds today can make the world a better place for future generations. She is passionate about helping organizations make a real, lasting difference—whether that’s through optimizing workflows, improving team collaboration, or finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges.

Kathleen Conroy
Manager

Kathleen Conroy (she/her) has been working with nonprofits for over twenty years predominantly in arts management and fundraising. She has worked locally with Camp Fire Minnesota, Puppeteers of America, Rosy Simas Danse, Frank Theatre, Z Puppets Rosenschnoz, and Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theatre. She holds a certification in fundraising and development from the University of St. Thomas, a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of Connecticut, and is a proud Bennington College Alumni. As a recovering creative she is in touch with the emotions, needs and motivations of clients and is ready to apply her leadership and facilitation skills to achieve your organization’s potential. As a Giver (ENFJ), she is here to help. Call her at 617-678-6978.

Grace Mayo
Consultant

Grace Mayo (she/her) is an INFP and an Individualist (Enneagram Type 4), supporting NiN clients for over three years. Grace has honed her expertise in logical and creative solutions for data organization, technological improvements, and grant writing, directly leading to $4.6 million + contributed revenue for clients in the last two years. Grace is passionate about health and human services. She enjoys helping organizations like yours connect the dots between your data (your superpower!) and your on-the-ground impact. Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bethel University in St. Paul and is working toward official Salesforce certifications. Call her at 507-236-2849.

Boone
CEO

Boone joined our team in 2021 from a companion animal rescue in Missouri. His work involves ensuring employee movement breaks, and generally being a joyful presence everywhere he goes. Boone has thus far been uninterested in completing a Myers Briggs inventory, but those who have known him feel that Consul (ESFJ) is his likely type.

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