Move Forward More Successfully

Stephanie Cory has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years. She has served as an executive director as well as held development and program management roles. Stephanie is an adjunct faculty member for Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive and earned her designation as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy from the American College of Financial Services. Recognized for her excellence in teaching and facilitation, Stephanie was named a Master Trainer by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is a Certified Governance Consultant through BoardSource and a Licensed Consultant through the Standards for Excellence® Institute. Stephanie also has more than 30 years’ cumulative experience as a board member. She has partnered with DANA since 2014 as one of our valued consultants.

“When you begin with a shared vision, people work together to make it happen.” A seasoned consultant, Susan Detwiler specializes in working with nonprofit boards and staff, as a catalyst for boards in transition, developing vision and aligning planning, leadership and governance with values and mission. She has twenty-five years of experience in the for-profit sector, serving a variety of clients including Fortune 500 companies, followed by fourteen years in the nonprofit sector. Her consulting is informed by five years experience as an Executive Director and service on multiple nonprofit boards through the years. Ms. Detwiler is a Creating the Future™ Fellow and Standards for Excellence™ Consultant, and partners with Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement to provide board excellence education, facilitation and consulting. As a Creating the Future Fellow, she facilitates organizations coming together around a vision for the future, and assists in identifying the path to that future. Ms. Detwiler graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from State University of New York at Albany and holds an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Debbie DiVirgilio is a Certified Governance Trainer through BoardSource and has more than 20 years of experience serving in the nonprofit sector in Maryland, Delaware and across the United States. Debbie is a nonprofit coach, consultant, teacher, facilitator and certified grant professional who holds a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Grant Professionals Institute for seven years. Debbie is a Credentialed Christian Nonprofit Leader through the Christian Leadership Alliance and Azusa Pacific University. She began partnering with DANA within the last two years and is committed to helping nonprofits thrive.

Peggy Geisler holds a BA in Clinical Psychology from University of Maryland and her MA in Clinical Psychology from Salisbury University. She is the Owner and Senior Consultant of PMG Consulting LLC, who works with not-for-profits and businesses on infrastructure, strategic planning and training as well as conducts community based planning in both Maryland and Delaware with a focus on “Good to Great” and Collective Impact Framework. She currently oversees the Sussex County Health Coalition project. Peggy has 25 years’ experience in the not-for-profit field and has received numerous awards for her community based work. She is a DANA consultant, as well as a Licensed Standards for Excellence Consultant through Maryland Association of Nonprofits.

Dick Haviland brings both experience and a personal passion to his work with non-profit organizations leadership teams and their boards. In addition to over thirty years of experience as a manager and senior executive working globally he has worked for non-profits and served on the boards of Special Olympics and other service organizations. He is certified by The Center for Creative Leadership as a coach and is also a registered International Organizational Development Consultant having worked in the UK, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Pamela Leland, PhD, brings more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit/philanthropic sector as a consultant, executive director, teacher, scholar, and volunteer. Most recently she has served as President and Founder of The Leland Leadership Group, LLC, working with nonprofit organizations on issues of strategy, nonprofit governance, leadership and the management of change. Her work as a consultant is grounded in systems theory and an organizational development/life cycle framework, recognizing that the challenges of leadership and management in mission-based organizations today are multidimensional and complex. Pam took a break from full-time consulting in 2013 to serve as Executive Director of the Quaker-affiliated Hickman Friends Senior Community (West Chester, PA), leading them through a 6-year process of campus repositioning and expansion. During her tenure with The Hickman, Pam continued to provide occasional training and consultation on collaborative decision-making, nonprofit governance and strategic change. She left The Hickman in the Fall of 2019 to return to full-time consulting. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2006, Pam served on the faculties of the University of Delaware and Seton Hall University, reaching the rank of Associate Professor of Urban Affairs and Public Policy. Pamela completed her PhD in Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware. She has an MA in Holistic Spirituality from Chestnut Hill College, an MS in Urban Studies from Georgia State University and a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia. She lives in Kennett Square, PA.

Wil Sherk maintains an active consulting practice, advising nonprofit clients on strategic direction. During his career in the nonprofit sector Wil served as chief financial officer for Winterthur Museum and The Parish of Trinity Church, Wall Street where he oversaw the financial affairs of the church’s significant real estate holdings. He was responsible for the business affairs of The National Cathedral during its financial recovery and completion. As a volunteer, Wil has been a board member of the Christiana Care Health System where he chairs the External Affairs Committee. He chaired the audit committee and served for several years on the finance committee of Christiana Care. He is past chair of the board of the Christiana Care Visiting Nurse Association. He is actively engaged in promoting health equity in Delaware.