Staff
Executive Office
Harriet Ivey,
President and CEO
Harriet Ivey joined the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust as its initial president and CEO in 1998. She has spent her entire 35-year career in the nonprofit sector, beginning in the performing arts, then fundraising and philanthropy since 1986 when she became the executive director of the Fannie Mae Foundation and Vice President of Community Relations of the Fannie Mae Corporation.
Her past voluntary activities include serving as a trustee of many national and local nonprofit organizations while in Washington, D.C. She is a founding member and past chairperson of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers and is a graduate of Leadership Washington, which bestowed her with its community volunteer leadership award in 1998. Since 2002, Ms. Ivey has been a member of the Board of Visitors of the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy and served as its chairperson in 2006-2007. In 2008, the Center honored her with its Spirit of Philanthropy Award.
A native of Wisconsin, Ms. Ivey graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was elected to Phi Kappa Phi. Ms. Ivey is a resident of Indianapolis but also has a significant presence in Phoenix where the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust also maintains an office. She is married to Dr. Richard Brashear.
Rosanne Bradley,
Executive Administrative Assistant to President and CEO and Executive Vice President and CFO-Indiana
Rosanne Bradley joined the Trust in 1999 following 20 years of service to Amax Coal Company of Indianapolis and Houston and several years to the Indiana University Foundation. In her current position, Ms. Bradley provides administrative support to the president and chief executive officer and the chief financial and operating officer.
Finance and Operations
Robert Lowry,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer-Indiana
Robert Lowry joined the Trust in 1998 following a distinguished career with Central Newspapers Inc., where he served as director of corporate accounting and controller. Prior to that affiliation, he was a senior manager with Price Waterhouse, where he specialized in auditing large publicly traded organizations and taxes. Mr. Lowry graduated from Indiana University with distinction, is a Certified Public Accountant, is a CFA charterholder, and is a member of the Foundation Financial Officer’s Group. He has served on numerous nonprofit organization boards in Indiana.
Ryan Hammons,
Controller-Indiana
Ryan Hammons joined the Trust in 2013 following seven years at BKD, LLP, where he specialized in auditing nonprofit organizations. Mr. Hammons graduated with honors from Ball State University and received a Master of Science in Accountancy degree from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Indiana CPA Society.
Debbie Cramer,
Accounting and Administration Manager-Indiana
Debbie Cramer joined the Trust in 1998 as one of the first employees, but her connection dates back to 1986 when she began her newspaper career in the Human Resource Department of Indianapolis Newspapers. In 1992 she transferred to Central Newspapers, Inc. where she worked in administration as well as accounting. In her current position, Ms. Cramer assists with financial and operational functions including payroll, accounting, budgeting, auditing and computer system maintenance, and also as human resources manager.
Christine Bell,
Office Manager/Executive Assistant-Arizona
Chris Bell joined the Trust in 2001 after a 19-year career with The Arizona Republic where she honed her skills in the finance, community and corporate services, public relations, marketing and advertising departments. In 2007, Ms. Bell received her Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Nonprofit Institute of the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Innovation, the professional development education entity of Arizona State University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management. In her current position, Ms. Bell provides administrative support to the president and CEO, director of grants programs, director of communications and evaluation, grants program officers, and serves in the capacity of office manager responsible for a wide range of activities including event planning and responsibilities that ensures the smooth running of the day-to-day operation.
Communications and Evaluation
Maureen West
Director of Communications and Evaluation
Maureen West joined the Trust in 2012 following a career as a writer and editor who has specialized in coverage of nonprofit issues and organizations. West has written for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Center for Public Integrity and the AARP Bulletin. She holds a master’s degree in nonprofit studies from Arizona State University and a certificate in the advanced study of evaluation from Claremont Graduate University. She was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University, a fellowship awarded for her work at The Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette. In her current position, Ms. West is responsible for communicating the Trust’s work as well as leading the effort to assess the impact of the Trust’s community grants. She lives in Phoenix and travels regularly to Indianapolis.
Grants Program
Edmund Portnoy, Ph.D.,
Director of Grants Programs-Arizona
Dr. Edmund Portnoy joined the Trust in 1999 following a successful career with the City of Scottsdale. During his thirteen year tenure, Dr. Portnoy founded the Youth and Family Services Program, served as executive assistant to the Mayor during the Drinkwater administration, and served as the grants manager and human service planner. He received a bachelor of science in community service and public affairs from the University of Oregon and a master’s and doctorate in education from The Ohio State University. Dr. Portnoy is responsible for the Trust’s grant activities in Arizona, serves as the chief representative with the Maricopa Community College District and Arizona State University for the Nina Scholars program, and oversees the operations of the Phoenix office. Dr. Portnoy has served on a number of regional committees and chaired various committees with the Valley of the Sun United Way, the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Arizona Grantmakers Forum. He currently serves on the advisory board of the Bob Ramsey Executive Education Program in the College of Public Programs at Arizona State University.
Robert Berger,
Program Officer/Web Site Administrator-Arizona
Robert Berger joined the Trust in 2000. He has an extensive background in nonprofit management through his work with the American Cancer Society, the Nature Conservancy and the City of Scottsdale. Mr. Berger also worked in the private sector as the director of the Management Development Center at the University of Phoenix and through his partnership in the Center for Legal Education. Mr. Berger received a bachelor of science degree in journalism with a special emphasis in business marketing from Northern Arizona University. In his current position, he is responsible for reviewing grant proposals, meeting with potential grantees, conducting site visits and monitoring and evaluating proposals. He also co-founded and oversees the Summer Youth Program Fund of Maricopa County. Mr. Berger is considered an “environmental” specialist, working closely with organizations on statewide issues. He also manages the Trust’s web site and web-based communication on a daily basis.
Belen Gonzalez,
Program Officer-Arizona
Belen Gonzalez, M.S.W., joined the Trust in 2000 following her involvement with numerous nonprofit organizations serving children 0 to 5 years of age, teenagers and teenage parents. She graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor of arts degree in social work and earned a master’s in social work, with an emphasis on policy and community organizing, from the University of Chicago. Ms. Gonzalez is a graduate of the Valley Leadership program and the National Hispana Leadership Institute, through which she participated in the Center for Creative Leadership and the John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership Program at Harvard. She is the volunteer coordinator for Arizona’s first Latina Giving Circle, a board member of the Arizona Grantmakers Forum and a member of the Latino Advisory Council for the Valley of the Sun YMCA. She was recognized as one of the “Top Forty Under 40″ by The Phoenix Business Journal and received a Public Service Award from Valle del Sol. In her current position, she is responsible for reviewing grant proposals, meeting with potential grantees, conducting site visits and monitoring and evaluating proposals.
Michael Twyman, Ph.D.,
Director of Grants Programs-Indiana
Dr. Michael Twyman joined the Trust in 1999 following an extensive career in nonprofit management, including senior positions at Flanner House Multiservice Center and Community Action of Greater Indianapolis. He served as a special assistant to Mayor Goldsmith for the City of Indianapolis and also worked in the private sector as an independent consultant in community and economic development. Dr. Twyman graduated with honors from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He later studied international politics at the London School of Economics on a scholarship from Vanderbilt University and completed his master’s and doctoral work at Indiana University. He is an associate faculty member of the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Throughout the years, Dr. Twyman served on numerous nonprofit boards of directors, including the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) and the Indiana Grantmakers Alliance. Dr. Twyman is currently serves on the boards of Indiana Humanities and the City of Indianapolis Parks and Recreation and has received a number of awards and citations for his contributions to the community. Dr. Twyman is responsible for the Trust’s grant activities in Indiana.
David Hillman, O.D.,
Program Officer-Indiana
David Hillman joined the Trust in 2000 after serving as the executive director and deputy director/financial manager of the Indiana Equal Justice Fund. He was the first full-time development director for what is now Indiana Legal Services. Dr. Hillman’s career in the nonprofit sector began with his appointment as the first executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Indiana. In addition, he has held positions in the healthcare and biomedical research industries. Dr. Hillman earned two degrees from Indiana University, a bachelor of arts in biological sciences and a doctorate in optometry. He has volunteered and served on the boards of directors for several nonprofits, and presently serves on many committees for various community initiatives. In his current position, he is responsible for reviewing grant proposals, meeting with potential grantees, conducting site visits and monitoring and evaluating proposals.
Lee Ann Hoy,
Program Officer-Indiana
Lee Ann Hoy joined the Trust in 2000 after a long affiliation with Ameritech (now SBC) initially as media relations and external communications manager and later as director of corporate contributions, managing more than $5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Indiana. Additionally, she previously held marketing and community relations positions with GTE and the Indiana Department of Commerce. Ms. Hoy graduated with honors from Franklin College with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and secondary education, and earned a master’s in public relations from Ball State University. She is also a recent graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership program. In her current position, she is responsible for reviewing grant proposals, meeting with potential grantees, conducting site visits and monitoring and evaluating proposals.
Amy Renee Sawyer,
Grants Programs Administrative Assistant and Events Coordinator
Amy Renee Sawyer joined the Trust in 2012 following four years working for two businesses in Indianapolis. She graduated from Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis with a degree in Business Administration and actively volunteers in the community in humanitarian efforts. In her current position, Miss Sawyer provides support to the director of grants programs, program officers, and coordinates and manages Trust events in the Indianapolis office.
Grants Administration
Mary Price,
Director of Grants Administration and Secretary to Board of Trustees-Indiana
Mary Price joined the Trust in 1998 as one of its first employees after a 17-year career in the newspaper business where she provided support to the president and CEO of Central Newspapers, Inc. and other upper management officers, primarily handling financial affairs and charitable contributions for Nina Mason Pulliam. Ms. Price was instrumental in shaping the Trust in its infancy and guiding the grantmaking activities through the formative years. In her current position, she oversees the grants administration department, and works closely with grants program, and finance staff to ensure effective monitoring and tracking of grants from initial inquiry to grant completion. In addition, her responsibilities include serving as secretary to the board of trustees.
Dayna Brady,
Executive Administrative Assistant to Director of Grants Administration and Director of Grants Programs-Indiana
Dayna Brady joined the Trust in 1998 at the time of its inception. Her relationship with the newspaper began in the Circulation Department of Indianapolis Newspapers, Inc. in 1986. In 1993 she transferred to Central Newspapers, Inc. which eventually brought her to the Trust. In her current position, she is responsible for the Indiana grant proposal administration process, from initial intake to grant completion.
Loraine Gilbreath,
Grants Administration Associate/Receptionist-Arizona
Loraine Gilbreath joined the Trust in 2001 following seven years of service to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance initially as development associate for the fundraising department and later as assistant to the executive director. Her background in the nonprofit sector also includes previous human resources and executive administrative positions with the State Bar of Arizona and The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education (previously the Arizona Bar Foundation), the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Phoenix. Ms. Gilbreath graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a social work emphasis, and earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Nonprofit Institute of the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation. In her current position as grants administration associate, she is responsible for the grant proposal administrative process from initial application intake to grant completion.
Bensu Kollath,
Grants Administration Assistant/Receptionist-Indiana
Bensu Kollath joined the Trust in 1999 following seven years of service to First Indiana Bank as a customer sales representative. She moved to Indiana in 1991 from her native country, Turkey. Ms. Kollath studied business and economics at Anadolu University for two years. In addition to working with the public, Ms. Kollath provides administrative support to all departments, with special emphasis on grants administration.