Staff

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Harriet Ivey joined the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust as the initial president and CEO in 1998. She has spent her entire 30-year career in the nonprofit sector, beginning in the performing arts and then fundraising. She began the philanthropic portion of her career in 1986 when she became the executive director of the Fannie Mae Foundation. Ms. Ivey graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her past professional activities include serving as a trustee of many national and local nonprofit organizations. She is a founding member and past chairman of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, and also is a graduate of Leadership Washington, which bestowed her with its community volunteer leadership award in 1998. In 2002, Ms. Ivey was invited to join the Board of Governors of the prestigious Indiana University Center on Philanthropy. Ms. Ivey is a resident of Indianapolis but enjoys a significant presence in Phoenix where she spends approximately 40 percent of her time each month.

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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.

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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.

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Melissa Gesse joined the Trust in 2007 after spending the majority of her career working in the nonprofit sector. She graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Accounting and minors in Finance and Spanish. In her current position, Ms. Gesse focuses on accounting for investments, payroll and auditing. Melissa spends time volunteering for various nonprofits in the community.

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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 the CFOO with financial and operational functions including payroll, accounting, budgeting, auditing and computer system maintenance, and also as human resources manager.

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Chris Bell joined the Trust in 2001 after a 19-year career with The Arizona Republic where she honed her skills in the finance, public relations and advertising departments. In 2007, Ms. Bell received her Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Nonprofit Management Institute, 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 and grants program managers, and serves in the capacity of office manager responsible for a wide range of activities that ensure the smooth running of the day-to-day operation.

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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 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 and the Maricopa Association of Governments. He currently serves on the State School Readiness Board and the board of the Arizona Grantmakers Forum.

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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 most recently, the City of Scottsdale. Mr. Berger also possesses business and entrepreneurial skills plied through his past work as the director of the Management Development Center at the University of Phoenix and his private partnership in the Center for Legal Education. Mr. Berger received a bachelor of science degree in journalism with a special emphasis in 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. Mr. Berger is considered an "environmental" specialist, working closely with organizations on statewide issues. He is also the Trust's web master and manages it on a daily basis.

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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 also a recent graduate of the Valley 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.

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Dr. Michael Twyman joined the Trust in 1999 following an extensive career in nonprofit management and child welfare, including positions as social services director of Flanner House, vice president of operations for Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, special assistant to the Mayor of Indianapolis, and working in the private sector as an independent consultant in housing and community 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 graduate work at the Indiana University School of Social Work and Public and Environmental Affairs. He earned his doctorate degree from Indiana University. Throughout the years, Dr. Twyman served on numerous nonprofit boards of directors, including the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), a national organization promoting philanthropy in minority communities, and the Indiana Grantmakers Alliance, a statewide organization of funders. Dr. Twyman is also very active with the local United Way and 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Dayna Brady joined the Trust in 1998 at the time of its inception. Her ten-year association with Central Newspapers, Inc. eventually brought her to the Trust. In her current position, Dayna provides administrative support to the chairman of the board, director of grants administration and director of grants programs. She also provides administrative support to all departments.

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Gala Dynes joined the Trust in 1999 after a lengthy career in the newspaper industry, initially as benefits administrator for Indianapolis Newspapers and subsequently as corporate benefits administrator for Central Newspapers, Inc. where her duties included administration of the retirement and 401(k) plans. In her current position, she is responsible for the Indiana grant proposal administration process, from initial intake to grant completion. Ms. Dynes has been very active in the community, volunteering and serving on the board of several nonprofit organizations.

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Loraine Gilbreath joined the Trust in 2001 following seven years of service to St. Mary's Food Bank as the assistant to the executive director and as development associate for the fundraising department. Her background in the nonprofit sector also includes previous human resource and executive administrative positions with the State Bar of Arizona/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 degree in sociology, with a social work emphasis, and earned a certificate in nonprofit management from the Nonprofit Institute of the ASU Center for Leadership and Management. In her current position she is responsible for the Arizona grant proposal administrative process from initial intake to grant completion.

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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.