Nikki is the Director of Development, Regional Philanthropy at Vanderbilt University. She is a senior philanthropy and advancement leader with over a decade of experience driving major, principal, and planned giving for large research universities. She is a mission-driven nonprofit leader dedicated to advancing institutional impact through strategic philanthropy and empowered relationships. Her progressive career in the nonprofit sector reflects a deep commitment to understanding how philanthropic partnerships enable organizations to fulfill their core missions. Throughout her career, Nikki has demonstrated that nonprofit excellence emerges when teams understand their missions deeply, relationships are built on authentic values, and data informs decisions about where impact can be greatest. She brings a values-driven perspective that views philanthropy as a means to advance the vital work of higher education and research.

Laura is the Chocolate Supply Chain Coordinator at Equal Exchange - a fair-trade company that sources from agroforestry farms across the world. Laura manages supply chain relationships with 18 farmer cooperatives representing more than 20,000 farmers, and she oversees logistics, forecasting, and product development for organic chocolate and sugar supply chains. She is experienced in cooperative partnership management, farmer relationships, and impact measurement, with a track record of successful product launches and strategic planning. She also brings additional leadership experience as a former Board Director and Governance Committee Co-Chair for a $50M worker-owned cooperative. She served as an Environmental Conservation Specialist in Peace Corps Paraguay, where her work focused on agroforestry education, community-led conservation projects, and participatory research.