Director of Meetings and Membership
Vicki Glass joined NADO in October 1993. As Director of Meetings and Membership, she is responsible for all aspects relating to meetings facilitated by NADO and the NADO Research Foundation. Specific duties include negotiation of all hotel related contracts; on site conference management which including overseeing conference registration, coordinating the meeting sessions, audio visual requirements; meal functions and other troubleshooting as needed. Vicki received her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 1996. She also coordinates the NADO election process and membership activities.
Prior to joining NADO, Glass was the director of convention services at the Quality Hotel Capitol Hill where she worked with NADO coordinating the Washington Policy Conference.
Office Manager/Executive Assistant
Tawanna Harley has been with NADO since January 1998. She is responsible for the overall coordination of numerous tasks and special projects as well as the implementation of the day-to-day functions of the office. Harley manages the association’s database, responds to requests for association information and handles membership invoicing. She also coordinates all aspects of conference planning and assists in developing and implementing membership strategy, promotion and retention. Before joining NADO, she was the Administrative Assistant to the president and owner of Chalmers Marketing Group, where she assisted in the production of mailings and performed administrative duties.
Director of Economic Development
Brian Kelsey is Director of Economic Development at the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), where he leads the Know Your Region initiative and provides training to NADO members on economic development research and strategic planning. Prior to joining NADO, Kelsey served as a senior advisor at the U.S. Economic Development Administration, where he engineered the 2011 Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge grant competition. From 2005 to 2010, Kelsey served as Director of Community and Economic Development at the Capital Area Council of Governments in Austin, TX, where he managed the region’s comprehensive economic development strategy. Kelsey earned a master’s degree in public affairs from The University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with highest distinction.
Associate Director
Carrie Kissel serves as the Associate Director for the NADO Research Foundation’s Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development and RPO America. Carrie also works on NADO’s other transportation research and training programs. She initially joined NADO in 2005 as a graduate fellow with NADO and worked on various projects related to transportation, brownfields redevelopment, and environmental stewardship. Carrie completed a Master of Arts in Public Anthropology at American University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Ball State University.
Executive Director
In October 2012 Joe McKinney was named Executive Director of the National Association of Development Organizations. Joe served as Executive Director of Land-of-Sky Regional Council in Asheville, North Carolina from January 2003 until October 2012. Under his leadership, Land-of-Sky became recognized nationally for its innovation and program expansion in areas such as planning and economic development, workforce development, transportation and transit, aging services, volunteer services, and geographic information systems.
Joe has twenty-one years of experience having served in city, county, regional and national association and government management since 1991. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a candidate for a Masters Degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Associate Director
Kathy Nothstine designs and manages the NADO Research Foundation’s research, training, and capacity building programs related to regional planning, community and economic development, and sustainable development. Before joining NADO, Kathy worked as a community planner with a planning and design consulting firm in central Florida, where she contributed to land use programs and site plans for real estate development proposals, coordinated public and private sector planning efforts, and developed land use policies and plans for municipal governments. Kathy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners; she received her Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Villanova University.
Program Manager
Brett Schwartz serves as a program manager supporting the NADO Research Foundation’s capacity building programs for rural communities and small towns. He is a recent graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law where he focused on community development and land use issues. As a law student, Brett interned at the EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s office, and US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s office.
Legislative Fellow
Keith Shoop serves as a Legislative Fellow; conducting outreach to member organizations, building social media capacity, and contributing to NADO News. He is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) where he focused on policy research and analysis. While enrolled in GSPIA, Keith interned in the municipal office for the Township of Upper Saint Clair and in Zoning Office of the City of Pittsburgh.
Legislative Associate
Ted Stiger serves as Legislative Associate for NADO. Ted tracks legislation, assists on Legislative and Executive Branch outreach, provides advocacy of NADO’s legislative priorities, and assists with policy development. Before joining NADO, Stiger worked for a community development non-profit serving Washington, DC where he worked on federal housing policy and grant administration. Prior to that, Stiger worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Albion College.
Deputy Executive Director
Laurie Thompson assists the Executive Director in planning, designing, implementing and managing all of the organization’s programs and activities. She oversees the daily operations of grant proposals, research, training and conferences, and communications activities. Laurie works closely with the Executive Director to help secure financial resources for NADO and the NADO Research Foundation, as well as monitor and comply with appropriate budget, financial and reporting requirements. She works with staff to develop strategic alliances with key representatives from member organizations, foundations, national organizations and federal agencies. Before joining NADO in 1998, Laurie directed a grant making program for First Nations Development Institute, a national Native American economic development corporation. Other previous experience includes seven years in health care administration and five years providing training and technical assistance to Native grantees of the Administration on Aging. She received a master’s degree in health services administration from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in public affairs and government from Mount Vernon College.
Director of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs
Craig Whitham serves as Director of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs, where he has the responsibility for managing NADO’s advocacy efforts, and is the chief point of contact with Congress and the Administration. He supervises NADO’s legislative staff and coordinates NADO’s policy and legislative priorities. Before joining NADO, Craig served as Senior Appropriations Advisor for Congressman Frank Wolf. In that role, he handled a legislative portfolio of transportation, defense, homeland security, financial services, and housing issues. Whitham holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from George Mason University and Bachelor’s Degree from Elon University.