meet the team
GWEN COOPER, MPA CFRE
Gwen is considered a subject matter expert in organizational management with an uncanny ability to create meaningful policy, gain consensus among a diverse set of stakeholders, and then implement new policies at the local, state, and national levels to succeed at mission delivery.
Entrepreneurial and creative, she identifies and leverages relationships to capitalize on new opportunities through innovation, mergers, philanthropy, acquisitions, partnerships, and policy creation. She uses her exceptional and award-winning communications and marketing skills to maximize brand promise, mission delivery, and fundraising benchmarks.
Her business development expertise has helped her raise over $150M (so far) for the nonprofits she serves. With extensive experience in capacity building, volunteer management, brand development, and crisis communications, she has garnered a reputation for impact delivery through creative storytelling.
She enjoys deep and trusted relationships with local, state, regional, and national community stakeholders, including individuals, chambers, corporations, college and university systems, local, state, and federal governments, and economic development boards.
Gwen serves on the Patient Engagement Advisory Panel with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. She recently added Merit Grant Reveiwer and Ambassador to her work with PCORI. In addition, she serves as a CFRE International Ambassador, highlighting the benefits of obtaining the international Certified Fundraising Credential.
As part of a deep military family, Gwen is incredibly proud of her oldest son, currently serving in the Army National Guard. Her youngest son is pursuing his dream of playing baseball in college.
In her spare time, she engages in outdoor activities, such as running, boating, hiking, or walking on the beach.
BARTON COOPER
Barton loves the outdoors. He has spent most of his career as a Forest Ranger, Land Manager, Farmer, and Landscape Architect.
His superpower is forensic research on issues, regulations, policy-making, and advocacy. His uncanny understanding of agriculture, the environment, and conversation issues includes improving the environment for people and places. He looks at the environment as a whole, not just one person or animal, one body of water, or one piece of land, but how it all fits together and how we can improve it.
Barton builds coalitions and has led small armies of people to advocate for issues important to all of us. He’s your go-to if you want to create a robust lobby day with creative and factual messaging that is sure to sway decision-makers to enact good policy for impact.
He spends his spare time on the water boating, fishing, hiking, or hunting in the woods at the baseball field with his youngest son.
KATHERINE KESSLER, MS COREFOCUS, LLC
Katherine (Kat) specializes in delivering efficient and effective business support under her CoreFocus brand. Her superpower is omnichannel marketing and storytelling through social media campaign development, blogs, creative video shorts, and executing comprehensive business development plans.
Kat brings a discerning eye to detail to craft innovative strategies that boost brand visibility, increase productivity, foster lasting connections, and drive overall growth.
Her passion is nurturing relationships with organizations committed to enhancing community mental health and well-being for diverse populations.
Outside of work, she is a fitness enthusiast, yoga instructor, avid reader, and dedicated podcast listener focused on nutrition and mindset.
Kat firmly believes in the simple joy a cookie can bring. Visit Kat’s Bakery (KatsBakeryChatt.com) to glimpse her incredible “cookie joy” options.
AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
sample list of clients
