Lead United Nonprofit Summit

Session 1: Community Needs Panel

Session Title: Leading the Way: Responding to Current Needs & Future Trends 

Session Description: Nonprofit leaders face challenges that can shift as quickly as the communities they serve. In this session, we’ll explore key data trends alongside two pressing local needs - support for ESL populations and the aging community. Panelists will share insights and experiences, and together we’ll consider how nonprofits can lead anyway by turning data into action, meeting current needs, and preparing for the future.

Panelists: 

• Dr. Ruthie Wienk - Associate Professor of Sociology & Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences - Lee University
• Maria Herrero - Hispanic Community Liaison and District Interpreter Coordinator - Cleveland City Schools
• Valerie Bachert, RN - Co-founder of Ocoee Regional Senior Resource Network, VP/Public Image Chair of Ocoee Regional Rotary Club

Session 2: Lecture

Session Title: Lead with Integrity: Audit Best Practices 

Session Description: Auditing isn’t just about compliance - it’s about leadership. Join Adam Osborne — CPA, managing partner at HHM, and trusted nonprofit advisor — as he shares best practices to strengthen your organization’s financial health. This practical session will help you lead with integrity, from the front lines to the bottom line.

Speaker: 

• Adam Osborne, CPA, CGMA, Managing Partner - HHM CPAs

Session 3: Lecture

Session Title: Lead with Wisdom: Practical Strategies to Leverage AI in the Nonprofit Space 

Session Description: Love it, hate it, or somewhere in between, AI is here—and nonprofit leaders must know how to lead wisely in the midst of it. In this engaging, live-demo session, Michael Stone will help you move beyond “Wow!” to share practical, ethical strategies for leveraging AI to build your nonprofit’s capacity.

Speaker: 

• Michael Stone, Leading AI Expert and Vice President of Innovative Learning - Public Education Foundation

Session 4: Keynote

Keynote Title: Lead Anyway: Bold, Resilient, and Real in the Nonprofit World

Keynote Description: Leading in the nonprofit world isn’t for the faint of heart. Budgets are tight, the needs never stop growing, and somehow you’re supposed to smile through it all and “lead with grace.” But here’s the thing: leadership isn’t about waiting until everything is perfect. It’s about showing up when it’s hard, speaking up when it’s unpopular, and choosing to lead anyway.

In this high-energy, no-fluff keynote, Naomi brings her trademark mix of humor, candor, and hard-won wisdom to remind us why we do this work and how we can do it without losing ourselves in the process. You’ll leave with a fresh spark of courage and a big-picture reminder that your leadership matters - mess and all.

Because the truth is: leadership isn’t about being polished. It’s about being present. And when we lead anyway, we make space for others to do the same.

Keynote Speaker: 

• Naomi Asher, The Maven: Naomi Asher Consulting

Dr. Ruthie Wienk
Associate Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Lee University

Dr. Ruthie Wienk is Associate Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Lee University. She received her doctorate from South Dakota State University, her master’s degree from Shenandoah University, and her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern University, coming to teach at Lee University in 2018. 

Dr. Wienk specializes in social stratification and applied sociology, with expertise in evaluation research and data-informed community development. She is coauthor of Redemptive Service: Loving Our Neighbors Well. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Wienk partners with local organizations on neighborhood revitalization and community well-being.

Maria Herrero
District Interpreter Coordinator, Cleveland City Schools
Hispanic Community Liaison

Maria Herrero is a highly motivated bilingual professional with over 20 years of experience in engineering, education, mentoring, coaching and business leadership. She currently serves as the District Interpreter and ESL Family Engagement Coordinator for Cleveland City Schools, where she helps English Language Learner families access resources, build connections, and engage fully in school and community life.

Originally from Costa Rica, Maria holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in Marketing from Costa Rica University. Her career includes leadership roles in global corporations such as Sara Lee Corporation (HANES), Marriott Hotels, Phelps Dodge Wire & Cable, and Dole Fresh Fruit. She has also taught Spanish and Business at Chattanooga State Community College and co-founded a successful property management company in Costa Rica.

In her current role, Maria provides district-wide translation and interpretation services, coordinates family engagement initiatives, and supports ESL students and families with enrollment, extracurricular activities, and access to community resources. She also develops and teaches professional development programs such as Spanish for Educators and organizes multicultural events to promote inclusivity.

Maria is fluent in Spanish and English and trained in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Dale Carnegie Leadership, and Franklin Covey programs. Recognized for her energy, compassion, and dedication, Maria is committed to empowering families and inspiring students to reach their full potential. She also values living an active and balanced life, enjoying exercise, music, meditation, and volunteering. Adventurous at heart and a true nature lover, she strives to be a light and an inspiration to others.

Valerie Bachert, RN 
Co-Founder, Ocoee Regional Senior Resource Network
Vice President & Public Image Chair, Ocoee Regional Rotary Club

Valerie Bachert is a seasoned healthcare leader, community advocate, and co-founder of the Ocoee Regional Senior Resource Network (SRN). With more than two decades of experience in nursing and healthcare leadership—including roles in the ICU, emergency department, hospice case management, program direction, and clinical liaison work—she has built her career around compassionate, patient-centered care.

Valerie’s professional expertise is matched by her commitment to public service. Her personal journey through profound loss—the death of her second adult child—became a turning point in her life. Through grief and healing, she discovered a renewed calling to serve others, which has fueled her passion for community leadership. She joined the Ocoee Regional Rotary Club and is currently serving as Vice President and Public Image Chair. She also co-founded the SRN as a collaborative, non-competitive resource hub for senior care, and established Open Arms, a grief support ministry designed to walk alongside others in their seasons of loss.

In addition to these initiatives, Valerie partners with organizations across East Tennessee—including healthcare providers, nonprofits, veterans’ groups, and faith-based ministries—to strengthen support networks for seniors, caregivers, and families. She was also selected for the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2025-26, further reflecting her dedication to long-term community impact.

At the heart of all she does is a simple guiding principle: “Jesus, that’s all.” Valerie’s faith, professional background, and lived experience shape her vision of building bridges of care, hope, and dignity for every person she serves.

Adam Osborne, CPA, CGMA
Managing Partner, HHM CPAs

A native of Cleveland and graduate of Lee University, Adam Osborne joined HHM CPAs in 2008. He was instrumental in the firm’s expansion to Bradley County in 2023, where he currently serves as Managing Partner for the Cleveland office.

A long-time supporter of United Way as a current member of the executive committee of the board of directors, funds allocation panel member, 2024 campaign co-chair, and past president of the agency’s Young Professionals Circle, he has worked tirelessly to promote the work of United Way and inspire our region’s next great generation of leaders and givers. He was recognized as United Way's first Young Professional of the Year in 2025. Under his leadership, the HHM team has quickly established themselves as one of our city’s most community-centric businesses, rising to a top six overall workplace partner and one of United Way’s leading and most consistent per capita donors.

In addition to his work with United Way, he also serves on the Tennessee Christian Preparatory School Board of Trustees, Main Street Cleveland Board, Leadership Cleveland Alumni Association, and is involved with the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Cleveland. Despite his wealth of professional and civic accomplishments, he is most proud to be husband to Amanda and dad to their two sons, Lincoln and Graham.

Michael Stone  
Vice President of Innovative Learning, Public Education Foundation

 After 10 years as a high school math teacher and men’s basketball coach at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy and East Hamilton High School, Michael led the development of the first MIT certified Fab Lab in the state of Tennessee in 2014, at STEM School Chattanooga. He has since led efforts to expand innovative educational practices in hundreds of public schools across the country through the consulting company, devX LLC, that he co-founded in 2016.

He is a former Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC, and he currently leads several initiatives including the Volkswagen eLab network as the Vice President of Innovative Learning at the Public Education Foundation in Chattanooga, TN.

He is a keynote speaker who has shared innovative leadership strategies with audiences in 31 states, Portugal, and Bhutan. Most recently, he has shared strategies to integrate generative AI for the executive leadership teams at Chick-Fil-A, the US Department of Energy, and Code Engine Studio. 

Naomi Asher 
The Maven: Naomi Asher Consulting 

Naomi is a long-time resident of East Tennessee. She attended Johnson University where she graduated with a double major in Music and Theology. She was hired as the Executive Director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland in 2010. While there she expanded the geographic service area, more than doubled the budget, created an endowment and reserve as well as increased volunteer numbers by double and retention rates from 41% to 92%. Naomi served on the Tennessee CASA Board and as a Regional Coordinator which allowed her to win and administer grants for the East Region as well as create regional marketing campaigns. She graduated from King University with her MBA in Marketing in 2012.

In May of 2015, she was hired as the Executive Director of the United Way of Anderson, Campbell, Morgan and Scott Counties where she increased the budget by 42% as well as the geographic service area. She revised and rebuilt the grant-making process as well as created several community initiatives. She implemented annual Community Needs Assessments and provided technical training and support to other nonprofits. She is passionate about helping others thrive.

Naomi is the Founder and Principal Consultant at The Maven Consulting and Doctoral Candidate at Carolina University where she is researching Nonprofit Executive Burnout.

Naomi is a graduate of the Consortium for Social Enterprise Effectiveness through the University of Tennessee, Leadership Oak Ridge, Leadership Anderson County, and East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association. She is the Chair of Explore Oak Ridge, Past-President of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Past-President of the Altrusa Club of Oak Ridge, a founding member of the Anderson County Young Professionals, a board member of the Oak Ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development and the Oak Ridge Land Bank. She has served as the President of the United Ways of Tennessee and as a Regional Representative on the TN CASA Association Board.

In 2017 she was named the Anderson County Chamber Young Professional of the Year, was the 2018 recipient of the East Tennessee Economic Council’s Postma Young Professional Medal and the 2021 Oak Ridge Chamber Young Professional of the Year.

She lives and plays in Oak Ridge with her husband Ryan, dog Winnie, and 3 cats Jerome, Miley and Rhaenyra. They are a foster family with a heart for teenagers.