Our Team
With more than 750 years of collective healthcare philanthropy experience, GOBEL has the largest and most experienced team of consultants and technology professionals serving the industry.
Leadership
Chad is a highly experienced veteran of institutional advancement programs and a renowned consultant specializing in healthcare philanthropy. With over 25 years of expertise, Chad has worked closely with more than 100 healthcare organizations in the past decade alone.
In 2011, he founded GOBEL, which started with just one employee and client but has since grown into a team of over 50 healthcare professionals. GOBEL actively collaborates with over 300 clients globally, marking its fourteenth anniversary in 2024 and having served more than 1,000 healthcare organizations throughout its history. Recognized as the leading philanthropy consulting firm exclusively dedicated to healthcare, GOBEL excels in both its grateful patient program, which boasts active clinician engagement, as well as in G2G, a cutting-edge technology product utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to significantly enhance philanthropic support for healthcare organizations.
Prior to establishing GOBEL, Chad played pivotal roles in billion-dollar medical center campaigns and held leadership positions at renowned institutions such as Cleveland Clinic and University of Rochester Medical Center. Chad holds an MBA from the Ohio State University and an undergraduate degree from Towson University. He is a sought-after speaker at national conferences, served as faculty for the AHP Madison Institute for a decade, and authored the highly acclaimed book How to Become a Top Producer in Healthcare Philanthropy.
Katie is an experienced attorney who has guided businesses and business owners for more than fifteen years as an attorney, business consultant, and executive. She understands the importance of connecting legal solutions with the client’s operations, culture, and goals while avoiding the problems that can often come from disconnected or isolated legal “advice.”
Katie has experience in law and inside operations as operations management to plan for legal pitfalls proactively. Her areas of expertise include tax law, business formation, employment law, healthcare, WBE/MBEs, contract drafting and negotiation, merger & acquisitions, leasing, and intellectual property. She holds a J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law.
Desirae joined Gobel Group in 2012. She serves as Principal Consultant, Programs and has worked first hand with over 35 hospitals in that time. In her role, she has educated hundreds of physicians and clinicians, encouraging the identification of thousands of prospects capable of making major and principal level gifts. She has successfully mentored and fostered an increase in gift offer productivity to successfully close gifts of all sizes, including a $2M gift from a grateful patient.
Prior to joining the firm, Desirae served as the Director of Advancement at the University of Rochester Medical Center, overseeing all development functions within a clinical unit. She worked closely with physicians and board members to close six and seven figure gifts. She was directly responsible for growing grateful patient fundraising programs, building strong internal and external relationships, campaign planning and implementation, volunteer management, major/leadership gift strategy and solicitation, special events and donor recognition programs. Previously, she worked at Rochester General Hospital, partnering with employed and private physicians to implement process improvements and create aligned interests between physicians and the hospital.
Along with her experience in medical center fundraising, Desirae has special expertise in the areas of campaign preparation and implementation, major gifts strategy, evaluation of advancement office structure and programs, strategic planning, and executive coaching.
Lauren joined Gobel Group in June 2011 and has held roles of increasing responsibility in her tenure. In her current role, Lauren works to cultivate and maintain relationships with industry strategic partners to drive continued growth of our brand and business. Lauren also works closely with the CEO to champion and manage development of Gobel Group’s new innovative products and technology solutions.
Lauren has a strong background in project management, research and administrative roles. She brings a strategic, focused and detail-oriented passion to her work. Previous roles within the company have included four years as Senior Director of Business Development and Marketing, Director of Administration, and Philanthropy Analyst. Prior to meeting Chad and launching a career in healthcare philanthropy, Lauren was serving as a paralegal in upstate New York while considering a career in Law. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Public Administration from the State University of New York.
Sam brings to GOBEL a diverse set of experiences gained from leading data professionals in healthcare, medical technology, higher education, philanthropy, start-up, and Fortune 200 enterprises. He provides leadership in data analytics, engineering, strategic planning, process improvement, project and operations management, and team-building.
In the healthcare industry, Sam has led technical teams responsible for creating new data products and services for a customer base of over 400 hospitals and IDNs across the US. He is adept at operating at every level of an organization’s data analytics stack, from writing code and shipping deliverables to designing and launching new analytics initiatives, engaging customers and stakeholders for ideation, managing operations, and strategic planning.
Sam previously served as the Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Manager of Operations Analytics at Becton, Dickinson, and Company, and as a data consultant for numerous organizations in healthcare, education, medical technology, and philanthropy. Sam holds a Master of Science in Analytics from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Al O’Keefe is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years of experience in major gift fundraising, capital campaigning, nonprofit marketing and public relations. He has served as vice president of an international educational and healthcare organization based in Dublin, Ireland; as corporate vice president for a prestigious northern New Jersey hospital; and in senior positions at three major fundraising consulting firms, including Gobel.
As counsel, Al has worked with local and national organizations in conducting integrated planning studies, capital campaigns, major gift fundraising, board development, strategic planning, and public relations. Clients span a diverse range of nonprofit organizations and have included educational and healthcare organizations, national associations, social service organizations, and major dioceses.
Al also has extensive experience in communications, public relations and marketing and has been a frequent speaker at international conferences sponsored by various professional associations, including AFP and AHP.
Prior to the acquisition of Ghiorsi & Sorrenti, Inc., where he was employed for more than 25 years and served as Senior Vice President , Al was the Vice President of Development for the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God. There, he was responsible for fundraising in support of the order’s private school in New Jersey as well as its missionary programs, ministries, and services in 43 countries.
Jocelyn brings to GOBEL more than 20 years of experience in Philanthropy Services, and has put all that capability to use with nearly 40 GOBEL clients. Working in a leadership role, she has helped launch the company’s revolutionary new G2G grateful patient program with multiple clients. Her many specialties include creating stronger processes by generating more efficient and effective workflows, and developing strong policies and procedures for database and financial functions improving data accuracy, segmenting, and reporting.
Jocelyn previously worked at Westchester Medical Center, the FDNY Foundation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and as a consultant for Philanthropy Services’ organizations employing her strong focus on improving processes for accuracy and efficiency. Her belief that operations is the upstream to fundraising has provided a formidable platform for career achievement and an enormous benefit to GOBEL clients’ campaigns.
Sharon is a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years experience in providing professional services across a broad range of financial areas including compliance, internal controls, business processes, and acting in business advisory roles. She has been involved with multiple not-for-profit organizations as a board member, a volunteer, a part of the audit team, an internal business manager, and the provider of policies, procedures, and internal control reviews.
Sharon has a B.A. from Thomas Edison State University.
At Gobel she is responsible for the delivery of financial services including accounting, treasury, reporting, and budgeting, all in accordance with legislative requirements and organizational policies and strategies.
Team
Nancy is a philanthropy professional with over 33 years of varied and comprehensive experience in the field. Her work has included building and shepherding a foundation and corporate relations program at Duke Medicine, establishing and directing a non-profit organization, and evaluating grant programs for private foundations. She is most interested in helping organizations establish effective foundation fundraising programs that optimize knowledge and experience to connect innovative ideas with appropriate funders, creating collegial and transparent lines of communication between foundation representatives and the people and programs that can advance their priorities, and mentoring people new to the field, including both fundraisers and philanthropists.
Kristen has more than 16 years of experience managing nonprofit operations for healthcare and research institutions, as well as consulting. Her expertise centers on operational and data management, process improvement, and developing strategic fundraising programs that create measurable and sustainable results. She has a collaborative, donor-centric mindset, and she is passionate about integrating all aspects of development in a way that builds sustainability.
She was an integral part of implementing grateful patient and physician engagement programs at both Barrow Neurological Foundation and Banner Health Foundation. While serving as the Director of Foundation Operations for the TGen Foundation, a nonprofit genomics research institute, she designed and implemented strategic fundraising initiatives to support a $10 million annual target while implementing tracking systems to increase productivity and processes to increase workflow efficiencies.
Kristen received her bachelor’s degree from a private college in Tempe, Arizona, and holds an MBA from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Jane has joined GOBEL as a Manager of Data Services. Her most recent position was Director of Philanthropy Services for Tidewell Foundation, supporting Tidewell Hospice and its affiliates. During her nearly 12-year tenure there, she held a strategic leadership role, responsible for managing the organization’s constituent database, overseeing day-to-day operations of all donor and prospect information. She has expertise in leveraging data analytics to evaluate program performance and inform strategy.
Jane has held leadership positions in Association of Professional Research for Advancement, both at the state level as Director of Membership and Marketing, as well as serving on two national committees.
Jane holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. Her certifications include Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT Professional (bCRE), and Six Sigma Green Belt. She currently resides in Sarasota, Florida.
“Metrics and accountability are essential to fundraising success. Philanthropy enables entirely new possibilities, and I enjoy seeking ways to support others in being their best.”
As a Business Intelligence Analyst, Norma helps clients interpret data and implement Gobel’s modeling, dashboards, reporting and analytics services. Norma brings years of experience and passion for the power of data in healthcare philanthropy. Before Gobel, she served as the first Development Services Officer at Heartland Alliance, where she partnered across departments to implement robust business intelligence solutions to strategize prospect and donor information. She also trained end users to use Heartland’s CRM effectively and efficiently. In another previous role, Norma worked at Northwestern Memorial Foundation to deliver actionable insights through dashboards and analytics. She oversaw new software implementation, led database projects, managed online technologies and supported pipeline and portfolio strategy efforts. In her work, she is driven to empower healthcare organizations to reach new fundraising goals by delivering accurate, consistent and reliable data. Norma holds her bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross Worchester and resides in Chicago.
Emily joins GOBEL after four years in consulting and new program development. Prior to joining us, she served as the Engagement Services Coordinator at McKinsey & Company, where she played a pivotal role as a core member of the new client development and research service line. Additionally, Emily demonstrated her leadership as a Project Manager, spearheading the creation of an innovative digital learning tool.
Emily’s educational journey includes an Associate of Arts degree from St. Petersburg College and a major in Biochemistry at Florida State University. Emily’s career path has provided her with insight into the healthcare industry, as she excelled in supporting multiple consulting engagements. She acted as a liaison to clients from various hospitals, research centers, and health insurance agencies. Emily is based in St. Petersburg, FL, and her motivation is clear: “It is very fulfilling to know that my role within GOBEL will have a positive impact on those within the healthcare community, both practitioners and patients alike.”
Robyn utilizes the Raiser’s Edge to help teams work more efficiently and increase philanthropic support. She brings 10 years of experience working in non-profits, with 4 years in healthcare. Prior to Gobel Group she was the Financial and Database Manager at The University of Tennessee Medical Center where she found her passion for the Raiser’s Edge and philanthropy operations. As a client of Gobel Group, she worked with the Philanthropy Services team to implement a Grateful Patient Program, focusing on wealth screening and configuring the database for tracking the success of the program.
Robyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Tennessee.
Mandy Heath serves as Vice President, Philanthropy Services at (Gobel Group) a national healthcare philanthropy firm. Previously, she served as the Senior Director of the Prospect Development & Data Management teams at the FIU Foundation, Inc. In her role, she oversaw all aspects of prospect development and data management in support of FIU’s $750M Next Horizon campaign. With over 15 years of prospect development and advancement operations experience, Mandy has worked and consulted with various non-profit, healthcare and higher education organizations to build successful and efficient relationship and database management systems. Mandy has a broad range of experience in fundraising, prospect development, database management, grateful patient programs, donor relations, board development, gift administration and processing, data analytics, data visualization and strategic and campaign planning. Previously, Mandy held a variety of positions with the City of Tempe/Tempe Center for the Arts, Arizona State University, Ballet Arizona, Dignity Health, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute.
Mandy is a very active volunteer and member of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (Apra) and has served in various capacities on the following committees: Awards, Curriculum Planning, Education and Professional Development, and Advocacy. She was Apra’s Hospitality and Volunteer Co-Chair, past president of the Apra-AZ chapter and served as a CASE District III and CASE Circles of Excellence judge. Additionally, she is a member of Apra-FL, CASE, aasp and currently serves as a member of Apra’s Ethics & Compliance Committee and aasp’s DEI in Advancement Data Task Force, where she was a contributing author of the DEI For Advancement Services Best Practices Guide.
Mandy was also actively involved with FIU’s Foundation Office of Inclusive Philanthropy (FOIP), serving as lead for Indigenous initiatives and lead for Data Analytics & Prospect Development. Additionally, she is a founding board member of the Waking Women’s Healing Institute, a place of learning and healing that works to address and prevent MMIW (Missing Murdered Indigenous Women) and acts of sexual violence against Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit individuals. She earned her bachelor’s degree in arts management from the University of Wisconsin – Stevent Point and is Blackbaud NXT certified.
Current City/State: Phoenix, AZ
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Jonathan brings to GOBEL over a decade of annual giving and digital programs experience across a variety of sectors, including nonprofit, higher education, and healthcare. He thrives at the intersection of storytelling and data, crafting narratives that inform and inspire an audience while delving into data-driven insights to pinpoint the most receptive audiences.
Prior to GOBEL, Jonathan served as the inaugural Director of Leadership Annual Giving at Keck Medicine of USC, where he built the first-ever enterprise-wide recognition program to actively solicit, engage, and steward mid-tier level donors. During his tenure at Keck Medicine of USC, Jonathan also helped oversee the direct mail and digital giving program for the health system and medical education program. Before USC, Jonathan was part of the central annual giving at UC Irvine, where he raised dollars for the UCI Fund, as well as specific schools and units across the campus, through a multi-channel approach involving direct mail, email, phone, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
Jonathan holds a Master’s degree in Communication Management from USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from UC Irvine. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Glen Jack brings over 30 years of experience in nonprofit development, strategic planning, and fundraising to his role as Vice President, Programs at GOBEL. With an impressive career spanning higher education and private nonprofits, Glen has a track record of successful leadership.
Before joining GOBEL, Glen served as Executive Director of National Development at Case Western Reserve University, overseeing fundraising across academic units. He has held leadership roles at renowned institutions like the University of Michigan, University of Rochester, Florida State University, Penn State University, University of Virginia, and Nova Southeastern University.
Glen has managed teams of various sizes, raising significant gifts, including a pivotal role in securing a $30 million naming gift at Penn State University. He’s adept at developing campaign case statements and academic unit campaign plans, contributing to campaigns raising billions of dollars.
Outside academia, Glen led the Michigan AIDS Fund and Camp Fire Boys and Girls Wathana Council. His community involvement spans various nonprofits, addressing critical issues in different communities.
Glen holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and resides in Coconut Creek, FL. His guiding principle, inspired by John Wooden, is: “If you are afraid to fail, you will never do the things you are capable of doing.”
Prior to working with GOBEL, Dennis led a successful career within Healthcare IT, leading as IT COO for organizations such as Hoag Hospital and Perot System Cooperation (numerous large health systems).
Searching for a way to give back and contribute to the industry, Dennis went on to work with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, where he filled several roles including ranging from Sr. Director of IT and Data, and Sr. Director of Data and Analytics and is cited author on related published scientific research papers. Dennis is highly skilled in data and technology ranging from application development to large-scale enterprise integration solutions, to developing high-performing data/integration teams. Dennis is a Raiser’s Edge data expert and has extensive experience building out data warehouses, pipe-line automations and predictive modeling. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Technology from the University of Southern Mississippi and is located in Hermosa Beach, California.
Since joining Gobel in 2013 Liz has held several different positions within the company. She currently partners with our Principal Consultants to implement our Clinician Engagement Program with clients throughout North America. She is also a key component in the implementation of our GRACE Program and the strategic development of Gobel educational programs.
She has an eye for detail and has had the opportunity to coordinate national events for Gobel Group. Prior to joining our team Liz assisted in the production and decoration of special events throughout the Greater Rochester area.
Liz has a B.A. in International Studies with a Minor in Recreation and Leisure and holds a certificate for project management from Penn State. She is passionate about the wellbeing of animals and volunteers at the Brandywine Valley SPCA.
Morgan joined Gobel Group after a career in the sports industry. Before Gobel Group, Morgan was the senior program director for a golf-related nonprofit organization, where she managed more than 30 employees at a dozen locations and increased program participation. Morgan’s years of experience in the sports industry have instilled in her the importance of community, teamwork and persistence in the pursuit of excellence. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and resides in Tampa, Fla.
Jason joins Gobel Group as a Senior Consultant in Programs, bringing with him over 13 years of experience in Development, Fundraising, and Philanthropy. His professional experience includes work with alumni relations, board relations, marketing and public relations, operations, special event planning, annual funds, major gifts, planned giving, and campaign planning.
During his career, Jason managed, and was on teams of, development staff ranging from 2 to 25 individuals with annual fundraising goals ranging from $125K to $15M. He successfully led annual fundraising programs for 10 years including implementing a leadership annual fund program which increased unrestricted giving by 30% in one fiscal year.
Just prior to joining Gobel Group, Jason was the director of Development for Clinical Engagement at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. He effectively led the integration of a grateful patient program working alongside the Dean of the Medical College and other executive leadership. During his tenure at Albany Med, he coordinated and led the efforts for 7 gift officers working with 70+ clinician champions while acting as the liaison to Development Operations. He succeeded in shifting the culture of grateful patient philanthropy from one that was episodic in nature, focused mainly on a few service lines, to one that became fully immersed throughout the institution. Grateful patient and family philanthropic gifts rose to over $7M. Working in partnership with their physician and clinician champions, he and his team regularly closed five, six, and seven figure gifts from grateful patients and families in support of the strategic priorities of the Medical Center.
Michelle joined Gobel after seven years of experience in management and five in the legal field, where she oversaw more than 400 accounts monthly. She brings a strong attention to detail, accuracy, and efficiency in her work as a client engagement manager. Michelle works closely with clients and Gobel’s experts to plan and deliver strategic philanthropic initiatives with the highest degree of service. Her peers have recognized her for her high standard of ethical and professional conduct. Michelle graduated cum laude from Texas A&M – San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and a Minor in History. She resides in Texas.
Meagan brings ten years of experience in non-profit database administration and development operations. Prior to joining Gobel Group, she served as the Raiser’s Edge Database Administrator for the Office of Institutional Advancement in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, the sixth largest Catholic Diocese in the United States, and most recently as the Database Manager for the United Way of Long Island. Meagan holds a Blackbaud certification in the Raiser’s Edge-Professional and received a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Francis College.
Jennifer Moody joined Gobel after a career with Henry Ford Health System as the Manager of Research and Prospect Management. While in this role, she developed and implemented a prospect management program that streamlined major gift officer portfolios and increased fundraising efficiency. Before that, she served as Research and Donor Stewardship Coordinator for The Henry Ford, an arts and culture organization, where she contributed to the launch of a $150 million comprehensive campaign. Jennifer is also active with the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (Apra), serving on the Ethics & Compliance Committee, as the Finance Lead for Apra’s Michigan chapter, and as a faculty member for Apra Fundamentals – Prospect Research. She is cowriting a chapter focused on pipeline management for the Researchers in Fundraising Best Practice Guide and Handbook for Prospect Research. Through her years of experience, she has developed the belief that prospect research is integral to the most efficient and focused fundraising efforts. Jennifer is certified in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge Fundamentals and received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. She resides in Wyandotte, Mich.
Melanie Murphy joined GOBEL as Director of Proposals, where she spearheads the development of strategic proposals and contributes to business development initiatives.
She brings a wealth of experience in crafting strategic communications, securing high-impact sales, and implementing quality business practices across various industries.
For nearly a decade, Melanie held a number of senior leadership roles in the technology sector, where she developed proposals, new business, and partnerships. In these capacities, she tailored software development and consulting engagements for enterprise clients such as Pfizer, Apple, and Nike, helping them maximize profitability and achieve their goals.
Previously, Melanie served for five years as Vice President of Marketing at Grenzebach Glier & Associates (GG&A), a global philanthropic management consultancy. During her tenure, she led business development efforts, strengthened and standardized proposals, helped launch the Grenzebach Glier Quarterly Review, and served as Interim VP of DonorScape, GG&A’s proprietary wealth screening tool. Prior to that, she held progressively responsible communications roles at the University of Miami (UM), ultimately serving as Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at UM Health System’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Melanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in marketing/communications from the University of Miami.
Jana Olslund is a seasoned fundraising executive with almost 25 years of dynamic experience with traditional and non-traditional healthcare philanthropy having served as the focal point of her career. Recognized for leading successful high-stakes campaigns, navigating complex organizational challenges, and skilled relationship-building, Jana is a sought-after strategist, thought-partner, and fundraiser.
Prior to launching her own consulting practice in 2014, Jana served as the Vice President of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Under her leadership, Jana led two national teams through a complex and fast-paced merger, successfully integrating and creating one comprehensive philanthropy center and bringing together donors from both entities for a common purpose. During her tenure, the organization’s annual fund more than doubled and it successfully launched and completed the largest campaign in its history.
Beyond her accomplishments at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Jana has also served as Senior Consultant for national consulting firm Bentz Whaley Flessner (BWF) and VP and Chief Development Officer leading the philanthropic efforts for a multi-state healthcare organization and affiliate of a national organization.
Jana is highly experienced in all areas of comprehensive, capital and endowment campaigns including feasibility studies and campaign architecture and mechanics, organizational assessments and striving to help build a stronger team structure and environment poised to raise more and serving as an important conduit to strengthen relationships by being a trusted donor confidant and team advocate thanks to her ability to actively listen, dig deep and find solutions. Additionally, as a grateful mother, the work of grateful patient and alumni programs and children’s hospitals and children’s philanthropy programs is particularly near and dear to her heart.
Jana holds a Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law, with a concentration in dispute resolution and estate planning and holds a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from North Dakota State University. She resides in Jacksonville, FL with her family.
With over 40 years of healthcare management experience in both the clinical setting and in philanthropy, Helen is a well-known expert in developing and implementing successful grateful patient engagement programs. She works with Gobel Group clients to achieve new levels of fundraising with innovative grateful patient programs. Helen was most recently the executive director of Grateful Patient Programs at Duke Medicine and is a trained clinical nurse. Helen has experience closing major and planned gifts and has played a key role in several billion dollar campaigns. She is a well-known speaker at AHP, AAMC and CASE conferences. Helen has been awarded a number of honors, including the Triangle Business Journal 25 Women in Business Leader Award and the Innovation Award from Duke Medicine Development and Alumni Affairs. Helen holds a BSN degree as well as the MPH in Health Policy, Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Adjunct Faculty at the UNC School of Nursing.
With more than 20 years in C-suite healthcare philanthropy roles, Denise has extensive experience with elevating annual, major, capital, and endowment building programs; donor relations and stewardship programs; planned giving; prospect research; implementing grateful patient and clinical integration programs; volunteer management and special events. Before joining the Gobel team, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer for Tidewell Hospice and Stratum Health System in Sarasota, Florida. Her leadership led to a 200 percent increase in charitable giving to the organization and a 210 percent growth in planned giving and legacy society membership. During her time, she fostered a working relationship between her office and the hospital C-suite leadership team to engage them in relationship-building with high-level donors. She also previously served as Chief Development Officer for the 500-bed St. John’s Hospital, 80-bed St. John’s Children’s Hospital, and the St. John’s College of Nursing and Prairie Heart Institute in Springfield, Illinois. She built out many key functions of the philanthropy office in this role, including recruitment of a 15-member foundation board and a grateful patient fundraising program with clinician support. The organization increased philanthropic giving by 75 percent during her tenure. Denise is an active member and has held volunteer leadership positions with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Denise earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 2008. She holds a master’s degree in communication from the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Megan brings to the Gobel team seven years experience in working with healthcare clients.
Prior to Gobel she was a Registered Behavior Technician, providing services to clients alongside Board Certified Behavior Analysts and healthcare professionals.
Megan graduated from Elizabethtown College with a Bachelor of Social Work.
As a Client Engagement Manager, she brings her client-focused experience into play as she partners with Principal Consultants to implement our Grateful Patient Program.
Ashley comes to GOBEL after pursuing and attaining elected office as Commissioner and Vice Chairwoman of DuPage County in Illinois. Ashley exhibited responsible bipartisan leadership in county government and secured federal funding for a free flu shot program as one of her realized goals. While serving, she was an active member of various committees including Technology, Economic Development, Finance, Health and Human Services, Intergovernmental, Judicial and Public Safety, and Legislative.
Her varied background also includes a tenure at the University of Chicago, Medical and Biological Science Department. In her position as Director, Prospect and Trustee Development, she created a protocol and methodology for growing and diversifying trustee membership for the University of Chicago Medical Center’s Board. Additionally, Ashley developed a unique and useful prospect management program.
Ashley graduated with a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University, with a concentration on International Development and the Africa Region. Somehow, beyond and supplemental to all this remarkable career activity, Ashley has found time to volunteer, most notably serving as a board member for Giving DuPage, a private-public partnership organization which advocates for local volunteerism and local charitable giving. Ashley resides in Addison, Illinois.
“Philanthropy is such a complicated mix of art and science, and the best opportunities are a blend of the two. I love finding the one odd bit of information a gift officer or organization needs to unlock a prospective donor’s potential.”
Howard has spent thirty years working alongside development staffs, board members and their c-suites, directing capital campaigns and conducting planning studies at hospitals across the country. Solving problems and overcoming challenges hands-on, in tandem with teams of fund-raising professionals while on-site working with clients, provides Howard with a unique perspective on leading and planning successful Campaigns. This unparalleled experience has primarily included hospitals and integrated healthcare systems as clients.
Howard embodies the trademark of a prolific fundraising consultant, and of a distinguished, decorated career in philanthropy with his unshakable and consistent bottom-line philosophy and a cadre of ultra-successful campaign results. The most recent accomplishment, and emblematic of Howard conducting the highest, most impactful fundraising efforts, is the $275 million+ he helped secure for Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Keeping the Promise Campaign. But it merely scratches the surface in a career in which his clients have raised more than $750 million. Some of the thankful recipients of his persistence include The Guthrie Clinic (PA/NY), Westchester Medical Center Health Network (NY), Children’s Specialized Hospital (NJ), Newton-Wellesley Hospital (MA), Deborah Heart and Lung Center (NJ), Aspen Valley Hospital (CO), Milford Regional Medical Center (MA), NYU Winthrop (NY), Capital Health (NJ), McLaren Northern Michigan, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Health (NY), Saint Clare’s Health System (NJ), Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey, Shore Medical Center (NJ), and Jersey City Medical Center (NJ).
Rob Sorrenti brings diverse skills to his responsibilities at Gobel Group. His experience and areas of expertise include major gifts, the organization and management of comprehensive and capital campaigns, planning studies, and marketing and communications.
Prior to Gobel’s acquisition of Ghiorsi & Sorrenti, Inc., Rob was an integral part of GSI teams managing multi-million-dollar campaigns. A sampling of his campaign engagements includes Jawonio Life Span Services (NY), Deborah Hospital Foundation (NJ), Elliot Health System (NH), and Capital Health System (NJ).
Rob also played key roles in conducting campaign planning studies for several GSI clients. These include County College of Morris County (NJ), Bonnie Brae School and Residential Treatment Center (NJ), The Mohawk Valley Health System (NY), Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (MA), Glens Falls Hospital (NY), Chilton Medical Center (NJ), and The Glen at Hiland Meadows (NY).
Along with campaign planning and management, Rob assisted in developing progressive marketing and communications strategies for GSI clients as they engaged in campaigns. He also had an active role in GSI’s ongoing marketing, communications and social media efforts.
Rob is a graduate of William Paterson University, with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and communications.
Adrian comes to GOBEL with more than 15 years of experience in building programs, enhancing processes, and producing results for clients and staff. Prior to GOBEL, Adrian served as the inaugural Director for Faculty and Clinician Engagement at the University of Washington Medicine, where he significantly increased the number of faculty and clinician partners with Advancement while helping raise $3 million in the first year of program implementation. Adrian was responsible for developing a series of executive-level metrics to track and convey ROI and impact with the goal of increasing partnerships between patients and clinicians.
In 2016, Adrian served as Manager, Prospect Research and Data Analytics at Trinity Health System, in Livonia, Michigan, a multi-state healthcare corporation with 96 hospitals and related entities. In this role, Adrian was charged with migrating data from 30 fundraising foundations into one CRM database. He partnered with his team to implement the Grateful Patient Healthcare Solution to assist major gift officers with identifying prospects and stewardship of current donors. To this end, he worked with 130 major gift officers and 200 development professionals.
Adrian’s career in healthcare philanthropy began with the Sisters of Charity Health System in Cleveland, Ohio. Sisters of Charity Health System comprises a network of hospitals in Ohio and South Carolina, along with skilled nursing and other elder-care facilities, three $500M grant-making foundations and several ministries addressing the immediate needs of low-income families, children and homeless men and women. Adrian trained with highly experienced fundraising professionals who helped launch his impressive career.
Adrian is active in several development groups, including serving as a Facilitator for the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s (AHP) Grateful Patient Roundtable; as Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee for Men of Color in Development, and a mentor with Black Leaders in Philanthropy. He has published an article in American Prospect Research Association (APRA) Connections entitled Strengthening Partnerships with Faculty. Adrian has been awarded AHP’s 40 under 40 recognition, honoring the industry’s best and brightest young leaders.
Adrian received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a triple major in Marketing, Finance, and Management from Walsh University. Adrian resides in North Canton, Ohio
“I am truly humbled and grateful to be part of a vital sector where we provide opportunities for patients and others to express gratitude and follows their passions.”
Carly has a rich and diverse background with significant experience in the development of integrated fundraising plans, from annual giving through planned giving programs. During her 10+ years in the nonprofit world, she has held multiple positions in fundraising shops before realizing her love for direct mail and digital fundraising. She has experience working with top-tier organizations such as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, the New York Junior League, the American Red Cross, and Moffitt Cancer Center. Prior to GOBEL, she served as Account Director at TrueSense Marketing. While there, she helped to grow nonprofit clients’ donor bases by developing multi-channel direct response and digital fundraising programs.
Carly is an expert in the intersection between storytelling and data analysis, which she uses to create marketing strategies and suggest strategic segments for communications for GOBEL clients. She holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Rutgers University. She resides in St. Petersburg, Florida and when not working can be found exploring various beaches with her dog, Noodle.
Prior to becoming a member of Gobel Group’s public relations team, Glenn headed the Public Relations and Communications Division of Ghiorsi & Sorrenti, Inc. for 29 years. He developed sophisticated communications plans for campaigns and consulted on public relations issues for GSI fundraising clients. Recent results include millions of dollars in media value for advertising and publicity efforts relating to campaigns for Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Intermountain Healthcare, Deborah Heart and Lung Center, and Milford Regional Medical Center.
Glenn’s 35-plus years of public relations, marketing, and fundraising experience span several healthcare and other nonprofit organizations, New York and national politics, the entertainment industry, and crisis and issues management. Throughout his career, Glenn accumulated a plethora of communications’ skills including writing expertise and extensive experience with print and electronic media. Glenn also has participated in several Planning Studies, Strategic Preparation analyses, and ongoing campaign direction activities for a range of GSI’s clients. He’s been an occasional author of articles, actor, and master of ceremonies, and is an avid film enthusiast.
He is a proud graduate of Fordham University, where he spent four years as broadcaster for the University radio station, WFUV.
Andrew is a Silicon Valley veteran with 15 years experience using machine learning and data science to help companies innovate, including at Google, Check (acquired by Intuit), and over a dozen startups. Andrew has MS & BS degrees from Stanford in Symbolic Systems focusing on AI.
April brings a wealth of experience and a passion for learning and collaboration to her role. With a background as an Engagement Services Coordinator at McKinsey & Company, April has honed her skills in client services and project management. Her key accomplishments include pioneering the implementation of various programs and databases, where she not only excelled in utilizing these systems but also mentored colleagues on their navigation. Additionally, April led an initiative to ensure and maintain data accuracy in a large-scale client database, showcasing her attention to detail and commitment to quality.
April holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of South Florida and has certifications in Web Development from LaunchCode and Udemy, demonstrating her diverse skill set. Her professional belief centers around the transformative power of philanthropy, as she believes it can positively impact both the givers and the recipients, driving meaningful change through dedicated programs. Currently residing in Tampa, FL, April is committed to community engagement and personal growth, reflecting her dedication to both individual and collective development.
Corporate Advisory Board
Gary is an accomplished Chief Financial Officer with a track record of success in both for-profit and non-profit healthcare organizations. With a wealth of experience as a member of Senior Leadership teams, Gary has consistently achieved disciplined revenue growth, improved patient experiences, and implemented operational enhancements to deliver cost-effective care. Known for his reputation as a “finisher,” Gary excels at creating and building leadership teams to execute vital strategies, including joint ventures, acquisitions, and divestitures. He consistently receives 360-degree feedback for being credible, accessible, transparent, and accountable, and has developed a strong bench strength for future leadership roles. Gary’s diverse roles have ranged from single hospital CFO to multi-hospital regional CFO to the Systems EVP/CFO position in healthcare organizations. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed relationships with Board of Trustees Committees, Institutional Investors, and Rating Agencies. Notably, Gary served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Tower Health and Reading Hospital, where he provided financial leadership and oversaw various key functions. Prior to that, he held CFO positions at Southcoast Health System, City of Hope Cancer Center, Catholic Healthcare West, and Hospital Corporation of America. Gary holds an MBA from Sonoma State University and a BA in Business Management from California Lutheran University.
Marissa is the Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Doheny Eye Institute, an organization headquartered in Pasadena, California, dedicated to advancing the conservation, improvement, and restoration of human eyesight. With a career spanning over three decades, Marissa has held various management roles primarily within the healthcare sector. She is also an esteemed member of the Board of Directors for PIH Health, a regional healthcare delivery network serving Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the San Gabriel Valley. Marissa’s commitment to vision research extends beyond her role at Doheny Eye Institute, as she also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) as well as the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR) – organizations focused on advocating for and enhancing federally funded vision research programs. Additionally, she contributes her expertise to the Board of Directors of Banza, LLC, a company offering healthier alternatives to traditional pasta, pizza, and rice. Marissa holds an MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
Nathan is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer at SSM Health Care Portfolio Management Company. In his role, he holds the responsibility for asset allocation, portfolio construction, and due diligence. With a wealth of experience, Nathan brings valuable expertise to his position. Before joining SSM Health, he co-managed a single-family office, showcasing his ability to navigate complex investment strategies and oversee diverse portfolios. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Director for Ascension Investment Management, further enhancing his proficiency in investment management. Nathan’s educational background is equally impressive, as he holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he triple majored in Finance & Banking, Economics, and Real Estate. Through his knowledge, skills, and dedication, Nathan contributes significantly to SSM Health’s investment endeavors, ensuring the organization’s financial growth and stability.
Bruce is a distinguished figure in the field of cardiovascular disease management, having dedicated over 40 years to this noble pursuit. Throughout his illustrious career, Bruce has made significant contributions as a cardiothoracic surgeon, administrator, consultant, and visionary. His expertise lies in adult cardiothoracic surgery, with notable achievements in coronary bypass surgery, valve repair and replacement, cerebral protection, aortic surgery, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, radiation-induced heart disease, and reoperative cardiac surgery. Bruce’s dedication to leadership ultimately led him to serve as the Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 2004 to 2007, which was followed by his appointment as Chairman of the prestigious Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) at the Cleveland Clinic. Under his guidance, the Clinic’s heart program achieved the remarkable distinction of being ranked first in the nation for an unprecedented 20 consecutive years. A graduate with honors from Stanford University and Harvard University Medical School, Bruce embodies the epitome of excellence and dedication in the field of cardiovascular medicine and healthcare in general.
Mike is the Vice President of Investments & Partnerships at Navitus Health Solutions, a fully pass-through, transparent Pharmacy Benefit Manager. He oversees corporate development functions, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic development, and market analysis. With extensive experience in building treasury departments, Mike has previously held key positions at organizations such as SSM Healthcare Corporation, City of Hope in Southern California, Washington Hospital Healthcare System, Quiksilver Inc., and Swedish Health Services. Throughout his career, he has successfully completed over $16 billion in debt and equity financings, including equity IPOs and bond financings. Mike holds an undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. He is an active member of several treasury groups and serves on the Board of Directors for the Family Caregiver Alliance. With a passion for serving partners and customers, Mike approaches his role with honor, respect, and a commitment to excellence.
Neil is a highly respected leader in the healthcare industry, currently serving as the President and CEO of LifeBridge Health, a prominent integrated delivery system with a value of 1.8 billion dollars. His journey with LifeBridge Health began in 1988 when he joined Sinai Hospital as the Vice President for Operations, eventually ascending to the role of President in October 1998. In 2013, Neil assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the organization’s five acute care centers and 137 locations. Under his visionary leadership, LifeBridge Health has implemented innovative and successful strategies to enhance the health of the populations it serves. Neil’s commitment to the healthcare sector extends beyond his role at LifeBridge Health, as he actively participates in various local and civic boards, including the National Health Care Workforce Commission and the Maryland Hospital Association. He has also made significant contributions to the American Heart Association, where he served as the National Chair. Neil’s educational background includes a strong foundation in public health, reflecting his dedication to addressing public health issues through data-driven decision-making. His inspiring leadership and community-focused approach have been instrumental in driving strategic growth and transforming LifeBridge Health into an integrated healthcare delivery system offering a comprehensive range of care.
Nithya Narasimhan, the Senior Vice President of Client Relationships at Oracle, is a distinguished business leader with a comprehensive background spanning over two decades. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, she leverages her extensive expertise acquired from previous roles, showcasing proficiency in product development, branding, healthcare technology, human capital management, marketing, sales, and finance.
Nithya’s commitment to dismantling barriers hindering organizational progress is evident in her current role, where she focuses on evidence-backed strategies for substantial gains in customer engagement, client satisfaction, and revenue increases. Her influence extends to cultivating strategic alliances, providing executive coaching, and mentoring teams to foster autonomous changemakers.
Nithya excels in collaborating with the C-suite, driving successful client-facing and back-office initiatives at scale. Her cross-functional proficiency and compassionate leadership style have not only achieved tangible business results but also developed resilient business leaders capable of navigating the corporate landscape as committed, autonomous changemakers.
In her ongoing role at Oracle, Nithya continues to shape the company’s client-centric vision, foster innovation, and ensure Oracle’s position as a leader in delivering impactful solutions to clients. Her strategic mindset, leadership prowess, and unwavering commitment to excellence make her an integral and influential part of Oracle’s continued success.
Prag Shah is a C-suite growth, go-to-market, and transformation executive experienced in driving value-creation across private-equity, venture-backed, and public companies. A strategic operating executive at the intersection of P&L’s, customers and technologies, his prior roles include CEO, COO, GM for global, digital, software services and hospitality/leisure companies. With over 25 years post-MBA leadership experiences, he has led revenue and profit growth, digital transformations, customer/guest experience, international expansion and M&A. Prag has held executive roles at organizations including Rosetta Stone, Sprint, Princess Cruises, Vail Resorts as well as VC- and PE- backed technology subscription services companies. He has led teams and offices in North & South America, Europe, and Asia, including living in Japan while in a global P&L role.
In the philanthropy sector related to Gobel, Prag was previously President WealthEngine, a ML-AI analytics SaaS company serving over 2,500 non-profit organizations, including hundreds of hospitals, to augment their fundraising capabilities.
Prag began his early career as an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School, MS and BS in engineering from George Washington University, and a hospitality certificate from Cornell University. He has served non-profits including as Board Member Pratham, Executive Partner JASON Learning, Digital Board Advisor National Parks Conservation Association. He has served as an Advisor to tech and travel/leisure companies, venture mentor at The Players Impact, and venture executive with Harvard’s Innovation Lab.
Prag enjoys the outdoors as an active ski instructor, global adventure traveler, photographer, and raises awareness of climate change and cultural diversity through his published photo-essay books.
Edward is the Executive Vice President and President of the Acute Care Division at Universal Health Services (UHS). In this role, he is responsible for driving strategy and operations across the UHS Acute Care portfolio, which includes Acute Care hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, ambulatory centers, Independence Physician Management, and Prominence Health Plan. With nearly 30 years of healthcare and leadership experience, Edward has held various senior leadership positions in the industry. Prior to joining UHS, Edward served as Chief Operating Officer at Centura Health, where he led the system’s three operating groups, clinical delivery and shared services, with annual revenues of approximately $5 billion. In this role, he was responsible for supporting improved care coordination, operational and clinical excellence, and alignment across Centura’s ecosystem of 19 facilities and more than 250 clinics. Edward has also served in leadership roles at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, where he oversaw physician integration and managed a community hospital and served as president of a community hospital with approximately $360 million of annual revenues. He holds a BA in Economics from Boston University, an MS in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine from Albany Medical College, and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Matt is the Director of Strategic Finance & Transactions at CommonSpirit Health, where he provides financial analysis and diligence support for all types of transactions at both the division and system level. His responsibilities include strategic discernment, purchase price development, financial return expectation, and other financial due diligence related assistance. In addition, Matt performs investment due diligence for CS Ventures, CommonSpirit Health’s in-house venture capital portfolio. He also plays a crucial role in assisting the business development function by providing financial analysis support for various growth and diversification initiatives. Matt has an extensive professional background in the finance and consulting industry. He held the position of Director in the Treasury and Investment Department at SSM Health, where he played a crucial role in providing financial expertise for the M&A function. Additionally, he contributed to the development of the Competitive Market Analysis group at Anheuser-Busch InBev, focusing on delivering valuable insights regarding innovation and competitor strategies in the consumer beverage and packaged goods sectors to senior leadership at ABI. Furthermore, Matt served as Sr. Vice President at Health Capital Consultants, a reputable boutique financial and economic consulting firm specializing in healthcare services entities. During his tenure there, he actively participated in over 50 M&A valuation engagements for various types of lower and middle market healthcare services entities. Matt holds a BS degree in Finance and an MBA from the University of Missouri – Columbia. He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter and a Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement from the CFA Institute.
Fatema joined her organization as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Board of Directors in February of 2020 – where she oversees the legal, governance, risk management, audit and compliance functions of the organization. With extensive experience in healthcare law, Fatema has been a trusted advisor to executive team members at health systems, academic medical centers, community hospitals, and children’s hospitals across the nation. Her expertise lies in navigating complex corporate and regulatory issues, including hospital strategic transactions and governance matters. She has played a crucial role in guiding healthcare organizations as they develop new care models and establish new business entities and ventures. After graduating from Northwestern University, Fatema received her law degree with a Certificate in Health Law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she serves on the Board of Governors. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, an organization focused on the Illinois Telehealth Initiative. She formerly served as Chair of the Children’s Health Affinity Group at the American Health Law Association, the nation’s largest educational organization devoted to legal issues in the health care field. She has authored numerous legal publications and is frequently invited for speaking engagements in the field of health law.
Careers
We are always interested in meeting talented healthcare philanthropy professionals.
GOBEL has had the privilege of working with 1,000 hospitals and health systems. Our growing team includes 50+ employees who are seasoned healthcare philanthropy and technology professionals and clinicians from the top medical centers in the nation. Collectively, our team brings more than 750 years of healthcare philanthropy experience to our client engagements, having led billion-dollar campaigns, and raised hundreds of millions annually.
OPEN POSITIONS
