2026 CAAP Summit

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Speakers

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2026 CAAP Summit

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Presenters

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2026 CAAP Summit • Speakers • 2026 CAAP Summit • Presenters •

Our 2026 Summit Speakers

Samm Smeltzer

  • Samm Smeltzer knows that when leaders take care of their energy, everyone benefits. With more than a decade of experience as an award-winning HR leader, Samm now runs The HRart (pronounced “heart”) Center, where she helps individuals and organizations create workplaces where people feel valued, balanced, and energized. Blending her background in HR and Classical Oriental Medicine, Samm bridges well-being and performance as a Medical Qigong (chee-gong) Therapist. She is the author of five books, including Unstuck and Renewed and the children’s book The Little Healer, which introduces young readers to the magic of energy and self-care. Through her writing, speaking, and practice, Samm helps leaders and teams cultivate energetic awareness, recover from burnout, and reconnect with the vitality that drives sustainable growth and genuine human connection.

Rob Symes

  • Rob Symes is Co-Founder of Fortell, an AI company transforming how governments and nonprofits serve vulnerable populations. With over 15 years of experience in artificial intelligence, Rob has led projects across more than 40 countries, working with NGOs, multilaterals, and public agencies. His work focuses on using conversational AI to improve access to critical services—helping families more easily navigate programs such as Head Start, housing support, and healthcare. At Fortell, he is pioneering practical, human-centered AI systems that reduce administrative burden while ensuring people in need are heard, understood, and supported at scale.

Sydney Fancher

  • Sydney Fancher is a business development leader focused on strengthening 211s and community-based organizations through strategic partnerships and operational improvement. With expertise in call center operations, nonprofit management, and government collaboration, she supports agencies navigating high-volume service delivery, complex client needs, and growing expectations around care coordination and SDOH reporting. Sydney brings a practical, problem-first approach to innovation, helping 211s reduce administrative burden while protecting human-centered service. She holds a BA in Social Justice in Organizational Leadership and is an Inform USA 2025 Networker of the Year Nominee Finalist.

Ryan Harrington

  • Ryan Harrington is the Managing Director of the Data Innovation Lab (DIL) at Tech Impact where he focuses on developing data science projects for social good. Previously, Ryan was the lead data scientist at CompassRed Data Labs, a data science and analytics consulting firm where his focus was on developing models using a combination of statistical methods and machine learning techniques. Outside of work, he co-founded and co-organized Open Data Delaware, an organization dedicated to improving data transparency within government institutions and applying data and technology to solve civic problems. Harrington holds a B.S in environmental and business economics from Rutgers University and an M.S. in business analytics from Drexel University. Prior to his work as a data scientist, he was a high school math teacher through Teach for America and spent time building Delaware’s entrepreneurial ecosystem at 1313 Innovation. Outside of work he enjoys Euro-style boardgames, attempting to woodwork, and travel - from Zion to Zanzibar.

Luisa Olivo-Wolf

  • Luisa Olivo-Wolf is the Director of the Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development for Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). In this role, she leads the strategic design and oversight of the Commonwealth’s early childhood policy, quality standards, and workforce initiatives. Additionally, Luisa and her team support the administration of PA Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.  Her leadership is anchored in a career-long dedication to social work, education, and community-based services; a journey that began with roles working directly alongside children and their families. This foundational experience provides her with a unique, holistic perspective toward approaching complex issues.

    Before joining the Commonwealth, Luisa spent years leading programs in the nonprofit and private sectors. She served as the Assistant Chief Program Officer at Community Progress Council, York County’s Community Action agency, led multiple early learning centers in South Central Pennsylvania and served as Community School Director in Lancaster City. Her approach is supported by a Master’s in Community Leadership from Alvernia University, a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Millersville University, and a Nonprofit Management Certification from Temple University. A recipient of the 2024 Marvelous Marauder Award, Luisa continues to apply her lived experience and relentless commitment to providers, children, and families alike to her work and personal life. 

Ellen Min

  • Ellen Min is a community builder, educator, and equity leader whose work is rooted in radical love, collective care, and the belief that no one should have to shrink to belong. A second-generation Korean American woman, Ellen carries with her the intersectional identities that form her foundation of her leadership - transforming invisibility into connection and power. With nearly two decades in education as a high school English teacher, school leader, and equity practitioner, Ellen has worked at the intersection of access, belonging, and leadership. She currently serves as Associate Director for Student Access & Achievement at Dickinson College, and adjunct professor for the Elizabethtown School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Beyond institutions, Ellen is deeply committed to building community. She served on the board of Leadership Harrisburg Area, Diversity and Inclusion Professionals of Central PA, PA Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network, and the Central PA Korean Association. In response to rising anti-Asian hate, she founded HAAPI (Harrisburg Asian American Pacific Islanders) in 2021, helping to create spaces of visibility, joy, and collective healing. Ellen has also been appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women, where she advocates for policies that support and empower women across the state. As Co-Founder of Kindred Collective, Ellen brings a vision of leadership that is relational, reflective, and grounded in presence. She believes healing is communal, joy is a birthright, and liberation begins when we are seen, held, and allowed to be fully ourselves.

Jenny Gallagher Blom

  • Jenny Gallagher Blom is a dynamic nonprofit leader, consultant, and speaker recognized for her ability to connect strategy with real world execution. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, and organizational strategy, Jenny brings a people centered perspective to leadership, growth, and change. Her speaking style blends clarity, authenticity, and actionable takeaways, making her sessions both engaging and practical. Jenny regularly speaks to nonprofit professionals, leadership teams, and community stakeholders on topics including strategic planning, collaboration, navigating change, and translating vision into measurable impact. In 2025, she presented at the Business Women’s Forum, contributing insights on leadership and professional growth, and led a READY Nonprofits informational webinar, guiding nonprofit leaders through capacity building and readiness concepts. Her speaking experience also includes conferences, workshops, panels, strategy sessions, and training sessions at the local, regional, and organizational level. Whether facilitating an interactive workshop or delivering a formal presentation, she focuses on building trust, encouraging continuous learning, and supporting sustainable outcomes for individuals and organizations alike.

Alison Rumler-Gomez

  • Alison Rumler-Gomez is a results-driven executive and consultant who specializes in helping organizations "fail forward" to achieve sustainable growth. With a diverse background spanning fractional leadership, change management, and community advocacy, she brings a unique perspective on how to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and operational excellence. As the former CEO of Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois, Alison led the agency through a period of significant transformation. Under her eight-year tenure, the agency expanded its net revenues from $8M to $14M while simultaneously reducing operational expenses and increasing private donations by 8%. Her focus on automation and process design not only reduced inefficiencies but also resulted in an 18% increase in employee retention. Alison is a performance management expert and former ROMA professional, having managed over 50 grants across federal, state, and private sectors. Beyond the non-profit world, she is the Owner and CEO of Grow Me Consulting, where she provides fractional executive support and change management expertise to industries ranging from automotive to educational services. A graduate of Millikin University and a certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach, Alison is known for her engaging sessions, including the popular "Bellybutton Rule of Process Development". She remains deeply committed to community service, having served on various workforce investment and education boards across Illinois. Now serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and product reviewer for CAP60, Alison taps into her love for data, systems, and Community Action.

Dave Young

  • Dave Young has served as Chief Executive Officer of Schuylkill Community Action (SCA) since September 2020, bringing more than a decade of progressive leadership experience within the organization. He began his career at SCA in 2010 as a Case Manager, delivering direct services to low-income residents across Schuylkill County. In 2016, he advanced to Director of Planning, where he led key organizational initiatives including grant development, strategic planning, the Community Needs Assessment, risk management processes, Annual Report production, and public engagement efforts. Beyond his leadership at SCA, Mr. Young plays an active role in advancing community and housing initiatives at the regional and statewide levels. He currently serves as President of the Board of the Pottsville Area Development Corporation, is a board member of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, and serves on the Pennsylvania Housing Advisory Council and the Weatherization Assistance Program Policy Advisory Committee. Mr. Young previously chaired the Eastern Pennsylvania Continuum of Care Funding Committee and has contributed to the Local Housing Options Team and the Schuylkill Technology Center Local Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Pennsylvania Continuum of Care and the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Housing, supporting collaborative efforts to strengthen housing stability and community development throughout the region.

Andy Bush

  • Andy has nearly 10 years of audit and accounting experience, with an emphasis on nonprofit clients (and with Community Action Agencies in particular). He focuses almost exclusively on single audits and compliance audits, which has provided him with extensive expertise in the Uniform Guidance. Andy lives in Pennsylvania and holds an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Misericordia University.

Becca Spahr

Devin Chwastyk

  • Devin is the chair of the Privacy & Data Security group of McNees. He began working on cybersecurity issues in 2005; his clients prevailed in some of the first successful data breach lawsuits in U.S. federal courts.

     

    Today, Devin regularly helps clients become compliant with federal, state, and international privacy laws, including the EU GDPR, California Consumer Privacy Act, and other new and emerging state privacy laws, such as Maryland’s Online Data Protection Act.  He also defends companies facing claims arising from alleged consumer privacy violations.

     

    Devin works with IT and marketing teams to limit the risk of data exposure events, including developing data security policies, breach response plans, and associated training programs. He also helps businesses respond to data breaches, including in rectifying and reporting those events, limiting their potential liability for such events, and defending them in class action litigation arising from such events.

  • Becca Spahr is a dynamic keynote speaker, likability expert, and CEO of Spahr Impact Group, who is passionate about helping people build authentic connections that enrich their lives—both personally and professionally. With 20 years of experience as a U.S. Marine, Becca knows a thing or two about leading in high-pressure environments— and she’s learned that being approachable and genuine is the secret to building strong, successful teams. Now, she’s on a mission to help others discover the power of likability to transform their relationships and careers.

Amanda Backenstoes

  • I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience supporting adults, couples, children, and adolescents in Pennsylvania. My work focuses on helping individuals navigate depression, anxiety, and trauma while building resilience, insight, and meaningful change. I believe in a holistic approach to wellness that honors the connection between mind, body, and emotions. I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology from Shippensburg University and then went on to earn a master's degree in social work from Edinboro University. I am currently working on a master's degree in nutrition at Liberty University as I believe there is a strong connection between our physical and emotional well-being. I am highly motivated in the work that I do with individuals in the community and believe there is always room for growth.

Opeyemi Babajide

Opeyemi Babajide

  • Dr. Opeyemi Babajide is a population health leader and social impact strategist working at the intersection of community well-being, public systems, and responsible technology. Her work focuses on the everyday conditions that shape opportunity and health, where people live, work, learn, raise families, and age, and how data and innovation can strengthen the systems that support them. She serves as an Adjunct Professor of Public Health at Drexel University and as a member of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania’s Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence for Public Good. Dr. Babajide began her career leading large-scale community investment and health initiatives, managing cross-sector programs in education, sanitation, maternal health, and economic stability. This real-world foundation led her into public health research, where she examines how social and structural factors influence maternal and perinatal health. She has partnered with city and state agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations to design workforce initiatives, strengthen equity-focused strategies, and translate research into action. Most recently, she supported Pennsylvania’s Health Equity Action Team in advancing responsible AI use in public health and works with community partners to build AI literacy, workforce readiness, and ethical guardrails for technology adoption.

MarySebastian Summerstroh

  • MarySebastian (Bast) is a local neurodivergent artist, author, and licensed clinical social worker with their own mental health counseling private practice. They are passionate about uplifting marginalized communities through the arts, connection with nature, community building, education, and spirituality. Currently they are focused primarily on growing their mental health counseling services, but have many other projects on the side. They had a community garden in the lot next to their home, are running a summer camp for kids at the Unitarian church, and are writing and directing a musical called "That's How We Love" about social justice and spirituality in August 2026. MarySebastian has been navigating the process of unmasking since an autism diagnosis in 2020, and have been working with the neurodivergent and disabled communities since 2010. They live in Harrisburg with their partner and two cats, Ishtar, and Leonardo De' Catrio.

Linda Widdop

  • Linda Widdop has been with Tech Impact for the past two decades where she demystifies technology for all levels of nonprofits to help them be more productive, raise more funds, and support more communities. She has worked with thousands of nonprofits across the country and the world to help them understand, implement, and support the ever-changing technologies that help them meet their mission. She is a regular conference and event speaker presenting on the relatable and timely topics include the importance of technology planning, cybersecurity, data visualization and more. In her current role as Chief Innovation Officer, Linda shapes the innovation culture by identifying and leading technological and process transformations that link innovation efforts with the purpose and strategic planning of the organization. Linda can not only answer any technology question you have, but any bird question too. She’s an avid (and slightly obsessed) birdwatcher and is always excited to share her passion for all things with wings.

Christina Sims

  • Christina Sims is an award-winning, certified AI strategist and trainer, and the Founder & CEO of Precision Edge AI. She advises leaders, executives, and organizations on sound decision-making for responsible AI adoption. Christina is known for bringing composure and discernment to conversations around AI and leadership, helping professionals move beyond hype to make defensible, high-integrity decisions. With a background in executive leadership, digital marketing, and emerging technology, Christina has helped generate over $100 million in revenue for clients and supported more than 150 businesses in improving productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Her work has been recognized by Medium, Thrive Global, Brainz Magazine, and Canvas Rebel, and she is a recipient of the CREA Global Award and a Stevie Award. She was also named one of Medium’s “Women Leading in AI” and recognized as a Distinguished Alumni for Leadership by Seton Hill University.

Amber Sessoms

  • Dr. Amber M. Sessoms is a cultural strategist, adult educator, and healer whose work invites people to hear and trust their own truth. Shaped by her experiences growing up as a Black girl in a predominantly white town and navigating early loss and “othering,” Amber has dedicated her life to reimagining systems of care, leadership, and belonging. A nationally certified school psychologist and the founder of Natural Inclination LLC, Amber is the creator of the 3D Power Tools Framework, which supports individuals and organizations in leading from wholeness rather than burnout. Her work centers dignity, values-alignment, and collective care as essential conditions for sustainable change. After 13 years as a school psychologist witnessing the normalization of exhaustion and harm, particularly for Black women and those shaped by girlhood, Amber’s doctoral research affirmed what she already knew: when people gather in values-aligned, affirming spaces, transformation is not only possible, it is inevitable. Amber is an award-winning practitioner and keynote speaker, the first person of color to be named Pennsylvania School Psychologist of the Year, and the first to serve as President of the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania. She currently co-leads Pennsylvania’s Black Youth Suicide Prevention Workgroup and co-hosts the intergenerational podcast Living in 3D Power with her daughter, Emma. As Co-Founder of Kindred Collective, Amber brings deep wisdom, curiosity, and reverence for intergenerational knowledge. She believes healing is not an individual task, but a shared practice, and that joy, safety, and truth are essential tools for liberation.

Mae Reale

  • Mae Reale is the PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Senior Health Education Specialist. She has the pleasure of working with advocates from 58 domestic violence programs, who provide service to all 67 counties in the Commonwealth, to help them connect with a wide variety of healthcare providers, to ensure those providers have the tools they need to respond to people who have experienced domestic violence in all its forms. Mae works with state-level organizations to promote safe, trauma-informed responses to survivors of domestic violence. Mae is one of the co-chairs of Pennsylvania's Maternal Mortality Review Committee. She earned her Master’s degree in Adult and Community Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Meg Fitzgerald

  • Meg is a fitness and mindset coach with a background in biomedical informatics who helps women achieve sustainable fat loss and lasting confidence through behavior change, identity work, and evidence-based training and nutrition. She is known for seamlessly blending neuroscience with practical action. Meg empowers people to stop the cycle of “starting over” and instead become the person who consistently follows through—both in fitness and in life.

Hattie McCarter

  • Hattie B. McCarter is a Certified Executive in Health Diversity, statewide-recognized storyteller, and transformational leadership strategist with more than 20 years of experience shaping people-centered leadership and culture. A proud Alabama native raised in Enterprise and a graduate of Alabama State University, Hattie’s work is rooted in lived experience, purpose, and the belief that leadership must be embodied, not performed.

    She is the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of The Lead Up Magazine, a bold and unfiltered leadership platform and video series dedicated to truth-telling, cultural transformation, and the real work that happens before recognition and beyond titles. Through The Lead Up, Hattie introduces and lives out her signature leadership principles: Break, Build, Become, a framework that challenges individuals to break cycles, silence, and limiting beliefs; build with courage, clarity, and intention; and ultimately become leaders who are aligned, accountable, and grounded in purpose. Her work calls leaders to move beyond performance and into practice turning pressure into purpose and lemons into legacy.

    In addition to her editorial leadership, Hattie is the Founder and CEO of McCarter’s Equitable and Distinctive (MEND) Solutions, LLC, where she partners with organizations to develop human-centered strategies rooted in leadership development, culture transformation, and inclusive workplace practices.

    Recognized as a Trendsetter by PennLive and honored with the DEI Trailblazer Award by National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Hattie continues to expand her impact as a speaker, writer, and strategist committed to courageous leadership and lasting change. She lives by the words of Shirley Chisholm: “If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

Ryan Peasley

  • Ryan Peasley is a highly respected leader in Wipfli’s national nonprofit, government, and education practice, where he helps organizations align their technology and cybersecurity strategies with their overall goals. With extensive experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing these sectors, Ryan is a trusted advisor and sought-after thought leader. He regularly speaks at conferences, sharing his insights on the latest trends and best practices. Known for his collaborative and organization-focused approach, Ryan is dedicated to developing customized solutions and building long-lasting relationships to ensure the success of those he works with.