CadencePace Partners

Experienced Coaching, Facilitation, & Consulting

About Ronna Brown

CadencePace Partner

Ronna Brown was the first team member to join Don at Cadence Pace Partners following her retirement as President/CEO of Philanthropy NY (a membership organization) for 13 years. Ronna is an experienced nonprofit organization executive with several years’ experience building, leading, and managing high performance teams in the non-profit sector. She has achieved successful outcomes through collaborative partnerships that drive greater impact and effectiveness. Ronna has a strong entrepreneurial spirit having led two nonprofits to significant growth.

Prior to leading Philanthropy New York, she was the President of the Metro New York Better Business Bureau and served as AAG, Department Bureau Chief, Consumer Fraud and Protections Bureau with the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
With certificates in Leadership (Rockwood Leadership Institute), Facilitation for Racial Justice Work (Interaction Institute), the Interim Executive Director role (the Support Center), and Leadership Coaching (Georgetown University), Ronna was listed as a ‘top 50’ professional in philanthropy in New York in 2020. Ronna holds a J.D. from NYU’s School of Law and a B.A. from the University of California at Berkley. Ronna has served on a variety of boards of directors and currently is a board member of FJC, a nonprofit supporting donor advised funds. She enjoys baking, exploring Manhattan, and reading and watching mysteries.

About Rodney Fuller

CadencePace Partner

Rodney Fuller is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader and brings an entrepreneurial approach to his work with experience in both the for profit and nonprofit sectors. Leadership positions in the nonprofit sector have included Public Allies (a national organization committed to advancing social justice and equity by engaging and activating the leadership of all young people), the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, and at least ten additional nonprofits. Consulting expertise includes ‘turnaround’ strategies for struggling nonprofits and charter schools as well as executive search/transition. A natural teacher, Rodney has been an adjunct professor at Marymount Manhattan College, Lehman College, Hunter College School of Social Work, Ramapo College New Jersey, and the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University.

A charismatic speaker, Rodney has been featured in local and national media. He was selected as an outstanding African American role model and featured in a series of ads that aired on NBC television. He has appeared on Good Morning America, Good Day New York, and New York 1, and featured in the NY Times and Daily news.

Currently pursuing an Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach certificate through the International Coaching Federation, Rodney has an MSW degree from Hunter College and is a licensed clinical social worker/therapist. Hobbies include playing saxophone, outdoor hikes, entrepreneurship, and travel to the nearest tropical beach.

About Kim Mitchell

CadencePace Partner

Kim Mitchell is a seasoned business leader recognized for her fresh perspective on innovative philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and stakeholder & community engagement. Kim has decades of leadership experience in Philanthropy, Human Resources, Consulting and Diversity & Inclusion while at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Xerox Corporation. Her extensive experience in training and organizational development, relationship management, and philanthropy drives her effectiveness in leading high profile projects, change management initiatives, and building and leading high performing teams.Kim currently holds the position of Vice President of Strategy& Engagement at NPower and is responsible for leading the strategic growth agenda, program innovation and partner & alumni engagement for impact and expansion.
As the former Northeast Region Executive for JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Kim led philanthropic, civic and employee engagement activities managing a social investment portfolio of over $40 million in grants and strategic sponsorships. Given this unique blend of experience, Kim is recognized for her expertise and proven record in advising senior business, nonprofit and community leaders on integrating organizational assets to achieve business and community outcomes. Her work in corporate diversity has been a valuable asset to the nonprofit sector. As funder and thought partner, Kim has worked with organizations fighting housing, education, and economic inequity to help identify solutions at the organizational, policy and systems level. Kim holds a B.A in Urban Studies from Lake Forest College and serves as Co-Chair of the National Board of Directors of JumpStart.

About Sharmila Rao Thakkar

CadencePace Partner

Sharmila’s passion is helping philanthropic leaders assess how and where to best deploy their resources. Recognizing the immense power and potential in giving back, she finds great joy in helping people and organizations align their time, talent, treasure, ties and testimony to their motivations, interests, and values. Having worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 25 years, Sharmila has not only served as an executive leader, but also as a consultant, advisor, teacher, mentor, speaker, and writer. Strong competency areas include leadership development, program implementation, resource development and communications. She advises and coaches donors, families, and organization on operations, strategy, board governance/development, multigenerational engagement, equity and inclusion, grantmaking and community outreach.
Recent engagements include facilitating board governance training cohorts, working on grantmaking and governance planning with several multigenerational family foundations, and serving as executive director of the Staten Island Not for Profit Association and the first non-family executive director of the Siragusa Family Foundation. She has also served on several boards, including the Healthy Schools Campaign, National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (Disability Inclusion Workgroup and DEI Taskforce), 21/64 Certified Advisors of Color Project, TrueChild, Staten Island Community Television, and the South Asian Philanthropy Project.

With masters’ degrees in Public Health and Public Administration from Columbia University, Sharmila also has several high-level credentials, awards, and ‘fellow’ certifications. She recently achieved the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation. Hobbies include traveling, cooking, swimming, reading, and leisurely biking the greenest borough in NYC with her children.

About Pat Richter

CadencePace Partner

Pat Richter served as an Affiliate Consultant with the Support Center for over 20 years, with expertise in organizational assessment (especially using the Core Capacity Assessment Tool), executive search, grant-writing, and policy and procedure development. Prior to entering the consulting world Pat was a nonprofit leader for over thirty years holding positions such as National Director of Planning and Community Services for the March of Dimes, Prevention Coordinator at New Horizons Resources, Associate Director for Putnam ARC, and Director of Disaster & Social Support Services at the American Red Cross.

Pat has facilitated strategic planning, executive search, and governance assessments for such organizations as the Kentucky Health Justice Network, the Birth Defects Prevention Network, Monmouth County Arts Council, GlassRoots, CTC Academy, the United Way of Ocean and Monmouth Counties, 180 Turning Lives Around, Villa Victoria, and Gotham LGBTQ Volleyball League.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s in Public Administration (health care specialty), has completed advanced studies in alcoholism, and is a certified coach through the Coach Training Alliance. Hobbies include teaching chair yoga to seniors, hiking, and plant-based cooking.

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