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Noe is a freelance computer technician and a video creative who edits clips and engaging features for content creators. He has 5 years of experience working in the IT and marketing fields.

Shantell Cook has been in the grant-writing business for eight years, during which time she’s become an expert in the field. Her specialties include Duns & Bradstreet, SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and NSF FastLane. She excels at navigating the various federal and state grant portals. Shantell is largely self-taught and prides herself on her fast learning and ability to always figure out how to get the job done.

Shantell has guided hundreds of organizations through the various registration processes that are required by funders. Providing support for nonprofit organizations comes naturally to her as she loves meeting and working with new people. Building and maintaining relationships with clients is among her most valued qualities. Shantell is a young mother of two from the Four Corners area of New Mexico.

Education

• Bookkeeping NCIII, Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trades
• Visual Graphic Design NCIII, AMA-CLC

Kath is a full-time graphic designer and digital illustrator who handles several social media platforms for tourism and environmental related accounts in the island of Palawan, Philippines. Contracted by a national government agency to produce print materials for information campaigns on sustainable development and wildlife conservation.

Education

• Holy Trinity University, BS Hotel and Restaurant Management

Yona, a vital part of Simple Grants since 2018, played a key role in its growth. Before that, she dedicated herself to government work in her hometown, Palawan, Philippines, where she led a community-based rehabilitation project for former drug-dependent individuals, preparing them for re-entry into society. Yona is now pursuing a Master’s degree in R&D Management at the University of the Philippines, demonstrating her commitment to personal and professional development.

Education

• University of Alabama, BS Corporate Finance
• University of Alabama, MA Finance
• University of Alabama, MBA International Business

Amanda has worked in the corporate world for FedEx and First Horizon Bank for a combined 20 years specializing in corporate financial analysis and large initiative forecasting.

Education

• Jacksonville State University, BA
• Jacksonville State University, MPA
• Jones School of Law, JD

Community Involvement

• The Samaritan Counseling Center, Board President (2018 & 2019)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Alabama, Big Sis (17 years)
• Kiwanis Club of Montgomery, Board Member
• First United Methodist Church of Prattville, Member

Jessica is a native of Calhoun County, Alabama. She got her start writing and managing grants while working in the Alabama Governor’s Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. During her time there, she managed several statewide initiatives including Alabama Communities for Education, a high school dropout prevention program, and the Alabama Strengthening Communities Project, which was recognized nationally for best practices in grant management. Jessica lives in Alabama with her three children.

Education

• Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D.
• MEd, American University
• BS, Virginia State University

Community Involvement

• International Association for Blended Learning (IABL) – Founder, Past President
• Fulbright Association – ex-Board Member

Dr. Willis-Darpoh has decades of experience in education. She conducted research in the social and behavioral sciences and provided training and technical assistance to school districts implementing multimillion-dollar, multiyear government-funded grants. She staffed proposal teams and worked with federal project officers to ensure grant compliance.

Education

• Ph.D. Theology, Covenant Bible College and Seminary
• M.A. Education, East TN State University

April is an experienced grant writer, grant manager, workforce development coordinator, human resources training coordinator, and municipal advisory instructor. She has served in advisory and board positions with several nonprofit organizations, including Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness, and Johnson City Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy.

April enjoys spending time with her husband and chocolate lab Lucy on their certified century farm in Mountain City, TN.

Education

• Master in Health Services Administration, Florida International University
• BBA Accounting, Florida Atlantic University
• BS Business Administration, University of Florida

Eve Mart is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of progressive experience in research and grant development. Her career has been marked by leadership roles, where she secured program and capacity-building funding from key sources.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a breast cancer survivor and advocate, dedicating her time to raising awareness and supporting fellow survivors. Beyond her work, she is passionate about road cycling. Also, she shares her life at home with two rescue dogs and a set of feisty parrots, cherishing the companionship and chaos they bring to her daily routine.

Education

• MPA, University of South Dakota
• BA Political Science and Philosophy, University of South Dakota

Andrew is an experienced grant writer and grant manager with a professional background working with local, state, federal, and foundation grants. A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Andrew received his undergraduate and graduate education from the University of South Dakota before entering the professional realm as a City Manager for municipalities in rural New Mexico and Kansas. Through his work in local government administration, Andrew secured and managed millions of dollars in grant funding for essential infrastructure and community projects. Andrew’s professional experience also includes serving as Grant Manager for a Tribal government in Kansas, where he was heavily involved in federal grant writing, grant management, and the federal procurement process. Andrew is passionate about working with organizations and partners by identifying, developing, and managing their grants.

Education

• Post Graduate work: University of Kentucky, Department of Sociology, Ph.D. program
• M.A. Sociology, Morehead State University
• B.S. Biology and Sociology Morehead State University

Loretta Carroll Stewart has been writing grants for over 20 years. She has provided grant writing and grant research services for Community Mental Health Centers, Universities, schools, and countless non-profit organizations. Throughout her career, she has written numerous successful grant applications for nearly every agency within the federal government and completed a multitude of state and foundation grants. Loretta has extensive experience in program development and program design, a real asset as she guides clients through the project planning process. Loretta has also served as a content reviewer and worked in grant quality control.

In addition to grant writing and program development, Loretta has worked as a Counselor and Training Coordinator at a Youth Treatment Center; served as a Certified Prevention Professional for a Regional Prevention Center; and was the Director of Morehead State University’s Community Outreach Partnership Center. At Morehead State University, she connected faculty and students with educational service opportunities within the surrounding community. Loretta has also served as a YouthBuild Director and provided program oversight to the federally funded program through three successful grant cycles. She has worked in both the public and private sectors but has ultimately ended up writing grants in every position that she has held. Loretta has a passion for the grant writing process and greatly values the opportunity to assist organizations as they provide much-needed programming and services for their communities.

During her free time, Loretta enjoys going on adventures with her daughter, hiking in the woods, and serving as a Troop Leader for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. Her greatest joy in life is her daughter, Alyssa.

Education

• PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, Mississippi State University
• Master of Technology Education, Mississippi State University
• Bachelor in Business Administration, Mississippi State University

Dr. Brandi Burton has spent her entire career in the field of education. She spent eight years teaching multiple subjects in the middle and high school classroom before transitioning into a position as a curriculum writer for the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Dr. Burton continued with MSU-Ext and became Director of Communications and Research for the early childhood education department she was within and spent a great deal of time presenting research and outcomes on educational practices in MS at numerous national conferences. Within her role at MSU, Dr. Burton was on the writing team that secured a funding award for MSU Extension in the amount of nearly $38 million dollars. Since then, she has written and received awards for nearly $50 million in grants for multiple organizations.

After completing her doctorate in middle level curriculum and instruction, Dr. Burton wanted to make the move back to K-12 education. Currently, she serves as the Director of Educational Enhancement and Innovative Research for SOCSD and Director of the SOCSD Discovery Center. Within this role Dr. Burton manages all Grant and Innovative projects within the district as well as libraries, makerspaces, and outside research studies. She also serves as an adjunct professor for the University of West Alabama in which she teaches Master’s Level educational courses.

When not at work, Dr. Burton spend time with her husband and three children. She loves to read and travel whenever possible. Her motto is, “You can learn more from books and experiences than anything else, and I love to learn”.

Education

• Ph.D. in Public Administration and Public Policy, Auburn University
• Master in Public Administration, Auburn University Montgomery

Melissa has over 16 years of nonprofit and government experience. With broad experience in nonprofit administration, she has managed fundraising campaigns and events that engaged board members, mobilized volunteers, and dramatically increased giving. She is also an expert grant writer and manager, who has secured over 300 grants over the past 17 years.

She served as an Executive Director of a nonprofit called The Healing Place in Muscle Shoals, AL. The nonprofit provides grief support services and education to over 500 children and numerous families who have experienced the death of a loved one. The nonprofit serves Colbert, Lauderdale, and Franklin counties and is the only standalone grief center for children in Alabama. Prior to that position, she was the Director of Resource Development with the United Way of Northwest Alabama, in which she was in charge of fundraising that provided funding to 22 nonprofits in northwest Alabama. From 2007-2012, she served as a Grant Program Manager with the Alabama Department of Homeland Security. She managed homeland security grant programs for 31 counties, the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation, and 10 state agencies. In addition, she helped the department, as well as local first responders write federal grant proposals.