Katherine Fritz’s career journey didn’t follow a straight line. From marine biology to cancer research to nonprofit leadership, her path has been shaped by curiosity, openness and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.

Today, as President and CEO of Long Island Cares, Katherine leads one of the region’s most impactful food banks. It’s an organization focused not only on addressing hunger, but on building a stronger, more connected community.

Her story begins with a simple but powerful belief passed down from her father: Don’t close doors to opportunity.

That mindset led her through decades of nonprofit work across multiple causes, ultimately guiding her to the food bank cause, an area she hadn’t originally planned to enter, but one that deeply aligns with her passion for helping people.

Katherine believes that nonprofit work isn’t just about delivering services. It’s about building relationships, creating unexpected partnerships and meeting people where they are, especially in moments when they need support the most.

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, Katherine shares how her unconventional career path shaped her leadership style, how food banks are evolving to meet long-term community needs and why collaboration across sectors is critical to addressing food insecurity.

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” we sit down with Tom Ahern—copywriter, self-described “message nerd” and one of the most influential voices in donor communications. With decades of experience spanning commercial marketing, direct response and nonprofit fundraising, Tom brings a refreshingly candid perspective on what actually drives donor engagement and what quietly undermines it.

Tom started in public relations, moved into high-stakes technology marketing and eventually ran his own ad agency. It wasn’t until around 2000—through his wife’s nonprofit consulting work—that he stepped into the world of fundraising. What began as a favor (writing a single direct mail letter) quickly became a career-long focus on improving how nonprofits communicate with donors.

What he discovered early on still shapes his thinking today: Most nonprofit communications aren’t built to succeed. They’re built from imitation, internal priorities and outdated assumptions about what donors care about. And in a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by digital channels, AI and shifting donor expectations, those weaknesses are only becoming more visible.

Today, Tom is widely recognized for helping organizations rethink donor communications from the ground up—focusing on clarity, empathy and response-driven messaging. His work challenges fundraisers to move beyond “broadcasting” and toward true communication that resonates and drives action.

In this episode, Tom reflects on how his marketing background shaped his approach to fundraising, what nonprofits consistently get wrong about messaging and why the future of fundraising depends on getting the basics right.

In this episode of RKD Group: Thinkers, we sit down with Gary Ware—founder of Breakthrough Play, author of “Playful Rebellion” and a workplace culture expert helping teams rediscover creativity, connection and resilience through the power of play.

Gary began his career in marketing and communications, building a successful track record in the agency world and eventually stepping into agency leadership. But after a difficult professional turning point that forced him to rethink what came next, he found himself returning to something that had long brought him energy and clarity: Improvisation, play and the kind of joyful experimentation that helps people feel more human at work.

Today, Gary helps organizations strengthen culture, collaboration and communication by challenging the workplace norms that lead to burnout, disconnection and stale thinking. Through Breakthrough Play, he shows teams how applied improvisation and playful practices can unlock trust, spark creativity and help people navigate uncertainty with more confidence. His work has earned recognition from Culture Amp, which named him one of the top 25 emerging culture creators, and his message continues to resonate with leaders looking for healthier, more effective ways to work.

Gary reveals play, rest, joy and goofiness as essential tools for high performance and human connection.

Major Nesan Kistan’s story begins in apartheid-era South Africa, where he grew up witnessing the injustices of a system that separated people by race and opportunity. His family eventually left the country for a better future and rebuilt their lives in Australia. During a period of financial hardship shortly after arriving, they encountered The Salvation Army for the first time—an experience that left a lasting impression.

What they received was more than assistance. They were met with practical compassion and unconditional acceptance.

That moment, and another later crisis where The Salvation Army again stepped in to support his family, helped shape the path that would eventually lead Major Kistan into Salvation Army leadership himself. Today, he’s Divisional Commander of the Intermountain Division.

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, Major Kistan shares how his upbringing shaped his worldview, how organizations like The Salvation Army must evolve their communications strategies in a rapidly changing media environment and why resilience, discipline and compassion remain essential for leaders today.

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” we sit down with Mallory Martin, founder and CEO of Mended, a social impact business partnering with survivors of human trafficking to create hand block–printed textiles.

Mallory’s journey spans professional sports, international nonprofit fundraising and now entrepreneurship. What connects each chapter is purpose. From selling six-figure sponsorships for the Dallas Stars to fundraising for the International Justice Mission (IJM), and ultimately launching her own mission-driven brand, Mallory’s path reveals how nothing is wasted when calling and capability align.

Her story is one of tension and transformation: loving the for-profit business world while feeling drawn to humanitarian impact, navigating motherhood and career shifts, wrestling with the emotional weight of confronting modern-day slavery and eventually stepping away from stability to build something new.

Today, Mended employs 23 survivors of bonded labor slavery in South India who create hand block–printed tea towels, table linens and textiles. Each product carries a story of restoration.

What stands out most about Mallory is her clarity. She knows what she’s good at, what she’s not good at and why she’s building what she’s building.

Becky Ruska’s path into the nonprofit world didn’t follow a traditional trajectory. After spending more than two decades in retail leadership as a district manager for Express, she made a bold decision to step away in her early 40s. What began as a period of rest and reflection quickly evolved into something more meaningful when she started volunteering weekly at the newly formed St. Croix Valley Food Bank in Wisconsin.

That volunteer role turned into an opportunity and ultimately a second career rooted in service, community and purpose.

Today, Becky plays a central part in connecting volunteers, donors, businesses and community members to the food bank’s mission. From managing volunteer programs and community events to growing brand awareness through social media and partnerships, she brings people together around a shared goal: making sure food gets to those who need it most.

Since its launch just over four years ago, the St. Croix Valley Food Bank has grown rapidly and now distributes nearly five million pounds of food annually across four counties through more than 55 partner programs. With a new permanent facility on the horizon, the organization is preparing to scale its impact even further, aiming to distribute up to eight million pounds of food in the coming years.

Becky believes that fundraising and community building aren’t about asking for money—they’re about relationships. Whether she’s giving a tour to a first-time volunteer, standing at a local festival booth or calling a donor who scribbled “call me if you need a volunteer” on a donation slip, Becky shows how meaningful impact often starts with simply showing up.

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, Becky reflects on career change, building trust from the ground up and what it takes to create lasting community connections around a growing nonprofit.

In this episode of “RKD Group: Thinkers,” we sit down with Hilary Noon, global head of strategy, engagement and growth at AWS Nonprofits, to explore what it means to lead at the intersection of humanity and technology.

With more than 25 years of experience spanning nonprofits, agencies and Big Tech, Hilary has navigated three very different “planets”—each with its own culture, constraints and opportunities. Yet throughout her career, one thread has remained constant: a deep belief that data, technology and analytics can, and should, be leveraged to amplify good.

Hilary’s path into the sector wasn’t a straight line. Raised in a family grounded in service and community, she gravitated toward work that carried meaning and impact. Early roles at institutions like the Smithsonian and the American Cancer Society allowed her to explore the business side of nonprofit work, applying commercially oriented skills to mission-driven organizations. From there, her journey expanded into agency leadership and, ultimately into AWS, where she now helps thousands of nonprofits navigate rapid technological change.

Today, Hilary leads strategy and growth for AWS Nonprofits, partnering with organizations around the world as they adopt cloud technology, build data maturity and innovate responsibly, even amid resource constraints and uncertainty. Her leadership stands out not just for its technical depth, but for its people-first approach. She speaks candidly about building strong teams, learning how to manage before she was ready and why coaching and trust matter more than control.

In this episode of RKD Group: Thinkers, we sit down with Kimberly O’Donnell, chief fundraising officer at Bonterra and former executive director. Kimberly shares how growing up in a family of seven, early exposure to service and a career defined by curiosity shaped her leadership philosophy, and how that mindset is more critical than ever as nonprofits navigate uncertainty, AI and rapid change.

As the sixth of seven children, Kimberly learned early how to listen, collaborate, negotiate and find her voice. That upbringing, paired with parents who modeled philanthropy and volunteerism, created a foundation rooted in compassion and service. From candy striping in middle school to working on a bipartisan federal commission early in her career, Kimberly’s path into the sector wasn’t linear, but it was intentional.

Throughout her career, she discovered that curiosity, not fear, was the throughline that helped her take risks, grow as a leader and step confidently into new challenges.

Today, Kimberly works at the intersection of nonprofit strategy, fundraising and technology, where she helps organizations adapt, innovate and build confidence in a rapidly evolving landscape. From AI readiness to innovation funds, leadership development to intentional living, her perspective offers both reassurance and a call to action for nonprofit professionals heading into 2026.

In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, host Nipa Eason sits down with Jaime Buxton of The City Mission in Cleveland, Ohio. She’s an advocate, community builder and longtime nonprofit leader whose heart for people experiencing homelessness has shaped more than two decades of service. 

Jaime's path into nonprofit work wasn’t mapped out with a rigid plan. What began as a calling to help people—sparked by youth ministry and mission work in Belize—evolved into a lifelong vocation centered on dignity, compassion and community. Over the past 20 years, Jaime has grown alongside The City Mission, serving in multiple roles while helping shape programs that empower men, women and children navigating homelessness. 

Today, Jaime serves in a community engagement and development role, acting as a bridge between The City Mission and churches, corporations, volunteers and donors. She advocates for the people the Mission serves by educating the community, challenging misconceptions about homelessness and helping others see the humanity behind the statistics. Her work spans partnership development, volunteer engagement, fundraising events and donor programs, including a women’s giving circle that has grown into a powerful force for connection and impact. 

What stands out most about Jaime is her commitment to dignity—both in how services are delivered and in how stories are told. Whether it’s reshaping the Mission’s Christmas program to give mothers the ability to choose gifts for their children, leading Bridges Out of Poverty trainings to foster empathy and understanding or creating spaces where volunteers and residents can form healthy, respectful relationships, Jamie consistently centers the voices and experiences of those she serves. 

In this conversation, Jaime reflects on her journey, the moments that affirmed her calling and what continues to motivate her through the hardest parts of nonprofit work.

In this special edition of the RKD Group: Thinkers podcast, Justin McCord and Ronnie Richard take a step back to reflect on another year of conversations, insights and moments that shaped the podcast, and the nonprofit sector, throughout 2025.

Inspired by high-impact conversations, Justin and Ronnie examine what those conversations revealed about the evolving landscape of nonprofit marketing, fundraising, leadership and purpose.

Over the course of the episode, four defining themes emerge: the maturation of AI in the sector, the enduring importance of human-centered fundraising, the power of purpose-driven career shifts and the resilience required to navigate constant change.

In this conversation, Justin and Ronnie reflect on the year behind them, the lessons surfaced through their guests and even a spilled Topo Chico.