Henrico
Nichele Carver is the Principal at NJC Strategic Planning and Consulting, LLC. She brings over 27 years of experience in the homeless services field, with a deep commitment to equity and systems transformation.

Nichele led Virginia’s homeless services system through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring access to safe shelter for people experiencing homelessness during statewide stay-at-home orders. Under her leadership, Virginia decreased overall homelessness by 34% and became the first state to functionally end veteran homelessness.

She previously served as the co-chair of the Council of State Community Development Agencies’ national homeless committee and is a nationally recognized speaker on racial equity. Her work is grounded in the belief that those with lived expertise must be centered in decision-making.

Nichele was named one of the Virginia housing field’s top 40 under 40 and most recently served as the Senior Regional Advisor for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, supporting New York, New Jersey, and New England.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Virginia State University and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Jennifer Gillyard is a resident of Dumfries, Virginia, with more than 20 years of experience in child welfare, encompassing both clinical practice and policy development. From 2022 to 2025, she served as a Program Officer in the Office of Admissions within the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. In this role, her portfolio included child protection, family reunification, housing, grievances, health and mental health, and legal documentation. Prior to her tenure at the State Department, Jennifer worked with the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency in the Office of Planning, Policy, and Program Support, promoting improved case management practices to better serve children and families. As a social worker, she developed expertise in supporting youth in foster care, juvenile justice systems, and those affected by sex trafficking. Jennifer currently serves as a Technical Expert III and Workstream Lead for Performance Improvement, Innovation, and Outcomes at JBS International, Inc. She previously served on the FACT Board until July 2022, holding the position of Secretary and participating on the Grants Committee.

Joseph M. Van Name, CFP®, AIFA®, is an accomplished financial advisor, fiduciary, and community leader with decades of professional and nonprofit experience. As President and owner of Advisors Financial Inc., a respected independent planning firm headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, Joe has overseen the firm’s operations, strategic growth, and regulatory compliance since joining in 2001 and assuming ownership in 2007. In his capacity as President and Chief Compliance Officer, he supervises all client engagements and leads AFI’s planning team, delivering tailored, tax-optimized strategies for individuals, families, business owners, and foundations.

Joe’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Business Management from Washington College and a Financial Planning Certificate from Georgetown University. Professionally, he is designated as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® (AIFA®), and maintains the Series 65 registration. He has been repeatedly recognized for professional excellence, including routinely being named a Top Financial Adviser by Washingtonian Magazine and a Top Financial Professional by Northern Virginia Magazine.

Joe’s commitment to service extends beyond his firm to prominent leadership roles in legacy fraternal and nonprofit organizations. He currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the Odd Fellows Temple in Washington, DC; Trustee (former President) of the Masonic Foundation of the District of Columbia; Former Trustee of the Grand Lodge of DC; and Chairman of the MESH Charities Investment Committee.  In these positions, Joe provides financial stewardship, investment oversight, and strategic direction for multi-generational charitable assets. He is directly involved in the fiscal management of endowments that fund elder care, ensuring high-quality services for seniors, as well as robust scholarship programs that expand educational opportunities for youth. His leadership ensures the prudent, sustainable allocation of resources to support programming and services for children, older adults, and families in need.

A Pennsylvania native and longtime Alexandria, VA resident, Joe is widely respected for his integrity, fiduciary expertise, and unwavering dedication to advancing both financial and community well-being.

Dr. Amy Greear serves as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Mountain Empire Community College and Executive Director of the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation. She also contributes her time to several volunteer roles with organizations in Southwest Virginia. Her and her husband Burke, a Virginia State Parks Historic Preservation Specialist, live in Big Stone Gap, Virginia and have a 24 year old daughter who is a labor and delivery nurse.

Maria Salgado currently serves as Chief of Staff to Delegate Paul Krizek in the Virginia General Assembly. She previously worked as Deputy Legislative Assistant and Scheduler for former Delegate Danica Roem. With eight years of legislative experience, Maria has developed a strong background in a wide range of policy areas. She has contributed to the passage of critical legislation and budget amendments supporting at-risk communities, including initiatives related to tenant rights and housing stability in manufactured home parks, problem gambling treatment and prevention, wage theft protections, caps on wage garnishment, sex trafficking response, and expanding access to affordable school meals. As a staffer to a Subcommittee Chair on the House Appropriations Committee, Maria also brings a deep understanding of the Commonwealth’s budget process. While in college, she interned on Capitol Hill for Congressman Dan Kildee and in Washington, D.C., for Invisible Children, an international nonprofit focused on ending violent conflict and promoting stability in Central Africa. There, she supported efforts rooted in local leadership to serve some of the world’s most vulnerable and isolated communities. A proud Richmond native and first-generation college graduate, Maria earned her Bachelor’s degree in Government and International Politics from George Mason University. She currently lives in Richmond with her husband and their two cats.

Associate Professor Ian Danielsen began serving as a faculty instructor in Longwood University’s Social Work Program in 2016. He earned his Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992. He then worked for the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice for nearly ten years in an intensive treatment program for sexually reactive youths. He then worked for almost four years as a Clinician for a private agency providing residential treatment services for sexually reactive adolescent boys in foster care.

He began serving as the Director of the Greater Richmond SCAN Children’s Advocacy Center in June of 2006. Serving also as an adjunct faculty instructor for the VCU School of Social Work from 2009 to 2016, Ian has coordinated several important projects including earning Accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance, forming new multidisciplinary child abuse teams, and engaging in statewide legislative advocacy efforts. Ian was honored to be a 2011 recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, a 2012 awardee of the Commonwealth of Virginia Governor’s Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, and a 2021 Awardee of the Virginia Attorney General’s “Unsung Hero Award” for victim advocacy. He also serves on the Virginia Bar Association’s Commission on the Needs of Children and the Families Forward Legislative Council.

Photo Credit: Courtney Vogel of Longwood University

Stacy Nixon’s experience includes strategic planning, staff recruitment and training, developing annual fund and campaign solicitation strategies, marketing strategies, planned giving, prospect management, prospect research, and event planning. Currently, Stacy proudly serves as the Assistant Head for Advancement at Norfolk Collegiate School in Norfolk, Virginia. Her responsibilities include leadership for marketing and communications, development, and enrollment. Before joining the Norfolk Collegiate team in 2020, Stacy was the Philanthropy Director at the Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast. Her responsibilities included developing strategic philanthropic partnerships to support the mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character. She is passionate about sharing her fundraising knowledge with nonprofit professionals, board members, and volunteers to help assist their organizations to have a positive impact on our community.

Previously, Stacy was a Major Gifts Officer with the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia. She was responsible for building and managing relationships with ODU alumni, friends, and corporate partners to foster philanthropic investment in the institution. Previously, she was the Associate Director of Development at Tidewater Community College (TCC) in Norfolk, Virginia. Her primary responsibilities include management of a prospect portfolio of individuals, foundations, and corporations, faculty and staff campaign management, internship coordination and supervision, developing and implementing a comprehensive planned giving strategy, annual fund development and planning, maintaining the foundation website, and event planning. Prior to TCC, Stacy worked at Centre College in Danville, KY as the Assistant Director of Annual Giving. Outside of her experience in development, Stacy worked in housing and residence life at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in Richmond, Kentucky. Stacy earned her Ed.S. in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University in 2014. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Community Development from Eastern Kentucky University and bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA.
Having grown up in Hampton Roads, Stacy is passionate about serving her community. Stacy is proud to have recently joined the Communities in Schools Hampton Roads Board of Directors and looks forward to advancing such an important mission. She is also a proud 2016 graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads and serves on the Board of Trustees for the organization. Stacy is a member of the Rotary Club of Norfolk having previously served as the President of the Rotary Club of Hampton Roads. Most recently, Stacy became Chair of the Board of Directors of Virginia Beach Court Appointed Special Advocates after serving as a CASA Volunteer for several years. She serves as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop 874 and 474 and loves the outdoors. Stacy lives in Norfolk enjoys spending time with her three children – Taylor, Colton, and Mackenzie.