A Collective of Consultants

Mission-centered from a young age, our Founder Jessica Edris has a wealth of experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors as a strategic thinker who sees the forest and the trees and is driven to make good things better while helping others.  As a graduate of Moravian University and a long-time resident of the Lehigh Valley, Jessica has focused on mission-based organizations over her career as senior leadership in development, marketing, communications, strategic planning, and operational vitality.

She is highly sought after for leading complex collaborations. For the last eight years she has served as Event Director for the Lehigh Valley Wine Auction and Gala events, overseeing the successful fundraising collaboration of The Children's Home of Easton and the Northampton Genealogical and Historical Society.  Jessica is also the Executive Director of the Lehigh Valley Funders Network and leads the collaboration Lehigh Valley 250, a celebration of culture, arts, and history, that brings together community partners to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. 

As a past recipient of the Emerging Leader Award from Moravian University, she has served her alma mater as Past President of the Moravian College Alumni Association and former member of the Alumni Board of Directors. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Notre Dame High School.

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Andrew Block is a skilled professional with over 20 years of experience in government and community relations and all aspects of fundraising. Andrew is a lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a Liberal Arts Business minor and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Kutztown University. 

He was honored as a recipient of the Association for Fundraising Professionals Rising Star Award. Andrew has vast experience in the government relations and development fields. He started his professional career in the political world, first as a research analyst in the Pennsylvania State Senate’s Policy Development and Research Office in Harrisburg. Andrew then returned to the Lehigh Valley where he worked for former Congressman Charlie Dent, both with the Pennsylvania State Senate and the US House of Representatives. 

Building upon his political and fundraising experiences, Andrew joined Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network in Allentown, where he served in increasing roles of responsibility. Most recently, he was the Manager of Community Relations and Special Events, serving as the liaison for community relations by maintaining relationships with existing community partners and elected officials and by developing a strategy to discover and cultivate new community partnerships. Among his board service, he served a two-year term as board president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)’s Eastern PA chapter and as board president of the Lehigh Valley Consortium of Professional Organizations (LVCPO). He is currently involved with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the LVCPO, AFP, the Disability Friendly Community of the Lehigh Valley, Penn State Lehigh Valley, Temple Beth El and Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley.

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Michelle Ellison, CFRE, MPA has a wide range of experience in financial development and nonprofit management. From the arts, to disaster relief, to healthcare, Michelle has been a front-line fundraiser for over 10 years and has been in nonprofit management for 15 years. Michelle has written and secured government contracts and foundation grants, in addition to successful six-figure solicitations from individuals and corporations. She has worked with both brand new nonprofit ‘start-ups’ and nationally known nonprofit organizations. 

Michelle has a BA in Arts Management with a focus in Art History from Chatham College for Women (now Chatham University) in Pittsburgh, PA. She went on to earn a certificate in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in NYC, followed by a MA in Public Administration from Kutztown University (PA). At her time at Kutztown University, she was a Graduate Assistant at the Small Business Development Center. 

Michelle has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter (AFP-GLV) since 2017. She will take on the role of Chapter President in January of 2025 and is currently serving as President-Elect. Michelle is the AFP-GLV representative to the Lehigh Valley Consortium of Professional Organizations (LVCPO). Past board service includes Lehigh Valley Girls Rock (LVGR).  

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Carey has dedicated her career to nonprofit mission-driven organizations, serving the museum,  cultural, education, and social service sectors. Over the past twenty-five years, she has gained  expertise in all areas of nonprofit management including: communications, marketing, programming,  development fundraising and grant writing, education, outreach, strategic planning, and operational  and fiscal management. She has spent a decade in senior and executive director positions, most  recently at Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society/Sigal Museum and Equilibrium, a therapeutic horsemanship nonprofit.  

Under her leadership, Sigal Museum was honored with an American Association for State and Local  History Award of Excellence and an NAACP Image Award for work in partnership with NAACP  Easton Branch #2260. She is past Chair of the Lehigh Valley Passport to History Partnership, and served on the Lehigh Valley Engaged Humanities Consortium Steering Committee, the Easton Tourism Partnership, Lehigh Valley Wine Auction & Gala Committee, Seven Generations Charter School Founding Member Group, and Amercia250 PA - Lehigh Valley organizing chapter. Carey has extensive experience collaborating with academic and K-12 educational institutions, as well as cultural organizations, tourism and economic development entities, and community groups.  She enjoys helping nonprofits connect, innovate, and thrive.

Elaine Zelker is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and professional headshot photographer with over a decade of experience. Originally from Willingboro, New Jersey, she began her career as a registered nurse before transitioning to entrepreneurship. 

Elaine holds an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and studied at the Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing. She co-owns multiple cafes (Zekraft) with her husband and authored "Zero Limits: Breaking the Boundaries that Hold You Back." Elaine has also trained with a world-renowned headshot photographer and has received numerous photography awards. 

Her philanthropic efforts include raising nearly $105,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and being named LLS Visionary of the Year for 2024 in the Lehigh Valley. She is also active with the American Heart Association and the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley. 

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 Amy is an award -winning photography director, editor and producer with over 10years of industry experience with a diverse range of editorial and advertorial clients including Runners’ World, Bicycling, Popular Mechanics, Forbes, Fortune, and AARP. Originally from Easton, Amy spent time in San Francisco where she produced art exhibitions and public programs for the Presidio Trust. Her career took her to New York City where she served as a photo editor at Fortune Magazine. Amy became the Photo Editor at Photo District News (PDN), the photo industry's award-winning title. and produced a 4-month exhibition at The Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles showcasing images from more than 90 photographers. Amy co-founded CoEdit Collection, an art consulting service and online gallery, and developed educational programming for the creative community through Inspired Live and the Photoville festival.  She is also the Founder of the non-profit, Friends of the Historic Easton Cemetery and leads programming and fundraisers in coordination with the Board of Directors. She has a passion for visual communications and storytelling, project management and production, and developing community engagement through well-executed special events and programs. Amy also loves her rescue dog, Pre, running, cycling, cooking and eating.  

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