David H. King — President & CEO
David H. King, President & CEO of Alexander Haas, has lived in Atlanta for nearly 35 years and has been in the field of nonprofit development for more than 30 years. Since joining Alexander Haas in 1990, David has provided counsel to hundreds of organizations in the areas of higher education, independent schools, hospitals, conservation, human services, churches, and faith-based organizations.
Arthur L. Criscillis, Ed.D. — Managing Partner, Higher Education
As Managing Partner at Alexander Haas, Arthur L. Criscillis, Ed.D., leads the firm’s higher education practice. Arthur has almost 30 years of experience in higher education and consulting. In the area of higher education, Arthur led the advancement programs for Purdue University College of Science, Rhodes College and Centre College. Arthur moved from advancement work for colleges and universities into consulting for the opportunity to work with and for a wide variety of colleges and universities.
Carl Hamm joined Alexander Haas in 2019 after serving for 8 years as the Deputy Director for Development and External Affairs at the Saint Louis Art Museum, where he completed the museum’s $145 million campaign at $160 million. He has 30 years of experience in the non-profit sector in development, marketing and executive positions. Carl has worked with organizations representing practically every discipline of the arts, from public radio and chamber music to theater, ballet and the visual arts.
Jerry W. Henry — Managing Partner, Faith Based and Human Services
With over 40 years of experience with a wide range of non-profit institutions, Jerry provides daily counsel to a diverse body of clients including educational institutions, human service groups, cultural institutions and faith-based organizations.
Tara Jones, Ph.D., CFRE — Associate Partner
Tara Jones serves Alexander Haas as an Associate Partner, bringing with her nearly 20 years of experience in higher education advancement. In addition to her work at Alexander Haas, she serves as a connector for university fundable initiatives at Auburn University, where she works with various programs to develop and execute plans to raise capital for new initiatives.
Tara Jones serves Alexander Haas as an Associate Partner, bringing with her nearly 20 years of experience in higher education advancement. In addition to her work at Alexander Haas, she serves as a connector for university fundable initiatives at Auburn University, where she works with various programs to develop and execute plans to raise capital for new initiatives.
For over six years Tara was one of the two Associate Vice Presidents for Constituent Development at Auburn University where her role included motivating and encouraging major gifts officers while also providing them with the tools and information to help them succeed. As part of this executive leadership team, Tara developed comprehensive strategies for constituent units while implementing new fundraising activities and processes to support institutional goals. Tara has a demonstrated track record of success in developing and executing fundraising plans, campaign strategies, prospect management and research, portfolio management, corporate and foundation relations, donor relations, staff professional development and volunteer training. Tara firmly believes in utilizing data to develop intentional approaches related to prospect identification, donor engagement and solicitation strategies.
Tara also served as the Director of Advancement for the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University. During the successful $1 billion Because This is Auburn campaign, Tara and her team secured a $40 million transformational gift that resulted in the college’s renaming, and she led efforts that tripled the college’s endowment in just nine years. As the Director of Development for the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction, she directed the capital fundraising campaign that resulted in a new academic facility and led development efforts for the college’s 100th-anniversary celebration.
Tara has a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and has earned her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation. During her Ph.D. studies, she conducted research exploring how excellent undergraduate teachers influence fundraisers long after they leave the classroom.
Tara and her husband, A.J., enjoy traveling, watching Academy Award-nominated movies, and keeping up with many college and professional sports. In her free time, Tara volunteers as a sorority advisor and enjoys swimming and attending spin class.
Sandra K. Kidd — Senior Partner
Sandra joined the Alexander Haas team in 2005. She provides a wide range of services to clients, including campaign strategy studies, development assessments, campaign and fundraising counsel, and board and staff development. Her areas of expertise cover campaign planning and management, working with Boards and campaign leadership committees, and major and planned giving consultation. She also has worked with organizations on strategic planning, internal operations and systems review and design, and financial modeling for their organizations.
Jim Lewis has served in institutional advancement leadership roles for more than 30 years across a wide range of institutions. He currently serves as the President of the Texas United Methodist College Association which raises funds in support of scholarships for Methodist students enrolled in any one of six Texas Methodist colleges and universities.
Shelly Manuel – Associate Partner
In her work as a front-line fundraiser and chief development officer, she has worked in all stages of the fundraising cycle and in area areas of giving including annual, capital and major gifts campaigns. With a degree in Organizational Communication from Miami University (OH), she thrives on building relationships and connecting with people.
Jane DiFolco Parker serves as a Partner to Alexander Haas. In this role, Jane brings the experience and expertise acquired from a 48-year career in higher education to organizations large and small. Jane’s diverse background in both public and private institutions, alumni relations, academic administration and as the leader of large development organizations gives her a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges that face development teams, leaders, and the organizations they serve. This background allows Jane to view each challenge through a variety of lenses and help craft customized strategies and solutions for her clients.
Nancy E. Peterman, as Partner, assists universities, schools, healthcare, animal welfare, and religious organizations in achieving results and pursuing their missions. In her role as Partner at Alexander Haas, Nancy provides a variety of fundraising services from campaign strategy studies, development assessments, and campaign fundraising counsel to board and staff development. She has been in the development field for more than 25 years, with 16 years of institutionally related foundation experience.
David T. Shufflebarger — Senior Partner
Shuff has counseled more than 175 clients across all sectors of the philanthropic community since joining Alexander Haas in 1994. Before this, he served 25 years in advancement leadership roles at Virginia Military Institute, Old Dominion University, and Valdosta State University. The majority of his practice has been in higher education.
Shuff has counseled more than 175 clients across all sectors of the philanthropic community since joining Alexander Haas in 1994. Before this, he served 25 years in advancement leadership roles at Virginia Military Institute, Old Dominion University, and Valdosta State University. The majority of his practice has been in higher education.
Talk with Shuff for a few minutes, and you will likely learn four things:
He has guided more than 25 successful campaigns with goals ranging from $3 million to $1 billion, is one of the authors of the award-winning book on university-related foundations published by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, and was one of 26 senior professionals nationally chosen by the Association for Fundraising Professionals for a Ford Foundation project to provide counsel to a select group of its grant recipients.
As a volunteer, Shuff has been Chairman of the Board of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, President of the Tidewater Boy Scout Council, and a board member for more than 20 organizations including the Outer Banks Community Foundation, United Way of South Hampton Roads, Episcopal Charities Foundation of the Atlanta Diocese, and Georgia Planned Giving Council. He has received the YMCA’s Red Triangle Award and the Scouts’ Silver Beaver and Virginia President of the Year awards.
“I love this job,” he says, “because I learn something new every day and I get to work with some really great people.” Because of his earlier career, a big part of his heart is in public universities and he is proud of his role in counseling successful campaigns at the University of Tennessee, the University of Central Florida, and Middle Tennessee State University. “Frankly, however, I think I may have learned more from the campaigns we did with Wesleyan College, The University of Tampa, Florida Southern College, and Mary Baldwin College. They were easy to get your arms around and I came to understand the power of the devotion their alums have for them.”
“I was fortunate to start at Alexander Haas with three challenging campaigns that really taught me the basics – Sheltering Arms in Atlanta, Hubbard House in Jacksonville, and Birmingham’s Cahaba Girl Scout Council.”
He achieved CFRE status in 1987 and holds an undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University and a master’s degree from the College of William & Mary.
Kevin Smyrl – Associate Partner
Kevin Smyrl brings nearly 25 years of fundraising experience at various organizations, including local grassroots non-profit organizations, professional athlete-based foundations, and higher education institutions. Kevin has experience in principal and major gift fundraising, board development, volunteer management, campaign management and execution, alumni relations, annual fund, and constituent engagement. He has served in roles ranging from the executive director of grassroots organizations and athlete-based foundations to vice president of development in higher education.
Jeffrey M. Smythe – Associate Partner
Jeffrey M. Smythe serves Alexander Haas as an Associate Partner. Jeff’s expertise includes growing various-sized nonprofit organizations into mature best-in-class organizations. He has also led capital, annual and capacity-building campaigns and has extensive experience in strategic planning and board development. During his nearly thirty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, he served in chief executive and chief development roles, catalyzing double- or triple-digit growth throughout his career.
As a Partner at Alexander Haas, Inc., John applies his extensive background in development to serve a wide variety of clients. For over 30 years, he has served as a leader in nonprofit advancement, campaign management, and board development. John has helped nonprofit organizations worldwide by enhancing the operational aspects of advancement and assisting them with strategic and campaign planning, preparation and execution.
Jaci A. Thiede brings 29 years of experience in higher education advancement and administration to her clients. She has a deep passion for higher education because she has seen it change lives and opportunities. Areas of expertise for Jaci include campaign planning and strategy, major and principal gift strategies, team assessment and restructuring, strategic planning and goal setting, board development, leadership transitions and building a culture of philanthropy.
Jarrad Howard — Project Director
Jarrad Howard, Project Director, brings his passion for non-profits and the arts to Alexander-Haas. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Brenau University, and as a member of the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, Jarrad’s background in music and theatre led him to development and fundraising. As a capstone to his degree, he worked side by side with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to coordinate and execute a highly successful benefit for the organization. After graduating, Jarrad worked with Atlanta’s Academy Theatre and charter schools in the metro Atlanta area as a development liaison.
Jarrad Howard, Project Director, brings his passion for non-profits and the arts to Alexander-Haas. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Brenau University, and as a member of the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, Jarrad’s background in music and theatre led him to development and fundraising. As a capstone to his degree, he worked side by side with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to coordinate and execute a highly successful benefit for the organization. After graduating, Jarrad worked with Atlanta’s Academy Theatre and charter schools in the metro Atlanta area as a development liaison.
Jarrad is a member of the Atlanta chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). He is also a board member of Georgia Thespians, a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), and an advisory board member of For the Kid in All of Us, an organization dedicated to bridging communities to brighten the lives of Georgia’s children in need.
In addition to his non-profit involvement, Jarrad is also an accomplished pianist and music director/vocal coach for area high schools and theatre companies. In his free time, he enjoys playing racquetball, trying new restaurants and day trips.
Ed Hohlbein — Systems/Reports Specialist
Ed Hohlbein brings a BFA from Central Michigan University, an MFA from the University of Georgia, a background in teaching, and 17 years of experience with nonprofit organizations before his work with Alexander Haas. In addition to working as a Database Administrator, Grant Researcher and Writer, Major Gifts Officer, and Executive Director, Ed has provided consulting and coaching on The Raiser’s Edge and other nonprofit systems to development teams nationwide.
Ed Hohlbein brings a BFA from Central Michigan University, an MFA from the University of Georgia, a background in teaching, and 17 years of experience with nonprofit organizations before his work with Alexander Haas. In addition to working as a Database Administrator, Grant Researcher and Writer, Major Gifts Officer, and Executive Director, Ed has provided consulting and coaching on The Raiser’s Edge and other nonprofit systems to development teams nationwide.
Ed's multidisciplinary approach to nonprofit development and the systems that inform those development efforts has been described as the perfect blend of art and data. Ed has helped organizations collectively raise millions. In addition, his work as a university professor has impacted the lives of students throughout Georgia.
An entrepreneur at heart, in 2001 Ed founded Generate, Inc. to provide grant research, writing, and management services to small and medium-sized nonprofits. Generate has since grown into a boutique consulting firm offering high-touch coaching and consulting on The Raiser’s Edge and other nonprofit systems to organizations of all sizes. Ed emphasizes ingenuity and simplicity in all his projects, whether training an entire team on the essentials, coaching an executive or development director one-on-one, creating a prospect tracking system for major gift officers, or assisting with system administration, data entry, or data analysis.
His client list is as diverse as his educational and professional background and includes, among others, Catholic Charities Atlanta; Hospital Corporation of America Hope Fund, Nashville; CURE Childhood Cancer, Atlanta; Spring Hill College, Mobile; and Melanoma Research Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Ed has enjoyed presenting at numerous conferences and seminars across the country. Some of his past presentations include:
He regularly facilitates the Creating a Development Plan, Creating a Development Infrastructure, Prospect Research, and Program Evaluation sessions as part of the Certificate of Nonprofit Organization Management series for Nonprofit University at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.
Ed lives in Nashville, Tennessee – the best little big town anywhere around.
Holly Caswell King — Business Manager
Atlanta native Holly Caswell King has been a team member of Alexander Hass since 1992. She currently serves as Business Manager for the firm. Prior to this role, she served as Managing Partner of Alexander Haas–Team Atlanta. Holly's first position with the company was in campaign management and direction. Later, she broadened her experience in fundraising through philanthropic sectors while serving as Director of Individual Giving for the High Museum of Art and then Director of Development at The Nature Conservancy of Georgia.
Pressley’s love of writing shows in her work as Alexander Haas’ independent writing consultant. She uses language to inspire people to give, purchase or act, and she meets client expectations in substance, deadline and budget. Pressley’s writing fortes include marketing collateral (brochures, direct mail), digital content (case studies, product profiles, press materials) and specialty fundraising collateral (case for support).
Ginger Barton (Chakalall) has been with Alexander Hass for 26 years and has written, designed, and edited our weekly sector newsletters has her hands in all our marketing endeavors, including our recently revamped website.
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