2011 Annual Meeting & Expo - Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Michael Kumer
Executive Director, Duquesne University’s Nonprofit Leadership Institute (NLI)
Associate Dean of the University's School of Leadership and Professional Advancement.

Since assuming the directorship of the NLI, Michael has helped nonprofit boards successfully achieve excellence in all areas of governance, including strategic planning, board member recruitment, and effective board structures. An exceptional facilitator, he is often called upon to help organizations achieve consensus.

Due to his reputation as an enthusiastic, energetic and inspiring speaker, Michael’s presentations on nonprofit excellence are much in demand. These programs have enjoyed a cumulative enrollment of thousands of board members, staff and volunteers representing hundreds of nonprofit agencies. He is a frequent guest speaker on the topic of board leadership at local, regional and national conferences.

Michael serves as a Program Director for Duquesne’s Master of Science in Leadership degree program, offered by the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement. This program can be completed entirely online and is available to practitioners of nonprofit leadership throughout the world.

In addition to the knowledge he imparts on current trends in nonprofit leadership, Michael enjoys sharing the wealth of personal experience he has accumulated as a board or advisory council member for several nonprofit organizations, including the Allegheny County Library Association, Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, Music for All, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Youth Education in the Arts. He is a past Board Chair of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble.

About the NLI

The Nonprofit Leadership Institute (NLI) is a premier resource center for nonprofit boards. Founded in 1996, the NLI is dedicated to providing leadership development, resources, training, best practices and other information in support of peak-performing boards.
To date, the NLI has served more than 3000 clients from over 750 nonprofit organizations. Agencies served include libraries, associations, and specialists in education, social services, arts and culture, health and economic and community development. New, veteran and prospective board members, as well as executive directors and staff, benefit from participation in NLI activities by learning and acting upon the principles of dynamic board leadership.

The NLI is generously supported by Duquesne University, grants from local foundations, sponsorships from corporations, and registration fees from program participants and consulting contracts with nonprofit agencies. Now celebrating its 13th year, the NLI is a program of Duquesne University’s School of Leadership and Professional Advancement.

Breakout Speaker

Liz Fletcher Brown

Originally from Paisley, Scotland, Liz Fletcher Brown was awarded the first ever First Class Honors B.A. in Dance in the UK. She then went on to enjoy a successful career as a professional dancer in NYC, LA, London and Tokyo. During that time she worked with various artists, including Janet Jackson and Dr John.

Liz now enjoys a career as a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and life coach. As a “thought leader” in the field of personal transformation she specializes in high energy, motivational, thought-provoking and content rich keynotes and workshops that help participants have the right attitude for success, even in challenging times.

Liz brings to all of her work an infectious enthusiasm and a unique combination of dance as a dramatic teaching metaphor, engaging stories and practical ideas to enhance participants working and personal life.

As a member of the National Speakers Association, Liz was recently named the NSADC Rising Star 2011 and is now representing the D.C. Area in competing for the national title.

Liz is certified with Success Unlimited Network™, one of the oldest coach training organizations in the U.S. and attended the School of Small Business Coaching. She is a certified trainer with Consulting Resource Group International, a global leader in personal and professional development programs and solutions. In addition Liz is a Certified Counselor and a Member of the International Association of Applied Psychology and an Associate of the International Positive Psychology Association.

When she was 21, Liz moved from Scotland to NYC, to a country where she knew no one, to follow her dream of being a professional dancer. This adventuring spirit still lives on in her today.