In 1997, I got my first introduction to the stock market through an internship position with Smith Barney in their Pasadena, California office. A short while later, I was offered a full-time position as Client Service Associate and my career in Financial Services was born.

While still working for Smith Barney in 1999, I took on the role of liaison between Smith Barney and the California Medical Association. I worked with a group of select Financial Advisors who were the endorsed retirement plan providers for the association’s physicians.

I decided to further my career, and in May of 2000 I became a Financial Advisor at Smith Barney in the Sherman Oaks, California office. It was then that I got interested in Non Profits Organizations as both a volunteer building houses in South Central Los Angeles for Habitat for Humanity and as an advisor working on endowments for several organizations in the Los Angeles area.

April of 2008, I joined Morgan Stanley and continued to build the three pillars of the practice; Corporate Services, Investor Services, and Philanthropic Services. As the interplay between the three pillars expanded over the years, I developed a robust practice to include Private Corporations, Non-Profit Organizations, and Individual Families. My philanthropic involvement has expended as well, as I now serve on the Board of Directors for the Bayside Business Association, the Board of Directors for Career Day Inc., and the Advisory Board for Transitional Services of New York, Inc., as well as work with other charities on an as needed basis.

William Skody was born and raised in New York City, and graduated with a BA in accounting from Pace University within 2 ½ years and is Certified to practice in New York. Prior to starting his own firm, he worked for several well known public accounting firms including CBIZ-MHM Mahoney Cohen and BDO Seidman. William also learned first hand about business and the rewards of working hard from his father who was an entrepreneur for over 25 years. He believes in giving back to the community and donates a great deal of his time to many worthwhile causes and organizations.

For over 30 years William has been servicing not-for-profit organizations and is highly respected and well-known throughout the New York metropolitan area for his expertise with Public Charities, Business Improvement Districts and Economic Development Organizations. He currently represents 750 non-profit clients with annual revenues from $5,000 to $70 million per year, throughout the U.S.

Michael Halperin is the Chief Revenue Officer at Solarus Technologies, Inc., which provides outsourced managed IT services to clients nationally. Michael is presently President and Chairman of the Board for Habitat for Humanity Nassau. Michael also held board seats with both Girls Inc. of Long Island and Spirit of Huntington Art Center.

Michael is also part of the class of 2020 Energeia Partnership, a leadership academy at Molloy College. Michael is passionate about hockey, enjoys being outdoors, and has a deep appreciation for music and art. His teenage daughter shares his love for art and together, they have amassed an eclectic art collection from all over the world in their home on Long Island with their dog Tucker.

Kayla Life is a dynamic educator, entrepreneur, and advocate for transformative social impact. With over 15 years of expertise in technology education, brand strategy, and community development, Kayla is dedicated to closing the digital divide and empowering underserved communities through innovative programs and strategic initiatives.

A visionary leader, Kayla is the founder of The Rebrand Creative Agency INC, Rebrand Institute of Tech Equity, and The Rebrand Community Innovation Center. These ventures embody her mission to blend technology, education, and community engagement into impactful solutions. Kayla has led efforts that span from creating culturally responsive STEM curricula to implementing AI-powered tools for nonprofits, enabling organizations to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Her achievements include serving over 400 global clients, orchestrating fundraising initiatives that have secured millions for community projects, and delivering over 300 workshops impacting tens of thousands. Her unique combination of technical acumen and human-first design has solidified her reputation as a transformative force in education and social innovation.


When not leading her organizations or speaking at events, Kayla develops apprenticeship programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and offers consulting services to help nonprofits and educational institutions scale their impact. Her passion lies in leveraging AI and digital tools to foster equity, sustainability, and innovation.

Stephen E. Peeler, Senior Director of Philanthropy at the Trust for the National Mall, is a seasoned professional with an impressive track record in fundraising and organizational management. Stephen is responsible for developing and executing effective strategies that help the organization achieve its annual operating and campaign revenue goals. He is a confident leader who brings his expertise in fundraising and operational best practices to the Trust, to achieve excellence.

Before joining the Trust, Stephen served as the Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Foundation, where he led the growth of the organization from a two-person staff and $2.1M revenue to ten staff and $9.5M in just three years, during the pandemic. While expanding individual, corporate, and foundation philanthropy; he and his team designed the nation's first medical student recruitment program to support and prepare the next generation of infectious diseases physicians and researchers. This program was designed to reduce health disparities by connecting doctors of color with underrepresented and underserved communities.

Stephen has also served in similar business development and fundraising roles at the National Club Association, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, ASAE Foundation, and American Moving and Storage Association. He is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Fellow in Charitable Estate Planning (FCEP) and sits on several national nonprofit boards while maintaining an extensive volunteer leadership network.

Kathleen is the Assistant Executive Director of the Higher Education Web Professionals Association,
where she provides strategic direction for the association’s marketing, membership, events and external
communications. She has held a number of marketing and communications positions within mission-driven nonprofit and cooperative organizations for the past 25 years.

Kathleen joined the Board because she wanted to contribute to helping nonprofits focus on their
missions and elevate the value of a nonprofit career by improving access to training and resources. Over the years she has been active in numerous professional and community organizations including the Association for Talent Development, Prince George’s Tennis & Education Foundation, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and her local community garden.

Kathleen holds a degree in Humanities from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s in
Marketing from Rivier University in Nashua, New Hampshire. She currently resides in Connecticut with Rui, a very-spoiled Tibetan Spaniel.