ABOUT
Our team of experienced consultants has a deep understanding of the nonprofit landscape and can help your organization navigate complex issues such as fundraising, governance, and program development. We offer a wide range of services tailored to meet the specific needs of each nonprofit we work with.
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When it comes to strategic planning, we don't just stop at creating plans. We believe in the power of implementation. Our partnerships extend beyond the planning phase to help you effectively incorporate new policies and procedures. We understand that change management is crucial, and we'll work closely with you to develop strategies for a smooth transition.
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We recognize that policies and procedures need to be sustainable even through staff turnover. That's why we provide extensive documentation and training plans to ensure that your tools and processes remain intact within the organization. Our goal is to empower your team with the knowledge and resources they need to maintain and maximize the impact of the implemented strategies.
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At EV Strategic Partners, we are dedicated to your organization's success. We combine our expertise, comprehensive services, and hands-on approach to help you overcome challenges, drive positive change, and achieve your goals. Let us be your trusted partner in navigating the nonprofit landscape and propelling your organization towards lasting success.
OUR TEAM
James Ellis
PE, MPA, PMP
Frameworks of cooperation and collaboration are iterative. How we organize, how we communicate, how we grow and scale businesses and nonprofits—these are the questions and the projects that drive my work as an operator and consultant. From corporate sustainability to strategic planning, I have held senior positions for government agencies, nonprofits, startups, and middle market companies. My focus? Connecting people and systems and promoting environments that are supportive, profitable, and built for scale.
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James has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Public Administration degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Portland, OR with his partner Tera, daughter Julia, and one very rambunctious puppy, Rita.
Carrie Penkman
Carrie has a background in arts administration, nonprofit administration and events management. She has a double major in Music and Communications from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. After college, she moved to Liverpool, England where she lived, studied and worked from 2011 until 2016. While in the UK, Carrie attained a Masters in Music Industry Studies from the University of Liverpool and a Masters in International Events Management from Salford University.
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From 2016-2022, Carrie worked as a program coordinator, office & marketing manager for nonprofit symphonies, choirs and chamber orchestras in Western Washington. She is currently the Development Associate for Youth Music Project, a nonprofit music school in West Linn, Oregon specializing in rock, pop and country music education.
Carrie lives in Vancouver, WA with her husband Michael, son Connor, dog Misty, and cats Lars and Arno.
Brandi Jones
Brandi's approach to business development is rooted in a deep understanding of market dynamics and the ever-evolving business landscape. She stays abreast of the latest industry trends, technologies, and best practices, ensuring that her clients receive cutting-edge insights and strategies. By leveraging her extensive network of industry connections, Brandi fosters collaborations and partnerships that open new doors of opportunity for her clients.
As a trusted advisor, Brandi works closely with her clients to identify their unique challenges and goals. She believes in a collaborative and holistic approach, taking the time to listen, analyze, and develop customized solutions that align with each client's specific needs. Whether it's devising marketing strategies, enhancing operational efficiencies, or fostering innovation, Brandi's expertise spans across various aspects of business development.
Sophie McMillian
Sophie McMillian brings more than a decade of nonprofit management and grant making experience to the EV Team. As a strategic action-oriented leader rooted in community, her focus is creating innovative solutions to support large increases in participation in giving & volunteering programs. Her commitment to reducing systemic inequities continuously leads her to seek opportunities & partnerships to drive authentic change through community action.
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She also co-leads the Blue Cross NC LGBTQ+A Employee Network, including the launch of a company-wide LGBTQ+ Community Advisory Council that provides insights via lived experience to business solutions.
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Outside the office, you can often find her outside somewhere on a kayak, bike or hike, traveling adventures, and spending time with her wife, kiddos, and chosen family.
Beth A. Vogel
Beth A. Vogel is a planner, strategist, and writer committed to supporting organizations that create positive change.For over 30 years she has worked to ensure non-profits’ practices and programs advance their missions and produceresults. She guides organizations to take the long view while meeting immediate challenges. Building on an early career in public service and 20 years of teaching Non-Profit Arts Management at NYU, Beth has developed expertise in grant-making, grant writing, planning, facilitation, program design, and documentation. Understanding the complexities of the field from multiple perspectives, she crafts compelling proposals that garner significant resources. An Executive Director spontaneously characterized her facilitation as “masterful” and a Foundation CEO exclaimed, mid-meeting, “I have never known anyone who can analyze a situation as quickly and thoroughly.” Beth earned her BA in American Studies at Barnard College, where her multi-disciplinary point of view and historical perspective took hold. She lives in NYC, where she can walk, people watch, experience the world in neighborhoods, and easily reach any destination, particularly her beloved beach. When not in motion you will find her with a book or some yarn in her hands.
Libby Sparklin
As an educator with 15 years of classroom experience, I have worked with diverse populations of students in a wide range of environments. As a mother to a neurodiverse child, I’ve seen first hand how difficult a “one-size-fits-all” mentality can leave students stranded at the top or struggling to catch up. I am passionate about developing curriculum and classroom experiences that engage students at all ability and interest levels. When students are given the agency to choose and the opportunity to demonstrate growth and understanding through multiple pathways, they develop real-world skills in addition to content specific ones. Meaningful and effective education is a uniquely human process, and though my background is in science I believe that incorporating different technologies, subjects, backgrounds, viewpoints, and talents into any classroom makes for a richer and more authentic experience.