After growing up in New York City, Susan Simons has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit event planning and coordination, program management, campaign organization, fundraising, promotions, publicity and grant writing. As a professional fundraiser in New Mexico, she has held the roles of Executive Director, Development Director, and Project Manager with responsibilities ranging from overall operations of an organization; providing guidance to volunteers and committees and for financial and personnel oversight; obtaining sponsorships and other funding for special events; conducting annual campaigns; writing numerous grants with an overall 54% funding rate, and more. Susan has also completed numerous speaking engagements throughout her career, including serving as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Phoenix, presenting at the Arizona State AFP Conference, and presenting on multiple topics through the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Susan has also been a longtime Association of Fundraising Professionals member and is currently serving as President of the organization’s Board of Directors.  She has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2001, and is a Fellow of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  She has her BS from the University of Arizona, and graduated from Regis University with a Masters in Non-Profit Management in 2010. She completed Leadership Albuquerque in 2012, and was awarded the YWCA Women on the Move Award in 2013.