Leadership Team
 Gloria Lewis
President and Chief Executive Officer
651.789.2461
glewis@bigstwincities.org
Gloria C. Lewis leads the strategic direction of one of the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates in the nation. She ensures annual goals are achieved, acts as board liaison and guarantees the local mission to enrich young people's lives through one-to-one relationships is realized.
Gloria joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities (BBBS) in 2005, bringing more than 25 years experience in public and non-profit administration. Throughout her career, she has delivered measurable results, engineered meaningful change and identified innovative funding sources.
Prior to assuming leadership at BBBS, Gloria served as the director of the Minnesota Department of Health's Office of Minority and Multicultural Health where she developed and maintained the largest legislative-funded health disparities initiative in the nation. Previously, she served the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services by introducing an asset-based approach to child welfare. While working for the Chicago Department of Public Health, Gloria created the first violence prevention plan developed by a major urban city. As a director in the Philadelphia School District, she developed and maintained a drug and alcohol prevention system for grades K-12.
Gloria is committed to the development, education and health of young people. She is a former member of the Augsburg College’s board of regents and is currently a member of the board of directors of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches and the Charities Review Council, and of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable. Gloria holds a Master of Science degree in Public Communication from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, the Rev. Dr. Craig J. Lewis.
.gif) Barb Alfrey
Director of Human Resources and
Volunteer Services
651.789.2451
balfrey@bigstwincities.org
Barb Alfrey is responsible for leading human resources work across the agency. She engages paid and volunteer staff to help achieve BBBS’ mission.
Barb has more than 20 years of experience managing volunteer programs in nonprofit and corporate organizations. Prior to joining BBBS, Barb was the manager of community relations at The Pillsbury Company and General Mills. In this role, she led the employee and retiree volunteer programs, served as a grants officer and managed United Way campaigns. Barb has served on a number of nonprofit boards including the Corporate Volunteerism Council of the Twin Cities, Hands On Twin Cities and the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration.
Barb holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Minnesota.
 Cynthia Bahmer
Vice President of Programs
651.789.2444
cbahmer@bigstwincities.org
Cindy Bahmer is responsible for ensuring the success of BBBS program operations, and she supervises the program management team (PMT). PMT includes the teams supporting the Community-based and School-based Programs, the Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program, and special initiatives, such as BBBS' Education and Enrichment Program.
Cindy joined BBBS in August 2006 as Director of Community-based Mentoring. In this role, she was directly responsible for overseeing the teams that implement the Community-based Program, which serves more than 2,200 children and families each year.
Cindy has more than 22 years of experience in program, volunteer and human resource management. Prior to joining BBBS, she was the Director of Human Resources and Volunteer Services for the American Red Cross – Minneapolis Area Chapter. She is a member of MAVA (Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration) and Metro Mentoring Partnership. She also is currently an active volunteer for Children’s Family and Home Society as an adoptive parent panel presenter.
Cindy has a BA degree in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and has completed the Mini MBA in Non-Profit Management and Non-Profit Human Resources Certification at the University of St. Thomas – College of Business.
 Martin A. Conover, MPA, CFRE
Vice President of Development
651.789.2443
mconover@bigstwincities.org
Martin A. Conover is responsible for leading the Development efforts at BBBS. He works with Executive Leadership, staff and volunteers to strategize and implement sustainable growth in support of BBBS’ programs and also focuses on major individual giving cultivation and stewardship. Martin has 15 years of experience in working with non-profit organizations to achieve success in all aspects of advancement. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, board development implementation of new systems and structures, creating major giving campaigns, and cultivating corporate sponsors and individual donors.
In his previous role as President of Conover-Kirkwood Nonprofit Consulting, Martin helped organizations, development directors and executive directors at small to medium-sized nonprofits hone their leadership and organizational skills. And as Director of Development and Communications at a community health center for nearly a decade, he increased the development department and built a successful team of staff and volunteer members who helped advance the organization's mission. Martin has been an instructor of Strategic Initiatives in the Graduate Certificate Program for Business Leadership for Independent Schools at The Johns Hopkins University and has developed curriculums for various contractors, facilitating trainings for the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Martin is former President-elect and Treasurer of AFP Maryland and has served in numerous roles in the Professional Advancement Division of AFP International, as well as the Committee on Directorship. In addition, he has served on the boards of diverse community and professional organizations and currently volunteers with PFUND.
Martin holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Baltimore, where he concentrated in Non-Profit Management. He holds the CFRE (Certified Fundraising Professional) credential and completed the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Faculty Training Academy in June 2004.
 Kari Munson, CPA
Vice President of Finance
651.789.2463
kmunson@bigstwincities.org
Kari Munson is responsible for the BBBS' financial department and has reponsibility for ensuring the accounting and financial reporting practices and policies meet the legal and operating needs of the agency. She produces various financial reports, provides leadership for the annual budgeting process, addresses cash flow needs, handles the agency's risk management and oversees the annual audit process.
Kari joined BBBS from the accounting firm of Virchow Krause and Company, LLP., where she had over eight years of experience in the firm’s Not-for-Profit service group. She managed the financial and single audits of many private colleges and universities, churches, and other nonprofit and governmental organizations.
Prior to public accounting, Kari had more than five years experience in municipal finance departments between the City of Roseville, where she performed accounting and payroll services, and the City of Bloomington, where she performed accounting services for the City and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Kari received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and received her CPA certificate in 1996. She is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants (MNCPA).
 Deanna Nurnberg, MA, CFRE
Director of Corporate, Government and Philanthropic Relations
651.789.2438
dnurnberg@bigstwincities.org
Deanna Nurnberg is the principal professional fundraiser working with organizational donors. She is responsible for identifying, cultivating and soliciting funds from foundations, corporations and government agencies in support of the agency’s programs, general operations, and special initiatives.
Deanna is a Certified Fund Raising Executive with 14 years of professional experience nonprofit management, fundraising, and grant development and management. She has worked for agencies providing social services, higher education, economic development, and public policy research. Most recently, she worked as the director of principal gifts for Scholarship America, the nation’s largest private scholarship provider and educational support organization.
She has been actively involved in the development of the grants profession, serving three terms on the national board of the American Association of Grant Professionals. She has written and spoken on a number of grant-related issues, including identifying the core competencies of the grants profession and professional ethics for grant seekers and grants managers.
Deanna holds a Master of Arts degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Illinois.
.gif) Alicia Schwarz
Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Special Projects
651.789.2492
aschwarz@bigstwincities.org
Alicia Schwarz is actively involved in the design of new programs, projects and initiatives. She oversees all data collection, analysis and reporting, and works closely with the program management team to ensure goals are met and outcomes realized.
Alicia has 10 years of professional experience working with children and families. Prior to joining BBBS in 2001, she was with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, where her work emphasized the coordination and implementation of programs for youth and volunteers.
Alicia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota and is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Augsburg College.
.gif) Kimberlee A. Sinclair
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations
651.789.2469
ksinclair@bigstwincities.org
Kimberlee Sinclair leads BBBS’ strategic marketing communications, media relations, publicity and mentor recruitment efforts, promoting the organization’s vision, mission and programs.
Kimberlee has 15 years’ experience in the development and execution of marketing and communications campaigns for both the public and private sectors. Her areas of expertise include: trend analysis, plan development, channel management, executive speechwriting, and implementing strategic communications initiatives to internal and external audiences.
Kimberlee joined BBBS from Ashland Inc., where she most recently led the company’s European communications activities and was based in The Netherlands. Prior to her promotion overseas, she managed corporate communications for U.S. operations. Kimberlee began her career as assistant director of communications for Boston University International Programs, moving on to become marketing manager for national start-up companies, BIGWORDS.com and Bluespring Software, Inc. She has served on the board of advisors for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and as a marketing committee member for the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Kimberlee holds a Master of Science in Marketing Communications from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Sociology from Mount Holyoke College. Additionally, she is certified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
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