Leading Us in
the Right Direction

As President and CEO of BBBSA, the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the country, Artis Stevens is a global thought leader on youth empowerment and mentorship, driving life-changing impact in the youth development sector. Under his visionary leadership, BBBSA has evolved into an even more powerful force for change, recognizing mentorship as a transformative solution to empower young people to change society.

Under Artis’ leadership, BBBSA has more than doubled its annual revenue, positioning the organization among the top 10 most trusted non-profits in the country while dramatically expanding its reach to serve more underserved communities. A key highlight of this momentum was Artis’ leadership in securing the largest-ever single donation in the organization’s history – $122.6 million from MacKenzie Scott. As a result, BBBSA is positioned to lead the most ambitious agenda since its founding, expanding access and opportunity to mentorship for over 10 million young people whose lives can change – one mentor at a time.

Under Stevens’ leadership, BBBSA has earned several awards and recognitions including being named one of the Most Trusted Nonprofits in the U.S. by the Morning Consult in 2023 and 2024; one of Fast Company’s Brands that Matter in 2023; receiving the Engage for Good 2023 Golden Halo award; and one of Forbes’ Top 100 Charities in 2024.

Over the course of his career, Artis has earned several distinguished accolades. In 2018, he received the American Marketing Association’s National Non-profit Marketer of the Year Award, the highest honor bestowed to nonprofit marketing professionals. He was named Valdosta State University’s Distinguished Alumni in 2023, Worth Magazine named Artis in their 2023 Worthy 100, and in 2024, he was named to the ForbesBLK Top 50 List. In 2025, Stevens received national recognition, being named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential Leaders in Philanthropy. As the first Black leader in BBBSA’s 120-year history, Artis has led initiatives that have transformed the organization’s culture, increased volunteer recruitment, and been recognized for the organization’s innovative approach to national partnerships. He has also been featured on Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, CNBC, and on NPR.

Stevens earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He also holds a master’s in public administration from Valdosta State University. Today, he lives in Atlanta with his wife, Dr. Erica Stevens, and their two daughters.

Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Tim Midkiff joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as controller in December 2013. In September 2014, he assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Tim oversees Information Technology, Grant Compliance and Quality Assurance, Payroll, Internal Audit, Annual Audit, Building Maintenance, and BBBSA Foundation.

Tim previously served as the controller for American Lung Association of the Plains-Gulf Region. While at American Lung Association he lead in consecutive years of successful annual federal audits, managed grants from varying federal agencies as well as lead in several mergers.

Prior to joining American Lung Association, Tim served as the controller for Family Gateway. Tim comes from a background of business ownership where he successfully led the company from start-up to expansion to multiple locations.

Tim received a Bachelor Degree from Baylor University and Masters of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Dallas.

Adam Vasallo is the Chief Marketing Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy and partnership development.

Adam joined BBBSA in January 2018. In this role, he leads BBBSA’s brand strategy and positioning, digital experiences, campaign and performance marketing, creative and content, consumer insights and marketing support for the Big Brothers Big Sisters federation of 230+ agencies serving 5,000 communities across all 50 states.

As Chief Marketing Officer, Adam has led the successful national rebrand of BBBSA and the launch of the organization’s most successful national campaign to date, “It Takes Little to be Big.” Rooted in insights, the “It Takes Little to be Big” campaign was created to shift perceptions around the time and expertise needed to become a mentor. Harnessing a multichannel mix of paid and in-kind media, corporate partnerships and integrations into culture and influential voices, the campaign delivered increases in volunteer sign-ups, brand relevance and interest in donating to BBBSA.

Adam’s leadership helped position BBBSA for critical acclaim and notable industry accolades, such as Fast Company’s Brands that Matter (2023), PRWeek’s Best Collaboration (2023), the Engage for Good Golden Halo Award (2023) and annual recognition on Morning Consult’s Top 10 Most Trusted Non-Profits list. In 2024, the Shorty Impact Awards recognized Adam as the Non-Profit Marketer of the Year.

Prior to joining BBBSA, Adam spent more than a decade at HSN, where he held several leadership roles spanning brand marketing, multicultural marketing, new business development and entertainment marketing.

Adam’s passion for youth mentorship is rooted in his personal connection to the BBBSA mission. Adam is a two-time Big Brother and is currently matched with his Little Brother, Giovanni. He has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Adam and his wife, Robyn, are the proud parents to three children, Addison, Zachary and Sophie.

Williams brings over 15 years of experience in public relations, media, strategic brand positioning, thought leadership and executive visibility to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) as Chief Communications Officer (CCO). She leads the development and execution of an integrated communications strategy that successfully reinforce BBBSA’s brand strategy and mission to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people through mentorship.

As CCO, Dvon leads internal communications, bolstering network-wide communications to and with agencies for more message consistency and impact. She also spearheads external communications efforts, developing messaging and elevating BBBSA’s voice to thread a formal strategy for thought leadership positioning of the organization; as well as amplifying executive and board visibility to drive relevance with key stakeholders.

Prior to joining BBBSA, Williams spent over a decade of her career building brand awareness and affinity for some of the top national non-profit brands in the country. She previously served as Senior Director, PR and Celebrity Relations at National 4-H Council where she established a dedicated PR and influencer relations team managing media and talent relations as well as reputation management and positioning. Her leadership advanced the brand’s visibility into mainstream media and expanded its network of spokespeople to include diverse and representative voices for the long-standing organization.

Williams also held positions at Boys & Girls Clubs of America where she led the development and execution of BGCA’s Back-to-School campaign resulting in significant media visibility and increased cause marketing efforts that continue today. Her experience with these organizations as well as with Edelman PR have won industry recognition from MarCom Awards, Public Relations Society of America, and Fast Company.

Julie Novak joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in 2004. As Vice President of Youth Protection, she serves as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s leading expert and national spokesperson on matters related to child safety and youth protection. She leads the nationwide advancement of effective child abuse prevention and crisis response strategies throughout Big Brothers Big Sisters’ network, working collaboratively with other national experts from organizations that include: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, The Crimes Against Children Research Center, Centers for Disease Control, The Nonprofit Risk Management Center, and local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities.

Julie develops and provides statewide and national training and consultation on child abuse prevention, violence prevention, and crisis management. Thousands of professionals across Big Brothers Big Sisters’ network and other community-based youth-serving organizations have attended her trainings. She’s served as a member of the National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation; United States Olympic Committee’s Safe Sport Working Group; Vice President Biden’s Gun Violence Task Force; LexisNexis/First Advantage’s Customer Advisory Board; and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Safe to Compete Working Group.

Julie has participated in hundreds of hours of professional training in the prevention of child abuse, exploitation, violence prevention, and risk management through: Chadwick Center – San Diego Children’s Hospital; Prevent Child Abuse America; the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; the National Child Advocacy Center; the National Child Protection Training Center; the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention; the Nonprofit Risk Management Center; Crimes Against Children Research Center; and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prior to starting to work for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Julie served as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin for 11 years. At BBBS of Northwestern Wisconsin, she secured and administered collaborative local, statewide, and federal violence prevention initiatives while expanding the organization’s service to children by over 400%. She also served as a grant reviewer for the Wisconsin State Department of Justice, an Executive Committee Member of the Eau Claire YMCA, President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wisconsin, helped found the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley, and served as Nationwide Leadership Council Vice Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. After graduating from the University of Iowa she served for three years as a sexual assault and domestic violence victims’ advocate. She resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Tawanna Myers joined the organization in early 2022 to develop and lead human resources strategy and culture initiatives. Under her leadership includes the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America employee life cycle, including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement, employee relations, talent development, executive coaching, as well as change management and organizational culture. She brings over 18 years of expertise across HR, culture, and change management.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Norfolk State University and received certifications from Cornell University for Diversity & Inclusion, the former American Institute for Advancing Diversity’s Diversity Leadership Academy under Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, Prosci© as a Certified Change Practitioner, Korn Ferry© in Leadership Architect Global Competency Framework, and the Human Capital Institute© as a Talent Acquisition Strategist. Myers is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Travis is a senior technology leader and corporate strategist with expertise in a diverse range of technologies across multiple industry settings. He has served as the CIO and CISO advisor for organization’s including LVMH, DeBeers Diamond Jewelers, Cox Automotive, Michael Kors, Council of School Supervisors (NYC), Vera Wang, and others. During his early career as an IT engineer he worked for Amazon, Choice Hotels International, and a wide medical network in Arizona. Prior to joining BBBSA, Travis was the Head of Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, and IT Operations for Make-A-Wish America, with responsibility for developing and maintaining the enterprise cybersecurity program, the enterprise IT infrastructure, application support, and IT operations for over 10,000 employees and volunteers in the U.S. and territories. Additionally, as the IT and Cybersecurity Advisor of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Travis plays a key role in identifying high school curriculum to support youth career development in technology. He is a member of the Information Systems and Control Association and holds several industry professional certifications in Technology, Cybersecurity and Business.

Ginneh Baugh serves as the Chief Impact Officer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), where she leads the Program & Impact team and drives national efforts to expand reach and grow access to mentoring. She provides strategic direction across the organization’s programs, research, and outcomes—ensuring that every young person, no matter their ZIP code or background, has the opportunity to experience the power of mentorship.

A self-described data maven and storyteller, Ginneh connects analytics with heart—helping others see the human stories behind the numbers. With more than two decades in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, she has led national evaluation, data storytelling, and capacity-building initiatives that bridge research and real-world results.

Before joining BBBSA, Ginneh served as Vice President for Strategic Impact at United Way of Greater Atlanta, where she was a driving force behind the creation of the Child Well-Being Index. Her leadership helped the organization use data as a catalyst for community investment and engagement, inspiring more impact-driven donors and volunteers.

Ginneh holds a master’s degree in public policy from The Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Georgia. Ginneh is a southern girl, wife and mom of four who also loves delighting friends with sweet treats and unwinding with a good crime drama.

Alison Avera joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as Chief Agency Growth Officer in 2023. In her role, Alison leads the development and implementation of growth strategies for the organization’s national network of agencies. She focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and deploying innovative solutions to amplify the impact of BBBSA.

Previously, Alison served as Director of Adult Development for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, where she significantly increased volunteer and member engagement. Her career began with Teach for America, as a biology teacher in New Orleans Public Schools. Alison has also held key positions in the education sector, including Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at Teach Plus, Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Whole-Child Education, and various roles within the New York City Department of Education.

Alison holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University. She is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bryan Klopack joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as Chief Development Officer in September 2025. In this role, he leads the design and execution of the organization’s fundraising strategy and works with internal and external stakeholders to grow and diversify resources that support life-changing mentoring relationships across the country.

With nearly two decades of leadership in the nonprofit sector, Bryan brings a deep record of building high-performing development teams and scaling revenue portfolios across multiple channels—including major gifts, corporate partnerships, individual giving, planned giving, grassroots, and digital engagement. He is especially experienced in organizational growth during times of transition and in restructuring development functions to drive sustainable impact.

Prior to his arrival at BBBSA, Bryan served as Chief Growth Officer at Autism Speaks, where he managed a large fundraising team and led the implementation of a multi-year growth strategy including a re-imagining of their grassroots peer-to-peer program. At Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), he led a successful turnaround, growing revenue while diversifying funding sources, rebuilding corporate partnerships, revamping individual giving and launching a federal grants program. At Special Olympics International, he led a global corporate portfolio and nurtured partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, traveled the world and watch the power of inclusion take root.

Bryan also has experience outside of development in public advocacy, brand storytelling, and cross-sector relationship building, which contribute to his capacity to lead resource growth with both strategy and care. Bryan is deeply connected to BBBSA’s mission, crediting the mentors in his own life for fueling his passion to ensure every young person has access to the same kind of life-changing support. He brings a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and a collaborative spirit to his role, helping BBBSA grow resources and partnerships that empower more youth to reach their full potential.

Bryan is based in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two daughters who keep him very busy.

Theresa Matos Agonia serves as Chief of Staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, where she works directly with President and CEO Artis Stevens to drive enterprise-wide alignment, strategic execution, and organizational impact. In her role, Theresa oversees executive office operations, manages strategic executive communications positioning, and facilitates cross-departmental collaboration on major initiatives.

She brings a decade of public service experience in local government to her current role, having previously served in leadership positions including Chief of External Affairs and Deputy Chief of Staff to Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Central Falls Mayor James Diossa. In these roles, she led community engagement and communications strategies, advised on policy matters, and led cross-functional teams to advance city business.

The proud daughter of immigrants, she is tri-lingual and was the first in her family to graduate college. Beyond her professional achievements, Theresa is deeply committed to youth development, serving on several boards focused on how to best support youth from underserved communities. She actively mentors young people, including her Little Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island.