Our Board

Nest’s work would not be possible without the expertise, support and dedication of our Trustees, Boards and community.

Get to know the members of our Board of Trustees, Advisory Board, Tapestry Circle and our Founding Board.

Board of Trustees

  • Jim Brigham joined the Nest board in 2012 and became Chairman in 2014. He is Chairman of Warson Capital Partners LLC, an investment banking firm based in St. Louis.

    Jim began his career in investment banking with J.P. Morgan from 1969–1977. He has a BA from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.


  •  Tracey is a seasoned marketing executive with over two decades of experience in strategic and product marketing across the media, retail and insurance industries. 

    Her expertise spans managing and executing $350M+ in product launches, branding campaigns, and media investments, significantly enhancing brand loyalty and market expansion. 

    Tracey Austin Grooms brings a blend of creative vision, strategic acumen, and technologically forward-thinking leadership to the forefront of marketing, 


  • Heather is the Director of the Winn Family Foundation, which focuses on education, particularly in STEM fields, women’s economic advancement, and environmental initiatives.

    Prior to shifting her time solely to philanthropy, Heather ran a weaving studio out of her home which gave her an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges makers face. It was the intersection of her love of craft, running a small business, and the opportunity to support women through economic empowerment that drew her to Nest.

    She lives in Austin, TX with her two children and husband.


  • As Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Amanda Nusz leads Target’s commitment to co-create an equitable and regenerative future together with its guests, partners, and communities through its enterprise-wide sustainability strategy, Target Forward.

    In addition to her work at Target, Amanda represents the company on Adweek’s Sustainability Council as a founding member of the Global Fashion Agenda. She also serves as a member on the World Resource Institute Corporate Consultative Group, Sustainability50, and Sustainable Brands Board.

    Amanda received her bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Minnesota and an executive degree from MIT.


  • Tracy Reese is an American designer whose signature rich, daring colors and unique prints are crafted into joyful, feminine clothing and accessories for the modern woman. Tracy Reese’s design philosophy is rooted in a commitment to bringing out the beauty in women of all shapes, sizes and colors.

    In 2019, Tracy launched Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese, a responsibly designed and produced collection. Part of HFF’s mission is to create positive social impact by empowering women and young people through arts programming in public schools and collaboration with local artisans in Detroit.

    Tracy Reese has been a dominate force in the contemporary fashion industry for twenty years. Now, in a world with an increasingly fragile natural ecosystem, she’s laying a path to dominate — sustainably — for the next twenty.


  • Shea Soucie is Principal and co-founder, along with partner Martin Horner, of Chicago- and Naples, Florida-based interior architecture, and design firm Soucie Horner, Ltd. Established in 2000, Soucie Horner, Ltd. is comprised of three distinct business divisions. Soucie Horner Interiors designs highly personalized spaces that define, embody, and enhance each client’s unique idea of living well. Soucie Horner Collections creates custom furniture, lighting, and textiles. SH Studio leverages nearly two decades of experience designing high-end luxury interiors to partner with developers to elevate the built environments in which people live, work, and play.

    Soucie attended the Ecole Speciale d’Architecture in Paris and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture.


  • Steph Stephenson is a dedicated philanthropist, impact investor, and content creator, all guided by her commitment to sustainable fashion. As co-chair of the Cordes Foundation, she champions ethical fashion and sustainable supply chain initiatives that prioritize transparency and social equity. Formerly the VP of Marketing at ECOfashion Corp, Steph remains a powerful advocate for conscious consumerism, serving on the Brand Advisory Board for Indego Africa and the Advisory Board of Remake. Beyond her work, Steph loves traveling to new destinations with her family, exploring NYC’s hidden gems with her toddler, and enjoying the city’s vibrant restaurant scene.


  • Julie fell in love with the work of Nest while serving as its Director of Outreach from 2011 –2015. Over her five-year tenure at Nest, she started Nest’s Professional Fellowship Program and also focused on Nest’s Monitoring & Evaluation efforts.

    A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, Julie brings ten+ years of finance and transactional experience. Though a native Texan, Julie lives in San Francisco with her husband, three children, and one dog. She loves artisanal crafts and talents, travel, music, yoga, & the arts.


  • Clement King is a seasoned business leader known for driving growth, navigating complex challenges, and fostering innovation. He currently serves in a senior leadership role at HSBC, a leading global bank.

    Clement fosters a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive environment that encourages a growth mindset for team development. His commitment to these values is reflected in his board membership with the Johnny Mac Tennis Project. This organization is committed to removing racial, social, and economic barriers for youth through tennis.


  • Nicole currently works as an associate producer for NBC and ESPN gymnastics events, including the 2016 Olympics. She enjoys being part of the Indianapolis community through her continued work with the Indiana Sports Corp Finance Committee, as founder of Behind the Colts Bench, an organization supporting and empowering the spouses of NFL Colts players, and through independent interior design and real estate projects.

    Nicole graduated from Stanford University in 2012 with a Bachelors of Science in Engineering —Architectural Design focus. After working for multiple design and architecture firms in the Bay Area and Indianapolis, her passion for business lead her to pursue an MBA at Indiana University, Class of 2017.


  • Louise is currently a member of the NPC Committee (Non-Partisan Committee), which is responsible for the nomination and election of school trustees. Additionally, Louise was an active member of the Jackson Hole Land Trust whose mission is to preserve open space and critical wildlife habitat throughout Teton County.

    In her most recent position, Louise worked as COO at Eleni’s New York, a custom gifting business with both a retail and internet presence.

    Louise was an undergraduate at Barnard College and received her MBA from The University of Virginia, Darden School of Business.

Advisory Board


  • Abrima Erwiah (based between Accra and New York), with actress and activist Rosario Dawson, is the co-founder of Studio One Eighty Nine, an artisan produced fashion lifestyle brand and social enterprise that has recently won the prestigious CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability. The brand is made in Africa and produces African and African-inspired content and clothing. Studio 189 works with artisanal communities that specialize in various traditional craftsmanship techniques including natural plant based dye indigo, hand-batik, kente weaving and more. Studio 189 focuses on empowerment, creating jobs and supporting education and skills training.


  • Agathe is Head of Human Rights at Chanel, responsible for driving social progress within the company’s supply chains, reinforcing its expertise and providing insights on emerging issues related to human and labour rights.

    Agathe holds an MBA from the French business school ESSEC, with a specialization in social entrepreneurship. She is board member of Human Resources Without Borders, an NGO dedicated to preventing the risks of child labour, forced labour, and indecent work in globalized supply chains. She is also involved with the NGO Utopia, which provides temporary emergency housing to migrant families in Paris.


  • Amber Valletta is a fashion icon who has worked with some of the most prestigious names in the fashion world and graced countless magazine covers over the course of her modeling career. After moving to Los Angeles, Amber found success as an actress, and has transitioned seamlessly between modeling and acting over the last 12 years.

    She has always devoted much of her time to promoting and encouraging environmental sustainability.

    As a valued influencer, Amber co-founded A Squared Films, whose first project, Driving Fashion Forward, featured a series of documentary shorts for Lexus’ L-Studio on the subject of fashion and sustainability.


  • Amy Christiansen is the founder of the socially conscious, luxury fragrance house Sana Jardin.

    Sana Jardin was built on the principles of a circular economy; their alternative business model enables women in the supply chain to become micro-entrepreneurs by upcycling the waste products from perfume production.

    Prior to founding Sana Jardin, Amy had a career that spanned twenty-five years in the non-profit sector in the US, Middle East and Europe.

    Amy holds a Master of Social Work (summa cum laude) from Loyola University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Social Work (cum laude) from Illinois State University.


  • Ashley has focused her personal and professional pursuits on girls’ and women’s empowerment in developing and developed countries. A native Californian, she completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University in Philosophy and Visual Arts. Following five years in the fashion industry in various capacities, she pursued her Masters in Business with a focus on Entrepreneurship at INSEAD in France and Singapore. There she incubated a social venture focused on girls’ empowerment which became True Girl, an organic bath and body product line for pre-teen girls that encouraged girls to respect and care for their bodies. Equally as compelled by women’s studies, she gained a Masters in Science in Gender, Development, and Globalization at London School of Economics. Now living in London, Ashley leads the research team within Adjaye Associates. This unit explores the relationship between design, social and economic development, and the built environment.


  • As Vogue India’s Editor-at-Large, responsible for planning, visualizing and ideating fashion features for the ultimate style bible, Bandana Tewari has one of the most enviable jobs in Indian fashion. Her ringside view of the rapidly evolving industry coupled with her signature ability to take the long view in every commentary has made her one of the nation’s foremost authorities on fashion.

    A columnist for the Business of Fashion, she is also a member of the BoF500, which is a professional index of the people shaping the global fashion industry. For BoF, she has written extensively on a variety of topics from indigenous ‘made-by-hand’ economies of India and Indonesia, to transgender and LGBTQ representation in fashion.


  • Barrie serves as advisor and brand builder to Marfa Stance, a London-based luxury apparel company that designs multi-functional, versatile and uniquely sustainable clothing.

    With her keen eye for design, Barrie also does interior design for select clients and was recognized by Hamptons Cottages & Gardens magazine with a cover story in 2018.

    Over the course of her twenty-year career as an art director, Barrie Glabman has helped many beloved global brands shape their visual identities. She has a B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.


  • Carmen Busquets is a Venezuelan entrepreneur, strategic investor and philanthropist whose career in the luxury fashion industry spans over three decades. A pioneering member of the fashion-tech space, Carmen champions its potential to advance sustainable development, turning the luxury fashion industry into one that balances profit with purpose.

    In addition to her investments in the luxury fashion, lifestyle and technology sectors, Carmen leverages her entrepreneurial expertise to help non-profit organizations engaged in the conservation of the earth’s natural resources, in sustainable economic development, and in providing education and human rights for all.


  • Deborah Palmer Keiser is a seasoned retail executive known for her pioneering work on supply chain stewardship for iconic global brands such as Limited Brands, Gap Inc. and Williams Sonoma, and for boutique innovators like All Saints, Alabama Chanin, and RITUEL, the lifestyle brand she founded and runs. For 30 years, she has held senior strategic and operational roles during times of unprecedented growth, leading product development, sourcing, and production teams, and in directing business development across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Her singular expertise is in building quality products by fostering long-term, strategic relationships across cultures and industries. Before it became a catchphrase, Deborah used principles of sustainability to drive forward her vision of a new paradigm for designing and manufacturing quality goods — one that respects natural resources and human dignity as essential components. Deborah currently resides in Northern California with her husband of 23 years and their teenage daughter.


  • Donna Karan’s desire to address people, not just dress them, led her to establish The Urban Zen Foundation in 2007. This lifelong traveler and yogi, mother and grandmother is dedicated to adding the missing link – mind, body and spirit – to healthcare and education, while preserving the wisdom of ancient culture. Karan works with established organizations such as the Clinton Foundation, Grief and Nomad Two Worlds. The Clinton Global Initiative was Karan’s inspiration for Urban Zen: to bring like-minded people together in a place and space – the Urban Zen Center – to affect change through collaboration and creativity.

    For Karan, Haiti is where Urban Zen’s health, education and culture initiatives come together. Alongside The Clinton Global Initiative, Karan helps develop and support sustainable opportunities as part of The Foundation’s Haiti Artisan Project. Donna works directly with artisans to elevate design, provide vocational education, job creation and raise awareness to the global market as part of her Philanthropic and Commerce model for the Soulful Economy mission.


  • Elizabeth Muir is passionate about working at the intersection of fashion and international development, a crossroad where traditional cultures meet modern day.

    While Elizabeth has more than 15 years of experience in client delivery at top businesses and organizations including Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), The World Bank, and Marriott, she has also successfully developed, transformed, launched, and modernized numerous consumer brands worldwide. Clients have widely ranged from Fortune 100 companies to the US Government to musicians signed to major record labels to consumer brand start-ups to companies based in Afghanistan wanting to enter Europe’s luxury market by way of Milan.

    Elizabeth attended Vanderbilt University and Université de Paris-Sorbonne. She learned the design and production supply chain hands-on in a work-study role in India normally reserved for design students from Europe’s top fashion schools.


  • Ellice Sperber is an embroidery specialist, tracing the art back to her great grandmother, who sold her hand-embroidered fashions from her Los Angeles boutique. Ellice practiced needlepoint as a young girl and later apprenticed in embroidery while performing with the Zadruga Folk Ensemble in Los Angeles, where she worked on the company’s collection of Bulgarian, Serbian and Croatian costumes.

    Ellice has continued to embroider since her days as a young dancer. Finding her passion for the art form continuing to deepen, Ellice began studying with the Royal School of Needlework and achieved a Diploma in 2014. Dedicated to preserving and promoting the knowledge and practice of hand embroidery, she co-founded San Francisco School of Needlework and Design the following year. She restores heirloom embroideries out of her home studio and is writing a book on Pulled Thread Embroidery.


  • Iliane sits on the board of FilmAid International, a humanitarian agency that uses the power of film to educate, empower and entertain in refugee and slum communities (www. filmaid.org). She is board member of IRC UK (www.rescue.org) and is a trustee of the Children’s Hospital Trust in Cape Town (the Great Ormond Street Hospital of Africa —www. childrenshospitaltrust.org.za). Iliane is also a trustee of an early childhood development centre in Mathare, Nairobi; We the Change Foundation. Iliane is an advisory board member of the Lake Tanganyika Floating Clinic.

    Prior to this she was Global Alliances Director at Diageo, after heading Business Development for the Diageo Venture Group. She was eCommerce Business Development Director at Yahoo! Europe, Marketing Manager at Yahoo!UK and was part of the Strategy practice at Accenture in London. She started her career in Brand Management at Procter & Gamble. Iliane is a philanthropist and entrepreneur with a focus on women’s protection and empowerment and Africa.

  • Ivanka Mamic is an experienced senior sustainability professional with over 20 years’ experience in the sector. She is currently Chief Sustainability Officer at bp, driving the delivery of its sustainability strategy - focussing on getting to net zero, improving people’s lives and caring for the planet. Previously, she was Senior Director for Responsible Sourcing at Target where she led global teams working on social and environmental matters relating to Target’s manufacturing supply chain. Prior to this, she worked for the International Labour Organization providing technical leadership and advice on the ILO’s CSR related activities including the ILO/ IFC Better Work programme. Ivanka holds a PhD from University of Cambridge, UK, together with a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland, Australia.


  • Krista’s lifelong interest in textiles began when she started weaving at the age of two. Being the daughter of a Textile Curator gave her the opportunity for much early exposure. Krista completed a history degree at Brown University while attending classes in the textile department of Rhode Island School of Design. While at RISD, Krista won awards with both the Japanese Textile Foundation and the Amoco Trace Student Design Competition.

    Krista later worked for mills in both Turkey and India, enjoying a more hands experience with design. Since 2005, she has worked under her own name, Krista Stack Design, continuing to work with both editors and mills around the world. She also creates custom carpets in India and fine art pieces in her Brooklyn studio. She continues to weave on her loom, which serves as a sketchbook of experiments and ideas.


  • Libby Wadle is the Chief Executive Officer of the J.Crew Group, overseeing J.Crew, J.Crew Factory and Madewell brands and serving on the board of directors. She has a proven track record of leading companies through periods of significant growth with a focus on customer-centric retail and building purpose-driven brands. With over 25-years of experience in the retail industry, during her tenure at the J.Crew Group she has held executive leadership roles across each of the brands. Most recently, she led the resurgence of the J.Crew brand and as a member of the Madewell launch team played an integral role in bringing the brand from start-up to a leader in denim retail. She has dedicated herself to an ambitious sustainability and social impact strategy for the J.Crew Group, leading industry firsts. Wadle is often looked to as a thought leader in the industry. She was named Fortune 40 under 40, Rivet 50 for denim leadership and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business.


  • Lisa is an entrepreneur who co-founded Zellee Organic, a national organic snack brand.

    Over six years, she led supply chain management, manufacturing, marketing, and brand

    development, securing distribution in over 750 stores.

    Prior to Zellee Organic, Lisa built a finance career at Bear Stearns, CS First Boston, and

    Citigroup, specializing in institutional sales and equity research, gaining expertise in market

    dynamics and investment strategies.

    She now serves as a consultant at The Acceleration Project, advising businesses on growth and

    efficiency. Lisa is also a member of the Brookings Center for Universal Education (CUE)

    Leadership Council, supporting global efforts in inclusive education and skills development.

    She holds a BBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and has completed

    executive programs at Stanford GSB, focusing on entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, and

    business administration.


  • Lori, principal and creative director of Lori Weitzner Design, is internationally known for her contributions to the world of textiles and wallcoverings under the brand Weitzner Limited.

    She has translated her signature aesthetic into a globally successful business for more than 35 years and her works are housed in the permanent collections of such museums as the Cooper Hewitt in New York and The Victoria Albert in London. She is the recipient of more than 40 prestigious design awards and is the author of Ode to Color, The Ten Essential Palettes for Living and Design published by HarperCollins.


  • Marty Cordes is Co-Founder of the Cordes Foundation, which she created with her husband, Ron, in 2006. She directs the Foundation’s philanthropic and gender-lens investing work advancing economic opportunities for women. Previously, Marty enjoyed a career in the banking industry and served in several volunteer leadership capacities with social service organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her former board roles include Freedom from Hunger, Grameen PrimaCare and Ripple Effect Images.


  • Melissa Joy Manning has created a socially responsible fine jewelry brand featuring unique, modern designs influenced by her passion for travel, art and culture. The line encompasses multiple collections including one-of-a-kind pieces, signature designs and custom, non-traditional wedding jewelry.

    After receiving her BA from San Francisco State University, Manning studied traditional silversmithing at the Instituto de Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and European design principles at the University of Barcelona. Today, the San Francisco Bay area native resides in Brooklyn, NY.


  • Nadja is Chair of the Swarovski Foundation, which she established in 2013 to support projects that foster culture and creativity, promote human empowerment and preserve the environment. She also heads up the Swarovski Waterschool, which works across six continents teaching young people the importance of water conservation. Nadja was the first female member of the Swarovski Executive Board, becoming a major patron of the creative industries by supporting emerging and established design talent.


  • Nancy cares deeply about the well being of others. She is a keen listener and is intensely curious by nature. Nancy loves math, finds beauty in all things and embraces the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi. Her mother was an exceptional seamstress and embroiderer, instilling in her a great appreciation for craft. Nancy is a needleworker, painter, cook and gardener.

    She received her BA in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. She has served on the boards of the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, the Katherine Delmar Burke School and the Grabhorn Institute, all in San Francisco, where she and her husband Doug live when they are not in Nantucket. In Nantucket, she serves on the Board of the Nantucket Historical Association.


  • Natalie “Alabama” Chanin is the owner and designer of Alabama Chanin. She has a degree in Environmental Design with a focus on industrial and craft-based textiles from North Carolina State University. For over a decade, Natalie worked as a stylist and costume designer, traveling the globe.

    In 2013, Chanin won the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge, an award competition that identifies and celebrates the greatest American designers working in the realm of sustainable fashion. Chanin continues to learn and to teach craft traditions, using them to bridge generational, economic, and cultural gaps. Chanin is also a mother of two, an avid gardener, and an enthusiastic cook from her home in Florence, Alabama.

  • Pam Baer is a native Texan who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a marketing/finance degree. Pam started her career in New York City in the financial services arena before becoming an entrepreneur in brand marketing and strategy services, focusing on direct mail. After getting married she navigated cross country managing her business while starting her family in San Francisco. Since then, Pam has used her talents and resources to become a San Francisco based community leader whose philanthropic work includes projects related to social good and healthcare for the vulnerable.

    Pam joined the board of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation in 2002 and served until 2019 when she was named a lifetime director. She founded and continues to chair the Transform Mental & Behavioral Fund.

    Pam is a member of TPW Philanthropy and also serves as a Founder's Circle Member of Every Mother Counts (EMC) advocating for women’s healthcare. Pam is also a Board Member of the Giants Community Fund and an Advisory Board Member of Nest, an organization dedicated to improving women’s well-being and preserving important cultural traditions around the world.

    In addition to her foundation work, Pam has held many trustee and board positions such as the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Jewish Women's Giving Circle along with schools and initiatives that benefit her local community. Pam is an Aspen Institute fellow, and in 2023 she joined The Kennedy Forum’s Alignment for Progress special committee. Implementing solutions for society's vulnerable issues is a passion.

    Pam is married to Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants, and together they have four children.


  • Phoebe has over twenty-five years of experience in business development, marketing and corporate/non profit partnerships. Campbell Associates, the boutique firm she founded in 2002 “married mission to marketplace” via strategic brand licensing between not for profits and major manufacturers and retailers.

    Currently Phoebe divides her time between writing a book on the equestrian sport of three day eventing and working with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation to develop a hybrid licensing/cause marketing initiative.

    In her free time, Phoebe shares an enjoyment of horses, cooking, art and travel with her husband and two children.



  • Sean Ansett is a sustainability professional with nearly 20 years experience. Sean provides strategic advice to corporations, social enterprise start-ups, UN agencies and non-profit organizations on ethical trade, human rights and environmental sustainability globally through his organization At Stake Advisors.

    He has served on several global multi-stakeholder initiatives including the Advisory Board of Social Accountability International, the Global Reporting Initiative’s G3 expert committee, the Ethical Trading Initiative, a founding member of the MFA Forum and UNCTAD’s committee for integrating CSR indicators in financial reporting.

    Sean has a Masters degree in Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, Wolfson College and a Master’s of Science degree in Business Administration.


  • Steven Kolb is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). He oversees all operations for the American fashion industry’s group of 500 designers, and manages CFDA’s membership, activities and philanthropic efforts such as Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, disaster relief and HIV/AIDS.

    Kolb works directly with CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg and the Board of Directors comprised of America’s foremost designers. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from New York University.

Tapestry Circle

Join this vibrant community advancing Nest's mission to support artists, makers and artisans through leadership and philanthropy.

Learn more

  • Carol began her career covering fashion and beauty for publications like ELLE and ELLE.com. She then launched a social media agency that works alongside clients like The Peninsula Hotels, Rosewood Hotels, Simon Malls, Bulova, and more. In her latest venture, she launched award-winning fragrance and lifestyle brand Nette in 2021, which now calls Sephora its lead retailer.

  • Emma is an educational leader and advocate. She has served as the Director of Learning and Instruction at North Bridge Academy since 2024. In addition to her leadership role, she is an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco, where she works in the Learning and Instruction Department.

    Emma graduated from Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in Psychology and Education. She earned her Master's of Education in Mind, Brain, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Certificate in Educational Therapy from Holy Names University. In 2025, she completed her doctoral studies in Learning and Instruction from the University of San Francisco.


  • Jane is an architect and attorney working for her family’s commercial real estate business in Kansas City, Missouri. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tulane University School of Architecture, her J.D from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and completed a fellowship in community economic development at U.C. Berkeley’s East Bay Community Law Center. Her interest in cooperative development, particularly women-owned businesses, led her to Nest and its work.

    Jane has joined Nest on trips to Guatemala, Peru, and India, has had the opportunity to meet several of Nest’s artisan partners, and hopes to continue to support the organization both at home and abroad through the Junior Board.


  • Julie Martin is a passionate philanthropist with over 20 years of experience working with organizations that educate and empower women with an emphasis on vocational training in the textile industry.

    As an alumnus of Kansas State University, Martin partnered with the natural dye program to implement a vocational training center in South India. From this project, Martin began working with Nest, and in 2020 Martin joined the Jr. Board to further engage in the work of Nest.

    Apart from philanthropic work, Martin is a 3rd generation executive in her family’s transportation company and enjoys traveling with her husband Aaron and two teenage children Riley and Cade.


  • Kansas City based founder of the Nelle Arts & Social Club. Mother of seven. Arts, Animal, Children, Minority, Eco and Houseless advocate.

    www.TheNelle.com


  • Lindsay Abrams is a Next Gen Philanthropist and mental health advocate. Since 2016, Lindsay has served as the Executive Director of the Bruce C. Abrams Foundation. In addition to her role at the foundation, Lindsay is the Sales & Outreach Manager at The Little Market, a nonprofit fair-trade shop featuring ethically sourced, artisan-made products.

    Lindsay graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2012, where she double majored in Human and Organizational Development (HOD) and an interdisciplinary study in literature and leadership. She graduated with her MA from University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in May of 2019.


  • Maxandra is an NYC-based designer with experience in both fashion and social entrepreneurship. She started her womenswear career at Oscar de la Renta and designed for Gal Meets Glam Collection. She also co-founded Kora Designs, a sustainably-minded jewelry line working with artisans in developing communities. Maxandra was born in Singapore and grew up throughout Southeast Asia. She is a graduate of NYU and Parsons Schools of Design.


  • Megan believes in the power of trust-based philanthropy that centers community experience and expertise. While volunteering in Mozambique, Megan provided support to artisans in the community, an experience that changed her life and led her towards a fulfilling career in the nonprofit sector. Currently, she is the Associate Director of Grants Management at Everytown for Gun Safety, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization. Megan also works as an independent consultant, helping charities secure government and foundation funding to expand their programs.

    In her free time, Megan enjoys reading, traveling, and trying new restaurants with friends and family.

  • Molly is a New York-based interior designer. She came to the field by way of magazines and media, starting in print at Condé Nast Traveler, followed by a decade working across newsletters and podcasts. She was the editorial and creative director at Lenny Letter, where she oversaw a newsletter with 500,000 subscribers, and later co-founded and executive produced Your Magic, the Spotify-exclusive tarot podcast and newsletter. Her love of art, textiles, and handcraft, as well as the desire to work on more personal projects, led her to pursue residential design. Molly now works as a designer at Rachel Sloane Interiors, where she draws on her background in storytelling to bring a space to life. She lives in Brooklyn Heights with her husband and two Puerto Rican rescue dogs.

  • Nick Huff is an Omaha-based entrepreneur and creative director whose career has focused on building platforms that elevate design, craft, and community at scale.
    He began his work in 2013 by opening a vintage furniture store, which evolved into a residential retail concept blending local makers, vintage pieces, and contemporary design. That early work laid the foundation for a broader mission: creating access and visibility for independent creatives and regional talent.
    Nick went on to launch Hutchfest (now Midwest Fest), a one-day event that brought together over 10,000 attendees and 300 regional makers, establishing it as one of the Midwest’s most impactful celebrations of independent design and entrepreneurship. Building on that momentum, he co-founded Made in Omaha, expanding the brand into three retail locations dedicated to showcasing and supporting local makers.
    Today, Nick is the co-owner and acting CEO of Hutch Contract, a hospitality-focused furniture procurement company working with developers, operators, and design firms across the U.S. Hutch Contract specializes in high-end, design-driven environments for multifamily, hospitality, and mixed-use projects, with a reputation for creative problem-solving and operational rigor.
    Nick has been recognized by the Midlands Business Journal’s 30 Under 30 and has served as a judge for Omaha Fashion Week for over a decade. Across every chapter of his career, his work sits at the intersection of design, business, and community - scaling ideas without losing soul.


  • Preetha is an active philanthropist and is passionate about leadership development and training. She is a facilitator for Yale School of Management’s Interpersonal Dynamics class and a member of the Executive Board of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

    Based in NYC, Preetha manages US investor relations and business development for Noetic Fund, a leading venture capital firm in the nascent psychedelic and mental health sector.

    Preetha received her B.A. from Hamilton College and her M.B.A. from Yale School of Management


  • Tia Harari has fifteen years of experience in Merchandising, Trend, and Product Development in the Home and Lifestyle space.

    As a Buyer she traveled the world to source and develop artisan products, which is where she began her work with Nest. Discovering the importance of their mission, the beauty of slow handmade craft, and the responsibility of sharing the story.

    Tia is honored to support Nest in helping artisans sustainably develop their businesses, preserve the art of handicraft, and create safe working environments globally.

Founding Board

David Vonallmen

Kari Erickson Woolf

Lauren Hurst

Molly Carter

Susanna Johnson Bird

Ann Vonallmen

Alison Sheehan