Our Team

Deanna Hamilton stands as an acclaimed and award-winning figure in the realm of business leadership, boasting a career spanning over thirty years at the dynamic crossroads of finance, business development, and community investment.

Having navigated the intricate landscapes of finance within Fortune 1000 enterprises such as Stellanis (formerly Chrysler Corporation), General Electric, and The Interpublic Group of Companies, Deanna earned the trust of these esteemed organizations to expertly manage their financial operations.

Fueling her entrepreneurial drive, Deanna founded Circle One, Inc., an enterprise specializing in consumer product marketing and versatile printing solutions. Rapidly ascending to prominence, Circle One saw a historic exit and acquisition in 2012, further cementing its legacy.

Beyond the auspicious beginnings of Circle One, Inc., Deanna's unwavering commitment to 'The Art of the Deal' led her to establish Circle One Associates, a management consulting division. This venture focused on devising growth strategies for small to mid-sized businesses, government entities, and entertainment and sports enterprises. Her leadership roles as Strategic Advisor of the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation, Executive Director of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC), the largest legislative body in the nation, and Vice President of Partner Development for the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), underscore her dedication to fostering success within diverse sectors of society.

Deanna holds a Master of Science Degree in Business Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Finance from Walsh College.

Alice Burton has more than six years of experience supporting non-profit fundraising and communications, most recently in the development department at the American Library Association, where she managed their individual giving campaigns and fundraising-centered communications with the ALA’s 55,000 members, and worked on the launch of a three-year, $6 million campaign. Prior to the ALA, Alice focused on marketing and communications for both non-profit and for-profit entities. Alice has a BA in Comparative Literature from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Chelsy has nearly 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, focusing on database administration, development operations, and grantmaking. In her role, Chelsy helps ensure the integrity of LISC's fundraising data and improve the use of our data system so that it remains a key tool for the entire organization. Prior to joining LISC, she worked in the nonprofit sector in her local community. Chelsy is a graduate of DePauw University and lives in Indianapolis with her two dogs. She enjoys watching football, reading, and spending time outdoors. 

Ellen focuses on strategy and business development supporting the growth of resources across LISC to drive expansion and new opportunities. She has worked for more than 15 years in both the international and domestic nonprofit sectors, with a background in fundraising, communications, grants management, program management, and capacity building. Ellen has a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and an MPP from the University of Chicago. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

Tina has 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Most recently, she managed LISC Twin Cities’ resource development and communications activities, as well as playing a key role in strategic planning and program management support. She has also worked at the Northside Home Fund and Habitat for Humanity. Tina has a BA in International Relations and Spanish from Concordia College and a MURP from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children and enjoys reading and exploring the area’s regional parks and trails.   

Meghan has over 18 years of experience in fundraising for New York City-based nonprofits. Prior to joining LISC, she worked at nonprofits promoting literature and freedom of expression and taught English in Japan for two years. A graduate of Barnard College, Meghan lives in Brooklyn with her daughter, husband, cat, and dog.

A strategic corporate philanthropy leader, Deborah uses skills honed in traditional media and community development to bring creativity and investment together to deliver social impact. She identifies and cultivates private foundations and corporate funders leading to new and creative resources and partnerships, catalyzing healthy and resilient communities of choice and opportunity throughout the country. Deborah’s leveraged a trend forecasting and journalism background to drive social action and to launch marquee properties like Martha Stewart Living, British ELLE Decoration, and Stylus.com. She moved to Bedford, NY from London with her family, and remains addicted to the BPL, Arsenal FC and her sons’ soccer sidelines at Columbia and Bowdoin. Deborah studied at the London School of Economics and the State University at Albany.

Emily comes to the Development Team from LISC Duluth, where she was an Assistant Program Officer. As Duluth's APO, Emily was responsible for grant writing and reporting, HUD Section 4 program management, Duluth's FOC work, and for work on some of the office's other economic and community development programs.  

Prior to joining LISC, Emily worked in higher education in international programs and diversity offices at several universities in the Duluth area. She has also spent a significant amount of time overseas: teaching in South Korea and Spain; studying in Sweden; and conducting graduate work at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Italy.  Her experiences have given her a robust understanding of the many factors that contribute to health and wellbeing in communities.

Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Minnesota Duluth.  

Talia has served Pittsburgh-based non-profits, CDFIs, and governmental organizations since 2015, most recently in the Development department at the Western Pennsylvania focused CDFI, Bridgeway Capital. She specializes in grant and proposal writing, campaign and appeal strategy, gift management, and strategic collaboration within community and economic development. Talia earned two degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She is also a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Talia currently lives in a small rust-belt city, New Kensington, PA, right outside Pittsburgh with her husband, son, and her two tuxedo cats. 

Mark works to increase efficiency in funder data management, grants processing, and more. Before joining the National Development team, he worked as a PPP Specialist with LISC, helping borrowers achieve loan forgiveness. Prior to LISC, he worked as a data analyst with Plative, a Salesforce/NetSuite consulting firm, as well as an analyst for the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Mark has a bachelor’s degree in finance and management from the University of Albany. He lives in the East Village in New York City.

Dominique Williams has been with LISC for more than a decade. She began her LISC career in a local office, supporting health and economic inclusion efforts in historically disinvested neighborhoods across Chicago. Dominique brings this lens to the national fundraising team, cultivating resources to maximize LISC’s impact from coast to coast. Prior to LISC, Dominique held various staff positions in nonprofits, city, and state government. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley and a J.D. and M.P.A. from the University of Wisconsin. Dominique lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two daughters.