We started OpenTent because we saw the immense potential of new tech tools, and knew from lived experience that translating that potential into reality would be challenging for many organizations.
Today we partner with our clients to close that gap through Salesforce consulting, staff coaching, business process design, and holistic partnerships for the long haul.
By investing in relationships that last, we help our clients succeed as people, not just organizations.
Share your work, feedback, and feelings early and often. Say the real thing through thoughtful and direct communication. Make clear agreements and follow through on them.
Cultivate curiosity and empathy to get to the heart of the matter and the person. Strive to truly understand our teammates and clients.
Find opportunity in uncertainty and take proactive action. Unlock the potential in yourself and the people around you.
Craft intuitive interfaces, beautiful materials, and delightful moments. Host the “best meeting of the day” through extraordinary hospitality and your own unique energy.
Build for the long-term through simplicity, intentionality, and continuous improvement. Prioritize your wellbeing and commit to honoring rest and renewal.
Sam Adiv, as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Sam is an energetic and infectious dreamer. He is a forever student, bringing a Beginner’s Mind to every room and using his curiosity about the world to create meaningful growth experiences for his team and his clients. Sam almost went to rabbinical school and now brings those traits to our team, leading with vulnerability and encourages it in others, and creating space for our team to be who they are. His passion and playfulness are evident in everything he does - from teaching Kayleigh how to cook, to training his puppy, to leading our team in envisioning new ideas. Originally from small town Maine, Sam now lives in Denver, where he and his wife Amalia regularly host Jewish community gatherings at their house.
A time when Sam created a joyful experience: At our Team Advance in January 2021, I played 'jock jams' music in the background while introducing each member of our team. I love using goofy surprises like that to bring laughter to our work. Also, in high school I was far too nerdy to ever be introduced to a room of people with that kind of music...so now it gives me deep satisfaction to hype up our team of nerds like the champion athletes they are.
Sam Adiv, as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Sam is an energetic and infectious dreamer. He is a forever student, bringing a Beginner’s Mind to every room and using his curiosity about the world to create meaningful growth experiences for his team and his clients. Sam almost went to rabbinical school and now brings those traits to our team, leading with vulnerability and encourages it in others, and creating space for our team to be who they are. His passion and playfulness are evident in everything he does - from teaching Kayleigh how to cook, to training his puppy, to leading our team in envisioning new ideas. Originally from small town Maine, Sam now lives in Denver, where he and his wife Amalia regularly host Jewish community gatherings at their house.
A time when Sam created a joyful experience: At our Team Advance in January 2021, I played 'jock jams' music in the background while introducing each member of our team. I love using goofy surprises like that to bring laughter to our work. Also, in high school I was far too nerdy to ever be introduced to a room of people with that kind of music...so now it gives me deep satisfaction to hype up our team of nerds like the champion athletes they are.
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Kayeigh Collins, as told by Sam Adiv:
Kayleigh is a champion of personal, professional, and communal growth. Her work is rooted in helping those around her express their true voices and learn new Salesforce consulting skills. She is passionate about making processes easier, using better data, and building healthy teams. As a first-generation college graduate, (powerlifting) strength enthusiast, and hype-filled MC, Kayleigh inspires her teammates to rise up to be the best version of themselves. Kayleigh lives in the Capital Region of NY with her husband (Sean), cat (Demetri), and two dogs (Meatball and Jade).
A time when Kayleigh was the solution: I made a Holiday Weekend Agenda in a Google Doc for the first Christmas my husband and I had in our new home. It consisted of hot cocoa drinking, hikes with our dogs, Christmas special TV watching, and Chinese food. It was awesome because this was our first opportunity to create our own traditions. I solicited user feedback (from Sean and furry family members) and plan to iterate for future years.
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Kayeigh Collins, as told by Sam Adiv:
Kayleigh is a champion of personal, professional, and communal growth. Her work is rooted in helping those around her express their true voices and learn new Salesforce consulting skills. She is passionate about making processes easier, using better data, and building healthy teams. As a first-generation college graduate, (powerlifting) strength enthusiast, and hype-filled MC, Kayleigh inspires her teammates to rise up to be the best version of themselves. Kayleigh lives in the Capital Region of NY with her husband (Sean), cat (Demetri), and two dogs (Meatball and Jade).
A time when Kayleigh was the solution: I made a Holiday Weekend Agenda in a Google Doc for the first Christmas my husband and I had in our new home. It consisted of hot cocoa drinking, hikes with our dogs, Christmas special TV watching, and Chinese food. It was awesome because this was our first opportunity to create our own traditions. I solicited user feedback (from Sean and furry family members) and plan to iterate for future years.
Tudor Ceara, as told by Audrey Cruz
A perpetual learner and explorer, Tudor’s expansive interests have led him across industries. With experience in a transportation start-up, post-secondary success programming, and education equity, Tudor flexes into different roles and situations with curiosity, determination, and kindness. He genuinely wants to make the world a better place and use his love for data to advance causes he’s passionate about - and there are many! At OpenTent, Tudor’s stoked that his role allows him to serve others and solve complex problems with data. A recent LA transplant living in Brooklyn, Tudor is excited to finally live out his 90s New York sitcom fantasies with his friends in coffee shops and diners. He enjoys laughing over a meal with loved ones, staying active by playing tennis or soccer, and talking about how much he loves the idea of baking but never actually doing it.
A time when Tudor created a joyful experience: “In pre-pandemic summers, my family would take long road trips from our home in the LA area to places like Vancouver & Yellowstone. Drives between destinations on our route were very long, so I’d put on a series of impressions and ridiculous voices to pass the time and make my family laugh. Sesame Street, if you’re reading this and need a backup Elmo, you can reach me at tudor@opentent.com.”
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Tudor Ceara, as told by Audrey Cruz
A perpetual learner and explorer, Tudor’s expansive interests have led him across industries. With experience in a transportation start-up, post-secondary success programming, and education equity, Tudor flexes into different roles and situations with curiosity, determination, and kindness. He genuinely wants to make the world a better place and use his love for data to advance causes he’s passionate about - and there are many! At OpenTent, Tudor’s stoked that his role allows him to serve others and solve complex problems with data. A recent LA transplant living in Brooklyn, Tudor is excited to finally live out his 90s New York sitcom fantasies with his friends in coffee shops and diners. He enjoys laughing over a meal with loved ones, staying active by playing tennis or soccer, and talking about how much he loves the idea of baking but never actually doing it.
A time when Tudor created a joyful experience: “In pre-pandemic summers, my family would take long road trips from our home in the LA area to places like Vancouver & Yellowstone. Drives between destinations on our route were very long, so I’d put on a series of impressions and ridiculous voices to pass the time and make my family laugh. Sesame Street, if you’re reading this and need a backup Elmo, you can reach me at tudor@opentent.com.”
Becky Chao as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Becky is a witty problem-solver and designer of human-centered tools. She has two Bachelors Degrees in Rhetoric and Computer Science, and taught herself to use Python, SQL, and JavaScript. Becky has worked with nonprofit organizations for more than six years. She most recently worked at Oakland Promise, where she supported her team as a Salesforce Administrator to make college a reality for young learners. Becky is passionate about supporting innovative organizations and collaborating with Salesforce maestros. She joined OpenTent to help our clients build user-friendly Salesforce tools to improve the way they work and carry out their missions.
A time when Becky created a joyful experience: I enjoy designing interactive events for friends – scavenger hunts, play readings, murder mysteries, and so on. It’s fun to see a group of cool people working together to make words on a page come alive, with collaborative energy and a blended sense of humor. I strive to bring a similar joy to my work in designing systems for people working together for social change.
Becky Chao as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Becky is a witty problem-solver and designer of human-centered tools. She has two Bachelors Degrees in Rhetoric and Computer Science, and taught herself to use Python, SQL, and JavaScript. Becky has worked with nonprofit organizations for more than six years. She most recently worked at Oakland Promise, where she supported her team as a Salesforce Administrator to make college a reality for young learners. Becky is passionate about supporting innovative organizations and collaborating with Salesforce maestros. She joined OpenTent to help our clients build user-friendly Salesforce tools to improve the way they work and carry out their missions.
A time when Becky created a joyful experience: I enjoy designing interactive events for friends – scavenger hunts, play readings, murder mysteries, and so on. It’s fun to see a group of cool people working together to make words on a page come alive, with collaborative energy and a blended sense of humor. I strive to bring a similar joy to my work in designing systems for people working together for social change.
Audrey Cruz, as told by Tudor Ceara:
Audrey is a facilitator of success - providing freedom through process and translating complex ideas into simple, actionable pieces. She loves working collaboratively with others to solve tough problems and genuinely believes that we can create much better and more impactful solutions when we all show up with our special talents. What I admire most about Audrey is the unbridled energy she puts into connecting with other people, and it is her earnest fascination with others and desire to center them in conversations that makes her such a loving, engaging, and effective collaborator. When not working, she loves getting outside with her family and rescue pup (Xena Warrior Princess), frequenting bakeries and coffee shops (she’s obsessed with bagels, scones, and all baked goods), and taking hours long dives into rabbit holes about anything that fascinates her (ideas for more effective political systems, succulent gardens, and Drake’s family situation, to name a few).
A time whenAudrey saw the whole picture: I was working directly with client teams at a local municipal government during the initial months of pandemic related closures. Team members were really struggling to manage their new and unfamiliar burdens, yet they were also providing essential services to the community that necessitated continuity and requested enormous amounts of energy and time. I provided a critical space of flexibility, purpose, and routine that honored each person on the team for who they were and what they were experiencing. We started each day with an anchoring event and a space to authentically voice and clear impediments. We ended each day working collaboratively to build better solutions. The work gave us all purpose and the team gave us a community to rely upon during truly difficult circumstances.
Audrey Cruz, as told by Tudor Ceara:
Audrey is a facilitator of success - providing freedom through process and translating complex ideas into simple, actionable pieces. She loves working collaboratively with others to solve tough problems and genuinely believes that we can create much better and more impactful solutions when we all show up with our special talents. What I admire most about Audrey is the unbridled energy she puts into connecting with other people, and it is her earnest fascination with others and desire to center them in conversations that makes her such a loving, engaging, and effective collaborator. When not working, she loves getting outside with her family and rescue pup (Xena Warrior Princess), frequenting bakeries and coffee shops (she’s obsessed with bagels, scones, and all baked goods), and taking hours long dives into rabbit holes about anything that fascinates her (ideas for more effective political systems, succulent gardens, and Drake’s family situation, to name a few).
A time whenAudrey saw the whole picture: I was working directly with client teams at a local municipal government during the initial months of pandemic related closures. Team members were really struggling to manage their new and unfamiliar burdens, yet they were also providing essential services to the community that necessitated continuity and requested enormous amounts of energy and time. I provided a critical space of flexibility, purpose, and routine that honored each person on the team for who they were and what they were experiencing. We started each day with an anchoring event and a space to authentically voice and clear impediments. We ended each day working collaboratively to build better solutions. The work gave us all purpose and the team gave us a community to rely upon during truly difficult circumstances.
Alex Fosco as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Alex is a true believer in the combined power of intentional community building and Salesforce engineering. They worked on the ground with nonprofits for four years and served as the Salesforce lead for GatherDC and the Aleph Institute. Alex was inspired to join OpenTent since the time she entered OpenTent's Accelerator Program to learn how to grow as a Salesforce Engineer. Alex used those skills to become a rockstar people-centered Engineer and advocate for data-driven relationship building. They joined OpenTent to directly support the staff at Central Synagogue (OpenTent's client) to use Salesforce as a tool to make their jobs easier and to deepen connections within their community.
Alex Fosco as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Alex is a true believer in the combined power of intentional community building and Salesforce engineering. They worked on the ground with nonprofits for four years and served as the Salesforce lead for GatherDC and the Aleph Institute. Alex was inspired to join OpenTent since the time she entered OpenTent's Accelerator Program to learn how to grow as a Salesforce Engineer. Alex used those skills to become a rockstar people-centered Engineer and advocate for data-driven relationship building. They joined OpenTent to directly support the staff at Central Synagogue (OpenTent's client) to use Salesforce as a tool to make their jobs easier and to deepen connections within their community.
Maren Gauldin, as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Maren loves connecting the dots, and seeing the gaps and opportunities in team development. With a background in nonprofit leadership, organizational development, coaching and facilitation, Maren orchestrates in the complex space between the human and the tool, the space where technology comes to life. She loves building trusting relationships at every level of her work and is passionate about human and organizational potential. Before joining OpenTent, she was the Director of Operations and Organizational Development at Golden Bridge. Maren is inspired by the ways OpenTent leverages technology in the spirit of community, and in service to humanity. Maren lives in Colorado with her partner, two cute kids, two dogs, a cat, a snake and a goldfish.
A time Maren created joyful experiences: Spring is my favorite season and every year I host a large Easter Soiree to celebrate! I invite several families and we all eat a yummy potluck brunch and spend the afternoon hunting beautifully-died eggs in my big backyard. The best part is the bonus adult version of the egg hunt where eggs get hidden in REALLY challenging places and winners get grown-up prizes. It's amazing how rowdy and joyful adults can get around an Easter Egg Hunt!
Maren Gauldin, as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Maren loves connecting the dots, and seeing the gaps and opportunities in team development. With a background in nonprofit leadership, organizational development, coaching and facilitation, Maren orchestrates in the complex space between the human and the tool, the space where technology comes to life. She loves building trusting relationships at every level of her work and is passionate about human and organizational potential. Before joining OpenTent, she was the Director of Operations and Organizational Development at Golden Bridge. Maren is inspired by the ways OpenTent leverages technology in the spirit of community, and in service to humanity. Maren lives in Colorado with her partner, two cute kids, two dogs, a cat, a snake and a goldfish.
A time Maren created joyful experiences: Spring is my favorite season and every year I host a large Easter Soiree to celebrate! I invite several families and we all eat a yummy potluck brunch and spend the afternoon hunting beautifully-died eggs in my big backyard. The best part is the bonus adult version of the egg hunt where eggs get hidden in REALLY challenging places and winners get grown-up prizes. It's amazing how rowdy and joyful adults can get around an Easter Egg Hunt!
Sara Habib, as told by Ariel Lieberman
Sara welcomes a challenge, viewing any stumbling blocks that come her way as just more information to make more informed decisions next time. She has brought that mentality and experience to our OpenTent team, leaning into her inherent strengths of identifying areas for improvement and striving for perfection by helping OpenTent grow, developing leaders on our team, and magnifying our clients’ impacts.
A time when Sara was the solution: The year of 2020 was transformative for her as she explicitly saw the impact of inequity close to home. It became very clear to her that she had power to utilize her strengths and affect the change that she wants to see by working with mission driven organizations at OpenTent.
Sara Habib, as told by Ariel Lieberman
Sara welcomes a challenge, viewing any stumbling blocks that come her way as just more information to make more informed decisions next time. She has brought that mentality and experience to our OpenTent team, leaning into her inherent strengths of identifying areas for improvement and striving for perfection by helping OpenTent grow, developing leaders on our team, and magnifying our clients’ impacts.
A time when Sara was the solution: The year of 2020 was transformative for her as she explicitly saw the impact of inequity close to home. It became very clear to her that she had power to utilize her strengths and affect the change that she wants to see by working with mission driven organizations at OpenTent.
Eva Jablow, as told by Eric Bruenner:
Eva loves helping clients automate and streamline tedious processes and has an incredible talent for breaking down complex technical concepts into plain language. Eva is a lover of boardgames and a passionate advocate for technology within the nonprofit universe. She may or may not have a pet squirrel that lives on her fire escape in NYC.
A time when Eva created a joyful experience: I designed, built and hosted an escape the room in my own apartment for my birthday. Complete with custom made and devious puzzles, I locked all of my closest friends inside of a New York City apartment and watched them try to figure out my brain. It was amazing, no regrets.
Eva Jablow, as told by Eric Bruenner:
Eva loves helping clients automate and streamline tedious processes and has an incredible talent for breaking down complex technical concepts into plain language. Eva is a lover of boardgames and a passionate advocate for technology within the nonprofit universe. She may or may not have a pet squirrel that lives on her fire escape in NYC.
A time when Eva created a joyful experience: I designed, built and hosted an escape the room in my own apartment for my birthday. Complete with custom made and devious puzzles, I locked all of my closest friends inside of a New York City apartment and watched them try to figure out my brain. It was amazing, no regrets.
Madalyn Kimlick, as told by Jess Young:
Madalyn thrives at bringing order and strong processes to growing organizations, a skill that she has honed through her experience with the United Nations World Food Programme, a fintech startup and in the nonprofit world. Madalyn calls NYC her home, and loves to spend her free time crafting: cross-stitching, knitting, painting, and even bedazzling a bike helmet.
A time when Madalyn built trusting relationships: I love feeling integrated within a client team, so that I can really learn about their mission, the way they work and the pain points in their day-to-day. The most fulfilling aspect is that moment when things just click for a client. Whether we are rolling out a new tool, dashboard, or feature and it suddenly hits them like - wow, this is going to make my life so much easier.
Madalyn Kimlick, as told by Jess Young:
Madalyn thrives at bringing order and strong processes to growing organizations, a skill that she has honed through her experience with the United Nations World Food Programme, a fintech startup and in the nonprofit world. Madalyn calls NYC her home, and loves to spend her free time crafting: cross-stitching, knitting, painting, and even bedazzling a bike helmet.
A time when Madalyn built trusting relationships: I love feeling integrated within a client team, so that I can really learn about their mission, the way they work and the pain points in their day-to-day. The most fulfilling aspect is that moment when things just click for a client. Whether we are rolling out a new tool, dashboard, or feature and it suddenly hits them like - wow, this is going to make my life so much easier.
Ezra LaFleur, as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Since his time as an AmeriCorps member, Ezra has believed that technology and nonprofit teams are the two most powerful forces for good. He has dedicated his learning and growth to combining these forces. When he discovered Salesforce, he stayed up late at night studying Trailhead and creating forms and flows for his colleagues at the Urban League of Middle Tennessee. Ezra learned that sharing a motivating “why” for adopting a new technology is key to success for any team. He decided to join OpenTent so that he could use this kind of people-first consulting approach to help many nonprofit organizations with their Salesforce. During his free time Ezra loves getting inspired by playing piano, reading, and volunteering in his local community of Nashville.
A time when Ezra created a joyful experience: I really enjoy cooking for my friends, and especially creating new things. A friend of mine once said, ‘if Ezra is trying to make you eat something, be scared…but also try it.’ Cooking is like my process as an Engineer. I start with a vision of what I want to achieve and then have fun experimenting and testing along the way. What I love most about cooking is creating something for others that brings them surprise and joy.
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Ezra LaFleur, as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Since his time as an AmeriCorps member, Ezra has believed that technology and nonprofit teams are the two most powerful forces for good. He has dedicated his learning and growth to combining these forces. When he discovered Salesforce, he stayed up late at night studying Trailhead and creating forms and flows for his colleagues at the Urban League of Middle Tennessee. Ezra learned that sharing a motivating “why” for adopting a new technology is key to success for any team. He decided to join OpenTent so that he could use this kind of people-first consulting approach to help many nonprofit organizations with their Salesforce. During his free time Ezra loves getting inspired by playing piano, reading, and volunteering in his local community of Nashville.
A time when Ezra created a joyful experience: I really enjoy cooking for my friends, and especially creating new things. A friend of mine once said, ‘if Ezra is trying to make you eat something, be scared…but also try it.’ Cooking is like my process as an Engineer. I start with a vision of what I want to achieve and then have fun experimenting and testing along the way. What I love most about cooking is creating something for others that brings them surprise and joy.
Ariel Lieberman, as told by Sara Habib:
Ariel is someone who thrives on having ownership and autonomy in her work and life. She has big goals and big dreams, and is someone who can achieve anything she sets her mind to doing. She has a unique ability to synthesize people, systems, and resources in a strategic and meaningful way.
A time when Ariel saw the whole picture: I love that what I do feels deeply personal and has a positive impact on individuals, but also a broader community impact. I don’t have to question if I am doing good.
Ariel Lieberman, as told by Sara Habib:
Ariel is someone who thrives on having ownership and autonomy in her work and life. She has big goals and big dreams, and is someone who can achieve anything she sets her mind to doing. She has a unique ability to synthesize people, systems, and resources in a strategic and meaningful way.
A time when Ariel saw the whole picture: I love that what I do feels deeply personal and has a positive impact on individuals, but also a broader community impact. I don’t have to question if I am doing good.
Lexie Mallow as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Lexie is a compassionate and creative systems thinker. She has dedicated five years to supporting nonprofit and political field organizing teams to carry out their missions. Lexie worked at All Star Code where she built community among alumni from a computer science education program. She then found her love of building Salesforce and data-driven teams, and became the Salesforce Administrator at the Brennan Center for Justice. Lexie joined OpenTent to help many nonprofits achieve their mission and to do more good through their use of technology. She is passionate about helping our clients create change from the ground up and building supportive organizational cultures.
A time when Lexie built trusting relationships: During the 2016 election, I worked as a field organizer in rural Iowa. My objective was to build a community of engaged, motivated volunteers. Through thoughtful maneuvering and strong partnership with existing local structures, I was able to do just that. I learned that people show up for the candidates, but stay for the community. Making people feel important, valued, and comfortable was more important than any policy positions I could memorize.
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Lexie Mallow as told by Kayleigh Collins:
Lexie is a compassionate and creative systems thinker. She has dedicated five years to supporting nonprofit and political field organizing teams to carry out their missions. Lexie worked at All Star Code where she built community among alumni from a computer science education program. She then found her love of building Salesforce and data-driven teams, and became the Salesforce Administrator at the Brennan Center for Justice. Lexie joined OpenTent to help many nonprofits achieve their mission and to do more good through their use of technology. She is passionate about helping our clients create change from the ground up and building supportive organizational cultures.
A time when Lexie built trusting relationships: During the 2016 election, I worked as a field organizer in rural Iowa. My objective was to build a community of engaged, motivated volunteers. Through thoughtful maneuvering and strong partnership with existing local structures, I was able to do just that. I learned that people show up for the candidates, but stay for the community. Making people feel important, valued, and comfortable was more important than any policy positions I could memorize.
Stephen Martinez, as told by Connie Tu:
A native Brooklynite, Stephen has spent his professional career working with nonprofits and wearing many different hats before trying his hand at the magical world of nonprofit tech. Never satisfied with the status quo, he is the nonprofit employee’s greatest supporter, and a firm believer in the power of effective programs and process to lift up the work of those serving our communities on the front lines. When he’s not solutioning for NGOs, Stephen can be found working on his karaoke playlist, learning how to play piano, and nerding out on the commonalities between computer languages and natural ones.
A time when Stephen worked sustainably: I believe wholeheartedly in the power of positive feedback and constructive criticism. I try to make my appreciation for my clients and coworkers count everyday by communicating that feedback and appreciation daily, whenever possible.
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Stephen Martinez, as told by Connie Tu:
A native Brooklynite, Stephen has spent his professional career working with nonprofits and wearing many different hats before trying his hand at the magical world of nonprofit tech. Never satisfied with the status quo, he is the nonprofit employee’s greatest supporter, and a firm believer in the power of effective programs and process to lift up the work of those serving our communities on the front lines. When he’s not solutioning for NGOs, Stephen can be found working on his karaoke playlist, learning how to play piano, and nerding out on the commonalities between computer languages and natural ones.
A time when Stephen worked sustainably: I believe wholeheartedly in the power of positive feedback and constructive criticism. I try to make my appreciation for my clients and coworkers count everyday by communicating that feedback and appreciation daily, whenever possible.
Chris McCullough, as told by Linnaia McKenzie:
Chris is a forward-thinking Engineer with a passion for creating clarity, especially when he gets to build and improve processes and user interfaces. Chris has a decade's worth of experience building solutions in Salesforce for nonprofits. He was a Founding Partner at Percolator Consulting, and since then has worked with 350.org and The Build Tank. He chose to make OpenTent his team because of his experience working with OpenTent while he was working at a nonprofit. A native of West Haven, Connecticut, Chris became the first in his family to graduate college. Chris lives in Seattle with his wife Sarah, his son Jack, and his "lab-rat" (lab-rat terrier mix pup), Lola. Outside of work you can catch Chris watching soccer, hiking, running, and cooking.
A time when Chris created a joyful experience: I coached my son’s soccer team for several years when he was little. We practiced twice a week, and I would spend hours coming up with games and drills that would develop their soccer skills and keep them engaged for an hour. I had a lot of failures! But I also had one hit — a game where the kids were dragons, and had to protect their eggs (soccer balls) from the bad dragon (me) who would try to knock them away. The kids LOVED this game. It was all they wanted to do during practice. I bet we had the best ball handlers in the league!
Chris McCullough, as told by Linnaia McKenzie:
Chris is a forward-thinking Engineer with a passion for creating clarity, especially when he gets to build and improve processes and user interfaces. Chris has a decade's worth of experience building solutions in Salesforce for nonprofits. He was a Founding Partner at Percolator Consulting, and since then has worked with 350.org and The Build Tank. He chose to make OpenTent his team because of his experience working with OpenTent while he was working at a nonprofit. A native of West Haven, Connecticut, Chris became the first in his family to graduate college. Chris lives in Seattle with his wife Sarah, his son Jack, and his "lab-rat" (lab-rat terrier mix pup), Lola. Outside of work you can catch Chris watching soccer, hiking, running, and cooking.
A time when Chris created a joyful experience: I coached my son’s soccer team for several years when he was little. We practiced twice a week, and I would spend hours coming up with games and drills that would develop their soccer skills and keep them engaged for an hour. I had a lot of failures! But I also had one hit — a game where the kids were dragons, and had to protect their eggs (soccer balls) from the bad dragon (me) who would try to knock them away. The kids LOVED this game. It was all they wanted to do during practice. I bet we had the best ball handlers in the league!
Linnaia McKenzie, as told by Chris McCullough:
Linnaia is a life-long advocate for the arts, social justice, her clients, her family and for herself. She is passionate about building strong, meaningful relationships with teammates and clients. As an experienced Salesforce Project Manager for nonprofit organizations and technical consulting teams, she supports her clients with proactive communication and diligent research. She’ll also seize any opportunity to make someone laugh! Linnaia lives in Shawnee, Kansas with her 5-year-old daughter, Genesis. Outside of work, you might find her putting her own spin on a new recipe, hosting a karaoke night for friends, planning a dream trip to Europe or spending quality time with Genesis.
A time when Linnaia was the solution: After the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police in May of 2020, I found myself in a new place mentally. I was seeing yet another headline where someone who looks like me, or could be my Father, Brother, Uncle, etc. being fatally harmed for an unjust cause. I had enough. I was desperate to feel the support of my community during this time, so I would no longer be fearful of such an event happening to me in my own community. I decided that the best way to gather community support for marginalized, underrepresented groups in our county would be to organize a march & rally event. I sent one email to the City Manager and from that connection, I met so many others who were available and ready to support me. After two weeks of intense planning, we as a community were able to put on the 1st Annual Advocacy and Awareness Peace March and Rally, a truly beautiful, impactful and life-changing event. 300+ community members showed up, all in masks, to support BIPOC people in Johnson County. As we approach our 3rd Annual Advocacy and Awareness Peach March and Rally, I am thankful to reflect upon the first beautiful moment we created in the midst of tragedy and recall how much it uplifted all those who attended.
Linnaia McKenzie, as told by Chris McCullough:
Linnaia is a life-long advocate for the arts, social justice, her clients, her family and for herself. She is passionate about building strong, meaningful relationships with teammates and clients. As an experienced Salesforce Project Manager for nonprofit organizations and technical consulting teams, she supports her clients with proactive communication and diligent research. She’ll also seize any opportunity to make someone laugh! Linnaia lives in Shawnee, Kansas with her 5-year-old daughter, Genesis. Outside of work, you might find her putting her own spin on a new recipe, hosting a karaoke night for friends, planning a dream trip to Europe or spending quality time with Genesis.
A time when Linnaia was the solution: After the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police in May of 2020, I found myself in a new place mentally. I was seeing yet another headline where someone who looks like me, or could be my Father, Brother, Uncle, etc. being fatally harmed for an unjust cause. I had enough. I was desperate to feel the support of my community during this time, so I would no longer be fearful of such an event happening to me in my own community. I decided that the best way to gather community support for marginalized, underrepresented groups in our county would be to organize a march & rally event. I sent one email to the City Manager and from that connection, I met so many others who were available and ready to support me. After two weeks of intense planning, we as a community were able to put on the 1st Annual Advocacy and Awareness Peace March and Rally, a truly beautiful, impactful and life-changing event. 300+ community members showed up, all in masks, to support BIPOC people in Johnson County. As we approach our 3rd Annual Advocacy and Awareness Peach March and Rally, I am thankful to reflect upon the first beautiful moment we created in the midst of tragedy and recall how much it uplifted all those who attended.
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Kara Nic, as told by Gabby Lobascio
Kara is fascinated by the story that data can tell about an organization. Starting her Salesforce journey as a Data Specialist, she spent entire days reviewing and editing spreadsheets. It was through that experience that she quickly developed a love for working with people to uncover how their work can be as impactful as possible. Kara is persistently positive - she’s always willing to lend a helping hand. She is a homebody at heart and loves spending time with her pup, Keith.
A time when Kara worked sustainably: I am super organized, to the point where I love to catalogue things - even the books and music in my house. I try to be very meticulous, and that affects how I work. Anyone could come into my house and peruse my collection to easily find what they need. I bring the same energy to my Salesforce projects to ensure that I’m leaving folks with something elegant, long-lasting, and easy-to-use.
Kara Nic, as told by Gabby Lobascio
Kara is fascinated by the story that data can tell about an organization. Starting her Salesforce journey as a Data Specialist, she spent entire days reviewing and editing spreadsheets. It was through that experience that she quickly developed a love for working with people to uncover how their work can be as impactful as possible. Kara is persistently positive - she’s always willing to lend a helping hand. She is a homebody at heart and loves spending time with her pup, Keith.
A time when Kara worked sustainably: I am super organized, to the point where I love to catalogue things - even the books and music in my house. I try to be very meticulous, and that affects how I work. Anyone could come into my house and peruse my collection to easily find what they need. I bring the same energy to my Salesforce projects to ensure that I’m leaving folks with something elegant, long-lasting, and easy-to-use.
Angie Pol, as told by Lauren Tassone.
Angie is a natural creative problem solver with a knack for building and maintaining strong relationships with her clients. After starting her career in nonprofits, Angie encountered Salesforce as a user and quickly realized the power and impact of the tool. Angie resides in Rincon, Puerto Rico, where she enjoys surfing every morning, adventuring outdoors, and exercising the arts of sewing, macrame, and weaving. Her ability to nurture her personal hobbies helps fuel what Angie is able to give professionally.
A time when Angie created a joyful experience: I love to craft and teach myself how to create new things, especially in fiber arts. Several years ago I learned to macrame (yes, like your mom did in the 70s) and I like finding drift wood or other interesting materials out in nature to use as part of my macrame designs.
Angie Pol, as told by Lauren Tassone.
Angie is a natural creative problem solver with a knack for building and maintaining strong relationships with her clients. After starting her career in nonprofits, Angie encountered Salesforce as a user and quickly realized the power and impact of the tool. Angie resides in Rincon, Puerto Rico, where she enjoys surfing every morning, adventuring outdoors, and exercising the arts of sewing, macrame, and weaving. Her ability to nurture her personal hobbies helps fuel what Angie is able to give professionally.
A time when Angie created a joyful experience: I love to craft and teach myself how to create new things, especially in fiber arts. Several years ago I learned to macrame (yes, like your mom did in the 70s) and I like finding drift wood or other interesting materials out in nature to use as part of my macrame designs.
Kristen is a compassionate storyteller and brand hype woman. She has worn many hats in her entrepreneurial career, but helping people shine has been at the heart of all of them. Kristen co-founded a nonprofit consulting organization called GroundTruth where she witnessed the power of nonprofits empowering their own internal Salesforce team. After welcoming her fourth beautiful baby into the world, she founded a nonprofit called LOGiC.baby, which helps parents in the NICU engage in a family-centered model of care. As Kristen deepened her understanding of her own voice and personal mission, she became a freelance brand journalist to help organizations build their narrative around their purpose, people and product. When Kristen heard of OpenTent through a friend, she knew she wanted to be part of growing the OpenTent team. She now helps us work “Out Loud,” sharing the story of who we are and what we do.
Kristen is a compassionate storyteller and brand hype woman. She has worn many hats in her entrepreneurial career, but helping people shine has been at the heart of all of them. Kristen co-founded a nonprofit consulting organization called GroundTruth where she witnessed the power of nonprofits empowering their own internal Salesforce team. After welcoming her fourth beautiful baby into the world, she founded a nonprofit called LOGiC.baby, which helps parents in the NICU engage in a family-centered model of care. As Kristen deepened her understanding of her own voice and personal mission, she became a freelance brand journalist to help organizations build their narrative around their purpose, people and product. When Kristen heard of OpenTent through a friend, she knew she wanted to be part of growing the OpenTent team. She now helps us work “Out Loud,” sharing the story of who we are and what we do.
Connie Tu, as told by Stephen Martinez:
Connie is an empath and natural coach, combining technical chops built from their time as an OpenTent Solutions Engineer, with lived experience working and moving through highly pressurized nonprofit environments. She cannot unsee the dynamics of power and identity within the systems we operate in, and brings that watchful eye to her work as a coach. Connie is a proud Oakland native, Long Beach transplant, plant parent, cat caretaker, lover of lifting heavy things, hiker of the forest, soaker of the sun - literally and figuratively.
A time when Connie saw the whole picture: Every single moment a coachee of mine unlocks something and you can see it: power, lightness, truth, themselves. It’s hella cool to see people grow.
Connie Tu, as told by Stephen Martinez:
Connie is an empath and natural coach, combining technical chops built from their time as an OpenTent Solutions Engineer, with lived experience working and moving through highly pressurized nonprofit environments. She cannot unsee the dynamics of power and identity within the systems we operate in, and brings that watchful eye to her work as a coach. Connie is a proud Oakland native, Long Beach transplant, plant parent, cat caretaker, lover of lifting heavy things, hiker of the forest, soaker of the sun - literally and figuratively.
A time when Connie saw the whole picture: Every single moment a coachee of mine unlocks something and you can see it: power, lightness, truth, themselves. It’s hella cool to see people grow.
Jess Young as told by Madalyn Kimlick:
Jess is a natural problem solver and energetic creator who seeks to find simple, streamlined solutions for complex problems. She learned about her passion for data while studying Chemistry which she now uses to build systems and integrations to help teams work smarter together. In her free time, Jess has tackled an Ultra Marathon (which is a not-so-casual 50 miles) and is currently planning the build of her dream tiny house.
A time when Jess saw the whole picture: I’m an amateur woodworker and am currently learning all about joinery. There are certain types of joinery that function most efficiently in different scenarios. I think the same concepts apply to my work. I really enjoy discovering how all the parts interact and taking a look at the bigger picture and processes to reimagine how people can work.
Jess Young as told by Madalyn Kimlick:
Jess is a natural problem solver and energetic creator who seeks to find simple, streamlined solutions for complex problems. She learned about her passion for data while studying Chemistry which she now uses to build systems and integrations to help teams work smarter together. In her free time, Jess has tackled an Ultra Marathon (which is a not-so-casual 50 miles) and is currently planning the build of her dream tiny house.
A time when Jess saw the whole picture: I’m an amateur woodworker and am currently learning all about joinery. There are certain types of joinery that function most efficiently in different scenarios. I think the same concepts apply to my work. I really enjoy discovering how all the parts interact and taking a look at the bigger picture and processes to reimagine how people can work.
An open tent is a space ready for connection. A place where people are remembered and seen. It's yours, it's ours, it's shared - like our world. When our clients start work with us, they join our tent and together we build the systems to carry all of us forward.
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