Meet The Team

As director of operations and senior consultant at Schmucker Advising Group, she brings more than 30 years of nonprofit and higher education expertise in management, board development, program design and execution, and volunteer engagement to the organization. Prior to joining SAG, she worked in higher education as senior director of engagement and headed up the alumni engagement program at universities in Michigan. Sue holds a BS in advertising and public relations from Grand Valley State University. She is married, has one son and is blessed with two grandchildren. In her spare time, Sue volunteers as a mentor and her hobbies include singing, photography, and travel.

shelderop@schmuckeradvisinggroup.com

​

 

Areas of Expertise

• Stewardship and Donor Relations

• Program Strategy and Development

• Alumni Engagement

• Volunteer Management

• Board Assessment, Development and Training

• Event Management and Assessment

• Team Management and Leadership Development

With a BS and a BA from Bowling Green State University (specialization in marketing research), Barb Walker offers experience in multivariate analysis to trend spotting. She spent 30 years in advertising, moving brands forward, finding pathways to communicate to key decision makers and uncovering insights to help grow her clients’ customer base in both B2B and consumer audiences, from outdoor power equipment to healthcare. Barb holds a certification as a trained qualitative moderator (focus groups), an ethnographer, and a brand planning specialist. On off hours, Barb enjoys culinary pursuits and outside activities such as hiking, birding, and enjoying nature with her husband in her home state of Ohio.

​

​

Areas of Expertise

• Strategic Planning

• Branding/Rebranding

• Research

Dave Klinger is a business and healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience who has helped organizations unlock their potential through structural design, communication and effective development and deployment of human assets. Dave’s experience includes 25 years  in healthcare administration, leading human resources, organizational development and communications. He also provided organizational and communications expertise in public affairs and human resources at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and its physician group. Dave has a BA in journalism from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and an MBA with honors from the Eli Broad School of Business, Michigan State University.

​

 

Areas of Expertise

• Human Resources

• Organizational Development

• Business Strategy

• Grant Writing/Donor Proposals

• Communications

Brian Phelps brings decades of experience in a variety of roles (senior learning and development consultant, senior business systems analyst, organization development consultant) for a major NGO in Ohio. He also worked at Associated Materials in the engineering department responsible for training of five manufacturing facilities across the U.S., as well as the engineering representative for the Canadian manufacturing operation. Brian is a dual graduate of Bowling Green State University and holds a BS in business administration, specialization in human resources and master’s in organizational development. In his spare time, Brian enjoys DIY home improvement, playing basketball and traveling with his wife and three younger children. He is also a saltwater fish tank aficionado and maintains an outdoor Koi pond.

​

​

Areas of Expertise

• Learning and Development Strategy/Execution

• Strategic Planning

• Employee Engagement

• Organizational Development 

• Event Planning - Leadership Development, Organization Development, Culture, Strategy

• Program Management and Implementation 

Annessa Morley is a strategic communications leader with demonstrated success working in higher education, non-profits and healthcare industries managing marcom campaigns, branding, and reputation management. Her roles have included Executive Director of the Wayne State University (WSU) alumni association, senior director of WSU alumni relations, executive director of marketing and public relations for Washtenaw Community College, and marketing director at Detroit Medical Center (DMC).

Annessa holds a BA in journalism from Wayne State University and an MA in advertising from Michigan State University.  She is the mother of two boys.  She enjoys boating and lake life with her husband, and in her spare time Annessa likes to garden and is especially fond of growing dahlias. She is also a published author of Bob-Lo: An Island in Troubled Waters.

​

​

Areas of Expertise

• Strategic Planning 

• Project Management/Creative Direction

• Integrated Communications

• Fundraising Strategy 

• Team Development and Coaching

Wendy Ernzen brings more than 20 years of nonprofit fund development experience as a past Director of Development and a nonprofit consultant for small and mid-size organizations in human services, arts and culture, and urban planning. Wendy holds a BS in finance from Oakland University, an MPA from the University Michigan - Dearborn, and is member of the Leadership Detroit Class of XXXIX.

 

Wendy is also an advocate for disabilities and inclusion serving on the Severe Autism Committee with Autism Alliance of Michigan, the Advocacy Committee with the Oakland County Health Network, and is the producer and host of Let's Plant Houses, a podcast that celebrates the stories of families making the impossible possible for their kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also holds the position of Governance Chair on The Greening of Detroit board.

 

She is married, with two children. In her spare time, she likes to travel, practice yoga, and take leisurely walks with her dog, Ranger.

 

Areas of Expertise

• Fundraising Strategy

• Stewardship and Donor Relations

• Effective Storytelling

• Sponsorship Program Development and Activation

• Grant Administration and Proposals

• Campaign Planning and Execution

• Strategic Planning