PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

Elizabeth Fields is the President and Founder of Jackson Fields Consulting, which specializes in nonprofit reorganization and scaling fast-growth organizations. Prior to Jackson Fields Consulting, Elizabeth served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Gary Sinise Foundation from 2018-2021. Under her leadership, the Gary Sinise Foundation experienced record-breaking year-over-year growth in fundraising, provided meaningful programmatic spend to support our nation’s defenders, retained the coveted 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator every consecutive year under her leadership, and achieved a program expense ratio that never dipped below 88%.

Elizabeth has previously served in various executive roles at leading nonprofits and academic institutions, including National Public Radio (NPR), the University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, and Michigan State University.

Throughout her career, Elizabeth has learned that passion is the most important trait of being happy and successful as a leader. Tapping into this passion has allowed Elizabeth to evaluate and build short-term and long-term strategic plans in multiple industries including nonprofit, higher education, public radio, and the military and veteran space. Creating collaborative environments, trusting people to do their jobs, empowering staff, giving credit where credit is due, and providing support and guidance are all values she takes to heart.

Elizabeth earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at the University of Arizona. She also holds an Executive Certificate from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

CO-FOUNDER

Brad Fields, Co-Founder of Jackson Fields Consulting, has over 25 years of diverse operational, leadership, and entrepreneurial experience. Brad’s breadth of experience ranges from launching and growing private sector start-up companies to serving in executive positions for international corporations in the banking, finance, and insurance industries. Brad’s previous roles include Division President and Senior Vice President responsible for managing results-driven programs, operational development, and client relationships.

By applying best practices learned in business, such as operational oversite, creating efficiencies, and continuous improvement, to nonprofit organizations, Brad brings valuable pragmatic expertise to Jackson Fields Consulting’s nonprofit partners. His approach is guided by the belief that solid operations provide the infrastructure from which passionate and talented people can grow, develop, and achieve.

SENIOR CONSULTANT, PARTNERSHIPS DEVELOPMENT

Akweta Bereal's most recent experience was with the Gary Sinise Foundation as the Director of External Relations and Business Management. In that role, she successfully established the organization’s first External Relations department, creating and implementing process, policy, and procedural tactics to strengthen volunteer engagement, board governance, and strategic initiatives across the organization.

Akweta's vast non-profit experience spans 15 years and touches various industries, including higher education, healthcare, and veteran services. She has been fortunate enough to work for prestigious institutions such as the California Institute of Technology and the City of Hope. Her primary focus throughout her career has been to positively influence team culture, contribute fresh ideas that enhance the mission, and make organizations better.

Akweta is skilled in project management, donor stewardship, volunteer engagement, strategic planning, and creative problem-solving. She holds a MFA from Mills College and is pleased to join the Jackson Fields Consulting team as the Senior Consultant, Partnerships Development.

SENIOR CONSULTANT, HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALIST

Kim Payne is a U.S. Air Force veteran with over 30 years of human resource experience gained from various federal and private sector industries that include active-duty military and civilian service within the Department of Defense (U.S. Air Force and Army), television broadcasting, and veteran services.

Her passion to serve others recently led Kim to the Gary Sinise Foundation, where she served as the Director of Human Resources and successfully redesigned a Human Resources department that would support the Foundation’s principles, values, and mission through its most valuable resource – its people. At the Gary Sinise Foundation, Kim implemented a transformative tactical and strategic plan that established a collaborative human resource services model that fostered enduring individual and organizational growth.

Throughout Kim’s career in human resources, she has had a desire to create Human Resources departments that were not only more effective, but also more efficient as the departments expanded, focusing on talent management, employee experience, and HR excellence. It has been her belief that as a manager of people, you must ensure that you take care of them, and as a Human Resources department, you must establish: practical and innovative technological Human Resource Information Management (HRIS) solutions; innovative, responsive, fair and consistent Talent Acquisition; Training and Development initiatives that foster individual and organizational effectiveness for employees and leadership; comprehensive Employee Benefits and Wellness programs; an environment that promotes Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); high-quality workforce and collaborative relationships through Employee and Labor Relations; while ensuring and protecting financial stability through Risk Management.

Kim earned her MBA in Human Resource Management, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Strayer University, and has a proven track record as a leader, mentor, strategic thinker, and a true believer in the importance of aligning corporate goals with talent management based on mutual respect and equitable treatment. She joins Jackson Fields Consulting confident and motivated to make a difference as their Senior Consultant, Human Resource Specialist.

SENIOR CONSULTANT, FUNDRAISING STRATEGY

Julie brings over a decade of experience in development to Jackson Fields Consulting. She has held frontline fundraising roles at institutions including The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Pennsylvania, and UCLA. She specializes in building major giving programs and inaugurating nascent capital campaigns.

In her role with Jackson Fields Consulting, Julie designs comprehensive fundraising strategies tailored to each client’s strengths and objectives. She works closely with an organization’s staff, volunteers, and donors to build capacity for the future while at the same time developing a fundraising plan that will be impactful in the present.

Julie graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied Communications.

SENIOR CONSULTANT, FUNDRAISING STRATEGY

Jeanine brings more than 15 years of experience in business development and nonprofit leadership to Jackson Fields Consulting. She started her fundraising career as a development assistant at a small, community-centric organization, building her knowledge and skill set in higher education, and moving into leadership in the veteran and military services sector. As the head of philanthropy at the Gary Sinise Foundation, Jeanine specialized in major gift strategies, comprehensive campaigns, corporate partnership programs, and development and advancement operations and technology. Most recently, she led the Western Region for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. She is proud of her work to transform a stagnating marketing, increasing revenue by 15% and scholarships awarded by 30% in just 12 months. Previously, Jeanine held fundraising roles at the California Institute of Technology, the University of Arizona, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.

In her role with Jackson Fields Consulting, Jeanine designs comprehensive fundraising programs tailored to each client’s strengths and objectives and helps clients find efficiencies through technology adoption in support of fundraising operations.

Jeanine earned her BA in international relations from Claremont McKenna College and completed Stanford University Graduate School of Business's High-Potential Women Leaders Program.

CHIEF CANINE OFFICER (CCO)

Denver hails from Waxahachie, TX. While in Waxahachie, Denver served as the Chief Security Officer of the Chicken Coop at Heritage Ranch. She did a short stint in West Hills, CA, but quickly learned that Texas is in her blood and returned to be with her family. Denver enjoys playing with her brother Stanley, hunting, and cuddling.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Stanley was found wandering the streets of Watts in Los Angeles ten years ago. He was rescued by Star Paws Rescue Foundation and quickly adopted by Jackson Fields Consulting’s Co-Founders. Stanley is a puppy at heart - he loves to escape the yard to hunt bunnies and other critters. He equally loves sleeping with pillows and treat time.