Women's Leadership Conference

Caroline Nuttall

Caroline Gayle Nuttall is an author, speaker and trusted advisor with unwavering integrity. As a leader on Wipfli’s organizational performance team, Caroline develops leaders and helps transform organizations as an organizational performance manager with Wipfli. She recently published her first book, BIG FISH: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success, Impact and Legacy.

Laurie Tarpey

Laurie is a certified executive coach, emotional intelligence trainer, and nonprofit interim fractional COO/CFO and board member. She has served as a CFO and COO of nonprofit and for-profit organizations with revenues up to $100 million. Earlier in her career, she was an audit manager at PWC and taught accounting at the college level.

Laurie has a BA in Economics-Accounting from Holy Cross, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a CPA with additional certifications in executive coaching, the Genos Model of Emotional Intelligence, nonprofit executive management, and nonprofit board governance. In late 2022, Laurie gave a TEDx Talk called, “Corporate-to-Nonprofit Sector Switchers: EI Blunders”. She also spoke on emotional intelligence at a GWSCPA 2023 Women’s Leadership Roundtable, and at the 2022 Holy Cross College Women in Business Conference.

Tea Gennaro

Téa Gennaro is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). She is responsible for managing and directing the accounting, finance and facilities functions at ABC and its affiliated organizations—the ABC Political Action Committee, ABC Retirement and Savings Plan, Construction Legal Rights Foundation, Trimmer Construction Education Foundation and ABC Services Corp. Gennaro is the primary liaison to ABC’s budget and finance committee and a liaison to the retirement committee. She is the primary contact for ABC’s 70 chapters for nonprofit tax, accounting and related issues. She will report to the president and CEO, and will be a member of ABC’s executive management team. Prior to her promotion, Gennaro was ABC’s controller for four years, overseeing the finance and accounting departments of the association and its affiliates. Before joining ABC, she was a controller in the Outsourced Accounting Client Service branch of Tate & Tryon, an accounting firm specializing in associations and other nonprofits. A certified public accountant, Gennaro earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Pensacola Christian College and a Master’s of Business Administration degree in global business from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She was recently honored with the “Trending 40 Association and Nonprofit Finance Leaders” award by DCA Live. Gennaro is serving a two-year term on the board of directors of Byte Back Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based technology nonprofit that helps low-income adults get living-wage jobs with free computer training and career services.

Sarah Tucker

Sarah Tucker is a senior audit manager in the Washington, D.C. practice of Cherry Bekaert. She provides accounting and assurance services to government contractors, technology companies, and not-for-profit organizations. As a member of the Firm’s Government Contractor Services Group, she works with clients to ensure appropriate contract revenue recognition policies, indirect rate reporting and general adherence to the Federal Acquisition Regulations. As an audit manager, Sarah performs planning procedures to obtain an in-depth understanding of her client’s situation, including the internal control environment. In this role, Sarah works extensively with the partner to develop an overall risk assessment and the respective audit procedures. In addition, Sarah oversees all work performed by the audit staff. She plays a significant role in drafting the audit deliverables, including the financial statements and required audit communication. In addition to supervising the audit process, Sarah has extensive knowledge of cost allowability and performing indirect rate audits. She has an in-depth understanding of the Uniform Grant Guidance, as several of her clients receive federal funding.

Kara Hardin

Kara Hardin (she/her), Founder and CEO of The Practice Lab, is a mental health educator, Registered Psychotherapist, and former practicing corporate and securities lawyer, who works at the intersection of mental health and performance. She specializes in the complicated ways that mental health drives performance and how it shows up at work. She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Kara’s core values are learning and kindness. In her free time, she can be found either knee deep in a pile of very mediocre mystery books or walking her dog Maple.

Kathy O'Connor

Kathy O’Connor, OCS’ President and Founder, created the firm in 1999 after serving as a senior manager in KPMG, LLP’s not-for-profit practice, where she found her passion for supporting not-for-profit organizations while developing her expertise in audit and outsourcing. Kathy’s goal in founding the firm was to create a unique firm focusing on supporting and solving the higher-level issues facing not-for-profits and forming long-term trusted advisor client relationships that promote on-going services and collaboration. Since the firm’s inception, Kathy has focused on building an incredibly skilled team that shares her passion for servicing the DC not-for- profit community. Her dedication to the not-for-profit industry spans over 30 years, serving not-for-profit organizations with revenues ranging from $1 million to $1.2 billion. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Villanova University and holds an active Certified Public Accountant license in the State of Maryland. Kathy has also served the community by serving on the Board and Audit committees for several not-for-profits, currently including the Greater Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (GWSCPA) Board of Governors and Audit Committee Chair. In November 2014, Kathy received the AICPA Women to Watch - Experienced Leader Award from the GWSCPA and speaks at various local conferences on not-for-profit issues.

Mia Chisholm

Mia Chisholm is the Founder and President of Chisholm Consulting. She has nearly 20 years of progressive experience in accounting and finance in the non-profit industry. For the past 11 years, Mia has helped non-profit organizations in the DC metro area find top talent across their organization – finance, accounting, marketing, membership, communication, events, programs, and government affairs. Since the inception of Chisholm Consulting in 2018, she has successfully matched nearly 200 clients and candidates. Her focus has always been to help organizations thrive through finding the brightest talent in the marketplace. Mia and her team believe in a strong foundation of honesty, integrity and excellent customer service. Mia earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Charleston. During her free time, she loves to go to the beach, read, cook, host gatherings, and watch Korean dramas. She currently resides in Charleston, SC with her husband, son and two furry boys.

Noelle Lipscomb

Noelle Lipscomb is a career auditor who has held various positions in the Big 4 and within internal audit departments in the private and quasi-governmental sector. She currently serves as a Chief Audit Executive in the Financial Services Industry. She is also the co-owner of Full Life Journey Farm, a 42-acre farm - campground in Madison County, Virginia. Noelle is primarily responsible for back-office operations while her husband and three children (ages 10, 12 and 13) handle the day-to-day operations. The farm serves as the location for three separate entities with the purpose of fulfilling the long-term vision of curating outdoor experiences anchored in 6 pillars of faith, family, finances, fitness, food and fun. Full Life Journey Agriculture, LLC is focused on producing sustainably raised cattle and goats that are good for the body and the land. The animals also provide the perfect backdrop for camping and events under the umbrella of Full Life Journey, LLC and short-term stays under the umbrella of Full Life Journey Properties, LLC. As one of the nation’s few black owned campgrounds, the farm was featured in a November 2021 article in Travel Noire 25 Black-Owned Campgrounds Across The United States - Travel Noire.

When she’s not working, spending time on the farm, or shuttling her kids to youth sport events, Noelle enjoys interior decorating and antiquing. Noelle holds a B.S in Accounting from Howard University and a M.S in Accounting from the University of Southern California. She is a CPA, CIA, CFE and CDP.

Robin Kelleher

Robin is a visionary organizational strategist across for-profit and non-profit industries, with a unique ability to create cohesive support for critical missions. She has an expertise in identifying opportunities and developing productive partnerships to promote campaigns and broaden awareness to create tangible support. She is highly skilled in translating vision to implementation, with strong persuasive abilities to engage and train key players. Robin Kelleher is the co-founder who serves as the CEO of Hope For The Warriors®. Robin’s entrepreneurship, leadership, and passion has led this highly successful “for purpose” organization to national heights, raising over $75M and significantly impacting the military community. Robin is responsible for developing and implementing the strategic direction of the organization, driving results with a dedicated Board of Directors, and providing budgetary and mission-focused guidance to the growing staff of Hope For The Warriors®. Robin serves as a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women In The Service (DACOWITS), Membership Committee and Health & Wellness Solution Group of the Washington Board of Trade. the Military Family and Veterans Service Organizations of America (MFVSOA) Board of Directors, the Virginia Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Executive Committee, and a PREVENTS Ambassador. Robin has worked extensively with military families, caring for family units during multiple deployments as the wife of a Marine. Additionally, her experiences as the daughter and granddaughter of US Soldiers have given her a unique insight into the needs of service members and their families. Prior to 2006, Robin founded two for-profit and one non-profit business. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from Randolph Macon College, a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Duke University, and a Certificate in the Psychology of Leadership from Cornell University.