Board of Directors

2026 Board of Directors

Kelly Sexton, University of Dayton

President

Kelly is the Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the University of Dayton. She has been in fundraising for over 9 years.

Erika Ward, Preschool Promise

Immediate Past President

Erika Ward is a nonprofit fundraising professional with more than a decade of experience advancing initiatives that support families and young children. She currently serves as Development Manager at Preschool Promise, where she leads the fundraising and philanthropic engagement efforts that expand access to high-quality early childhood experiences in Montgomery County.
Erika is actively involved in the Dayton nonprofit community. She serves as the Immediate Past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Dayton Chapter and as a member of the Board of Directors for The Muse Machine, supporting its mission to provide transformative arts education experiences for students. She was recognized as a 2023 Woman of Impact by Miami Valley’s Women in Business for her leadership and commitment to community change.

Fun Fact: Erika has 4 mini wiener dogs, all of whom have very strong opinions on snack distribution.

Lauren Tappel, Dayton Metro Library

Secretary

Lauren serves as the Director of Institutional Giving for the Dayton Metro Library where she works to cultivate and sustain the resources needed to inform, inspire, and empower children, teens, and adults across Montgomery County. Lauren earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dayton with certificates in Nonprofit and Community Leadership and Sustainability. Lauren has been a fundraising professional for more than 5 years with prior experience working in the public sector for 10 years.

Christopher Chadwick, Day Air Credit Union

Treasurer

Christopher Chadwick has served as Treasurer since January 1, 2026. He is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a degree in Corporate Finance. Christopher currently works in the accounting department at the headquarters of Day Air Credit Union, where he applies his financial expertise to support organizational operations and fiscal management.

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Allie Haines, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance

Vice President of Membership

Allie Haines is the Director of Philanthropy at The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. As an artist herself, she is passionate about connecting with people and ensuring the arts continue to thrive in Dayton! She's been a fundraising professional for over two years now but has worked in relationship management for 15 years. She was honored to be the 2025 AFP Dayton Chamberlain Scholar and is excited to serve on the board this year!

Iris Juergens, Oakwood Rotary

Vice President of IDEA

(Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access)

Iris is an experienced leader with expertise in donor research, grant writing, team development, project management, community relations, and public affairs. She is fluent in two languages and is an articulate communicator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Texas and have completed an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program.

Nancy Slezak, Sinclair College

Vice President of Programming

Cambry is the Director of Philanthropy at Shriners Children's Ohio. She has been in fundraising for over five years.

Amber Wright, The Foodbank, Inc.

Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Amber Wright is the Marketing and Advocacy Manager for The Foodbank, Inc. She is a graduate of Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and holds a degree in Public Relations. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for over six years.

Dennis J. Percy, MBA, Dayton Live

Member at Large

A Kettering native, Dennis has been a nonprofit fundraising professional with nearly 24 years of experience. He has held fundraising leadership roles with Miami Valley Hospital Foundation, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and United Way of the Greater Dayton Area.

Passionately committed to strengthening our greater Dayton community, Dennis serves or has served on several boards or committees including Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley (Governance Committee Chair), Leadership Dayton Board of Governors, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce – Breakfast Briefing Committee (Chair), Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Dayton Chapter, Destination Dayton, University of Dayton National Alumni Awards Committee, Alter High School Booster Association (Vice-President), and Incarnation Parish Education Commission (President).

Dennis holds degrees from the University of Dayton (MBA), John Carroll University in Cleveland (BA) and is an alumnus of Archbishop Alter High School. He was a Dayton Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, a graduate of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Dayton program and is an Eagle Scout. Dennis lives in Centerville with his wife Michelle, and their two children, Diya Caroline and Varun Michael.

2026 Committee Chairs

Advanced Development Professionals, CFRE, & Mentoring Chair

Matt Wahrhaftig

With a 29-year career spanning diverse nonprofit sectors, Matt Wahrhaftig, CFRE, is a fundraising leader known for his transformative impact. Specializing in data-driven strategies, he has successfully led comprehensive campaigns, revitalized struggling organizations, and driven exponential growth across animal welfare, education, and healthcare. In his recent role as Director of Philanthropy at Kettering Health Foundation, he revolutionized the annual fund and grateful patient program, creating a sustainable, scalable process that achieved unprecedented growth. Matt is the Advanced Development Professionals & Mentoring Chair for AFP of Greater Dayton and a seasoned presenter at conferences and webinars, sharing his practical knowledge on topics such as direct mail, major giving, event management, and the evolving landscape of cryptophilanthropy.