Rick Cohen

Rick brings wide-ranging expertise to the National Council of Nonprofits. In managing the internal operations and communications strategy for the Council of Nonprofits, his areas of responsibility span finance, compliance, technology, human resources, and media relations.

Rick has revitalized the Council’s operations, consistently finding ways to upgrade the resources available to staff while bringing costs down and strengthening compliance systems while making them easier to use. He also works to ensure the nonprofit field is informed of developments that can affect their ability to advance their missions. This includes a podcast explaining certain provisions of the new tax law and creating the Council of Nonprofits' Nonprofit Economic Vitality Center, an online resource that helped draw attention to both challenges and solutions for nonprofits during the economic downturn.

Rick joined the Council of Nonprofits in May 2005 after two years with the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (now United Philanthropy Forum). A graduate of American University, Rick also holds an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University and a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. He lives in Silver Spring with his wife, Nicole, and their cat, Birdie.

Tea Gennaro

As the Chief Financial Officer, Téa Gennaro is responsible for managing and directing the Accounting, Finance and Facilities functions at ABC and its affiliated organizations (ABC Political Action Committee, ABC Retirement and Savings Plan, Construction Legal Rights Foundation and ABC Services Corp). She is the primary liaison to the Budget and Finance Committee and liaison to the ABC Retirement Committee. She also serves as primary contact at National ABC for chapters in regard to non-profit tax, accounting, and related issues. Téa reports to the President and CEO and is a member of the Association’s Executive Management Team (EMT).

Prior to her promotion to CFO, Téa was the ABC National Controller overseeing the Finance and Accounting for ABC national and its affiliates.

Formerly, she was a Controller in the Outsourced Accounting Client Service branch of Tate & Tryon, a local CPA firm specializing in Associations and other non-profits.

Téa has a M.B.A in Global Business from Virginia Polytechnic University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Pensacola Christian College. She is a Certified Public Accountant and was recently honored with the “Trending 40 Association and Non Profit Finance Leaders” award by DCA Live.

In addition, she is currently serving a two year term on the Board of Byte Back, Inc., a DC-based tech nonprofit with free computer training and career services that helps low-income adults get living-wage jobs.

Tea currently resides in Alexandria, VA with her husband Jay and her two young boys Alexander and Grant.

Zerihun Haile-Selassie

Zerihun Haile-Selassie, Chief Financial Officer for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), brought to the organization executive financial expertise with a passion for strengthening internal controls through proper procedures and successfully partnering with other departments. Zerihun has helped to bring in-house previously outsourced accounting procedures and build a successful finance team for ensuring the financial health and well-being of the organization. In his role, ACTFL increased its net asset from $11 million to the $20 million association that it is today. He has demonstrated exceptional skills in streamlining processes by implementing cutting-edge technology solutions to improve organizational efficiency. He advocates for and champions revenue diversification and implements sound processes into Federal contracts and grants activities which he oversees for compliance to federal standards.

Zerihun works extremely well with both ACTFL staff and the Board of Directors. He manages the Finance Committee and regularly makes presentations at the Board meetings. Says ACTFL President, Dr. Ali Moeller, “Zerihun has successfully managed ACTFL’s finances and assets and most importantly he has the ability to make the annual audit and budget process understandable for all Board members. He is a gem!” Prior to joining ACTFL, Zerihun held a Senior Accountant position at American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC.

A 2012 graduate of University of Maryland University College, where he earned Master’s of Science in Accounting & Information Technology (Msc) and member of various professional association (ASAE, AICPA, Institute of Management Accountants, and FAR). Zerihun is also Certified Nonprofit Accounting Profession, CNAP, 2017).

In addition to his many duties as CFO of ACTFL, he volunteers in the community sharing his financial expertise with those who need it through being Representative Payee at EveryMind, a local nonprofit that strengthens communities and empowers individuals to reach optimal mental wellness. In addition, Zerihun serves as a Treasurer at the Emahoy Music Foundation, an Alexandria, Virginia-based nonprofit that supports music education for underprivileged kids. Zerihun is originally from Ethiopia and currently resides in Gaithersburg, MD with his wife Habtam, and three children Yoseph, Ruth and Yohanna.

Zerihun in his spare time enjoys playing chess and is a member of US Chess Federation.

Dave Jackson

Dave Jackson joined the American Counseling Association (ACA) as the Senior Director of Finance and Administration in May 2016, after a variety of roles within the nonprofit industry including the American Association of Immunologists, Associated Builders and Contractors, National Geographic, and Johnson Lambert. At ACA, Dave oversees the accounting, finance, information technology, office services, contract administration and legal functions. He also provides strategic advice and budgetary council to all ACA teams, particularly as the organization is on a journey to build the membership value proposition by strengthening content production. So far, Dave’s proudest accomplishment at ACA has been helping to reduce costs by almost $500,000 annually, alongside streamlining processes and upgrading organizational capabilities.

Dave is a licensed CPA in the state of Virginia and graduated with his Master’s of Business Administration from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business. He earned his Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting from the College of William and Mary.

Dave currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Beth, daughter Vivian and son Luke. He’s originally from Point Pleasant, in the great state of New Jersey, so he is, naturally, a Bruce Springsteen fan.

Warren Sander

Warren Sander is the Chief Financial Officer of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) with experience that extends through both non-profit and for-profit spheres, encompassing both community-based and international perspectives.  Having held senior management positions in banking and higher education, he transitioned into the non-profit world in 2009 serving as the CFO of a private university in Virginia.  He credits this transition to a desire to positively impact our world’s most pressing issues and the identification of education as the most effective solution and conservation of our environment as a critical focal point.

Warren holds a Masters of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary and has studied extensively in South Korean and mainland China and is fluent in Korean.