Jessica came to our organization with a significant amount of experience and commitment to philanthropy. Jessica started her philanthropic work with a small local hospital, Atlantic General Hospital, in 2009. She moved to continue this work on a broader scale as the senior development manager with the March of Dimes Maryland Market, gaining a larger scope of experience and best practices in nonprofit fundraising. She moved to a larger role in philanthropy five years later, joining Wor-Wic Community College as the executive director of the foundation and the director of development. In this role, she gained critical knowledge in endowments, planned/legacy gifts, stock/property gifts, etc. She returned back to healthcare in May 2022 with the position of President of TidalHealth Foundation. Her roles, scope, and influence have continued to evolve and serve our community, Maryland, and Delaware.
My first job out of college was a marketing analyst at a small local community hospital. I was able to work closely with the development department and really enjoyed the fulfillment of watching others give to something that they were passionate about. Fast forward ten years to careers that included national nonprofit and higher education work, I knew I needed to return to healthcare...and I did. This time in philanthropy at the local health system.
Connecting donors with their passion has always been something that I enjoy. The possibilities to do that in healthcare are endless: legacy gifts, grateful family gifts, designated gifts for service lines or equipment, endowments, in honor of a provider that made a difference gifts, and the most impactful to me, in memory of gifts. At the end of the day, the question that I ask myself is, "Did I do everything I possibly could to make a positive difference in someone's life?" Most every day my answer is yes, even if just helping someone find their way to the mother-baby unit. But sometimes, that difference is facilitating a gift that will make an impact for generations to come for my little community. I'm proud of that.
I had the pleasure of working for my alma mater as the executive director of the foundation in my 30s. When I say that this college was important to me, this institution made me who I am. After an incredible four years in that role, I had the opportunity to become the President of the TidalHealth Foundation. I will never forget walking into my boss's office, who was the president of the college, and letting him know that I had applied. He dropped his head and said, "If you don't jump at this opportunity, I would be disappointed in you." He was right; it was the right move and a move that his college prepared me for all those years ago.
It may sound cliché, but my family is my greatest passion and accomplishment. It isn't the easiest job that I have; in fact, my career is a cakewalk next to my role as a mom and wife, but it is the most rewarding!
Work hard to build relationships. Genuinely work to get to know people, all kinds of people. You never know who you are talking to. Investing in humans IS your job! Those relationships can take a long time to develop so be patient and persistent in your efforts to build contacts. Set aggressive goals for yourself and keep track of your accomplishments. Write them down. This is important in the days that you are waiting for relationships to develop.
I am an avid travel baseball mom, in all of it's glory. I have two very active busy boys, seven and nine, a five-month-old long hair German shepherd dog, and a wonderfully loving and supportive husband.