Consultants

Brydon began his development career in 1973 at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia, and served as the chief development officer from 1975-1990. During that period the College successfully completed two major capital campaigns and significantly increased its annual and major giving programs. In 1990, he accepted the invitation of Gonser Gerber Tinker Stuhr, a development consulting firm in Chicago, Illinois, and began providing counsel to a variety of non profit institutions throughout the United States. In 1995, Brydon left the firm to establish DeWitt & Associates and continue providing counsel in fund-raising and public relations to a diverse group of clients. In addition to consulting, Brydon has made presentations and conducted seminars/workshops for conferees and governing boards. Topics have ranged from basic development principles to board development to building effective major gifts programs. The Illinois Hospital Association, American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries, NSFRE of Memphis, Tennessee, Virginia Fund-Raising Institute, and the Rockingham Educational Foundation have been among the organizations that he has addressed.

In 1996, Brydon began writing and publishing The Development Companion, a quarterly newsletter for presidents, board members, and development officers. Each issue is dedicated to a single topic and provides a step by step approach to the operation of a successful development program.

Brydon holds a BA degree in English from Bridgewater College and an MFA in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. He is a member of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals - Central Virginia, Virginia Association of Fund-Raising Executives, the Virginia Planned Giving Council, Innsbrook Rotary Club, and is listed in Who's Who in America.

Louis M. Markwith, Senior Counsel, is an experienced development professional with a broad knowledge of nonprofit management including, staff leadership, volunteer board involvement, recruitment, motivation and retention of volunteers, fund-raising, fiscal management and government/community relations. He began his development career in 1974 at the University of Richmond and has been the chief development officer of such institutions as Gallaudet University, Longwood University, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and administered five foundations. He also served as the chief executive officer of the National Kidney Foundation of the Virginias. Lou conducted consulting assignments with organizations such as Big Brother & Big Sisters, the Children's Home Society of Virginia and Atlanta Prison Ministries.

Lou has had over thirty years experience in development and brings deep knowledge of nonprofit management, capital campaigns, annual fund-raising, estate-related giving, Board and staff training, and communications to our clients.

Thomas G. McCarty, Ph.D., CFRE, Senior Counsel, has over 30 years of fundraising experience, Tom has previously served non-profit organizations—as a staff member, consultant, and independent contractor — throughout the Eastern United States. His long and successful career encompasses 16 capital campaigns, solicitation of 6- and 7-figure major and planned gifts, grants ranging as high as $3.5 million, and a total of over $60 million raised.

His service to the profession includes board memberships and officer positions in the Central Florida, Western New York, and Central Virginia chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). He also served as President of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Planned Giving Council.

Tom began his career as a college professor of Classics for institutions of higher education in Vermont , Ohio , and North Carolina . He is a graduate of Oberlin College , with advanced degrees from Yale University and The University of Michigan.

Patricia S. Morris, MPA, CFRE, Senior Counsel, serves the nonprofit communitywith 30 years of experience in board development, fundraising, management, and marketing. She has provided consulting services to numerous nonprofit organizations as an extension of her commitment to further the professional field of fundraising.

Ms. Morris has devoted her career to ensuring the sustainability of human service programs, arts & culture, and early childhood education initiatives. Her past fundraising experience includes staff service to the Virginia Historical Society, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, and the Children’s Museum of Richmond. Her most recent full time post was Vice President of Philanthropy for Feed More, Inc., where she served for more than five years. Under her leadership, the fundraising program grew from $1.5 million to over $9 million. She has also served on boards of 15 nonprofit organizations over a 30-year period, most of them in leadership roles.

She holds a Master of Public Administration degree with specialization in Nonprofit Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. Morris has held national recognition as a Certified Fund Raising Executive since 1999. Currently, she serves as President of the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives. She served as the Co-Chair of the 2007 Virginia Fund Raising Institute, and is a Past-President of the Association of Fundraising Professional’s Central Virginia Chapter, where she served on the Executive Board for nine years. She is an adjunct faculty member in the Master’s Degree Program in Public Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University, teaching Fund Development for Nonprofits, and is an instructor at the University of Richmond’s Institute on Philanthropy. Morris also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume Design from VCU and an Associate Degree in Horticulture from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

David J. Baker, APR, Senior Counsel, has wide experience in development, communications/ marketing, and management to clients. A graduate of the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Mr. Baker received his APR accreditation from the Canadian Public Relations Society. He has been on the public relations faculty of the British Columbia Institute of Technology, a member of the board of the Canadian Public Relations Society, a seminar leader of the Public Relations Society of America, and an invited speaker and guest lecturer at the Association of Theological Schools, Tampa, International Association for Public Participation, Tucson, and Union-PSCE Seminary, Richmond.

David brings an extensive background, training, and experience in marketing, membership development, and communications to nonprofit clients.

Valerie J. Mann, Grant Writing Specialist has worked in the grants field since 1977. She formed her own consulting business in 1985, providing grant search, grant writing, and administrative services to assist local governments, nonprofits, and private businesses to obtain federal and state grant funding.