Whitney Herrington brings almost fifteen years of human resources consulting and management to her work in centering people in nonprofit and philanthropic missions. Whitney helps build and drive sustainable capacity for organizations by developing, strengthening, and delivering sound and practical HR solutions and practices that are values-based, equity-focused, and human centered.
Prior to her independent consulting work, she served as the EVP & Chief Operating Officer at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Director of People & Technology at the Southern Poverty Law Center. She earned a BBA in Finance from Western Michigan University and an MBA from Georgia State University. Originally from the Detroit-area, Whitney lives in metro D.C. She actively seeks to balance her personal and professional lives, enjoys traveling and developing new memories with her family, particularly as a new first-time mommy.
Director of Client Services
Marcie Chavez brings nearly two decades of experience in human resources and organizational leadership, with a deep commitment to people-first practices that foster inclusive, thriving workplaces. She has led HR and people operations in both the nonprofit and healthcare sectors, including Cibola General Hospital, a rural community hospital; DreamSpring, a national nonprofit small business lender; and an AI-driven healthcare startup.
She holds an MBA in Organizational Behavior from the University of New Mexico and a BA in Communication from New Mexico State University. She is also a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Logan Gelabert joins Ascend People after 6 years with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic where she discovered her love of mission-driven non-profit work. For over a decade, Logan has served roles in corporate, university and non-profit human resources. Most recently as the Director of Human Resources at PPSAT, she considers herself a professional problem solver with a passion for empowering, engaging, and supporting the people who support their organization’s mission.
She graduated with a BA from Florida State University and credits her ability to approach situations with curiosity and a lens of diverse perspectives to her liberal arts background. She earned a PHR certification in 2016 and a SHRM-SCP certification in 2022. A born and raised Floridian, Logan spent years enduring winters in Washington DC and Chicago before landing in Raleigh, North Carolina. She enjoys spending time outside in the warm southern sun with her family, friends and dog, Finley.
Samantha Kinzey has over 12 years of business operations and management experience across various industries. With this experience comes a natural interest in the HR realm. She has a keen eye for detail and an impressive track record of collaborating with cross-functional teams to align business objectives and drive successful outcomes.
Her ability to effectively communicate and build strong relationships at all levels of an organization has proven instrumental in fostering a positive culture. She resides in Milwaukee with her husband and son. When she’s not spending time with her family, she loves spending time with her friends, traveling (when she can!), working out, writing, or getting lost in a good book.
