Michele Lynn is a communications professional with more than 25 years of experience who provides strategic communications and marketing services to nonprofit organizations, small businesses and educational institutions through her firm, Michele Lynn Communications. Michele’s professional career has included working for elected officials and a variety of nonprofit organizations in positions ranging from communications associate to executive director. She was a staff writer for 10 years at San Francisco’s Noe Valley Voice newspaper. A skilled writer, Michele’s work has appeared in such diverse publications as Chapel Hill Magazine, The Chapel Hill News, The Chapel Hill Herald, Durham Herald-Sun, Durham Magazine, Gist from the Mill (the Social Science Magazine of Duke University), Parenting, Organic Gardening, The National Sheriff’s Magazine, This Month at Duke and UNC Business.

James A. Heavner

Jim Heavner is probably best known to North Carolinians outside Chapel Hill as a broadcaster on the Tar Heel Sports Network, on which he broadcast Carolina games for more than two decades. In his hometown of Chapel Hill, Heavner is known as an entrepreneur, journalist, radio voice, President, and principal owner of VilCom, a group of Chapel Hill based media companies.

Jim’s leadership in non-profit activities spans five decades. Among his many public service leadership positions, Jim founded the Public Private Partnership, now known as the Community Leadership Council, a consortium of CEO’s and top executives in local government, university, business and social organizations. Jim has led fundraising efforts for the United Way in Orange County and numerous other charitable causes.

Priscilla Bratcher

Priscilla Bratcher, CFRE joined Armstrong McGuire in 2012 upon her retirement from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she served as the first Director of Development for the Carolina Performing Arts Center since 2005.

Priscilla began her 20+ years in fundraising at the UNC Center for Public Television. During her five years there, the station earned its first national PBS award for on-air fundraising. From 1990-94, she served as Vice President for Development at the American Social Health Association. In 1994 she moved to Capital Consortium where she worked with clients in three states to design and implement multi-million dollar capital campaigns. From 1998-2003, Priscilla served as Director of Principal Gifts at UNC. She managed prospective donors in the $1,000,000+ gift range, and she was responsible for raising $5,000,000 for the renovation of Memorial Hall, now the home to the new Carolina Performing Arts Series. In 2003, Priscilla was appointed first managing director of the Royal Shakespeare Company America, the British theatre company's U.S. fundraising office.

Priscilla holds a B.A. in theatre from Denison University and an M.F.A. in Arts Management from the University of Iowa. A frequent speaker at national and international fundraising conferences, she has made presentations around the country, as well as in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Bert Armstrong

Bert Armstrong has served the nonprofit community for 25 years as an accomplished fundraising professional and administrator, working in the fields of human services, arts, and higher education. From 1995-2003 Bert served as Vice President for Advancement at the Methodist Home for Children, one of the largest and most respected child and family service agencies in North Carolina. Under his leadership, the Methodist Home raised over $15 million, a figure that included a 250% increase in annual giving, record growth in the institution's endowment, and successful completion of the most ambitious capital campaign in its history.

Bert is a 1986 graduate of Wake Forest University with a degree in Political Science. Prior to joining the Methodist Home, he served as a development officer for Louisburg College and the NC Museum of Art as well as serving on the staff of a statewide political campaign. In addition to his professional service to the nonprofit community, he serves on the boards of numerous nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

Bert's passion for organizational success has earned statewide and national recognition. At the 2003 National Philanthropy Day celebration in the Triangle, Bert's peers honored him as the year's Outstanding Fundraising Executive. He is also the recipient of the Development Director of the Year award by the United Methodist Association, the national accrediting body for child care, assisted living, and health care agencies affiliated with the United Methodist Church.