Meet Our Board

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Marie Miller – President 

Marie has been fundraising in Kingston for more than 20 years (12 at Queen’s University and 8 at St. Lawrence College). Her fundraising career began as the Development Officer for (then) Queen’s Principal, Dr. William C. Leggett and VP (Advancement), George Hood.  She was the Major Gift Officer for the $20+ million Queen’s mini campaign that raised funds to develop new outdoor playing fields and refurbish Richardson Stadium.  Marie served one year as a Stewardship Officer, and her final two years as a Gift Planning Officer, both at Queen's.

Shortly after Marie began her career as the Senior Development Officer at St. Lawrence College (SLC), the Uncommon Campaign was launched, which raised more money than ever in the history of the College in support of students. She continues to have great success in securing significant gifts, even from first-time donors.

Marie is known for her ability to build mutually rewarding relationships and her natural stewardship skills. She is a Charter member of the AFP of South Eastern Ontario Chapter, served as the Program Chair and Co-Chair of one of the first National Philanthropy Day events. Her most recent roles with AFPSEO are Secretary and President.  She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Kingston, serving as a member of the Community Grants Committee and Fellowship Committee.

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Adam Say - Past President & Every Member Campaign Chair | Treasurer

Adam is a Senior Development Officer in the Faculty of Health Sciences of Queen's University. His fundraising career began in 2008, when he got the opportunity to move back to Kingston and work for Queen’s, his alma mater. Adam has worked at Queen’s for 15 years and has worked on a variety of projects for the university, including being part of the campaign team that planned and successfully completed the university’s 10-year, $640 million Initiative Campaign.

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Melanie Barrett - Marketing, Communications & Outreach Chair

Melanie is the Director of Development at Albert College, an independent boarding and day school in Belleville teaching students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. Melanie has been working in the Advancement Office at Albert College for 15 years. She is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and runs a dynamic team. Melanie and her team manage fundraising, alumni relations, marketing and communications for the school. Melanie is a graduate of Loyalist College and the University of Ottawa and was introduced to fundraising while studying Public Relations. Melanie has been a Board Member with AFP SEO since 2012.

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Krista Ellis-Smith - Education Chair

I’m a storyteller at heart, and a dream weaver in my soul. I have to be – because I believe that every gift, no matter how big or small, has the power to change lives and create a better world for us all.

I have a deep understanding of the principles of direct response fundraising, including segmentation, testing, and optimization, and have helped various non-profits leverage these strategies to achieve their fundraising goals. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to develop compelling fundraising appeals that resonate with donors, and inspire them to take action.

In my current role as a direct response fundraising manager, I am honored to work with a team of dedicated professionals who share my passion for making a difference. Together, we have created campaigns that have exceeded expectations and raised millions of dollars for KHSC and Providence Care.

I am grateful every day for the opportunity to do this work, and look forward to continuing to use my skills and experience to make a positive impact.

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Heather Hayhow - Membership Chair

Heather got her feet wet in the fundraising world as a volunteer, which sparked a passion for giving back to the community. Her volunteer experience led to an opportunity at United Way of Kingston, Frontenac Lennox & Addington. Through her role as Campaign Director at United Way, Heather was involved with all things campaign - organizing community events, engaging affinity groups, managing volunteers, delivering training, and with the help of a hard-working campaign team, providing support to over 350 workplace campaigns. Following her time at United Way, Heather worked at the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston and Area as the Supervisor of Fund Development, working with an incredible team to develop resources and funds in order to provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. Currently, Heather is an Associate Director with the Development and Alumni Engagement team at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, supporting volunteers and events in the alumni engagement portfolio. Heather is passionate about building a strong community and is incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many of the amazing volunteers, organizations and agencies that make KFL&A great!

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Sandi Ramsay - Government Relations Chair

Sandi is a seasoned executive within the non-profit sector, driven by a profound dedication to community service and advancement. Her professional journey commenced in radio news broadcasting and has since encompassed a diverse array of roles, including overseeing radio news departments, managing communications and marketing, supervising media and public relations, teaching adult education, venturing into entrepreneurship, and spearheading fund development initiatives for Lower Trent Conservation and other non-profit agencies.

Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Centre for Workforce Development in Hastings, Prince Edward, and Lennox & Addington Counties, Sandi previously excelled as the Donor Relations and Communications Manager at Hospice Quinte. In this capacity, she spearheaded the Heart & Home Building capital campaign, orchestrating a collaborative effort with government bodies, volunteers, local businesses, community partners, and staff to raise over $9.2 million. This achievement realized the Quinte region's aspiration of establishing the Stan Klemencic Care Centre, a world-class 6-bed hospice palliative care residence.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Sandi is deeply engaged in community service, actively participating in the Rotary Club of Trenton and Rotary District 7070. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce and Victim Services - Hastings, Prince Edward, Lennox & Addington. Her commitment to fostering social health, environmental sustainability, child and student welfare, economic prosperity, and workforce development is evident through her volunteerism with organizations such as Trenton Memorial Hospital, Lower Trent Conservation, and Loyalist College.

Sandi's academic accomplishments include graduating with distinction from Brock University's Bachelor of Adult Education program. Furthermore, she is a distinguished alumna of Loyalist College, having graduated at the top of her class in both the Broadcast Journalism program and the Advertising, Media Marketing & Sales Post-Graduate program.

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Ben Seewald - IDEA Chair

Growing up, Ben Seewald wasn't like every other kid, who dreamed about being a rock-star, or kangaroo, or an astronaut - he always wanted to inspire phenomenal people to make a difference in their communities. Ben is living his dream with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada as the Senior Specialist of Major and Legacy Giving. A brain tumour survivor himself, Ben loves good food, great music, keeping active, flossing, and spending as much time as possible with his fabulous partner and eight-year-old firecracker daughter. Ben is an experienced relationship builder with over 20 years of demonstrated success working in the not-for-profit and higher education industry.

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