Staff

Cristine Nardi

Title: 

Executive Director

Direct Phone: 

434-951-9043

Cristine Nardi has been CNE’s Executive Director since December 2008. Ms Nardi brings to CNE an extensive nonprofit, legal and entrepreneurial background. Throughout her career, she has provided management and technical expertise to nonprofits, cooperatives, and small businesses both overseas and in the United States. Prior to joining CNE, Ms. Nardi was in private practice in Charlottesville, providing legal counsel to small businesses and nonprofits locally. Ms. Nardi started her career as a Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Botswana, Africa, and went on to manage the Uganda office of Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance, an international nonprofit providing technical expertise to local cooperatives, farmers, and agribusinesses. After returning to the United States, Ms. Nardi worked for a national women’s health advocacy organization, directing policy programs and providing legal and policy expertise to affiliates, legislators, and community organizations across the country. A native of the Shenandoah Valley, Ms. Nardi received a BA in English from UVA and her law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She and her family live on a farm in Nelson County where they grow organic blueberries, raise chickens and try to keep ahead of the weeds.

Christina Giaimo

Title: 

Development/Program Coordinator

Direct Phone: 

434-951-9046

Christina Giaimo joined CNE in March 2011. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and English from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Before joining the team as Development/Program Coordinator, Ms. Giaimo worked with several political campaigns, specializing in management and grassroots organizing, including fundraising and social media, at the congressional, gubernatorial and presidential levels. Her political work served as a great base from which to build a future in nonprofit work, as both fields share a common goal of bettering the communities in which they serve. She enjoys spending her spare time with her wonderful family and friends and looks forward to exploring the wealth of opportunities that the Charlottesville area has to offer.

Alicia Perham

Title: 

Director of Programs

Direct Phone: 

434-951-9044

Alicia Perham has been with CNE since July 2009. Ms. Perham has a B.S. in Health Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Houston. She relocated from Houston Texas in 2009 where she worked with the United Way of Greater Houston's Management Assistance Program, specializing in leadership development programming. In her time at the United Way she created and oversaw an innovative action learning based training program to build leadership competencies in nonprofit staff. Prior to working with the United Way she worked as a Coordinator of Staff Development for a large urban public health department and spent several years of working with teens to develop and implement healthy sexuality programs.  She enjoys spending time outdoors with her daughter, Emily.

Valerie Washington

Title: 

Director of Finance

Direct Phone: 

434-951-9041

Valerie Washington joined CNE in April 2012. Ms. Washington brings to CNE an extensive nonprofit background.  She has a BS in Accounting from Hampton University and a MBA from Averett University. She spent the majority of her professional career in accounting and finance with Virginia Association of Realtors. Prior to joining CNE, Ms. Washington worked at Alzheimer’s Association Central & Western Virginia Chapter as Director, Finance & Operations. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

Kara Williams

Title: 

Communications Manager

Direct Phone: 

434-951-9048

Kara Williams joined CNE part-time in April 2011. Ms. Williams has a BBA from the College of William and Mary and a Master’s in Management of Information Technology from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. She spent the majority of her professional career in technology consulting with Accenture in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2001, she relocated to Charlottesville and spent 10 years at home raising her three children and volunteering in many different capacities at her children’s school. Prior to joining CNE, Ms. Williams worked at CFA Institute implementing technology solutions to enhance service to CFA’s 135 global, member societies and managing various project teams. In her time at CFA Institute she managed and facilitated the development of the Society Governance Best Practices. She also developed a wiki site for the Best Practices in which society boards reference as part of an annual governance training program. In her spare time she enjoys running, tennis and spending time with her children.

Dana Hecht

Title: 

Program and Outreach Manager

Direct Phone: 

434-951-9042

CNE is thrilled to welcome Ms. Hecht as our newest staff member. Joining us in April, Ms. Hecht has a Bachelor's degree from UVA and a Master's of Public Policy with a focus on program evaluation from George Washingon University. Ms. Hecht most recently worked as a Program Analyst at Keep America Beautiful where she helped compose an organizational plan aimed at improving metrics collection and performance measurement for KAB's programs. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, cooking and spending time outdoors.