Mariane Asad Doyle has served as CNE’s Executive Director since February 1, 2024. Most recently she served as Chief Culture Officer at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, where she leveraged more than two decades of experience as a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in nonprofits, public education, and human resources.

Recognized for her expertise in educational leadership, public policy, and diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion, and belonging, Mariane has held key leadership roles throughout her career, including with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the William S. Hart Union High School District, and as a lecturer in educational leadership and policy Studies at California State University, Northridge. Mariane’s commitment to leadership includes the attainment of a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

In her varied leadership roles, Mariane has led the charge with fundraising, writing and obtaining more than $40 million in grants, and working directly with donors and supporters to build and maintain programs serving the community. She has served on multiple nonprofit boards and committees, including as a national equity advisory board member for the Leadership Academy.

Currently, she serves on the board of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce where she is chair of the public policy committee, is a member of the budget committee for the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, and is a long range planning advisory committee member for Albemarle County Public Schools. She finds strength in partnership and collaboration, and hopes her legacy is one of positive impact for future generations.

She lives with an incredibly supportive husband of nearly 20 years, two wonderful children, and the best dog in the world. Mariane enjoys writing, needlework, and traveling in her free time and looks forward to seeing more of Virginia in 2024!

Myra provides Special Projects Management support to CNE. A lawyer by training, Myra first became involved with CNE in 2017, providing volunteer support in numerous areas, including programs and services, philanthropy and fundraising, governance and partnerships. She now supports CNE’s Deputy Director for Partnerships & Consulting and CNE’s Executive Director in helping to administer programs and services and working with CNE members, funding partners, consultants, and service providers.

Myra earned a BA in Political Science from Duke University, a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Jessica Harmon (she/her), a proud Southwest Virginia native, now serves as the Senior Manager of Learning and Impact at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. In this role, Jessica leads initiatives to foster growth, evaluate outcomes, and strengthen regional nonprofit efforts that drive meaningful change across Southwest Virginia.

Before transitioning to nonprofit work, Jessica built a solid foundation in finance, which continues to inform her strategic approach to organizational impact. Most recently, she served as a Community Engagement Specialist with Ballad Health’s Department of Population Health, where she supported regional nonprofits through the Community Health Improvement initiative and helped establish the health system’s regional contraception strategy. Earlier in her career, Jessica worked as a health educator with the Virginia Department of Health, specializing in positive youth development.

Jessica is deeply passionate about access, advocacy, and inclusivity. She is a certified trauma-informed care trainer through ACEs Interface and holds a Master of Business Administration with a graduate certification in business analytics from Radford University.

When she’s not at work, Jessica enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family, cherishing moments with her husband and young son while embracing the beauty and community of her home region.

Catherine Smith joined CNE in November 2024. As Manager of Programs and Membership, she is responsible for providing project and member service support for the Learning & Impact team.

Catherine comes to CNE after over a decade working in Guest Services, Operations and Special Events at Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s Monticello, where she played an integral role in providing project management support; customer service to internal and external stakeholders and coordinating event logistics.

Catherine hails from NY, and landed in Charlottesville after living abroad. She holds a BFA in Art History from the University of New Mexico. In her free time, she enjoys travel, gardening, hiking, and spending time with friends and her family.

Waverly Davis joined CNE in October 2024. Waverly is passionate about utilizing meaningful storytelling, creative marketing, and collaboration to effectively grow organizational goals. She was previously Director of Communications and Engagement at Community Investment Collaborative (CIC), an organization in Charlottesville that helps under-resourced entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses.

Waverly is a Charlottesville native and holds a Bachelors of Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia. She has also studied somatics and is a trauma-informed sound bath and meditation practitioner who believes deeply in the restoring power of presence, rest, and stillness.

In her free time, she enjoys adventuring outdoors with her husband, twins, and two dogs, as well as meditating, reading, traveling, cooking, and gardening on her family’s farm and orchard.

Mariane Asad Doyle has served as CNE’s Executive Director since February 1, 2024. Most recently she served as Chief Culture Officer at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, where she leveraged more than two decades of experience as a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in nonprofits, public education, and human resources.

Recognized for her expertise in educational leadership, public policy, and diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion, and belonging, Mariane has held key leadership roles throughout her career, including with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the William S. Hart Union High School District, and as a lecturer in educational leadership and policy Studies at California State University, Northridge. Mariane’s commitment to leadership includes the attainment of a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

In her varied leadership roles, Mariane has led the charge with fundraising, writing and obtaining more than $40 million in grants, and working directly with donors and supporters to build and maintain programs serving the community. She has served on multiple nonprofit boards and committees, including as a national equity advisory board member for the Leadership Academy.

Currently, she serves on the board of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce where she is chair of the public policy committee, is a member of the budget committee for the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, and is a long range planning advisory committee member for Albemarle County Public Schools. She finds strength in partnership and collaboration, and hopes her legacy is one of positive impact for future generations.

She lives with an incredibly supportive husband of nearly 20 years, two wonderful children, and the best dog in the world. Mariane enjoys writing, needlework, and traveling in her free time and looks forward to seeing more of Virginia in 2024!

Brian T. Ullman joined CNE in May 2022 as the Senior Manager of Learning and Impact, serving greater Charlottesville. A resident of Charlottesville since 2005, Brian has two boys who attend Charlottesville City Schools, and his wife was honored as 2024 Charlottesville City Schools Teacher of the Year!

Brian brings extensive experience from his previous role as Assistant Director of UVA’s International, Summer & Special Academic Programs, where he administered short-term learning programs for visiting students and professionals from Virginia and around the world. He holds a B.A. in Political and Social Thought and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UVA, as well as an M.P.A. in International Affairs from Indiana University.

Additionally, Brian has served as an international student and scholar advisor at UVA, and as a faculty advisor for summer leadership conferences in China, Europe, and Australia. Outside of work, you might find Brian and his family exploring the woods and hiking trails around Charlottesville.

Denisha is CNE’s Memberships & Programs Coordinator and joined the organization in 2022. She earned her B.A. in History with a minor in East Asian Studies from the University of Virginia. She has earned her M.A. in Museum Studies with a Concentration in Exhibition Design and Community Engagement from George Washington University. She also has ten years of customer service experience and three years of managerial experience. In her role, she will be providing administrative and coordination support for several teams at CNE. Denisha originally hails from the island of St. Thomas, USVI. She enjoys reading, watching movies, and having brunch with her friends.

Erica Holmes is the Director of Learning and Impact at CNE. Her primary responsibility is overseeing the Learning and Impact team, which provides services to various non-profit organizations in Virginia, ensuring that all programs align with CNE’s 7 Actionable Principles. Erica is responsible for managing member services, program delivery, and providing quality control. She also works alongside the Deputy Director to measure and evaluate success. Erica has an extensive background in program development and implementation, grant management, regulatory compliance, advocacy, and staff development. She has managed programs in various localities throughout her career, including Charlottesville, Petersburg, Richmond City, and neighboring counties.

Erica holds a Master’s Degree in Human Services with a concentration in Program Administration and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. In addition to her professional achievements, she is an active community member and has served on several Boards and Advisory Committees over the past decade. Erica enjoys spending time with her children, listening to live bands, singing karaoke, and going to the pool throughout the year.