Meet the Team
Leadership Team
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Lisa Fox
Owner & Founder
Lisa Fox
Owner & Founder
Since 2000, Lisa has focused her work in the nonprofit sector, beginning her career as a direct service provider and growing into leadership roles, including fund development. She obtained a Bachelor of Science from Simpson College and Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha. In 2014, Lisa saw a need for local nonprofits to contract grant writing services instead of expensive staff salaries. She began her pursuit, using strong ties to the community and various agencies to start Fox Creek. Within a few years, additional services emerged, and Lisa established Fox Creek as a reputable and results-driven company. Her passion for nonprofit missions, awareness of their struggles and challenges, and the desire to create change in the community have developed a company focused on making the nonprofit sector more robust, structured, and forward-thinking.
Each year, Lisa facilitates the development of millions of dollars through her talented team and valued clients.
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Amy Carolus
Principal Partner, Financial Services
Amy Carolus
Principal Partner, Financial Services
With a background in accounting and executive financial leadership, Amy brings extensive expertise in nonprofit finance, strategic planning, and operational management. Throughout her career, Amy has worked with organizations of all sizes to strengthen financial health, improve efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability. Amy has held executive leadership roles overseeing complex financial systems, multi-million-dollar budgets, and fund development strategies. Her expertise includes financial planning, compliance, grant and contract management, capital projects, and guiding organizations through operational transitions. A strategic and solutions-oriented leader, Amy is passionate about helping nonprofits navigate financial complexities while positioning them for growth and impact. At Fox Creek, Amy leads the Financial Services division, ensuring nonprofits have the tools, insights, and support needed to manage financial operations effectively. She leads a team specializing in accounting, financial planning, financial reporting, financial strategy, and fractional CFO consulting.
Amy earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her dedication to the nonprofit sector stems from a commitment to strengthening organizations so they can focus on what matters most—serving their communities.
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Arian Haddix
Director of Operations
Arian Haddix
Director of Operations
Arian served as a former Executive Director, Development Director, and other fund development roles over several years in the non-profit industry. Prior to her non-profit roles, she worked for several years in the banking and finance industry. Arian received a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Bellevue University with additional program of study minors in Women’s Studies and Psychology. She previously held a CFRE designation. Arian brings her prior experiences to assist clients in grant proposal writing, non-profit management strategy, budgeting, CRM software knowledge, and operational efficiencies. She loves helping non-profit teams focus on their missions by assisting in providing support and stability to their daily work.
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Mara Andersen
Director of Grant Services
Mara Andersen
Director of Grant Services
Mara served as an executive director, grant writer, and board member for several years in the nonprofit sector in rural Nebraska. With additional experience as a business manager and elected government official, Mara has worked with a broad range of organizations to braid missions, achieve common purposes, and raise over a million dollars for community and youth-centered development. Her extensive experience includes organizational strategy, capital campaigns, program development, grant writing, and partnership development. She earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in English, specializing in composition, language, and rhetoric from the University of Nebraska system. Mara understands the challenges and rewards of mission-centered work and is passionate about helping nonprofits create change in their communities.
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Johanna Jones
Government Services & Compliance Manager
Johanna Jones
Government Services & Compliance Manager
Johanna has extensive experience writing and managing successful grants, securing millions of dollars in private, federal, state, and local funding for nonprofits and governmental entities.
Prior to joining Fox Creek, Johanna was the grants and compliance officer of a nonprofit organization where she was responsible for writing government grant proposals, managing all government grant contract terms and conditions, and overseeing the agency’s quality assurance initiatives.
Johanna holds a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice and bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. During her undergraduate studies, she was a research assistant for three years in the Department of Psychology and has work published in the International Journal of Management Practice, Violence Against Women, and Journal of Management Development. Johanna has completed numerous trainings through the Department of Justice in federal financial assistance management.
Financial Services Team
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Terri Mentink
Staff Accountant
Terri Mentink
Staff Accountant
Terri has served in multiple financial roles, including Business Office Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Controller, and Grants Finance Manager. She has a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Bellevue University. Terri previously worked for a tribal organization managing the financial aspects of state, federal, and tribal grants and established best practices for grant tracking and monitoring. She brings her prior experience and knowledge of accounts payable/receivable, invoicing, budgeting, banking, and financial reporting to the nonprofit sector, along with the analysis, creation, and implementation of process improvements for optimal efficiencies.
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Renee Dervin
Staff Accountant
Renee Dervin
Staff Accountant
Renee brings over 15 years of experience in public and private accounting, bookkeeping, and financial management across a variety of industries, including the nonprofit sector. As a skilled accounting professional, she specializes in bookkeeping, payroll processing, financial statement preparation, and budget preparation for businesses of all sizes.
Renee is highly experienced in accounting operations and administrative management, having played a key role in financial reporting, audits, and compliance. Her expertise extends to strategic planning, employee training , and client relations, making her an integral part of any team.
With her dedication to accuracy, efficiency, and client success, Renee is committed to providing exceptional financial support that helps businesses thrive.
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Sinead Nolan
Staff Accountant
Sinead Nolan
Staff Accountant
Sinead brings over 20 years of customer service experience across a variety of industries, including the insurance and service sectors, with the past five years concentrated in the accounting and operations field. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a keen attention to detail and a natural ability to streamline processes, ensuring both efficiency and accuracy in every project she undertakes. She has earned multiple certifications in various areas, underscoring her expertise and commitment to professional growth.
In recent years, Sinead has worked with several small nonprofits, where her passion for optimizing operations and improving organizational effectiveness has flourished. She enjoys working behind the scenes, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing solutions that drive operational and financial efficiency. Sinead is dedicated to optimizing funding capacity and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively so nonprofits can maximize their impact on the communities they serve. Her focus on both the big picture and the smallest details allows her to enhance the overall functioning of organizations, ensuring they operate smoothly and sustainably.
Grant Services Team
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Luke Sutton
Grants Manager
Luke Sutton
Grants Manager
Luke served as a former Development Director, Grants Manager, and other fund development roles for over seven years in the non-profit industry. Previous organizations Luke worked for had focus areas of supporting at-risk youth, youth development/learning, youth mentorship, and public policy. Luke received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wayne State College, as well as a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Luke is passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations and helping them serve their communities.
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Erin Mockler
Grants Manager
Erin Mockler
Grants Manager
Prior to joining Fox Creek, Erin served as a Grants Manager, Program Director, and Grant Writer for a rural nonprofit organization and a Native American Tribe. This experience has given her a deep understanding of federal grant application processes, award management protocol, unique Tribal issues, and the needs of people in rural areas. Erin holds a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In addition to being a member of Grant Professionals Association and completing many hours of continuing education through them, she furthered her post-secondary education by taking courses in psychology, counseling, and business accounting. Before embarking on her career as a grant professional, she worked for municipalities, large and small, for almost two decades in various administrative capacities, and she was an advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Erin loves supporting nonprofits by finding funding avenues for them and assisting with grant compliance requirements, so their direct providers can focus on doing the good work that is their passion.
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Carly Buskirk
Grants Manager
Carly Buskirk
Grants Manager
Carly has a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus in Public Policy from the University of Nebraska – Omaha and is passionate about housing and social justice. She brings over 6 years of nonprofit experience in program design, implementation, and evaluation. In addition to grant management with Fox Creek, Carly consults with local nonprofits, providing technical assistance.
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Danielle Werbylo
Grants Manager
Danielle Werbylo
Grants Manager
Danielle has a Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor’s in Public Management and Policy. Danielle’s professional background focuses on nonprofit development, including experience in fundraising, donor relations, event planning, and grant writing. Previous organizations she has worked for have areas of focus around basic needs insecurity and at-risk youth education.
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Gina Tranisi
Grants Manager
Gina Tranisi
Grants Manager
Gina Tranisi is a seasoned nonprofit professional with extensive experience in arts and culture administration. As a former executive director and program director, she has gained invaluable experience in grant and technical writing, major gifts fundraising, program creation, workshop facilitation, and board development and retention. A published poet, Gina’s work has appeared in Rattle and The Rumpus, among other journals. She believes that a good poem and a good grant each ought to tell a clear, concise, compelling story to win their audience’s attention. Gina earned her B.A. and M.A. in English with a Specialization in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is excited to champion nonprofit organizations of all kinds, expand their financial capacity, and support their brilliant leaders as they strive to fill gaps in service to meet the needs of our vibrant communities.
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Lauren A. Miller-Azar
Grants Manager
Lauren A. Miller-Azar
Grants Manager
Lauren received her BS in Human Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her Masters in Social Work at San Diego State University, specializing in Community Development and Administration. As a graduate student, Lauren worked as a research assistant and collaborated on several community-based research projects, gaining extensive knowledge in sexual exploitation and associated risks, including HIV, substance use, and homelessness. While living in San Diego, she also worked as a Community Relations Associate at the Survivors of Torture International (SOTI), a San Diego non-profit dedicated to the healing and thriving of asylum seekers and refugees escaping torture in their home countries. Her strong skills as an administrative social worker in various settings, including government, nonprofit, and for-profit settings, have set her up to thrive at Fox Creek. In addition to writing grants for her Omaha-based nonprofits, Lauren is the head of the Fox Creek Fundraising Western Regional Office located in Reno, NV, and focused on supporting nonprofits throughout California and Nevada. Rooted in the values of social work, she is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through research, writing, and advocacy.
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Rebecca Branan
Grants Manager
Rebecca Branan
Grants Manager
Rebecca Branan has a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis on applied linguistics from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Rebecca has worked in grant writing and fund development since 2018. She has extensive experience in capital campaigns and procuring program and operating funds, specifically focusing on mentoring, homelessness, and substance use disorder services. Rebecca enjoys working behind the scenes to impact vulnerable populations in our community.
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Meredith Seaman
Grants Manager
Meredith Seaman
Grants Manager
Meredith Seaman has over 25 years of experience working in executive-level positions within the Omaha non-profit sector. As a CFRE certified fundraiser, she has a passion for helping non-profits make a positive impact in their community, thrive in their mission, and expand their footprint. She is fluent in all areas of revenue development as well as strategic planning and board development. Meredith earned her degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. With a combination of education, experience, and a dedication to serving others, she thrives in an arena where she can help make a difference in the world.
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Emma Morgan
Grants Manager
Emma Morgan
Grants Manager
Emma got her B.A. in Indigenous Religion and International Development from Dartmouth College, her M.P.A. in Development Practice, and her M.A. in Tribal Economic Development from Columbia University. Emma focuses on food security and housing development.
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Rachel Combs
Grants Manager
Rachel Combs
Grants Manager
Rachel Hauben Combs has over 30 years of nonprofit administrative experience, primarily in development. She has worked as a development officer or consultant with several nonprofits, including Storycatchers Theatre, About Face Theatre, Remy Bumppo Theatre, the League of Chicago Theatres in Chicago, Opera Omaha, the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, and the Ronald McDonald House in Omaha. During her 16-year tenure with Storycatchers Theatre, Rachel facilitated dramatic organizational growth, from a budget of just under $500,000 in 2007 to nearly $1.8 million in 2023. She assumed the interim executive director role for Storycatchers from November 2022 to April 2023 while the company searched for its next organizational leader. Rachel was part of the artistic leadership of Omaha’s BLUEBARN Theatre from 1991-1997. She holds a BFA in Acting from the State University of New York at Purchase and an MA in Writing and Publishing from DePaul University.
Consulting Team
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Debbie Orduna
Executive Coach & Organizational Consultant
Debbie Orduna
Executive Coach & Organizational Consultant
Debbie has a master’s degree in Human Service Administration and is a doctoral candidate in Human Capital Management. Her research seeks to understand psychological capital’s effect on employees’ well-being when working under various leadership styles. Debbie is the owner of Focal Consulting, where she assists organizations in gaining traction on their goals while focusing on the health of their organization and people. Debbie is an Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS®) implementer and Certified Working Genius Facilitator for Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group’s Working Genius Program.
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Leslie Spethman
Strategic Planning & Nonprofit Board Governance Consultant
Leslie Spethman
Strategic Planning & Nonprofit Board Governance Consultant
Leslie’s diverse professional background includes roles as an executive director, director of corporate giving and community engagement, and director of communications and marketing. Since 2018, Leslie has owned her own consulting business focused on nonprofit board governance and strategic planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNO, and a Master of Science in Healthcare Business Administration from Clarkson College. She has served on several nonprofit boards and committees. In 2014, she earned a certificate in nonprofit board governance consulting from BoardSource. Leslie’s passion is helping nonprofits develop realistic, actionable strategic plans and helping nonprofit boards successfully govern the organizations they represent.
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Lindsy Brown
Creative Design Consultant
Lindsy Brown
Creative Design Consultant