Melissa Bank Stepno joined Blackbaud in 2005 and currently serves as Director of Analytics & Business Consulting Services. She has worked in the fundraising and nonprofit space for more than 20 years and has consulted with hundreds of clients across all sectors and sizes. As a frequent speaker at industry events and contributor to whitepaper and articles, her areas of interest include the effective use of data and analytics to drive fundraising growth, the impact of high net worth philanthropy on major giving programs, and on developing best practices for prospect research and prospect management. Melissa is the Incoming President to the Board of Directors for Apra and is an instructor for the Rice University Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. Previously, she has served on the boards of NEDRA, AFP’s Northern New England Chapter and Brandeis University’s Alumni Association. She received her BA from Brandeis University and masters’ degrees in Arts Administration and Higher Education Administration from Boston University.