Meet The Team
We are Fundraisers who set up an agency.
We are Fundraisers who bring personal expertise from setting up in-house teams and agency relationships all over the world, and personal experience of all aspects of field canvassing in the USA.
Martin Leggett
(Chief Executive Officer)
Born in Pennsylvania, Martin is a lifelong entrepreneur and an innovator in the world of fundraising. His years of study in the non-profit and governmental space earned him Honors Degrees from Clark University in both Government & International Relations, and Public Administration. Once out ‘in the field’, Martin worked as a fundraising consultant and grant-writer for local non-profits in Worcester, MA. While this work was fulfilling, his drive and passion told him there had to be a more sustainable way to secure funding. Read More
Life brought Martin to Austin, Texas in 2013, where he entered the world of face-to-face (F2F) canvassing for the first time. Immediately he found his niche and honed his skills recruiting recurring donors for Plan International and Save the Children. After starting as an entry level fundraiser, he continued to move up the hierarchy until he was given the role of COO. His focus on direct management, integrity, respect, and innovation helped him become the successful leader he is today.
Having played a crucial role in the expansion of one of the fastest growing fundraising companies in the country, Martin went on to co-found New Canvassing Experience in an effort to design a forward-thinking fundraising team that will set a new standard for excellence and quality in the industry.
Martin is a keen runner, archer, hang-glider pilot, and gardener, and is married to Rachel. Martin is NCE’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer.
John Jeffries
(Head of Development)
John is British, and, having graduated in Economics from the University of Bath, began a career in Retail Training. In 2006, he took the skills he developed in training and people development into the canvassing sector, with Fundraising Initiatives, in London. During this time he developed an affinity for the needs of his clients and an in-depth knowledge of successful canvassing. Read More
In 2009 he was approached to manage the London in-house canvassing team and then the national operations for the RSPB. Here, by adopting more progressive forms of management, he developed a high quality team of canvassers in a highly competitive market, with industry leading quality.
In 2011 John took a contract with SOS Children’s Villages as their International F2F Specialist and, based from Vienna, provided support across the Federation, including countries as varied as Colombia, Sri Lanka, Norway, Russia and Croatia.
Between 2013 and 2016, John has been the International F2F Manager for Save the Children International and has been supporting canvassing across the membership as well as personally establishing in-house operations in South Africa where he has been based. Whilst there, he also found the time to set up Fundraising That Works (FTW), the country’s leading canvassing agency.
John is married to Elena, is a regular on TV quiz shows in the UK and is a fan of the New York Yankees, Welsh Rugby, good movies, bad food and giant rabbits. John is a terrible runner but tries to run a marathon each year, mostly to deal with the bad food…John is NCE’s Co-Founder and heads up all Client Services functions and international development.
Lisa Pace
(HR Director)
Born and raised in Texas, Lisa still calls Texas home. She currently lives in a small town outside of Austin called Bastrop. Lisa has over 15 years of experience in Human Resources (HR) and business administration, but is committed to continuous self-development and is currently studying for additional HR certification. Read More
Lisa started work with NCE in December 2016 within the HR Department. She quickly was aligned with the mission and purpose of NCE and vision and mission of the organization. As a Mom of three daughters, Lisa has always possessed the skills for being a fixer and problem solver. Little did she know these would all be skills that were preparing her for her future as a leader in HR, a role that she is very passionate about.
Outside work, Lisa enjoys being on the nearby lakes or by the beach. Lisa is a sucker for all animals and currently has two dogs, one cat and a bearded dragon.
Lisa is our HR Director and heads up the HR team for NCE and its partners around the world. She strives to create a safe and motivating environment for all to thrive and be successful in.
Sally Mann
(Director of Operations)
Born in Ohio, Sally is an avid humanitarian and activist. She earned a Bachelors’ Degree in Anthropology from Eastern Kentucky University focusing on culture and sustainable development. Read More
Post college, Sally entered the world of retail sales based around Interior Design. She quickly became a part of regional management and gained a passion for training others and helping them to accomplish their goals. As she grew within the company she found herself establishing new markets and landed in Austin, Texas.
After spending a number of years in sales, Sally wanted more. She knew she could take her experience and apply it to the non-profit world. In 2016, Sally found NCE and entered into professional fundraising as an entry-level Canvasser. Now working on the operational side of the company, Sally devotes each day to supporting her colleagues and ‘for purpose’ partners, ensuring their integrity and success.
When Sally is enjoying (enforced) time off, she loves being outdoors, camping, hiking, craft beers, and The Grateful Dead. You can catch her dancing at most bluegrass and jam band shows in Austin.
Sally is NCE’s National Manager of Operations and is responsible for all operational support tasks that underpin everything that NCE achieves.
Alex Cuda
(Director of Tech and Data Analytics)
Alex is originally from Illinois and is now living in Portland, OR. He started off as a fundraiser in our Eugene office knocking doors for The Nature Conservancy, and is now the head of our Data Analytics department. After graduating with a degree in Natural Resources Management from Michigan State, Alex’s work prior to NCE revolved largely around fish data: researching fish populations in various states, completing research projects that influenced fishery regulation changes, and presenting some significant findings at the American Fisheries Society conference. Read More
However, since coming to NCE, Alex’s proudest accomplishment by far is beating both Martin and John at a game of pool. Long term, he would love to help optimize the face-to-face fundraising industry using big data while seeing NCE grow to be the biggest canvassing company that’s ever existed.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys music, being outdoors, psychology and philosophy, and watching sports while drinking beer. He lives with his partner of 10 years, Rae, and their adventure Chihuahua, Luna. One of his favorite things about his job is “the sense of freedom and opportunity while at the end of the day, knowing it is making the world better.”
Kelsey Rosencrance
(Account Executive)
Kelsey was raised in Wisconsin and graduated from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a Media Studies degree. She was a barista in college which made her fall in love with working with people and, more importantly, building relationships.Read More
In 2016, she moved to Mankato, Minnesota to be closer to family and find a career she loves. Account Management quickly became the obvious path as she could use her interpersonal skills to help build relationships with clients while helping them to succeed in their field.
2020 brought a lot of changes to a lot of people and, for Kelsey, it meant finding a career where she could help in a more meaningful way. In August 2021, Kelsey was brought on to the Client Services team at NCE as our Account Executive
Kelsey is a film buff with a love of horror and superheroes. She loves being outside, when it is not 20 below zero in Minnesota, as well as kayaking, video games, and attending drag shows. She also loves spending time with her fur baby, Roxie.
Jayden Gordon
(Regional Director)
Originally from New York City, Jayden Gordon is a Regional Director with a passion for leadership and empowering others to succeed. Drawing inspiration from his diverse experiences, Jayden is committed to setting people up for success by helping them step into leadership roles where they can truly thrive. Read More
A proud achievement of his is making the bold move from New York to Los Angeles, where he built a new life and career. This journey not only shaped his professional path but also deepened his love for travel, nature, and exploration. When he’s not driving success in the workplace, you can find Jayden hiking in the beautiful outdoors or enjoying quality time with his family.
In addition to his professional skills, Jayden has an unexpected talent for acting, excelling in roles that range from comedic to dramatic. His ability to step into various characters showcases his versatility and creativity.
A passionate traveler, Jayden’s favorite destination is Panama, where his family hails from. One of his most memorable experiences was visiting the Panama Canal and witnessing the impressive passage of ships, a moment that captured his deep connection to his heritage.
With a natural ability to connect with people and a strong commitment to growth, Jayden continues to lead with purpose and inspiration, both personally and professionally.
Chaasar Williams
(Regional Director)
Chaasar is a dedicated and results-driven professional with a passion for leadership and team development. Raised in Richmond, CA, and with deep ties to the Bay Area, Chaasar has always been motivated by the dynamic and ever-evolving challenges of his career. He is a proud graduate of the legendary Grambling State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Sociology, an experience that shaped his approach to understanding people, building strong teams, and driving positive outcomes.. Read More
In his current role as Regional Director, Chaasar is energized by the unpredictable nature of each workday. He thrives on the challenge of not knowing exactly how the day will unfold, but always with the conviction that his hard work and dedication can make a lasting impact. His commitment to excellence inspires not only his own professional growth but also the success of the teams he leads.
Outside of his career, Chaasar is most proud of his role as a father. Watching his children grow into their own individuals with unique personalities, talents, and interests is his greatest accomplishment. He deeply values the opportunity to guide them through life’s journey.
A hidden passion of Chaasar’s is his love for chess, which he enjoys as a strategic mental escape during his downtime. As for travel, New York City holds a special place in his heart. With family in Harlem, he considers the city a second home. He fondly recalls attending the West Indian Day Parade during his high school years, an unforgettable experience filled with music, celebration, and the energy of over a million people.
Chaasar’s diverse background, dedication to personal and professional growth, and strong values of leadership and family make him a driving force in everything he does.
Ben McClymont
(Regional Director)
Ben is a born storyteller and activist. Having graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in Japanese Language, East Asian Cultural Studies, and Theatre Arts, Ben soon moved to Japan where he led conferences and workshops all over the country. His adventures brought him to China and then Taiwan where, among other things, he led an air band, started a kids YouTube channel, began a community outreach driven theatre company, and even filmed a Netflix series. He’s thrilled to be able to continue to use his storytelling skills with NCE.Read More
Ben was born in Easton, Pennsylvania and as a young teen began working as a professional Crayonologist for the Crayola company, making crayons and running classes for local kids around the country. His background in theatre and ensemble building led him to getting a job with NCE and the rest is history.
Outside of inspiring people to go out and make change, you can find Ben hosting game nights, painting rocks, making puppets, or even performing as Flair DeBonair at local drag shows. Keep an eye out for his upcoming one man show.
Devin Hanley
(Special Projects Manager)
Hailing originally from northern Connecticut, Devin is one of NCE’s most tenured employees. Starting as a Canvasser in Austin in 2014, Devin has enthusiastically worked in many different roles during his time with the team. Read More
Devin has lived in Austin for 10 years, enjoys riding his bike and rocking with his band “The Manly Hanleys” on the weekend.
Devin is NCE’s Recruitment Manager and works for recruitment department in Austin, a dedicated team that ensure our offices in the US and our partner offices in the US and Canada are staffed with fantastic, talented fundraisers.
Drake Gibson
(Head of Quality Control)
Drake grew up in a small Texas town on the Texas/Louisiana line but now resides in San Marcos. He studied Public Relations at Lamar University. Life brought Drake and his wife to Austin in 2018 where he met Devin, Ron and Andrew and knew this would be a good fit for him. Before NCE, he worked in human resources and restaurant management. Read More
Drake begins most days by drinking too much coffee and reading too much news. He enjoys the scenic Texas Hill Country, the music of John Prine and Todd Snider, playing computer games with friends online and cooking for his wife and child.
Ron Schrock
(Head of NCE Recruitment)
Ron hails from lovely Lincoln, Nebraska. After graduating high school, he headed west to the beautiful City of Angeles. It was there that he first entered the world of Face-to-Face fundraising. Besides finding his passion and his way in life, raising money to help others, it was also through canvassing that he met his wife, with whom Ron moved to Chicago, and started their own F2F Fundraising company. Read More
In January 2014, after two glorious Chicago winters, he migrated south to Austin, Texas where he was able to continue working in the field he loves by joining NCE. In his seven years in F2F, Ron has been a Canvasser, Team Leader, Senior Team Leader, Director-in-Training, Weekend Manager, co-owner of an LLC and, in his most recent role, Senior Recruitment Specialist.
When not hard at work recruiting new canvassers, Ron can be found spending time with his wife, either binge watching the latest Netflix show, playing Settlers of Catan, or exploring all the fun activities and events that Texas has to offer.
He never misses the Austin Rodeo or a Willie Nelson concert, and will never say no to an invite to a BBQ
Deryk Buxton
(Social Media Specialist)
Deryk was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and now lives in Nashville. He graduated from MTSU with a degree in Multimedia Journalism and unfortunately, was not immediately awarded a job at ESPN.
Read More
Fortunately, at the beginning of 2023, Deryk began working for NCE as a canvasser. After a year, Deryk decided to combine his knowledge of media and his fundraising experience to become NCE’s designated social media specialist. Deryk says that after a year of canvassing, he knows how hard fundraising is and wants to make sure the efforts of every canvasser are acknowledged and appreciated.
When Deryk isn’t making Instagram highlights for NCE, he’s watching terrible television with his wife, or working on the world’s greatest podcast.
Summer Keatts
(Regional Director)
Summer is from Chase City Virginia, a small rural town on the Virginia and North Carolina state border. She graduated at 16 with her associates degree, and immediately dove into the working pool. She found her passion with her very first canvassing job with the ACLU, commuting 1 hour and 40 minutes one way every day for a year, gaining the experience she needed, and deciding that she wanted to do this for the rest of her life. Read More
Prior to NCE, she traveled across country working on different campaigns and ballot initiatives, obtaining exceptional experience in campaign strategy, design, coordination, implementation, and leadership. Summer has considerable knowledge of ground level grassroots organizing at local, state, and national levels. She’s had the opportunity to do hands on work in over 20 different states, and prides herself in being able to adapt to any social atmospheres or climates. Summer has found a new passion for the canvassing industry through NCE: “The support system you have from everyone is surreal.”
David Souffront
(Client Services Generalist)
Born in Venezuela, David Souffront is a worldly traveler and enjoys making a difference in the world. With a bachelor’s in foreign languages and literature, David is fluent in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and French. David has worked in Chicago as a field director for the Humane Society. In addition, he has worked in Seattle and Charlotte as a campaign director on behalf of Amnesty International. In Charlotte, he opened his own office for Amnesty. Read More
David currently resides in North Carolina, where he works remotely for NCE as a Virtual F2F Director, developing fundraisers so they can achieve their full potential and make the world a better place one conversation at a time.
An avid food lover, David enjoys cooking food from all over the world with his fiancé. His specialty is arepas, a comfort food, favorite from South America. David enjoys playing video games, watching movies, and reading graphic novels.
Alex Halone
(Regional Development Director – West Coast)
Alex was born and raised in Eugene Oregon where she attended the French immersion school which sparked her curiosity in international travel and other cultures. Read More
Following high school, she spent the next 13 years working and studying abroad in the Middle East, Central America and Europe. She also spent time exploring the underwater world as a SCUBA instructor before returning to university.
She received her degree from the University of Amsterdam where she studied Political Science with a focus on Political Theory and a minor in Gender and Sexuality. She came into the canvassing industry right after university and fell in love with a job where she was able to put her passion for creating a more just and equitable world into practice.
She lives in Portland with her prefect cat son, Henry. In her spare time, you can find her reading science fiction, fantasy and absolutely anything everything by adrienne maree brown. True to Portland, Alex also has a love for astrology, tarot and has an ever growing crystal collection.
Tiara Burns
(Office Director in Tampa, FL)
Tiara was born in Flint, Michigan and was raised all over the midwest. She has had people affected by the Flint water crisis so she understands the importance of giving back to the community.Read More
Tiara found out about NCE through an Indeed ad for ACLU in Atlanta. Getting paid to help different communities is amazing and nothing else seemed better for her at that moment. Tiara then moved to New Orleans to become the youngest director in NCE history, at 19 years old.
Outside of work you can find Tiara kicking it with the homies, skateboarding around the city, drinking some tea, or watching anime show with her cat Cosmo.