About Jessica L. Cavagnero

Jess leads SeaChange’s activity in nonprofit mergers and sustained collaboration as well as its work in helping nonprofits analyze and develop financial strategies to refine their business models, including scenario planning, risk assessment, and restructuring. She is responsible for two grantmaking funds, The SeaChange-Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration and The New York Merger, Acquisition, and Collaboration Fund, which each support nonprofits that are exploring or planning mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, administrative and programmatic partnerships, etc. Since 2012, Jess has partnered with over 800 nonprofit leaders and board members, representing organizations of all sectors, geographies, and sizes, in their pursuit of sustained collaborations. She helped launch the Greater Philadelphia Nonprofit Repositioning Fund and the National Sustained Collaboration Network, where she serves as a member of the Advisory Board. Prior to her transition to the nonprofit sector, Jess was a Vice President in the Client Strategy Group at Credit Suisse, where she developed global coverage strategies for 50 of the firm’s most important clients. Jess was among the firm’s seven finalists for the 2010 Women’s Bond Club Rising Star Award. She is a proud native New Yorker and graduate of Cornell University. She spends her "free” time encouraging her sons to be Mets fans, much to her husband’s dismay.

About Scott Cotenoff

About Torrie A. Taj

Dynamic. Altruistic. Strategic. Torrie Taj is a passionate and dedicated professional with more than 28 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy. Torrie is a heartfelt leader who loves to create big visions for the future while embracing a theory of abundance.  Her energy is contagious and attracts the best talent of individuals who want to make a difference today and for the next generation.

As CEO at Child Crisis Arizona, Torrie provides support and leadership to her team to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect, creating safe kids and strong families. Torrie started her career as a volunteer in 1991 and worked her way up, overseeing a variety of human-service programs and departments before being recruited to lead Child Crisis Arizona in 2015, following the merger of two long-time Arizona nonprofit organizations. As a member of the leadership team, board volunteer or CEO Torrie has been involved in more than a dozen mergers. In 2020, Torrie lead Child Crisis Arizona through a crucial pivot of services during the covid-19 pandemic, allowing the organization to sustain all 250 staff with no furloughs or reductions in force.

Torrie encourages her staff to give back through volunteer work in the community. Leading by example, Torrie enthusiastically serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and teaches at ASU, her alma mater . . . Go Devils! Her WHY is to mentor, motivate and inspire incredible people who collectively work together so that our community is a better place for everyone.

For fun, Torrie loves spending time with her three children, gardening and traveling! Torrie’s determination and love for humankind drive her to achieve extraordinary results. Her abundant life is filled with gratitude, optimism, and lifelong learning which keep her inspired and moving forward.