2025 Nonprofit CFO of the Year

Jennifer Breary, Chief Financial & Operating Officer
AdvaMed

Jennifer Brearey is the Chief Financial & Operating Officer. She was appointed chief financial officer of AdvaMed® in March 2016, having previously served as the association’s vice president of finance and director of finance.

Prior to joining AdvaMed® in June 2012, Ms. Brearey’s experience includes seven years at Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, where she held management roles in profit analysis and vehicle pricing for Jaguar and Land Rover North America. She also led accounting for the US offices of a privately held legal-services firm, CPA Global. Ms. Brearey began her career in public accounting and has more than 19 years of finance, accounting, managerial and organizational planning experience. She holds a B.B.A from James Madison University. Ms. Brearey recently served as chairwoman of the FAR Roundtable, a 300-member network of nonprofit executives. 

2025 Association CFO of the YearSusan Medick, Chief Finance & Operations Officer
American Association of Immunologists

Susan Medick, CPA, CAE, is the Chief Finance & Operations Officer for the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), where she leads the association’s finance, human resources, IT, and meetings functions. Her career trajectory reflects an impressive evolution from public accounting to a highly specialized focus on exempt organizations. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park, Susan began her professional journey at a local accounting firm before moving to a national firm, gaining invaluable experience that laid the groundwork for her transition into the nonprofit sector.

Driven by a passion for mission-focused work, Susan has dedicated most of her career to strengthening the financial health and operational infrastructure of trade associations and nonprofit organizations. Her leadership roles at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM), the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA), the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), and the Auto Care Association have been marked by strategic financial insight and a commitment to operational excellence—all in service of member-driven missions.  

Beyond her executive responsibilities, Susan is deeply engaged in the broader nonprofit and association community. She has held key leadership positions, including Chair of FAR: The Nonprofit Business Leaders’ Network, Chair of ASAE’s Finance & Business Operations Professional Advisory Council, and Treasurer of Girls on the Run of Montgomery County.  

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Association Executive (CAE), Susan continues to be a trusted leader in advancing the impact and sustainability of mission-based organizations. On a more personal note, Susan is the proud aunt of two nieces and three great-nephews, as well as being a loving cat mom.

2025 Philanthropic CFO of the Year

Kristin Junkin, Director of Operations & Finance
ShoreRivers, Inc. 

Kristin Junkin began her career as a lawyer for a large Washington, DC, firm and then for many years co-owned a federal government contracting company. She was the founder and president of Outside Counsel, a legal personnel service in Washington, DC. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Howard University where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Kristin helped found Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (a ShoreRivers legacy organization) in 2009 and now oversees ShoreRivers’ finances, grant work, and general operations. 

PAST HONOREES

2024

• CFO of the Year: Carmel Darcy, American Red Cross
• Association CFO of the Year: Yvonne Bull, International Fresh Produce Association
• Philanthropic CFO of the Year: Karen Smith, The Ministry of Caring Inc.
• Rising Stars: 
  Joy Hickey, Federation of State Humanities Councils
  Ciarra Smith, The Hands and Feet

2023

• COO of the Year: Justin Waller, US Chamber of Commerce
• Association CFO of the Year: Ann Bittman, Healthcare Distribution Alliance
• Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Rick Robinson, Independent Sector
• Rising Stars: 
  Jessica Mclain, Girl Scout Council Nation’s Capital
  Chase Warden, Land Trust Alliance
  Faides Zilemba, BOMA International

2022

• CFO of the Year: Yvonne Kankam-Boadu, American Speech-Language Hearing Association
• Association CFO of the Year: Brian Green, CPA, CAE, Consumer Healthcare Products Association
• Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Mahomed Ouedraogo, Access Community Health Network
• Rising Stars:
  Christina Hadden, Global Impact
  Zarina Manapova, Airports Council International North America

2021

• CFO of the Year: Eileen Ramage, National Association of Home Builders
• Association CFO of the Year: Dave Fitzsimmons, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Inc.
• Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: John Robertson, Capital Area Food Bank
• Rising Stars:
  Leila Green, Conference of State Bank Supervisors
  Brice Hadden, Managed Funds Association
  Tanisha Lewis, American Association for the Advancement of Science

2019

• CFO of the Year: Joseph Budzynski, Volunteers of America
• Association CFO of the Year: Lisa Haynes, Mortgage Bankers Association
• Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Steve Barker, World Resources Institute
• Rising Stars:
  Zahilys Hernandez, National Retail Federation
  Randy Marsh, Horton’s Kids
  Jessica Sherry, Share Our Strength

2018

• CFO of the Year: Joe Janela, American Pharmacists Association
• Association CFO of the Year: Margie Erinle, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
• Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Mary Jane Morrow, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
• Rising Stars:
  Rick Cohen, National Council of Nonprofits
  Tea Gennaro, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc
  Zerihun Haile-Selassie, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
  Dave Jackson, American Counseling Association
  Warren Sander, Society for Conservation Biology

2017

• CFO of the Year: Guy Sheetz, Futures Industry Association
• Association CFO of the Year: Allison Ingram, Society of Military Engineers
• Philanthropic Organization CFO of the Year: Jim Thomasell, National Parent Teacher Association
• Rising Star: Mark Hornby, Family Career and Community Leaders of America

2016

• CFO of the Year: Deborah Cowan, NPR
• Nonprofit Transformational Leader: Paul Archambeault, Airlines for America
• Rising Star: Carolyn Mollen, Independent Sector

2015

• CFO of the Year: Philip Parisi, United Service Organizations
• Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
  Paul Vitale, Toy Industry Association
  Tom Tepper, Wilderness Society
• Rising Star: Don Miller, Meals on Wheels America

2014

• CFO of the Year: Stewart Uretsky, Brookings
• Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
  James Lum, Guide Star
  Sam DiCario, Food Marketing Insitute
• Rising Star: Sara Bannon, American Society of International Law

2013

• CFO of the Year: Marvin Irby, National Restaurant Association
• Nonprofit Transformational Leaders:
  Samantha Barbee, International Youth Foundation
  Forrest Cason, Mental Health Center of Denver
• Rising Star: John Lozitio, Academy of Management

2012

• CFO of the Year: Stanley Berman, Global Impact
• Nonprofit Transformational Leaders: Kimberly McKinnish, National Beer Wholesalers Association
• Rising Star: Jason Daisey, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc

2010

• Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Hardardt, American Gas Association
• Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: David Keen, National Association of Counties (NACo)
• Rising Star: Lisa Stewart, Institute for Higher Education Policy

2009

• Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Moira Fathy Baker, National Science Teachers Association
• Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Christopher Liedel, National Geographic Society
• Rising Star: Alexis George, Bob Woodruff Foundation

2008

• Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Eileen Frazier, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
• Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Jack Deeds, Search for Common Ground
• Rising Star: Stephanie Murphy, Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute

2007

• Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Kristen Conte, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation
• Nonprofit CFO Innovator of the Year Award: Usha Chaudhary, United Way of America
• Rising Star: Abigail Gorman, American Dental Education Association

2006

• Nonprofit CFO Lifetime Achievement Award: Brenda Hargett, American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery