Silke has 20 years of experience in the non-profit, private and public sectors. Her professional background includes supervising staff and volunteers, spearheading business plans and fundraising efforts, launching marketing, sales and communications campaigns, and leading community development initiatives with non-profits in the U.S. and worldwide. Additionally, she has over a decade of experience in community/business development, taking ideas from concept to completion, and building new strategic relationships. Silke has demonstrated a strong understanding of technology-based non-profits including the design and scale of platform development, mobile apps and online networks. Silke has lived in 6 countries, traveled to 40 countries and has worked with over 14 diverse organization worldwide. Silke has a M.A. in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, and a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in German from Sonoma State University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for American Red Cross California Northwest Chapter. Silke received the 2015 Nonprofit Leadership Award by the North Bay Business Journal in October 2015 and was featured in the October 26, 2015 issue: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/industrynews/nonprofits/4636142-181/2015-nonprofit-leadership-awards-silke#8T5pTQRKRQwA4Azj.97.