Brenda Pelofsky has been a professional fundraiser for more than 30 years. She brings to The Transition Academy her passion for supporting organizations’ fundraising goals and creating successful fundraising strategies. She has expertly collaborated with community health and behavioral health centers, alongside foundations and government officials at local, state, and national levels. Her exceptional skills have helped secure more than $200 million in grants across all levels of government and the private sector.

Pelofsky spent 22 years as Executive Vice President of Swope Parkway Health where she was responsible for all fundraising initiatives for the health center. She is now a senior consultant with Byrne, Pelofsky & Associates in Kansas City where she has assisted more than 150 non-profits with their fundraising goals. She holds a Bachelor of Sciences Degree from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Throughout her distinguished career, Pelofsky has been involved in many significant nonprofit boards and committees including the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, MS Society, Greater Kansas City Mental Health Foundation, Missouri Coalition for Primary Health Care, KC CareLink, Kansas City Care Network, and the Applied Urban Research Institute. She was an active member of the Missouri Coalition for Primary Health Care and was president of the Greater Kansas City Mental Health Foundation Board and contributed as a legislative committee member for the National Association of Community Mental Health Centers. Her commitment extended to the Homeless Care Task Force, the community-wide HIV/AIDS program, and the Mayor’s Minority Health Task Force. She’s been recognized many times for her dedication and service including being named as one of the Kansas City Business Journal’s “25 Women Who Mean Business” in 2009. Additionally, she was honored by the Kansas City Care Network as “A Leader with Vision.”

Kent Hawkins is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in financial analysis and strategic planning. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Financial and Offsite Analysis at NeighborWorks America, Hawkins has been instrumental in driving the organization’s mission forward for the past 22 years. His expertise lies in analyzing complex financial data and providing valuable insights to inform decision-making processes. 

In addition to his role at NeighborWorks America, Hawkins serves as Treasurer on the Health Forward Foundation Board of Directors, where he brings his financial acumen to bear in support of the Foundation’s mission to improve the health and well-being of communities in Kansas and Missouri.

Prior to his role at NeighborWorks America, Hawkins served as the Director of Finance for the City of North Kansas City, where he demonstrated his proficiency in budgeting, forecasting, and fiscal management. Prior to that role, Hawkins was Deputy Auditor in Jackson County where he spent years honing his skills in auditing and compliance, laying the groundwork for his future success in financial leadership roles.

With a proven track record of driving financial performance and fostering organizational growth, Hawkins is a respected leader in the field of financial analysis and management. His expertise, combined with his unwavering commitment to excellence, makes him an invaluable asset to any organization fortunate enough to have him on board.

Steve Roling’s career has spanned the non-profit, business, governmental, and philanthropic sectors, but always with a central focus on enhancing the quality of life in the Kansas City area. In joining The Transition Academy’s board of directors, Roling brings with him a wealth of experience in private, non-profit, and government organizations.

Notably, Roling was the Founding President and CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, now known as the Health Forward Foundation. Under his stewardship from 2004 through 2013, the agency invested more than $160 million in initiatives focused on improving healthcare access for the medically underserved. He has been enjoying a well-deserved retirement since 2013.

Roling earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He worked at Butterfield Youth Services in Marshall, MO, and the Missouri Association for Social Welfare in Jefferson City, MO.

He shifted his focus to public policy while working for Senator Tom Eagleton in Washington DC, and then his career transitioned to the financial sector, with roles as Vice President at Trader’s Bank, United Missouri Bank, and Bank of Kansas City. Roling also steered the helm as Publisher of the Kansas City Business Journal. He later delved into the realm of philanthropy, serving as Senior Vice President of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. His public service extended to the role of Director at the Missouri Department of Social Services in Jefferson City, MO. He has also shared his wealth of knowledge as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Social Work at UMKC.

Roling’s commitment to community welfare extends beyond employment roles. He has been dedicated to many non-profit boards including the Missouri Department of Mental Health Commission, United Way, Mid Continent Public Library, Urban Neighborhood Initiative, Jacob & Ella Loose Foundation, and St. Thomas More Parish Council.

Roling’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication to working with others from all sectors of society for the betterment of the Kansas City region and beyond. Personally, he and his wife Judi have been married for 48 years and nurtured a family deeply rooted in the Kansas City community, including their two accomplished daughters and six cherished grandchildren.