Hello! Meet Our Board of Directors.
Brenda Pelofsky
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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.”
Darla Wilkerson
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Throughout her career, Darla Wilkerson has been a staunch advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace. With more than 37 years of expertise, Darla has been instrumental in driving the vision, direction, and overall success of various organizations.
Wilkerson recently retired as Chief Executive Officer in December 2023 after leading the Center for Disability Inclusion since 2019. As CEO, she presented the mission of CDI and championed the message of disability inclusion through focused consultation and training with business partners and other organizations. Her efforts have impacted national and international audiences, delivering training to thousands of corporate, government, and non-profit entities.
Wilkerson founded her consulting business, the CSI Network, in 2010, where she continues to provide specialized consultation and training tailored to the employment of people with disabilities. Her commitment to disability advocacy is deeply personal, as she identifies as a person with a disability herself, having acquired a brain injury in 2006. This firsthand experience informs her understanding of the challenges faced by individuals seeking employment opportunities.
Recognized as one of the 2021 Ace Award winners and Champions of Diversity, Darla’s dedication to partnering with businesses to elevate inclusion in the workplace remains unwavering.
She holds a Master’s degree in public administration with a non-profit emphasis from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has served on numerous national and statewide boards dedicated to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Before her executive roles, Darla served as Director of Employment & Training at the Missouri Department of Mental Health – DDD and Director of Employment at the University of Missouri, where she provided invaluable services, training, and consultation in organizational change and career development for individuals with disabilities.
Ivan Nugent
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Ivan Nugent is a dedicated attorney who has been with Krigel Nugent + Moore since 2018, earning his position as a shareholder in 2021. With a passion for justice, Nugent has built his career on advocating for those whose voices often go unheard.
Starting out as a public defender, Nugent ensured that even those without means had access to compassionate legal representation. During his tenure, he fiercely defended the rights of his clients, including representing the Kansas City Public Schools for eight years, prevailing in over 13 jury trials.
His expertise extends across various legal domains, from litigating contracts and employment disputes to navigating complex educational and governmental matters. His extensive experience in educational, employment, and business law, coupled with his courtroom acumen, distinguishes him as a valuable asset to any legal team.
Nugent earned both his B.B.A in Finance and Economics and an M.B.A from Rockhurst University. He then received his Juris Doctor degree from Western Michigan University, Lansing, Michigan, in 2009. He’s a member of the Jackson County Bar Association, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Minority In-house Counsel Association.
In addition to his professional associations, he is also active in various community organizations. He has been on the Board of Directors at The Children’s Place and Christo Rey in Kansas City. He has also served on the Board of Trustees for Rockhurst High and a board member of Show Me KC Schools. He was in the Centurions Leadership Program in 2016 and the year before he was named the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Most Wanted.
Steve Roling
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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.