With at least 10 years’ experience in the direct marketing industry, every team member brings a wealth of knowledge to your campaigns. As a client, these are the people you’ll most likely get to know, but there are also about 120 others working behind the scenes to make sure you’re a success.
Peter loves improving performance. From enhancing Concord Direct’s production capability to improving its direct mail operations, Peter enjoys finding ways to accomplish tasks better, faster, or more efficiently. His desire to always strive for better has been critical to helping Concord Direct operations stay ahead of the curve and become a leader in the direct response industry.
Peter started in the financial sector, working in commercial lending and real estate. In 1997, Peter decided to join the family business and work at Concord Direct with his father and brother. Now, more than two decades later, Peter is extremely proud of all the company has accomplished, including its work with major national nonprofits and local organizations, and its earning of the distinction of Business of the Year from the local Chamber of Commerce.
While he’s thrilled with what his family and the Concord Direct team have built professionally, life is about more than just business for Peter. He’s honored to serve on the boards of Concord Hospital and the Capital Region Development Council in Concord. He’s also an avid skier. When he’s not on the slopes himself, he’s cheering on his kids, who are competitive ski racers.
Tom is always on the move. Whether he’s meeting with Concord Direct clients or collaborating with company team members on our latest projects, it’s rare to see Tom sitting at his desk. Tom spends more than half his time on-site with customers. He learns everything about their organization, listens to their needs, and understands their challenges. For more than 20 years, Tom has overseen Concord’s nonprofit relationships, and his team is always assured he’ll bring his dedication to helping fundraising organizations on projects at every level.
He is most passionate about nonprofits that help kids in need. As a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH, Tom has seen firsthand the challenges children face. His drive to help all children live a life filled with positive influences and hope fuels his enthusiasm to help all Concord Direct clients achieve their mission to improve the world. Tom believes that teamwork is essential to the success of every project. He provides a true sense of family for Concord Direct, and he keeps the team united. When he’s not leading Concord Direct, Tom loves staying active with biking, skiing, and running. He’s also a dedicated New England sports fan, the Patriots in particular.
Many people cringe when fundraising data gets complicated. Not Steve – he dives right in. An advocate for creative fundraising solutions and measurable results, Steve is always looking for exciting ways that the Concord Direct team can create data-centered fundraising strategies. The Adaptive Fundraising Approach is the heart of Concord Direct’s process. Since Steve is constantly focused on innovating, it’s no wonder he is passionate about Concord Direct’s innovative approach.
Steve brings more than 30 years of experience in direct marketing with a focus in fundraising for the nonprofit world. His past experience includes work with major nonprofit clients such as the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation, ALSAC/St. Jude, the National Wildlife Federation, and Feeding America. Steve’s accolades include the Chairman’s Award for greatest contribution to the company during his time at Merkle, and the Direct Marketing Association’s Echo Award for Outstanding Direct Marketing Campaign. Steve drives the Concord Direct team to believe there is no finish line, and continuously look for ways to improve fundraising, increase revenue for clients, and boost fundraising results. Steve’s experience, energy, and approachable nature make him the perfect direct marketing expert to lead the Concord Direct team and keep the company moving toward the best fundraising solutions for clients.
Ask Scott what’s the most interesting thing about him, and he won’t talk about his early career as a political pollster, or his ability to work through complicated financial matters, or even his sailing skills. In fact, Scott won’t talk about himself at all. Instead, he’ll just talk about his kids, since as he puts it, “They are far more interesting than I am.”
Maybe, but not just anyone has worked for more than 30 years across all areas of finance, including banking, insurance, and securities, in both service and manufacturing industries; taking on corporate projects like acquisitions, product launches and start-ups, and recapitalizations. Scott’s taken his knack for numbers to several companies, including Amoskeag Bank, The Chubb Corporation, SC Fluids/GT Equipment Technologies, and Warner Power, and now to Concord Direct.
Scott is thrilled to use his financial skills to support the Concord Direct team so that we can continue to assist clients with their missions. That part of his work is what Scott enjoys the most – knowing the work he does to keep Concord Direct running smoothly helps nonprofits work toward their goals.
Peter’s career has always focused on serving others. From his work with small community-based food banks to his work with international environmental and human rights charities, Peter’s dedication to improving the world isn’t just amazing—it’s inspiring. No matter the size of the organization or its budget, Peter believes it’s his job to help every organization grow its audience and inspire people to take action.
Prior to joining Concord Direct, Peter worked at Convio (a company that makes online marketing and content management software for nonprofits) and Merkle, Inc. At Merkle, Peter developed interactive database systems to support prospecting and engagement efforts for clients including the National Wildlife Federation and the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Now at Concord Direct, Peter leads our digital strategy and brings his extensive expertise in how to drive new leads, spur meaningful engagement, and compel people to donate to causes they love. He has a laser-like focus on helping our clients get the most out of their marketing dollars, and our clients love Peter’s dedication to evaluating campaign success through careful data collection and analysis. When he’s not in the office, don’t expect Peter to take it easy.
He volunteers for organizations like Boulder Food Rescue, where this year, he helped them exceed their fundraising goals—significantly! He’s also been recognized for his great work and community service. In 2015, Peter was selected as a 40 Under 40 awardee by the BizWest program, which recognizes emerging young leaders. That same year, he presented a talk at TEDx CU entitled “Protecting Our Digital Souls.” Beyond his volunteer work and serving as an industry expert, Peter is really a family man who loves spending time with his daughter. They fish, hike, and (as even a digital strategist sometimes needs) get away from cell service.
Some people find managing the creative process to be messy and frustrating, but not Cindy! Cindy loves diving into details and the challenge of getting everyone aligned around one strong creative solution. And while many creative types shy away from data, Cindy says, “Bring it on!” This self-described “data dork” wants to understand data to shape a creative strategy backed by fact rather than opinion, with the end result of garnering outstanding results for her clients.
Cindy brings more than 17 years of experience in direct response marketing, writing, design, and fundraising to Concord Direct. She began her career as a graphic designer but soon followed her desire to explore campaign content and performance beyond just visuals. That’s what developed the data-driven focus she brought to creative projects for clients like the Animal Legal Defense Fund, The Seeing Eye, Grand Canyon Association, Born Free, Morris Animal Foundation, California State Parks Foundation and Trinity Missions.
An animal lover since childhood (she grew up with dogs, cats, and even a pony!), Cindy especially enjoys the work she does with animal welfare organizations. When she’s not directing creative at Concord Direct, she’s the proud mom of two busy girls with their own extensive interests in visual and performing arts. In her bit of spare time, she plays volleyball to unwind or and curls up with a good book, a cup of coffee and some chocolate to relax!
Ali is a natural-born problem solver, and Concord Direct puts her talents to good use in her role as Strategy Director. Concord Direct’s clients need to get noticed, and Ali loves working to find the best strategy to help clients stand out from the pack. With 18 years in sales and marketing, Ali’s accomplishments span a wide range. Early in her career, she helped revolutionize the management of railroad trailer fleets. She then brought her strategic thinking and marketing chops to several marketing organizations where she did everything from analytics to sales to website redevelopment for major corporations and associations.
When she’s not strategizing for Concord Direct, she’s cheering on her alma mater, Virginia Tech (Go, Hokies!), spending time with family, or diving into the water for swimming or boating. Ali says, “I’m inspired every day by my colleagues. I learn from them and admire them fiercely,” and the feeling is definitely mutual.
Maura is proud to be a data nerd. Whether she’s tracking her mileage and performance while training for her next marathon or looking at direct response trends, Maura loves using data to figure out how certain tweaks can translate to measurable improvements. Embracing her inner data nerd makes Maura an amazing Strategy Director at Concord Direct. Clients love that she brings not only her dedication to measuring results but also 30+ years of experience in direct response fundraising (working for nonprofits like CARE and data-focused organizations like Epsilon).
Throughout her career, she’s worked with a wide range of nonprofits, including the American Red Cross, Defenders of Wildlife, BrightFocus Foundation, Special Olympics, Alzheimer’s Association, Disabled American Veterans, and many others. No matter the organization, Maura is always focused on how to effectively help every nonprofit reach its target audience and improve the performance of a direct response program. With her focus on this goal, it’s no surprise she’s been recognized for her amazing work. She was part of the winning team that was awarded a DMFA Package of the Year and contributed to several NEDMA award-winning campaigns.
When Maura’s not poring over data and strategizing campaign improvements, she’s in the community working for nonprofits she loves. This includes volunteering for her running club’s annual Thanksgiving Day Race, helping out at the starting line of the Boston Marathon, and interviewing potential students for her alma mater, Northwestern University.
Carla didn’t grow up appreciating the work she does now. As the daughter of direct mail pioneer, Sanky Perlowin, Carla used to tell her friends, “My mom makes the junk mail your mom throws away.” It wasn’t until many years later, when she was hired as a Creative Director at the company her mom started, that Carla really understood what her mom loved about her work. After her first meeting with a nonprofit, Carla was hooked. She knew she was right where she belonged, helping nonprofits raise money so they could focus on their mission. Every day, Carla brings this dedication and her love for helping nonprofits meet their goals to her work as a Strategy Director at Concord Direct. Clients love her enthusiasm and her extensive experience in creative and strategic campaign development as well as in digital fundraising.
Her career has enabled her to work with many nonprofits, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Smithsonian Institute, PetSmart Charities, NAACP LDF, Scripts Research Institute, Habitat for Humanity, and Covenant House. She also led the team that developed the “Not a Game” campaign, which raised awareness of the connection between the Super Bowl and sex trafficking and won the 2016 Care2 Impact Award. She is also a frequent speaker at industry conferences, including Bridge Conference, DMFA Annual Conference, and the AFP International Conference.
Even though she is now an award-winning fundraiser and sought-after speaker in her industry, Carla is still surprised she ended up in the same business as her mom. But every day she comes to work, she’s thrilled she did.
It’s no surprise that Rick coached youth hockey and baseball. Each day he helps lead the Concord Direct team to work together and succeed. Rick brings more than 40 years of experience to Concord Direct. He’s spent decades helping nonprofits grow their donor base and raise revenue. His strengths in direct mail are a huge asset, and Rick is always finding cost-cutting ideas for Concord Direct’s direct mail clients. But he’s more than just the direct mail guru.
Concord Direct clients also love Rick’s passion for crafting new, exciting ways to help them reach their fundraising goals. Rick may have retired from coaching, but he still motivates the Concord Direct team every day. He encourages his team to focus on understanding what clients need in a fundraising campaign so clients can focus on their core mission. Concord Direct is grateful to have Rick’s experience as well as his commitment to helping clients improve the world.
Want to know what running a restaurant kitchen and coordinating a fundraising program have in common? Just ask Bert. As a former aspiring chef turned fundraiser, Bert knows that whether it’s a successful dinner service or a direct mail campaign, the same ingredients are required – a strong team, focused vision, and dedication to excellence. While he long ago left the restaurant biz (although he still loves food, of course!), Bert was thrilled to transfer his passion for great service and project management to direct mail. For more than 15 years, Bert has been working in direct mail marketing.
At Concord Direct, he’s thrilled to use his initiative and management skills to help with nonprofit fundraising and furthering the missions of Concord Direct clients, including Partnership with Native Americans, California State Parks Foundation and Sustainable Conservation. Clients love that Bert keeps everything moving smoothly, and they also appreciate his knack for data and amazing memory (he even remembers his neighbors’ phone numbers from childhood).
Outside work, Bert hits the trails. He’s an avid trail runner and competitor, and has completed four 100-mile ultramarathons. He still finds time to cook, especially for his friends and family, and loves to give back to the sport he loves. When he’s not running races, he’s often volunteering to help race events operate smoothly.
Helping others is at the center of nearly everything Devon does. Whether she’s hiking all 2,179 miles of the Appalachian Trail to bring awareness to a cause or working with Concord Direct clients, her focus is always on how she can highlight organizations that improve our world. As a passionate fundraiser for more than 10 years, Devon’s interest in nonprofits began with private school fundraising and grew to include positions at some of the best-known agencies in the world. Independently, she even organized a fundraising drive to support the Brain Injury Association of America in honor of a close friend.
During her career, she’s overseen direct mail, telemarketing, and digital media strategies for multiple small and large-scale nonprofit organizations while leading internal teams and managing external vendors. Outside work, it’s hard to chase Devon down – whether she’s running, hiking, or walking her dogs, she finds her time in nature helps her recharge for work, and she uses this time to think up new creative ideas for clients. Clients love Devon’s curiosity and creative thinking, and we’re glad she’s brought her inquisitive spirit and extensive experience to the Concord Direct team.
Ask Gretchen what she’s most passionate about, and her answer can be summarized in one word: giving. Giving her time, energy, passion, skills, experience. Whether volunteering for a cause or working for one, Gretchen’s life revolves around giving.
A proud New England native, Gretchen began her career at an independent ad agency working with some of the most recognizable names in B2B and B2C companies, but it was her work with nonprofts that really ignited her passion. Nonprofits like Doctors Without Borders, Defenders of Wildlife, The Union of Concerned Scientists, and especially the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Whether it’s managing a client’s multi-channel direct response fundraising campaign, orchestrating a program to upgrade donors to major-gift prospects, or re-inventing a multi-channel membership renewal, Gretchen thrives on giving her talents to get donors to give as well. But she’ll tell you that the best part of her job is building the strong partnerships with clients and working with them, shoulder-to-shoulder, to reach a shared goal. Her clients love that relationship, too, as Gretchen’s work has been recognized with several awards.
On the rare occassion you catch Gretchen not working for a great nonprofit cause, you’ll likely find her spending time outdoors with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband (they’ve been married 21 years) and their 9-year-old daughter, or tearing through a good book (every room in their home has an overflowing bookcase.) And if you’re in Boston this summer, you may also see Gretchen rocking a stage with her band.
Does working in the world of international finance sound intimidating? How about speaking in front of 400 people? Navigating international money regulations and public speaking may have many folks looking for the nearest exit, but not Arlene. She’s done all this and more! Arlene began her career at Nashua Corporation, where she started in international finance. With her great talent for managing large projects while keeping an eye on the numbers, she smoothly transitioned into other areas at the company, including retail advertising, direct marketing, and print management. She then moved to Brookstone, where she worked in project management, marketing operations, and digital marketing. At Concord Direct, she combines her finance chops and marketing expertise to thrill our clients with amazing results.
With every campaign, Arlene brings new ideas to ensure a rock-solid strategy that works for the client. Arlene is also known as a print industry expert who (in addition to speaking at trade shows regarding industry changes and best practices) has presented on panels, organized group presentations, and led roundtables for trade shows. She also participated on a “board of key contributors”, helping to bring a balanced perspective to trade show content. We are very impressed with Arlene’s professional achievements, but she reminds us that her biggest accomplishment is raising her two amazing daughters.
She’s also devoted her time to organizations she loves. Her past volunteer efforts include serving as a board member for the YMCA of Greater Nashua, where she helped the organization’s marketing efforts. She’s even lent her eye for detail to several local swim teams, serving as a volunteer Stroke and Turn Judge.
When Kelley bought a “fixer upper” house, the team at Concord Direct wasn’t surprised. Kelley is obsessed (in a good way) with fixing things, whether it’s crafting new solutions or improving projects for clients. Concord Direct clients need assistance in a range of areas, and Kelley is always ready to pitch in. From adjusting projects to meet budgetary needs or smoothing out the process for direct mail, Kelley is the go-to for helping clients address challenges.
With more than 30 years of experience at Concord Direct, Kelley brings a deep understanding of the industry — or to put it in Kelley’s words, “I’ve seen it all.” Her thorough knowledge of fundraising and all the bumps that can come up make Kelley a great sounding board for the Concord Direct team. When they’re stuck, her colleagues know to go find Kelley. She’ll brainstorm innovative solutions to get a project running smoothly. Concord Direct is fortunate that Kelley brings her passion for fundraising and her “can do” attitude to the company.
Calm. Collected. Focused. These are just a few words that describe Miranda both inside and outside the office. Whether she’s implementing a new digital strategy for a client or teaching free yoga for her local community, Miranda is always showing people how to keep calm and focused on the task at hand.
Miranda has honed her well-balanced attitude not only on the yoga mat but also throughout her career in direct response marketing, spanning more than 10 years. In an industry where deadlines and stress can send many well-intentioned marketers running, Miranda has thrived. She has overseen successful media strategies for companies in several industries and nonprofits, implemented analytical models for acquisition campaigns, and delivered complete optimization strategies to improve direct response results. With her extensive experience, Miranda can jump in and assist at all levels of a campaign, and clients appreciate that she keeps projects moving forward and gets tasks done on time.
When she’s not strategizing ways to improve campaigns or teaching yoga, Miranda pursues her other passions, which include volunteering with equine therapy organizations, hiking, entertaining friends around the campfire with her violin, and locating the best French fries in town.
Bret is an accomplished guy. Whether it’s his valedictory honors in high school, summa cum laude status in college, awards for fundraising success, or Outstanding Presenter award (Dale Carnegie’s highest award for achievement), Bret’s trophy case is definitely full. But as impressive as these accolades are, Bret is not resting on his laurels. Instead, he brings to all his client projects at Concord Direct the same drive that earned him so much recognition.
Bret began his journey working in the nonprofit world more than 20 years ago. Since that time, he’s worked in full-service direct marketing agencies providing services for organizations like City of Hope, Dana-Farber Cancer Center, The Salvation Army, Mercy Corps, National Jewish Health, CancerCare, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Lighthouse Guild, and Canadian Food Bank. Working with people who want to make the world a better place truly inspires Bret to keep pushing himself to work harder (if that’s possible), and clients love Bret’s commitment to superior customer service and excellence. His outstanding communication skills have come in handy too! When a client needs assistance in articulating their vision for a campaign, Bret is always ready to help. He’s got the right touch for guiding clients through this process and working with Concord Direct’s creative teams to bring a campaign vision to life. When Bret isn’t winning awards or helping clients envision their next project, you may find him volunteering at his local community theater, hiking with his wife, or screaming at the TV during an NFL game.
As a life-long team sport athlete, Cory loves working with great groups of people to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. Leading a lacrosse team to the NCAA National Championship? No problem. Building a marketing campaign to help bring a struggling nonprofit out of the red? Child’s play. Designing and leading a multi-million-dollar market entry strategy? Doesn’t even break a sweat. With a diverse marketing career spanning the non-profit, strategy consulting, tech, consumer package and durable goods industries, Cory has fashioned a tried-and-true perspective on what to do and how to get it done.
Backed by a dual-concentration MBA from Georgetown in Marketing Analytics and Business Strategy, Cory has yet to find the business challenge he can’t overcome. The grandson of an aerospace engineer that helped build the first ultra-sonic airplanes, Cory grew up with a love of numerical precision. Statistical analyses – like conjoints, regression modeling, and semantic scaling – all shape the way Cory develops his marketing campaigns and guarantee that his marketing work delivers the right message to the right people. During the rare moments when he’s not building or executing marketing strategies, you can find him in the woodshop, rebuilding a house or boat, or spending time with his wife and son.
Say hello! We’re an approachable bunch. Let’s chat about how we can create unique, standout direct marketing programs that get results for your nonprofit organization.
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