Change Together
The Catalyst Collective is a network of consultants committed to equity and belonging as we curate a team to journey alongside you for a holistic approach to meet your organization's needs. Grounded in a desire to help nonprofit and philanthropic organizations navigate change for maximum impact, the Collective invites deep thinking, strategic doing, and intentional relationships in all of our work.
We know there is strength in collaboration.
Members
As Associate Director of Student Life at Grand Valley State University (GVSU), Melissa Baker-Boosamra has been nationally recognized for her work in building a culture of student civic engagement through the GVSU Votes! initiative. She is currently a Presidential Fellow, helping to launch the GVSU Student Legal Services Center. Prior to her work at GVSU, Melissa served as the founding Program Director for the Cook Library Scholars program, a college pipeline program for students from first-generation immigrant families in Grand Rapids, MI.
Melissa served as a faculty member in the GVSU Brooks College where she developed and implemented innovative domestic and international service-learning courses. Early in her career, Melissa taught English as a Second Language to migrant farm workers and their families and served as a community organizer and advocate in a largely Latino neighborhood, working to connect immigrant families with resources. Melissa currently serves on the board of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. In her free time, she loves to play tennis, basketball, swim, and dance! Melissa loves spending time with her wonderful family and friends.
Melissa Baker - Boosamra
Kim Bartz, LMSW, is a mental health therapist and coach for individuals seeking personal growth as well as teams seeking growth and to maximize synergy. For over 15 years she has worked to empower people and cultivate their strengths to become their best selves mentally and emotionally. One of her favorite tools to use for growth is the Enneagram and she is certified in the Enneagram Spectrum of Personality.
Kim Bartz
Heather Boswell is a strategic and results-driven leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing community impact through cross-sector partnerships, innovative program design, and data-informed, equity-centered strategies. As Principal and Founder of SuccessStone Strategies, she partners with organizations to maximize their reach, sustainability, and responsiveness to community needs—offering expertise in program development, public funding strategy, policy analysis, and competitive grant development.
She holds a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University. Heather is an active member of several advisory committees, professional associations, and community organizations, reflecting her commitment to service and collaboration.
A trusted advisor, expert collaborator, and passionate advocate for equitable opportunities, Heather brings both strategic vision and operational excellence to every project—helping organizations deliver measurable, lasting change.
Heather Boswell
Kyla Carlsen is a social impact and economic mobility strategist with over a decade of experience designing community-centered programs, facilitating participatory grant-making, deploying capital for impact, and leading high performing teams.
Kyla has experience scaling startups, organizational growth and development, and facilitating design thinking sessions to develop innovative approaches for solving complex problems. She is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified, bridging an operational and collaborative approach to developing programs, strategies, and
cross-sector partnerships.
Kyla has a background in finance and private wealth management, facilitating access to capital, capital readiness, and closing the racial
funding gap for entrepreneurs and social impact organizations. She is passionate about innovating alternative social and economic investment strategies to achieve more equitable outcomes.
Kyla Carlsen
Tiana Hawver is the Director of Operations for Housing Kent, a collective impact nonprofit in Kent County, Michigan, working with housing partners across the housing system to improve housing outcomes in affordability, homelessness response, and racial equity. Tiana’s role encompasses human resources, accounts payable and receivable, serving as an assistant to the president, collaborating with the board of directors, and developing the organization's communications plan.
In addition to her work, Tiana has also served nonprofits in various capacities for over 30 years, including volunteer, board member, and board president. The experience has allowed her to help smaller nonprofits build capacity to serve the community with greater impact.
Tiana is also a writer and speaker, with over 20 years of experience in marketing and
communications. She used that expertise while pursuing her master’s degree in
communications from Grand Valley State University. In January of 2018, she began her journey of reconnecting with her birth family. Her experience culminated in the creation of the documentary “Reconnecting the Dots.” As an interracial adoptee, her documentary helps shine a light on the trauma of adoption, the struggle with connection and abandonment, and the power of love and family.
Tiana Hawver
Kae Pershon is an artist, disability advocate, and multi-disciplinary museum professional who specializes in building a foundation of networks and processes that open communication and collaboration within small institutions. As the founder of Museum Muse, Kae uses her experience working on both sides of the “white box” to educate artists and museum professionals about the challenges within each side of the industry, build out standard operating procedures for organizations with limited resources, and train staff on how they can do more with what’s available.
Kae has partnered with several organizations on projects ranging from digitizing and re-organizing physical collections, programming development, social media planning, and executing national-wide traveling exhibitions.
Kae received her BFA in Visual Studies from Grand Valley State University. Her background in museums spans across the past decade, and her work as an artist even further. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism as an adult, every project she undertakes is looked at through an advocacy lens with an understanding that a lack of diagnosis doesn’t mean a lack of need for resources and accommodations.
Kae Pershon
Winnifred Walsh
Winni Walsh, MPNL, CNP is an accomplished fundraising professional with more than seven years of experience in nonprofit development and leadership. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from Central Michigan University and her Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Grand Valley State University. She also holds the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.
Throughout her career, Winni has advanced the missions of prominent national and regional organizations. She has served as Development Director for Susan G. Komen and the American Heart Association, and currently serves as Director of Development & Marketing for the Humane Society of West Michigan. In this capacity, she oversees comprehensive fundraising and marketing strategies to strengthen community engagement, increase philanthropic support, and expand the organization’s impact.
In addition to her professional role, Winni is an adjunct faculty member at Grand Valley State University, where she contributes to the education and mentorship of emerging nonprofit leaders. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, Bentley and Matches, as well as cooking and exploring thrift shops.