(Chicago, IL) — Brenda B. Asare, President & CEO of Alford Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Tiknis as Senior Vice President of Business Development. In this newly created role, Sharon will work as part of the executive management team to identify organic growth and new business opportunities. She will also seek to bring a new scale of services through innovative, strategic leadership initiatives and client relationship building.
During her previous post as Vice President with Alford Group, Sharon worked with numerous nationally prominent nonprofit organizations including the HCA Hope Fund, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Old Town School of Folk Music and The Morton Arboretum. Tiknis returns to Alford Group from Children’s Home + Aid where she was the senior vice president/chief development officer.
“Sharon brings 35 years of non-profit management experience to this strategic position. In addition to raising hundreds of millions of dollars, she brings a wealth of expertise in developing distinguished philanthropic programs and assembling influential volunteer leadership teams to build organizational capacity to maximize potential. It is not very often that you find someone with such depth of knowledge and extensive experience as Sharon, and we are confident that she will play a significant role in our continued success,” stated Asare.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a forward thinking management team during this important time for the firm. I look forward to working again with Brenda Asare and the rest of her team in Chicago and across the country. Brenda ‘s dynamic leadership is moving the nonprofit sector to a new level of relevance and impact. I am honored to join her as she guides the next chapter in Alford Group’s exciting future.”
During her tenure with Children’s Home & Aid, Sharon spearheaded a $58.5 million comprehensive campaign where 50% of the goal was secured in the first 18 months. Prior to Children’s Home + Aid, she served as the Interim Executive Director for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Sharon has also worked in senior level positions for San Diego Children’s Center, the Tony Award winning Alley Theater in Houston, the prestigious Honolulu Academy of Arts and the distinguished College of Communications and Fine Arts at Central Michigan University.
Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral sciences and business from Grand Canyon University, and attended the University of Arizona for graduate studies. She is a trustee and Chair of the Advancement Committee of Grand River Academy.
About Alford Group
As a national full-service consulting firm serving nonprofits since 1979, Alford Group has empowered more than 3,000 mission-based organizations and institutions around the world to grow, improve, and fulfill their missions. Our mission is to strengthen the nonprofit community. From our offices in Chicago, New York, and Seattle we offer customized solutions to healthcare, human service, education, associations, faith based, and arts organizations in fundraising, organizational strategy and governance, all based on sound principles, guidance, tools and structures that help organizations realize their visions for the future. Learn more about Alford Group at www.alford.com or on LinkedIn.