Category: Our Firm

Kema Joseph

Post author By mturner
Post date September 15, 2026

Associate

With more than 10 years of experience across public affairs, government relations and the nonprofit sector, Kema Joseph specializes in stakeholder engagement; strategic communications; advocacy and government relations; board governance; and equity-centred community engagement.

Her previous experience includes Founder and Principal, St-Aude Advocacy; Government Relations Consultant, Crestview Strategy; and Advisor, Stakeholder Relations & Outreach, Office of the Mayor, City of Toronto.

Kema holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from l’Université de Montréal and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and Political Science from the University of Ottawa. Her commentary has appeared on Radio-Canada, CTV, Le Devoir and CP24. She serves in board roles with Visions of Science, POV, the Toronto Black Film Festival and the National Screen Institute.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Kema’s core expertise is in Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning and Government Relations.

Sector Experience: Arts & Culture

Fundraising Must Have: A compelling public-value narrative, trusted relationships and a coordinated engagement strategy that mobilizes funders, partners, government and community around a shared outcome.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kema-joseph/

America Associates Our Associates

Ryan Cobbins

Post author By mturner
Post date June 18, 2026

Associate

With more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit, civic, and entrepreneurial sectors Ryan D. Cobbins has built and led initiatives that have engaged thousands of stakeholders, strengthened nonprofit and community organizations, and advanced collaborative solutions across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Ryan made his mark in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, partnership development, board relations, and organizational growth. Some of his previous experience has included Deputy Director of Membership, No Labels; Program Director, Energize Colorado; and reflecting a deep commitment to civic service, Ryan was appointed by the Mayor of Denver to the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) Board of Commissioners, where he serves as Vice Chair, as well as Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee and serves on the Community Investment, Redevelopment, and Strategic Plan & Governance Committees.

He currently serves as Board Chair of Café Momentum Denver, an organization dedicated to transforming the lives of justice-involved youth. Appointed by the Governor of Colorado, Ryan also served as a Commissioner on the Second Judicial District Nominating Commission.

His prior board leadership includes serving as Chair of the Colorado Children’s Campaign and Chair of the Five Points Business Improvement District, along with board service for organizations including Civic Canopy, Heart & Hand, St. Elizabeth’s K-8 School, VEGA Charter School, and the Denver Retail Incubator.

Ryan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Management Science from Metropolitan State University, Denver, Colorado, and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona.

Fundraising Area of Expertise: Ryan’s predominant expertise is in Project Management. He also has additional experience with Interim Program Management, Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning, and Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies

Sector Experience: Education, Arts & Culture, Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Fundraising Must Have: The greatest fundraising asset isn’t a campaign…it’s a community that believes in your mission.

America Associates Our Associates

Colleen Thomas

Post author By mturner
Post date April 23, 2026

Executive Associate

Colleen Thomas is a dynamic and strategic marketing and communications executive and consultant, with over 25 years of experience spanning strategy, business transformation, and market & competitive research. Known for her ability to solve complex challenges and drive meaningful change, Colleen partners with organizations to translate vision into actionable strategy and measurable results.

Colleen brings a visionary yet practical approach to her consulting work, helping nonprofit and mission-driven organizations strengthen their positioning, expand reach, and deepen stakeholder engagement. Colleen has worked on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability teams, and led communications campaigns for Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, Habitat for Humanity Women Build, Walk to Defeat ALS, and several other funding campaigns for local nonprofits.

She is a longtime volunteer with numerous national and international charities and served on the Board of Friends of the Haven, a 501C-3 nonprofit supporting women and children in a rehabilitation environment. A tireless advocate for social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, Colleen and is deeply committed to improving economic and health outcomes for women and children.

Colleen has led cross-functional and international teams across Fortune 500 organizations and startups in technology, healthcare, education, media & entertainment, engineering, and finance. Her work is distinguished by a proven track record of transforming organizations through integrated marketing strategy and channel development. She has successfully led large-scale, multi-national campaigns and initiatives, combining strategic insight with hands-on execution to deliver sustainable outcomes.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Colorado State University.

Area of Expertise:
Colleen’s core expertise is in Donor and Constituent Engagement and Strategic Planning. She also has experience in Development Program Review and Expansion Strategies, Individual Giving, Planned Giving, and Corporate Sponsorships. Colleen also has professional expertise in Project Management, Data Analytics and Compliance.

Experience:
Education, Healthcare, Arts & Culture, Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Fundraising Must Have:
An important mission, a strong prospect database, and a targeted, engaging communications plan. You have to know who you want to bring to the table, and how to get them there.

Latin America Our Associates

Joao Bellucco

Post author By mturner
Post date March 24, 2026

Associate

Please meet Joao Bellucco, an Associate with S. Sutton & Associates Inc. With more than 10 years of experience working in the nonprofit and private sectors, Joao specializes in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, audience segmentation, and data analytics to support informed decision-making. He has supported global organizations in strengthening donor pipelines, improving campaign performance, and translating data into clear, practical strategies for growth.

Joao has built his career across international markets, including in Canada, Brazil, Thailand, and Panama. Some of his previous experiences have included: Digital Fundraising Consultant at Public Outreach, Digital Communications Consultant at Further Together Fundraising, and Digital Marketing Manager at Maple Bear Global Schools.

João holds a Bachelor’s degree of Advertising and Marketing from the Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil, he has completed the Exchange Program of Advertising and Marketing at the Universidad Europea, Madrid, Spain, and is a Certificate Professional Scrum Product Owner, Scrum.org, Bangkok, Thailand.

Fluent in in English, Spanish, and Portugues, Joao brings technical expertise, cultural competence, and broad experience to the firm.

Area of Expertise:
Joao’s core expertise is in Fundraising Campaigns and Strategic Planning and Data Analytics

Experience:
Education, International Development

Fundraising Must Have:
A strong fundraising strategy must be grounded in data, centered on donor understanding, and translated into clear, actionable decisions that drive sustainable growth.

East Asia Associates Our Associates

Ethan Chua

Post author By mturner
Post date March 14, 2026

Junior Associate

Ethan Chua has joined S. Sutton & Associates Inc. as a Junior Associate and Core Team member, parlaying his experience as a Business Development Analyst at Mastercard, Treasuries and Capital Markets Analyst at Metrobank, and Student Business Officer at Pacific Economic Development Canada, to enhance operational efficiency in cross-department processes, structural improvement plans, and the exploration of the use of AI to help efficiently connect with our ecosystem.

Ethan graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Minor in Commerce, and speaks in addition to English, Tagalog and Mandarin. Now residing in Manila Philippines and with Mastercard, Ethan successfully works on business development opportunities in the FinTech and digital banks space that positively impact the community around him.

Area of Expertise:
Ethan’s predominant expertise is in Risk Management and Fundraising Governance. He also has expertise in Project Management.

Experience:
International Development

Fundraising Must Have:
Fundraising must be rooted in authentic storytelling that connects donors directly to the communities we intend to serve.

Canada Associates Our Associates

Kenny Nguyen

Post author By mturner
Post date January 11, 2026

Junior Associate

Kenny Nguyen has joined the Core Team of S. Sutton & Associates Inc. as a Junior Web Developer and System Administrator. Kenny specializes in Software Engineering and System Development and building scalable backend systems and production ready web platforms.

His past roles include Backend Software Engineer at HealthBridge AI, Software Developer at Netpalm, and Programming Instructor at Algorithmics Inc.

Kenny is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Information in Information Science.

Area of Expertise:
Kenny’s core expertise is in Data Analytics including Technology Strategy and Systems Development

Experience:
Education, Healthcare, Community Based Membership and Advocacy

Fundraising Must Have:
Data driven decision making that combines clean data, scalable systems, and actionable insights to maximize fundraising efficiency and measurable impact.