Consulting Talent

Brooke Kroon, M.Ed., Education and Youth Grantwriting Consultant

 

Brooke joined the Aspire team in May 2019 as a consulting grant writer. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Saint Francis University in 2011. The following year, Brooke received her master’s in education as a Reading Specialist from California University of Pennsylvania. For the last seven years she has been an educator in both the Rockwood Area School District and the Somerset Area School District, where she currently teaches. Brooke has a passion for education, and youth advocacy, which is reflected in her writing style. Since joining our team, she's worked with Mom's House, Inc., Pittsburgh Technical College, Mary S. Biesecker Library, and Children's Aid Home Programs. To talk to Brooke about your next project, you can email her at [email protected].

 

 

Brooke L. Sheeler, M.S.

Director of Grant Writing & Development

Brooke joined the Aspire team in 2015 as an intern while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Slippery Rock University. After graduating with a B.S. in Communications – Public Relations, Brooke came back to Aspire full time and received her M.S. in Integrated Marketing & Communications from West Virginia University in 2018. She is now in the role of Director of Grant Writing and Development, working to oversee a writing team and a growing list of large-scale development projects. Some of her main accounts include Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, LCT Energy, City of Clairton, Punxsutawney Borough, Adventures in Training with a Purpose, and more. To date, her application awards have totaled over $4 million in state and private funding. 

In her spare time, Brooke enjoys hanging out with her rescue animals, spending time visiting her parents in Savannah, GA, and traveling to new places. She can be reached at [email protected]

Cassandra Kokoski, Grantwriting Consultant

Ms. Cassandra Kokoski has recently joined the Aspire Grant & Development, LLC team. Cassandra has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, starting as an AmeriCorps member in Washington, DC. She has worked for local, national, and international non-profits and is passionate about the impact that non-profits and dedicated citizens can make in the community. Cassandra utilizes her background in direct service, program advancement, community engagement, and development to assist organizations. Cassandra most recently served as Vice President of Development at Lifesteps, a regional human-services agency.


Cassandra is original from Indianapolis, Indiana, and attended Indiana University, Bloomington studying Journalism, focusing on public relations. Cassandra uses her writing skills to assist clients in successful grant submissions and has experience with private and community foundations and local, state, and federal grants. She resides in the Deutschtown neighborhood of Pittsburgh with her husband.

 

Erin Howsare, Grantwriting Consultant

 

Erin joined the Aspire team in the Fall of 2019 as a grant writing consultant. Erin is a Somerset, Pennsylvania native where she continues to reside with her husband, son, and dog. She graduated cum laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology, minor in Political Science, and a concentration in Pre-Law. For over 15 years, she has worked in the human service field where she has developed a passion for the non-profit sector.

Since joining our team, Erin has secured over half a million dollars for our clients including national foundation grants for The Ablegamers Charity and The Lemoyne Community Center. Consistent with Aspire’s standards of practice, Erin strives to serve clients with high scoring, customer focused writing! To talk to Erin about your next project, you can email her at [email protected].

 

 

 

 

Jaclyn A. McCusker

Development Associate/Assistant to the President

Meet Jaclyn A. McCusker, Development Associate/Assistant to the President.
Jaclyn earned a B.A. in Political Science, with a minor in Sociology, from the University of Pittsburgh. Via the study abroad program at Pitt, she also obtained a concentration in Latin American Culture & Film Studies, at the University of Havana, Cuba. Jaclyn's post-graduate fields of work include management and director positions for Fortune 500 companies and privately owned businesses. Jaclyn is extremely community-focused and will continue to serve as the Executive Director for Laurel Arts, an arts nonprofit in Western Pennsylvania.
In her spare time, Jaclyn enjoys spending time with her husband, and two sons. She is a lover of all things art, music, culture, history, and socio-economics. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Somerset, is actively involved in various community and initiatives projects, and has played the drums since she was in fourth grade.

Lauren Palmer, M.S., Grant Specialist

Lauren Palmar joined the Aspire Team in October of 2020 as a Grant Specialist. Lauren received her Bachelor's from Ohio State University in 2017 and her Masters in Organizational Management from the University of Colorado in 2019. Through her collegiate career and since graduating, Lauren has interned and worked for a myriad of non-profit organizations, primarily in the higher education and health care sectors.

Lauren is also the Founder and CEO of Operation: BeYoutiful, a local non-profit that provides wigs to girls and women currently battling medically related hair loss. Lauren is passionate about doing her part to make the community a brighter place to live and spending time with her family and rescue pup, Ziggy Stardust. Lauren has strong experience in the development of state, federal and private grants and we are so pleased to welcome her.

Drop her a note at [email protected].

Lindsay Pyle, Grantwriting Consultant

 

Lindsay joined the Aspire team in 2019 as a consulting grant writer. She received her bachelor’s degree in geography and environmental studies from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2014. Lindsay was previously employed with Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission. Since joining our team, she's assisted Michele on several federal grants. To talk to Lindsay about your next project, you can email her at [email protected].

 

 

 

 

Sarah E. Russell, Director of Billing

Sarah joined our staff in November 2018. She has been a huge asset to our team. She helps to keep our office running smoothly on a daily basis.

Sarah moved to Somerset County in the fall of 2018. However, she is not a stranger to the area. She visited the area frequently from 2004 through 2011. She even did an internship with the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center. As well as working as a typist for Sargent’s Court Reporting in Johnstown. She is originally from the Gettysburg area.

She holds an associates degree in Graphic Design and Printing Technologies from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology inLancaster, PA. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Central Pennsylvania College in Harrisburg, PA.

Since graduating from college she has worked as a Review Technical Associate for SRA International, Inc. in Frederick, MD, an IT company. SRA is a subcontractor who does grant work for the government and educational systems. As well as a Travel and Entertainment Administrator with Voith Holding Inc. in York, PA a German engineering company.

Her knowledge of Microsoft Office, Graphic Design, grant compliance, and office dynamics has been helpful. In her spare, time Sarah enjoys the outdoors, spending time with her rescue dog Bandit, and traveling to new areas with her husband Austin. She also volunteers with the Shade Creek Watershed Association and Graef’s Lutheran Church in Cairnbrook, PA. Sarah can be contracted by phone at 814-701-2787 or emailed at [email protected] for all scheduling purposes.  

 

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