Alison Darrell—Senior Research Analyst & Senior Project Manager
Alison Darrell joined Calvin Edwards & Company as a research analyst in August 2004. Now as Senior Research Analyst / Senior Project Manager, Ms. Darrell assists the firm’s clients in their donor decisions through various nonprofit evaluation and grant oversight methodologies. She designs and oversees CEC analysts' delivery of  products and services that help the firm's clients secure a high return on investment for their donations and grants. Projects range from complex data analysis conducted on industry sectors or large sets of grant recipients to site visits with nonprofits to conduct in-depth organizational and programmatic performance review and provide technical assistance.  

Ms. Darrell has 16 years of professional experience in business management, marketing, sales, organizational development and high tech product management. She was a member of Verizon Corporation’s high-potential executive succession list and participated in their fast-track Marketing Associate Development Program. She has held two professional positions overseas. Early in her career, she managed cultural exchange programs for two years in Paris, France. In 2001, Ms. Darrell completed a two-year pro bono project serving as a business manager at a large church in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Ms. Darrell earned a BS in business administration (marketing) from The American University in Washington, D.C., and an MBA in business management from the University of Illinois.

She lives in Frisco, TX with her two sons who attend a Christian Academy where she also volunteers. Ms. Darrell is fluent in French and has a passion for international travel and foreign cultures.

J. Todd Nichols—Research Analyst & Project Manager
Todd Nichols is a research analyst and project manager.  Mr. Nichols’ primary focus is on international nonprofit due diligence and research.  He has assessed organizations and grants throughout the world including in Central America, east and west Africa, and other regions.  Mr. Nichols brings many years of international experience to CEC as well as knowledge of cultural diversity. His primary focus is conducting grant reviews and sector research for CEC clients engaged in international ventures.

Mr. Nichols has over 19 years invested in nonprofit and for-profit management.  He spent five years in the nonprofit sector working in the inner cities of Chicago, Illinois and Orlando, Florida.  He also started an internet technologies firm focused on outsourced technical support in the late 1990s.  At this time, he also works on various technology projects for some CEC clients.

Mr. Nichols earned a BS in liberal arts from Southeastern University and an MBA in marketing from Regent University.

He lives in the mountains of western North Carolina with his wife and family.  He enjoys being in the great outdoors with family and friends.  Mr. Nichols is also an accomplished musician, playing the piano and trombone.

Amy Roush—Senior Research Analyst & Project Manager
Amy Roush joined Calvin Edwards & Company in 2007. She researches and analyzes nonprofit organizations and prepares business-quality reports to assist the firm’s clients in their giving decisions. She also designs and executes highly specialized and exacting research on nonprofit issues, such as common practices in nonprofit executive retirement plans and CEO attitudes at microfinance networks. Amy regularly conducts site visits for the US Department of Health and Human Services, providing programmatic and organizational assessments, and technical assistance to their grantees.

Amy earned her BS in business administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and did post-graduate work at the University of South Florida. She obtained her CPA designation in 2001. Amy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA), recently serving as the Chair of the Young CPA Committee of the GSCPAs.

Amy lives in Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. She enjoys volunteering in her community and annually participates in Hands on Atlanta, the Atlanta Food Bank, and Toys for Tots projects.

Cindy Andersen—Research Analyst
Cindy Andersen joined Calvin Edwards & Company in July 2006. In this role, she researches nonprofit organizations and prepares reports meeting client specifications.

Cindy worked a majority of her career at Arthur Andersen, first as a staff auditor, then in human resources, and ultimately in internal financial operations. She primarily prepared budgets, projections, and analyses for Arthur Andersen’s business operations.

She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, earning a BS in business-accounting in 1987.

Cindy and her husband Bruce live in Dunwoody, Georgia, and have two grade-school-aged children. She has been involved in the DeKalb County School System, and is an active member of Dunwoody United Methodist Church.

Greg Heydel—Research Analyst
Greg Heydel joined Calvin Edwards & Company in May 2006. Mr. Heydel researches nonprofit organizations and produces a variety of due diligence reports for clients. His more than 30 years of business experience with Fortune 500 companies and leading marketing and public relations agencies provides him an excellent foundation for this role. He has also worked with the Georgia-Pacific and BellSouth foundations and counseled Turner Broadcasting System on their corporate philanthropy.

Mr. Heydel’s career has included corporate assignments with AT&T and BellSouth, and public relations roles at Matlock & Associates, Ketchum, and The DeMoss Group. His roles have encompassed a broad range of disciplines including communications, customer service, operations, and corporate governance. Mr. Heydel’s nonprofit experience has included marketing and communications work with the American Cancer Society, Atlanta Resource Foundation, High Tech Ministries, and Ministry Ventures. He has also served in volunteer leadership capacities with the United Way, Bible Study Fellowship, and the Atlanta Global Day of Prayer.

He holds a BS degree in journalism from the University of Florida with a major in public relations and minors in marketing and management.

Greg and his wife Barbara live in Lilburn, Georgia and have an adult son and daughter.

Darcy Phillips—Statistician & Research Analyst
Darcy Phillips joined Calvin Edwards & Company in August 2007. Ms. Phillips performs program evaluation that is both quantitative and qualitative. She does all the statistical analysis and reporting for the firm, using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). She also conducts research on nonprofit organizations and prepares extensive written reports for donor clients.

Ms. Phillips has over 10 years of professional experience as a statistician. She began her career working at Yankelovich Partners in the analytical department performing survey data analysis. She later worked for Abacus, a database marketing company performing data analysis for catalog marketers. Ms. Phillips’ nonprofit experience includes extensive work as a volunteer in the U.S. and internationally. She has worked in Nicaragua volunteering for Empowerment International, which enables children to attend school, and managed Seeing Hands Blind Massage, a project that trains blind Nicaraguans the vocation of massage. She has also served as a volunteer for Junior Achievement, Visiting Nurses Association, Sexual Assault Crisis Clinic, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Ms. Phillips graduated with a BA in sociology with minors in statistics and Spanish from Central Connecticut State University. She later earned a master of nonprofit management from Regis University in Denver, CO.

Darcy lives in Colorado and speaks fluent Spanish.

Martin Davis—Editor
Martin Davis joined Calvin Edwards & Company in 2008. He edits all site visit reports and is the in-house trainer on company writing standards, conducting workshops on business writing technique and style.

Mr. Davis is a professional writer and editor. His experience includes reporting on religion and politics for National Journal magazine, where he was responsible for covering the early years of President Bush's faith-based initiatives and for covering Islam in the months following the attacks of September 11. He later served as  managing editor of Philanthropy magazine and senior writer and editor for the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation.

Mr. Davis has completed a BA in history and religious studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, an AM in American religious history at the University of Chicago, and an ABD in medieval English history from the University of South Carolina.

He lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia with his wife and three children.

Karen Barnes—Associate Research Analyst
Karen Barnes joined Calvin Edwards & Company in May 2007. She performs research and analysis on charitable organizations to assist clients with their philanthropic decisions. The research includes in-depth interviews, detailed analysis of financial statements, and study of organizational structure and processes.

Mrs. Barnes has 13 years of professional experience. She was with Holsen Corporation, a manufacturing company, seven years, and prior to locating to Georgia, worked as a financial analyst for BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi.

She holds a business administration degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and studied insurance at the London School of Economics, University of London.

Karen and her husband, Steve, live in Cumming, Georgia where they are active members of their community, St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, and enjoy playing league tennis. They have one daughter who is attending the University of Southern Mississippi. Karen is very involved in volunteer work, and is the president of her local Phi Mu fraternity alumnae group.

Megan Hackler—Associate Research Analyst
Megan Hackler joined Calvin Edwards & Company in September 2008. As associate analyst, she provides support to senior level analysts, writing and editing client reports. She also writes and edits a number of reports for internal company use.

Ms. Hackler's experience includes three years of human resources management for AFL Network Services and a two-year internship in editing and publishing with Brazos Press. When she is not preparing documents for Calvin Edwards & Company, she provides freelance editing services for Westminster John Knox Press. She is also a veteran of several years of local church work, having served as a part-time youth minister for congregations in Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and North Carolina.

A native of Overland Park, Kansas, she earned a BA in biblical studies from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee and an MA in historical and systematic theology from Wheaton College.

Megan enjoys traveling, reading used books, and watching minor league baseball.

Luci Nellums—Administrative & Research Assistant
Luci Nellums joined Calvin Edwards & Company in August 2006.

Ms. Nellums works directly for founder and CEO, Calvin Edwards, providing administrative and research support, including scheduling, booking travel arrangements, and preparing monthly financial invoices. She assists Mr. Edwards on numerous client projects including research of nonprofit organizations using the internet and other sources. She reviews, designs, and publishes final versions of most CEC products.

Ms. Nellums is a 2006 graduate of Georgia State University with a BA in economics. While at Georgia State, she was vice president of Phi Chi Theta, a national business fraternity; a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, a national economic honor society; and an active member in her sorority, Delta Zeta.  

Luci is an active volunteer with Hands on Atlanta participating in numerous projects every year. She serves as a first grade leader at Buckhead Church and is actively involved in her small group. Ms. Nellums enjoys painting and exercising in her spare time.