Staff

Calvin W. Edwards is founder and CEO of Calvin Edwards & Company. After 20 years in executive leadership of nonprofits and faith-based organizations, Edwards created the firm to help high-capacity donors make wise giving decisions. His experience in the business operations and governance of charitable organizations provides insight and sound judgment to guide evaluations and offer prudent client recommendations. Click here for Calvin W. Edwards' biography.

 

 

Jerry Regier—Chief Operating Officer / Senior Consultant

Dr. Jerry Regier joined the firm in October 2009 as chief operating officer & consultant. He is responsible for production of research and analysis, operations and business functions, and supports the sales and solution creation processes.

Dr. Regier has a distinguished career in nonprofit management and public service. He served more than a decade with Campus Crusade for Christ in a variety of leadership positions with the campus ministry and the Christian Embassy in the nation’s capital. In 1983 Dr. Regier founded Family Research Council, an independent public policy research and educational organization, and one of Washington’s most prominent think tanks.

He has served as secretary in the cabinet of two Governors, and as a policy leader for three U.S. Presidents. His most recent position in the federal government was Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), where he provided leadership for policy analysis & development, and evaluation research.

Dr. Regier graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in history and from Grace University with a diploma in Bible. His post-graduate work includes a master of public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, in addition to a master in biblical studies from International School of Theology, and an honorary doctorate of divinity from Grace University.

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 through various nonprofit and grant evaluations. Projects range from data analysis conducted on large portfolios of grant recipients, to site visits with nonprofits to conduct in-depth organizational and programmatic performance review.  

Ms. Darrell has 16 years of prior 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, one in Paris, France and another in 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.

Amy Roush—Senior Research Analyst & Project Manager
Amy Roush joined Calvin Edwards & Company in 2007. She researches and analyzes nonprofit organizations, prepares business-quality reports on client's grantees, and conducts highly specialized research on nonprofit issues.

Ms. Roush is a Certified Public Accountant and has over 16 years of professional experience in the financial service industry. She began her career in banking, first with Bank One in Ohio and then worked with Barnett Bank in Florida. For ten years prior to joining the firm, she provided tax compliance and consulting services to individuals and business entities in various public accounting firms. She transitioned to Calvin Edwards & Company from a position as a Tax Manager with Ronald Blue & Co. in Atlanta, GA.

Ms. Roush 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. 

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 statistical analysis and reporting for the firm, using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

Ms. Phillips has over ten 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.

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

Alyson Cantey—Statistician & Research Analyst

Alyson Cantey joined Calvin Edwards & Company in 2009. She prepares statistical evaluations and contributes to research design on projects that depend on statistical analysis of survey data.

Mrs. Cantey has four years of professional experience. She spent a year with Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Systems performing statistical evaluations of education programs in support of standards established by the government’s No Child Left Behind policy. She also works as a research analyst in the healthcare industry.

She graduated from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte as Outstanding Student in psychology in 1999. She then earned a master’s degree in experimental psychology from Georgia Southern University, completing her degree in 2003.

Karen Barnes—Associate Research Analyst
Karen Barnes joined Calvin Edwards & Company in May 2007. She performs research and analysis on charitable organizations, including both site visits and desk reviews. The research is comprehensive and 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 BS degree business administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, and studied insurance at the London School of Economics at the University of London.

Megan Denton—Associate Research Analyst
Megan Denton joined Calvin Edwards & Company in September 2008. She provides support to senior level analysts, writing and editing client reports and performing research and analysis on charitable organizations. Mrs. Denton also writes and edits a number of reports for internal company use.

Her 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.

Mrs. Denton earned a BA in biblical studies from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee and an MA in historical and systematic theology from Wheaton College.

Luci Nellums—Executive 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 invoices. She assists Mr. Edwards on numerous client projects including research of nonprofit organizations using the internet and other sources. She  designs, reviews, and publishes final versions of most CEC products.

Katie Turner—Research & Operations Assistant
Katie Turner joined Calvin Edwards & Company in July 2009. As a research and operations assistant, Mrs. Turner splits her time between consulting work and business operations. She performs tasks such as booking travel, project support, and administrative services. She also oversees daily office management with purchasing, bookkeeping and financial analysis, report production/distribution, IT services, and billing tasks.

Prior to joining the firm, Mrs. Turner worked as an office manager in a small business for two years, managing a staff of fifteen. She is a 2008 graduate of Kennesaw State University where she received a BA in marketing.

 

Partners

CapinCrouse is a leading national nonprofit accounting firm. Calvin Edwards & Company and CapinCrouse share expertise in their respective fields— nonprofit accounting and philanthropic consulting and Mr. Edwards regularly speaks at CapinCrouse national training seminars.

National Christian Foundation (NCF) is a community foundation offering donor-advised funds to its clients. We recommend that our clients avail themselves of the services of NCF, and it refers clients to our firm. Many of our clients have donor-advised funds at NCF and pay our fees through their account.

QEV Analytics is a full service public opinion firm that conducts both quantitative and qualitative research. When the needs of a client require large scale research beyond a specific demographic, QEV assists with gathering and analyzing data.

Ronald Blue & Company is a national financial planning and investment management firm. When RB&C's clients require significant philanthropic research and advise, the client is referred to our firm. Our services are routinely included as a component of their offerings to ultra-high net worth clients.

International Center for Media Studies (ICMS) is a research institute that studies the role and application of media and emerging communication technologies in post-conflict and extreme poverty.

The Legacy Group serves the social sector by accelerating results and developing client resources. It is donor-centric in its approach. We use it's staff to expand our capacity when work demands require.