Board Of Directors

Buffy is the Vice President of Philanthropy at Crown Point Community Foundation. She brings more than two decades of nonprofit, corporate, and marketing leadership experience to the board. Buffy is known for her ability to build strong relationships and inspire people to create meaningful change. Her career foundation was built in marketing and communications, leading campaigns for iconic organizations including MTV, Comedy Central, Major League Soccer, The Chicago Bulls, Home Depot, and more. 

Buffy is also a motivational speaker, author, and known as “The Official Hope Dealer,” encouraging people to live authentically while spreading inspiration and resilience through faith and positivity. Recognized as one of Northwest Indiana’s Most Influential Women in the “Up and Coming” Nonprofit category in 2023, Buffy is a graduate of Purdue University Northwest with a degree in Communications. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business and ministry.

A proud Boilermaker, Denise Koebcke grew up in Valparaiso. She joined the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana as Vice President, Philanthropy, in May of 2024. She made the full time shift from education & consulting to the nonprofit world in 2020, serving the region for 4 years as the President & CEO of The Caring Place, Inc.  A recent finalist for the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Award and twice inducted into the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators, Denise has been honored with several other community impact awards including the Prevent Child Abuse Hero for Children Award, the Porter Starke Services Foundation Community Impact Award,  and the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Celebrating Our Everyday Heroes Award. Proud mom to two amazing young adults, Matthew and Megan, Denise has a BA in Education from Purdue University Northwest, and an MS in Media and Technology from Indiana State.  A lifelong champion of children and families, Denise is passionate about making a positive difference throughout the NWI community and beyond.  Joining the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals NWI is an honor and a joy for this lifelong region advocate!

Erica Fizer Katsepas is the Vice President of Philanthropy at Legacy Foundation, Lake County's community foundation. In this role, she oversees fund development, donor stewardship, and communications strategies. With over a decade of experience, Erica has previously held the positions of Donor Engagement Director, Director of Marketing, and Program Officer. She is dedicated to connecting donors with local nonprofits and increasing resources for the region's mission-driven organizations. 

Beyond her work in Northwest Indiana, Erica is active on committees for the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance and Indiana Blacks in Philanthropy. She holds an MPA in Human Services and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University Northwest, as well as a BA in Journalism from Indiana University Bloomington. A proud graduate of Merrillville High School, Erica currently lives in Highland with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Jessica Luth brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience to The Caring Place, where she serves as President & CEO. Prior to joining The Caring Place in December 2022, Jessica led and expanded non profit services in Kansas City as the Vice President of Development, building programs and resources that help survivors move toward long-term safety and stability.

At The Caring Place, Jessica is deeply focused on honoring the organization’s legacy while expanding its future impact. She is especially committed to reducing barriers—such as housing, transportation, and financial insecurity—that often force survivors to return to dangerous environments. Jessica believes domestic violence affects people of all backgrounds and that lasting change requires strong partnerships across schools, law enforcement, government, and community organizations. She is proud to lead an organization that works collaboratively to create safer, healthier outcomes for survivors and the broader Northwest Indiana community.

Madeleine Doyle is the Director of Grants Management at HealthLinc, Inc., where she oversees fundraising, grants, and major gifts. She has fourteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Madeleine earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from The University of the South, a master’s degree in environmental education from Goshen College, and a graduate certificate in Philanthropic Studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She is certified as a CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) by CFRE International and as a CFRM (Certificate in Fundraising Management) by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Additionally, she serves on the Executive Committee of the Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County. 

Tracey McElree is a seasoned fundraising and nonprofit development leader with extensive experience driving philanthropic growth and donor engagement across community-focused organizations. She currently serves as Director of Donor Relations and Development Operations at Purdue University Northwest, where she leads strategies to deepen donor stewardship, advance annual giving, and strengthen development operations to support institutional priorities. Prior to her work in higher education, Tracey was Senior Director of Advancement at the Valparaiso Family YMCA, where she was instrumental in advancing financial sustainability through a diversified fundraising portfolio. With three decades of experience blending strategic marketing with mission-driven fundraising, Tracey brings a proven ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with donors and align philanthropic initiatives with organizational goals.