Meet our Staff
Kevin Connelly - Executive Director 
Kevin was the founding director of CNPE in 1999 when it was launched by Metro United Way, the City of Louisville and the Donors Forum. Prior to this position, he was executive director for YMCA Safe Place Services (1991-1999). He served as Chair of the Southeastern Network for Youth and Family Services and a two-term position on the Council on Youth Policy in Washington, DC. He is an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Louisville, College of Urban & Public Affairs where he teaches graduate courses in nonprofit management. He has facilitated planning sessions for nonprofits in the Louisville area and throughout the Southeast US, Ireland, and India. Email: kconnelly@cnpe.org
Eric Schmall - Director of Consultation
Eric has been with the Center since April, 2001. Eric has held management and organizational consulting positions during the past 25 years in the for-profit sector. Eric was awarded his Project Management Professional designation from the Project Management Institute in 2000. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Southeast's Graduate School of Business and taught in Bellarmine University's Nonprofit Leadership Certification Program. In 2006, Eric became a Licensed Consultant with the Standards for Excellence Institute, an organization committed to raising the level of ethics and accountability in nonprofit organizations. Email: eschmall@cnpe.org
Mervin P. Antonio - Director of Learning 
Merv is excited to be joining CNPE in 2009. He brings over 18 years experience in the Non Profit sector, primarily in the field of the performing arts, developing and nurturing the next generation of talent at award winning organizations such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and New York Shakespeare Festival. Merv also holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Design and Renewal from Seattle University, and has worked with groundbreaking local initiatives such as Metro United Way's Community Change Incubator and Social Innovation Prize, Louisville Green Convene and the Arts and Cultural Attractions Council, among others. He uses his experience and passion for collaboration, storytelling, whole person learning, and systems thinking to advance organizational, community, and personal learning and performance. Email: mantonio@cnpe.org
Désirée P. Jones - Member Relations and New Media
Désirée began work with CNPE in 2007 as the Membership and Development Coordinator shifting roles to Member Relations and New Media in 2010 after her work on several new media projects. Désirée studied Agricultural Communications, Education and Leadership at the University of Kentucky (cum laude). She also studied with the School for International Learning completing course work in Cape Town, South Africa on Multiculturalism and Social change. Upon returning to Louisville, Désirée recruited and trained volunteers for Louisville's city-wide literacy initiative, Every1Reads, and co-coordinated service learning initiatives for the JCPS Volunteer Talent Center. In 2009, she represented CNPE and Kentucky Rotary as a Group Study Exchange team member in Brazil. Email: dpjones@cnpe.org.
Darlene M. Whitney - Office Manager 
Darlene joined the Center for Nonprofit Excellence in 2008. Darlene has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Arizona State University. While attending ASU, she worked at the Center for Professional Development in the College of Engineering where she assisted the program coordinators and handled all registrations – an expertise much needed at CNPE. Prior to joining our team, Darlene was the office manager of a successful cabinet company for over ten years. She is active in her community having chaired and co-chaired on a number of committees at her son’s school. With her bookkeeping and organizational skills, Darlene is a great asset to the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Email: dwhitney@cnpe.org
