Last year, the AB50C Awards honored 50 exceptional leaders. But who are they beyond their roles? We spoke with these leaders to uncover the stories, passions, and perspectives that shape them and what truly sets them apart.

Why She’s an AB50C Champion

Jerrica earned the AB50C Champion title in the Data Dynamo category for transforming complexity into clarity. From processing thousands of gifts to building smarter workflows across departments, she ensures the engine behind advancement runs smoothly.

That pride reflects the heart of her work: owning the numbers, the systems, and the structure that allow others to advance with confidence.

Beyond the Title

Before advancement, Jerrica built her career in creative production: video, radio, and print. But something shifted.

Three years ago, she stepped into non-profit education, not expecting to fall in love with data. Instead, she discovered a role that blended both sides of her brain. What once felt like scattered skills suddenly made sense.

“My mind is half creative, half numbers, and I never thought until I worked here that that could be something that I do.”

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What Winning AB50C Meant to Her?

Being named an AB50C Champion came as a complete surprise.

For Jerrica, the award wasn’t just about recognition; it was about validation. Validation that the behind-the-scenes work matters. That systems builders and data stewards are just as essential to advancement as frontline fundraisers. It was her first trophy. But more than that, it was a moment of pride in the numbers, the workflows, and yes, in proudly being what she calls “a nerd".

“To see all that hard work was rewarded was so cool.”

Finding Her Way into Advancement

Jerrica describes herself as high-energy and constantly in motion. When her institution began shifting platforms and processes, she saw an opportunity.

Donor reports that once required days of individual emails and spreadsheets? She built a centralized SharePoint site instead. Now, instead of sending dozens of emails, departments access one secure hub with historical data, reports, and documentation, saving time and reducing friction across campus. That instinct to simplify and streamline has become a big part of her role.

“Now all these people have all this time back.”

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The Work That Moves the Needle

Jerrica supports five departments and works across gift processing, backend website data, analytics boards, record maintenance, and system integrations.

On Giving Day alone, she keyed over 1,200 gifts. The unpredictability is part of the joy. And while the numbers matter, the people matter more.

After moving into a shared team space, she found fresh energy in collaboration.

“Coming in not knowing what half of my day might be working on is pretty cool.”

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An Initiative That She is Proud of

This year’s Giving Day brought meaningful progress.

For the first time, her team integrated texting outreach and leveraged real-time notifications to manage engagement and opt-outs. Managing duplicates during a 1,200-gift day could have been overwhelming. Instead, real-time data access made it manageable. For Jerrica, accuracy isn’t optional: it’s foundational.

“This year, I felt like that helped us tremendously to cut back on the duplicates and help records get created as we go versus waiting until the day’s over.”

Looking Ahead

Jerrica’s next goal is ambitious but clear: unify engagement, giving, and analytics into one cohesive system. Not for complexity’s sake, but for clarity. For cleaner systems. For better decisions.

“I want to be able to use both the platforms that I help build for our team and morph them together so it’s like one great resource.”

AI, as an Efficiency Partner

Jerrica has experimented with AI tools for years and uses them to summarize emails, capture notes, draft communications, and brainstorm workflow improvements.

She’s thoughtful about privacy boundaries, especially when donor data is involved.

To her, AI doesn’t replace people; it creates space for new projects and smarter systems.

And as she jokes:

“There’s no way it could replace me. I’ve got jokes.”

Rapid Fire

Where It All Comes Together

Jerrica’s story is a reminder that advancement isn’t only driven by campaigns and conversations. It’s powered by the people behind the scenes, the ones who keep the data clean, the workflows efficient, and the systems responsive.

Because when the foundation is strong, everything above it moves faster.

And when accuracy meets energy, advancement doesn’t just function; it thrives.