Our Team

Aaron is known throughout Taproot offices for his striped socks, Post-it® doodling, and endless supply of bold ideas. In 2001, inspired by nonprofits and individuals with audacious visions to change the world and frustrated by the difficulties these organizations and leaders faced, Aaron set out to connect the nation’s millions of business professionals with nonprofits needing their skills.

Today, Aaron sets the strategy and vision for the Taproot Foundation. He has been widely recognized as a leading social entrepreneur and has received awards including the Draper Richards Fellowship, Ashoka Fellowship, Fast Company Social Capitalist Award, and Manhattan Institute Award for Social Entrepreneurship. Aaron graduated from the University of Michigan, from which in 2009 he received the highest honor bestowed on alumni in its LSA Humanitarian Service Award. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for BoardSource. The proud father of two, Aaron lives with his wife and kids in Park Slope, Brooklyn. His favorite root vegetable is the radish.

“The nonprofit sector continually inspires me with viable social safety nets, thought provoking art, healing for the sick, great research and improved education. Nonprofit leaders accomplish important missions with minimal resources in an environment that demands passion, accountability and results. The profit sector excites me with business innovation, efficiency and results as well. I believe that much professional pro bono service remains untapped—seldom have I seen such positive potential.”

Cheryl is known throughout the Taproot offices as our transparency advocate and for her love of the outdoors and numbers. Cheryl is responsible for managing the budget and human resources functions of the Taproot Foundation. With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, managing the finances of organizations of all sizes, Cheryl has previously acted as Chief Operating Officer at Larkin Street Youth Services and has worked extensively in health care organizations directing financial analysis and decision support for national contracts. An ardent believer in community volunteerism, she currently serves as Treasurer on Clinic by the Bay’s Board of Directors. Cheryl received her BA in literature from the University of Southern Indiana and earned her MBA and MPH at the University of California, Berkeley. A long ago displaced Hoosier, Cheryl lives with her husband, and near her daughter, in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco. Her favorite root vegetable is the beet.

“I’ve spent my entire career in nonprofits, which are the driving force in addressing social issues. In my work across different types of organizations, I’ve seen the limits organizations face when they can not afford to put in place needed infrastructure. Taproot moves organizations beyond those limits and makes it easier for all Executive Directors to lead their organizations to achieve their full potentials.”

Joel is known throughout the Taproot offices for his measured, diplomatic ideas and his crazy metaphors. As the Taproot’s Western Region Executive Director, Joel runs all Taproot programs and development efforts in Los Angeles and San Francisco. With over 25 years of working with nonprofits, and especially with agencies undergoing substantial growth opportunities, Joel has served as Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration at the Jewish Museum of San Francisco and Operations Director at the Boston Food Bank. He has also served on nonprofit boards and has consulted to organizations working in the areas of arts, disability, public health, domestic poverty and hunger. Joel holds a BA in Anthropology and a MA in Planning and Nonprofit Management both from Tufts University. A long time active resident of Berkeley, Joel lives with his wife and two teenagers. His favorite root vegetable is the carrot.

“For many years I worked in the private sector. I loved the work I was doing, but I continued to be frustrated by the lack of opportunities I had to connect with the community and make a positive impact in the world. I joined Taproot, because I believe passionately that business professionals shouldn’t have to leave their jobs to make a difference. At Taproot, I get to help create a future where business professionals can do what they love and find meaning in the work they do.”

Jamie is known throughout the Taproot offices for her cheery greetings and as the essence of positivity. As Taproot’s Vice President of External Affairs, she partners with leaders across government, trade associations, fields, and universities to expand the pro bono movement and also heads Taproot’s marketing efforts. With 15 years of experience in partner management and development, business management, and consulting, Jamie has worked extensively advising start-up and established firms regarding strategic plan development, market expansion, business process re-engineering, and complex enterprise technology deployments. Prior to joining Taproot Jamie held positions including Sr. Managing Consultant for IBM Business Consulting Services and Sr. Marketing Consultant at J.D. Edwards. She has consulted to organizations such as Net Impact, United Way, the US Senate Subcommittee for Children & Families and the Children’s Defense Fund. Jamie holds a BS from the University of Colorado at Boulder and MA in Public Policy from Georgetown University. Jamie and her husband live an active life in San Francisco although they spend much of their time on the road with friends or visiting family in CO, TN, D.C. and Chicago. Her favorite root vegetable is the carrot.

“The shift from direct service organizations to my role at Taproot – in which I could impact organizations and the individuals, families, and communities they serve by increasing the availability of pro bono support – was a logical one for me.  Pro bono is one piece of a necessary larger-scale shift of resources towards the social sector, and having the opportunity to hasten and amplify that shift fulfills my personal drive to make change happen.”

Megan is known throughout the Taproot offices for her occasional shipments of cookies or treats and for her unlimited empathy. As the Eastern-Central Region’s Executive Director, Megan leads all Taproot program and development efforts in New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC. Prior to joining Taproot, Megan spent over 20 years leading organizations and programs dedicated to improving social service support for women and families living in poverty and at risk.  She has served as Executive Director for the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston, Chief Development Officer for Chicago’s Deborah’s Place and Program Director for organizations including the Howard Area Community Center, Methodist Youth Services and the Heartland Alliance. Megan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a BA in Public Policy and American Civilization from Brown University, a master’s degree from University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. A New York to Chicago transplant, Megan and her partner live in Evanston, IL where they raise their two children and attend more than their fill of soccer games. Her favorite root vegetable is the radish.

"Nonprofits are inherently innovative organizations, given the insights and passion that sparked their formation.  As they grow, however, it’s often difficult to keep innovation on the front burner; with limited infrastructure and a sharp focus on daily operations they can benefit from access to professional services that offer new ways of working. Taproot recognizes the importance of creative thinking on making progress, and we are continuously exploring how the services we offer can support our clients in their quests to achieve real social change.”

Laura is known throughout the Taproot offices for her notebooks and colored pencils and is single-handedly responsible for starting the Taproot Foundation’s Post-it® note and Sharpie marker obsessions. As the Vice President of Service Innovation, she leads the creation and development of all Taproot programs. Previous to joining Taproot, Laura spent nine years with world-renowned design consultancy firm IDEO where she focused on service design and advocated for integrating the business perspective directly into the design process. A former architect and educator, Laura is a member of the Board of Directors of Public Architecture and has served on the Board of Governors of the Association of Yale Alumni. Laura holds a BArch with honors from Cornell University, an MArch from Yale University, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Forever a Bostonian, Laura has found a second home in San Francisco and currently resides in the North Beach section of the city. Her favorite root vegetable is the radish served with butter and salt.

In 2010, Lola B. Hurst became the Taproot Foundation’s youngest executive when she was named Honorary Vice President of Hot Chocolate at the age of 4. Although she works at the Taproot Foundation remotely, she has been noted for artistic talents, innovative spirit, creative problem solving skills, layered outfits, and ability to wear multicolor stripes. Lola recently graduated with distinction from preschool in Brooklyn, New York.