Our Team

Aaron (@aaron_hurst) is a globally recognized social innovator and leading architect of the growing pro bono services movement. He is known throughout Taproot offices for his striped socks, Post-it® doodling, and endless supply of bold ideas.

Aaron’s career is dedicated to challenging and empowering the public and private sectors as well as individuals and organizations to drive our collective social, environmental and economic progress. He is the founder of the Taproot Foundation—a nonprofit organization building a national pro bono marketplace and leading the global service movement—and is a creative force behind the conception of the national Billion + Change initiative and the Service Enterprise model.

A member of the Nonprofit Times Power and Influence Top 50, Aaron is widely known for his thought-leadership in civic engagement, nonprofit management and corporate social responsibility.  He is a regular blogger for the Huffington Post and Stanford Social Innovation Review.

An entrepreneur since 16, Aaron began his career as a social innovator at the University of Michigan, where he designed and led an educational program for local correctional facilities, subsequently becoming the first student to receive the Michigan Campus Compact Award. Upon graduating, he worked in inner-city education in Chicago before landing in Silicon Valley as an early employee at two venture-backed social venture companies.

Aaron is one of the most recognized social entrepreneurs in the nation and a recipient of the Ashoka and Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation fellowships. He has also been formally recognized as a leading social innovator by the Aspen Institute, Social Venture Network, Fast Company, Commonwealth Club, the Manhattan Institute, the State of California, and the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. In 2009, he received the LSA Humanitarian Service Award, the highest honor bestowed on University of Michigan alumni.

Aaron currently sits on the International Advisory Board of Directors of CiYuan, a three-year initiative to increase social investment in China, and serves on the boards of Reimagining Service and BoardSource. He has co-authored the children’s book “Mommy and Daddy Do It Pro Bono” with his wife, Kara Hurst (@karahurst).

Aaron, Kara, and their two children live in Park Slope, Brooklyn. His favorite root vegetable is the radish.

“Pro bono will become an increasingly critical aspect of the nonprofit support system as the economic crisis settles in for a long-term restructuring. What can be done pro bono must be done pro bono if organizations doing exceptional societal good are going to continue to thrive.”

As New York City’s Executive Director, Rob sets the strategic direction for Taproot Foundation and the pro bono movement in America’s most populous city. He is known for belting out Broadway show tunes at the photocopier and trying to measure everything. Prior to joining Taproot, Rob spent over 20 years leading nonprofits, working in direct services and engaging in policy efforts designed to bring opportunity, justice, fair-treatment and second chances to residents of Brooklyn, Harlem, Chicago and Jackson, Mich. Most recently, Rob served for seven years as Executive Director of Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA), overseeing the delivery of free legal representation to more than 22,000 low-income clients. During his tenure, CGLA expanded ten fold the number of clients served and tripled the agency’s annual budget. In May 2008, CGLA received the prestigious Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence. Rob’s roots in NYC run deep having worked at a number of nonprofits including Legal Outreach, Inc. and the Brooklyn Juvenile Rights Division of Legal Aid Society. He has served on a number of nonprofit boards and has taught graduate level nonprofit leadership at DePaul Law School and North Park University. He earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Spring Arbor University. Rob calls New York City home and his favorite root vegetable is the sweet potato, especially in the form of pie.

“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.

"Every day I see how pro bono strengthens nonprofits. Imagine how a national pro bono movement could engineer a seismic shift in how we address the most pressing social issues in this country. There isn’t a moment to loose."

Ann is known throughout Taproot for her foreign accent and quaint turn of phrase that make her forays into office politics seem like diplomatic exercises. As the Executive Director of Taproot’s Los Angeles’ office, sets the strategic direction and leads the programs, development efforts and partnership-building initiatives in L.A.  She brings to Taproot a profound commitment to social change, expertise in building coalitions, and marshaling philanthropic resources both in the U.S. and abroad. Ann has first-hand knowledge of the emerging trends in the volunteerism and corporate citizenship landscapes and a deep understanding of the capacity-building needs of nonprofits.  Before joining our team, she was the Deputy Director of the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles, the Executive Director of L. A. Works, and National Media Director for Amnesty International. She has also worked as a consultant to the Rockefeller Foundation on communications initiatives and to the government in South Africa, where she provided strategic communications for presidential visits to the U.S, including the Farewell State Visit of President Nelson Mandela. She has served on several boards, currently Shared Interest and the Human Health Project, and has served pro bono as a partner and consultant helping to develop leadership, communications, and capacity-building initiatives for many nonprofits in the U.S. and Africa. She was educated in South Africa, and her favorite root is the mango, the most venerable of all fruit roots..

"By 2020, I want to see pro bono volunteer work catapult in the United States and around the world. Let every citizen and company know the joy in using their professional expertise to make positive social change."

As Executive Director in Chicago and Washington, DC, Beth leads strategy, partnerships, and pro bono programs so that, one day, any company or person who wants to help change the world by sharing their professional talent pro bono can do so -- and so that every nonprofit leader serving critical needs can access pro bono business services that expand their organization's reach and impact. With more than 20 years building leading nonprofits dedicated to community development, microfinance, women's issues, children's services and civic engagement, Beth is passionate about engaging the private sector in positive social change. Prior to Taproot, Beth served for 13 years with the microfinance organization Opportunity International in roles ranging from Chief of Staff to Global Services, to Head of Strategic Marketing, to the Women's Fund Director. During her tenure, Opportunity grew to be a leading organization -- from making just over 100,000 microloans in 1998 to people living in poverty to more than 1.5 million in 2010, with additional services in micro- savings and insurance. With private sector experience at Salomon Brothers, Beth has also worked with The Fresh Air Fund and City Year; delivered pro bono projects with the American Red Cross, the Museum of Natural History, and the Chicago Museum of Modern Art; and volunteered with Deborah's Place and Women Advancing Microfinance. Beth has an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management where she serves as a guest speaker. As a Ford Foundation fellow, Beth lived in India researching the social impact of U.S.-based companies with significant operations in India. Beth loves cherry blossom season in Washington, DC and the first snowfall in Chicago. She lives in Oak Park, IL with her husband and two daughters. Her favorite root vegetable is the carrot, as it is loved by cultures around the world.

“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.