Global Professional Services, PC (GPS) is a nonprofit management firm incorporated in the state of Virginia in 1991. We provide a wide range of services to our clients – all virtually – enabling us to save our clients fees associated with rent and overhead.
Over the past decade (plus), we have not only served nonprofit associations, but we have also supported charitable foundations and accreditation organizations. We have a proven track record of growing organizations’ capacity and impact. We know that it’s not enough to be merely supportive, but rather to advance an organization’s mission through data gathering, scientific inquiry and intentional action designed to meet specific goals.
While we primarily maintain comprehensive management relationships with our clients, GPS for Growth is a new initiative aimed at delivering our extensive content and communications expertise and capacity to all mission-focused organizations, for the greater good.
Our team
The principals of the company live and work in Richmond, Virginia. Our location provides us access to federal government legislators and regulators, and our CEO has a wealth of advocacy experience.
Peggy McElgunn, Esq. – President & CEO
Our CEO & President is an attorney with over twenty-five years experience in association management. She worked for three other association management firms before starting GPS. During Peggy’s association career, working with over fifty national and international associations and societies, she has performed various roles including executive director, government relations director, and communications director. Earlier in her career, she was employed by a law firm where she was responsible for association client matters and lobbying for over 180 different companies.
Susan Zielinski – COO, Communications
Susan has been the primary coordinator for offices and events of all sizes, from GPS’s 9-person office of friends and colleagues, to regional and national multi-day athletic tournaments and professional conferences. An ethic she carries throughout this work is an attention to detail which is qualified by an equal attention to the lived experience of those who participate in the programs she helps to coordinate. This balance between the rigor of her professional execution and the compassion she weaves through both her professional and personal life uniquely positions her to address challenges that are adaptive, evolving, and which demand the incorporation of diverse perspectives and concerns. (For the record, this bio was prepared by one of Susan’s GPS colleagues, as humility is another of Susan’s defining character traits!)
Rebecca Preddie – VP, Advocacy & Strategy
With over two decades of nonprofit experience, Rebecca specializes in project management, policy analysis, public advocacy, and coalition operations. She has a proven track record of cultivating strategic partnerships, highly effective government relations, and strategy formulation across groups of diverse stakeholders. Through the early months of the SARS Cov-19 pandemic, Rebecca simultaneously juggled the pivot from in-person to virtual for an annual meeting for professionals in the Allied Health professions, maintaining her presence and advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill for a coalition of healthcare-involved organizations, and at-home schooling for her two young children who were pushed out of the classroom by Covid-19. Needless to say, this period speaks to Rebecca’s ability to lead with clarity through periods of unanticipated change. Rebecca received her Bachelors in African-American Studies from the University of Maryland – College Park.
Dot Heffron – VP, Client Relationships & Leadership Development
Dot has a wide ranging experience as a program manager, former educator, E Pluribus Unum Fund Fellow, policymaker, public servant, community volunteer, parent, and advocate. Throughout each of these positions and experiences, Dot’s focus has been ensuring the dignity, humanity, and agency of all those with whom she has the privilege to work and problem-solve. As an active participant and vocal proponent of democracy in all it’s forms, Dot believes that the most effective route to lasting positive change is to facilitate community-led solutions which center the voice and lived experience of those closest to the issue at hand. When navigating diverse sets of stakeholders, Dot’s goal is always to first facilitate consensus around the goals we share, and only after this consensus has been generated to use our shared goals as the foundation upon which solutions are built, and the evaluative lens through which they are assessed.
Zach McElgunn – VP, Education & Development
Zach McElgunn has over eight years of experience managing nonprofit foundations in addition to public and consumer relations for a variety of nonprofit clients. Zach’s focus is on developing quality and engaging educational experiences and stellar informational resources that offer a depth of value and build trust with audiences. He brings an abundance of passion and energy to all mission-driven projects. His work with GPS’s clients currently sits at the intersection of Implementation Science, Organizational Culture & Climate, and adult educational programming.
Mads McElgunn – Education, Marketing, Events, & Design
Mads McElgunn has a background in sustainability education and fashion merchandising. Mads’ passion is in providing sustainable, accessible, and equitable education in an engaging and innovative manner. Additionally, as design lead for all GPS clients, they prioritize market trends with accessibility and equity in creating beautiful, legible, and educational resources for GP clients. Currently, they are learning the skills required to better motivate and organize the members and communities served by GPS. Their work is value-driven and anchored in intersectionality, innovation, and sustainability.
Aviva Clayman – Meetings & Membership
Aviva Clayman lives and works in Richmond, VA. She studied Philosophy with a Concentration in Law and Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Aviva is passionate about relationship development and social justice, as well as increased access to higher/adult education. With GPS, Aviva has honed her ability to communicate to best meet the needs and wants of the organization members served by GPS.
Catherine Ward – Communication & Membership
Catherine Ward is a recent graduate with Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Pre-Physician Assistant from James Madison University. She has served as the Vice President of the Sports Club Council at UREC, managing multiple sports clubs and overseeing administrative, financial, and marketing responsibilities. Additionally, Catherine was a member of Women’s Club Volleyball where she held positions of Secretary and President. Catherine has valuable medical-related experience as a Direct Care Aid at a memory-care facility and volunteer experience at St. Francis Hospital. Catherine is excited to embark this new chapter with Global Professional Services.
Taylor Gray – Advocacy & Membership
Taylor’s undergraduate education at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA focused on Political Science and African American Studies. During her coursework, she took a hands on approach to advocacy and the legislative process working as a session aid in Virginia House of Delegates. In addition to this political advocacy experience, she has held a number of volunteer leadership positions, and continues to take an active role in the many communities of which she is a part. Currently, her work with GPS’s clients centers on member experience, peer-to-peer learning, and the ongoing evaluation of client programs and activities including the incorporation of direct participant feedback into future programming.
Kurt Jensen – Marketing & Website Development
Kurt Jensen has eight years of professional experience in communications with nonprofit clients and professional associations in the field of health & human services and 10+ years of experience with web design, publications, search engine optimization and all things content.
With a degree in both English and Economics, he combines competent messaging with an analytical approach aimed at accomplishing mission-driven goals. Kurt is an avid reader of books at the intersection of economics, behavior and organizational management.
