HCL was originally founded and continues to be led by Dawn R. Duncan, MSW, SM. Dawn is part Cherokee and has many years of experience working in the Native American community, primarily in the Northeast. As owner of Dawn Duncan Consulting and past President of Pioneer Fundraising Resources, consulting firms specializing in providing grant-writing services to nonprofit organizations, Dawn has raised over $15 million dollars for a variety of causes. 

Recently, Dawn expanded her grant research and writing skills to the field of real estate and is now President of Real Estate Grant Specialists, a division of The Grant Connection LLC. In this role, Dawn recently submitted 100+ applications totaling $7.154 million in forgivable loans for the GO Zone Small Rental Assistance Program for affordable housing projects in Mississippi counties devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Highlights of Dawn’s experience in grant writing include:

Dawn holds a Master’s Degree from Harvard University in Public Health; a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston University; and has served as a board member of numerous Boston area nonprofits, including the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness.

Gary Nichols brings a unique mix of talent and experience to HCL in the fields of sales and marketing, real estate, finance, and special needs housing for seniors. An entrepreneur since the age of seven – when he “traded the frog for the cap gun for the roller skates that he really wanted all along”, Gary has served in sales/marketing management roles with three Fortune 500 companies for more than a decade before following his natural entrepreneurial inclinations. This journey has led Mr. Nichols to become a licensed Real Estate Mortgage Broker in California, where he opened four offices in Southern California focusing on helping first time homebuyers realize their dream of homeownership. 

Several life changing experiences, including involvement in meaningful community work and fundraising with churches, schools and social groups, led Gary to refocus his energies and begin specializing in the senior housing market. Gary created a business model to empower seniors to stay “in the bed of their choice” instead of having to move into an assisted living facility. To further this mission, Gary established Golden Age Property Solutions, a company that helps enrich seniors’ lives through improving their financial cash flows and providing “universal design” real estate and services.

Gary holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland. Gary’s commitment to making a difference and leaving his legacy in the world of special needs housing led him to join the CNI/HCL Board of Directors in 2008.

Ashley Duncan, Director

Ashley brings a wide range of skills, experience and talent to HCL in the fields of state government and nonprofit management. Ashley has filled several government leadership positions, including Former Deputy Director of Community Affairs for Tennessee Governor Phil Bredsden. She also served as Governor Bredsden’s Director of Office of Boards and Commissions, and Director of the Governor’s Proclamation Program. Ashley is highly skilled and experienced in relationship-building with government entities; managing multiple projects with competing and conflicting priorities under tight time frames;managing online/off-line communications with clients and integration of information databases; and juggling public relations communication projects to large groups of constituents, including elected officials, nonprofit donors, professional associations, and new clients.

Currently, Ashley serves as the Manager of Conferences and Shows for the Illinois CPA Society. She has also held positions including the Manager of Special Events and Volunteers for Christopher House, nonprofit settlement house in Chicago. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University. Ashley is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Young Non-Profit Professionals Group. She has been a Board Member since 2002.

Brooke Duncan, Director

Brooke brings experience in management, graphic design, and computer programming to HCL. Brooke is founder and owner of Stick It To Me Buttons, a company that designs and distributes customized buttons to customers all over the world. Stick It To Me Buttons has established a niche in the music industry, and Brooke also works as a merchandising consultant for several well-known bands. In this capacity, Brooke travels regularly to more than a dozen countries each year. Brooke holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Middle Tennessee State University. She currently lives in Middletown, Delaware. Brooke joined the CNI Board of Directors in 2004.

Blake Stech, Director

Blake Stech brings a considerable amount of talent and expertise to HCL in the fields of marketing, creative writing, research, and real estate. Blake is a licensed real estate agent in the State of California, and currently serves as the Marketing Director for Purpose Built Investments (PBI), a leader in the field of real estate investments in emerging markets. 

Blake was instrumental in helping PBI generate $2 million in revenue in its first 12 months, through a host of dynamic writing and marketing planning strategies, including marketing and sales copy, short stories, testimonials, research reports, government grant proposals and cause-marketing integration. Blake is particularly skilled at combining creative imagination and an eloquent writing style to brand positioning and anchoring.   Blake possesses strong skills and experience in event planning, marketing and management; market, product and business research; and customer acquisition and client consultation.