Ellen Collins is the Executive Director of the Alliance. In this role, she engages with nonprofits, foundations, United Ways, public sector agencies, and businesses statewide. Ellen oversees day-to-day operations, ensuring effective execution of the organization’s long-term strategy, continuous improvement in performance and productivity, and the identification of opportunities to enhance organizational effectiveness. Before becoming Executive Director, Ellen served as Associate Director of the Alliance. Her extensive experience also includes leadership roles in nonprofit and philanthropic organizations such as Director of the Prosperity Center for Midtown Partners, Inc., Senior Program Officer for the Chicago-based McCormick Foundation, and Director of Programs for the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson (now the Community Foundation for Mississippi). At the Community Foundation, she played a key role in launching the Women’s Fund of Mississippi (now the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi), the state’s only nonprofit foundation focused primarily on women and girls’ issues. Ellen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Mississippi Valley State University and a Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, with additional certifications in family services and leadership development. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson (Class of 2008–09) and has served on numerous nonprofit boards in the Metro Jackson area. Ellen is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Junior League of Jackson. Outside of work, Ellen enjoys photography, traveling, and genealogical research.

Cynthia Hines is our Chief Program Officer and a key member of the Alliance’s leadership team. She leads the design and implementation of Alliance programs and services, expands outreach efforts, builds strategic partnerships, and develops special projects and initiatives with external collaborators. Cynthia fosters trust and collaboration among Alliance staff, community partners, members, the public, and stakeholders.

With over 20 years of experience, Cynthia is an accomplished operations leader specializing in education, volunteer management, training, strategic planning, and organizational development. She brings strong expertise in marketing and communications and holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Jackson State University, complemented by executive education from Penn State and the Industrial Areas Foundation. She is also a certified Project Master.

Her previous leadership roles include CEO of WesGroup LLC, Vice President of Foundation Programs at the Mississippi Economic Council, and Executive Director of Delta 360 Inc. Throughout her career, Cynthia has consistently driven operational improvements, surpassed performance goals, managed program funding, and led cross-functional teams to achieve success.

Tiffiney Carter-Washington is the AI Lab Manager and Technical Advisor for The Alliance, dedicated to equipping Mississippi nonprofits with greater digital literacy and facilitating the adoption of transformative technologies.  Possessing over 25 years of experience in Information Technology and Computer Science – along with bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from Jackson State University and a master’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Arkansas – Tiffiney leverages her extensive experience to bridge the digital divide and empower organizations to thrive in today’s tech-driven landscape.

Tiffiney’s professional journey began as an Engineer for Hughes Network Systems (Maryland). Over the years, she has worn many hats, serving as a COO, IT Department Chair, Regional Manager, Software Developer, Technical Writer, Analyst, Trainer, and Collegiate Instructor.  Moreover, Tiffiney serves on the Board of the Mississippi AI Collaborative and has played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the need for technology in high schools in Louisiana and Mississippi.

 

DeLorean King is our Programs and Membership Associate at the Alliance. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance, as well as an MBA in Finance. A member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Society, DeLorean is actively involved in her community and enjoys traveling, reading, and volunteering in her spare time.

Jason Easley serves as part-time bookkeeper for the Alliance, where he is responsible for ensuring all financial transactions are accurately recorded and reported. He also collaborates closely with the executive director to forecast cash flow and prepare budgets for the current year and future periods.

Jason holds both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) and an MBA from Mississippi College. A Certified Public Accountant for over 23 years, he recently retired after a long career primarily in state government. His roles included Accountant, Auditor, and Director of Internal Audit and Quality Assurance across several agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, Office of the State Auditor, Department of Health, and Department of Rehabilitation Services.

A native of Summit, Mississippi, Jason developed a passion for golf during his time at North Pike School District and later played for the Mississippi College golf team. Outside of work, he enjoys college sports, watching movies and TV shows on demand, and grilling or dining out with friends. He and his wife, Holly, are proud parents of two children.

Michael C. Martella serves as the Programs and Strategy Associate here at the Alliance.  He is responsible for providing a wide range of support to the Alliance’s program team, including assistance in the planning and management of the training and capacity building unit, membership, and policy.