Three Third Sector New England staff have day-to-day responsibility for the Executive Transitions Program.

Heather Harker, Director of Consulting & Executive Transitions, has worked with Third Sector New England since 2001. Prior to coming here, she was the Assistant Director of the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, focusing on policy development, advocacy and program implementation. She worked closely with the Director to pass significant pieces of legislation and to expand the agency’s services four-fold. While there, Heather received the prestigious three-year Kellogg International Leadership Program fellowship.

Receiving an echoing green fellowship for social entrerpreneurship, she also lived in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Sabah) working with the deaf community to establish a public health educational series, English as a Second Language programs and a summer youth leadership camp, all while teaching in schools for the deaf.

Heather has a BA in International Relations from Brown University and a masters degree in Public Administration, specializing in leadership and nonprofit management, from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Hez Norton, Executive Transitions Program Manager, previously served as the executive director of Resource Generation, a national organization that engages young adults with financial wealth in social change philanthropy. Prior to Resource Generation, Hez founded and was the executive director of North Carolina Lambda Youth Network.

Hez also led the youth involvement program in the North Carolina Governor’s Office and was a program officer for Learn and Serve America with the NC Commission on National and Community Service. Hez brings experience as an Interim Executive Director as well as a consultant to nonprofits in the areas of organizational development and fundraising.

A Rockefeller Foundation Next Generation Leadership Fellow, Hez also received a fellowship from the Lyndhurst Foundation’s Southern Community Partners Program. Hez served as a board member of the Funding Exchange Foundation and currently sits on the board of Funders for Gay and Lesbian Issues. Hez is a co-creator and contributing editor to the book Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use It for Social Change. Hez received a BA in Public Policy from Duke University and will receive a masters degree in Public Administration from Northeastern University in 2008.

Liz Russell, Mission Effectiveness Program Administrator, has worked with Third Sector New England since 2005. During that time she has worked as the administrative coordinator to the Mission Effectiveness Program. Liz brings expertise in financial and systems management, contract administration, event planning and program coordination.

Before moving to Boston, Liz worked as the institutional giving associate at Environmental Defense, Inc. in New York City where she assisted in the management of corporate, foundation and government grants. Prior to working at Environmental Defense, Liz worked in the field of archaeology and participated in an archaeological dig near Lincoln, New Mexico. Liz received a BA in Anthropology and Archaeology from Hunter College in New York City.