Our Staff

Zach Cahalan

Executive Director

Zach Cahalan is the Executive Director of the Truck Safety Coalition, a position he has served in for two years. He is an experienced mission-based leader with over fifteen years working in the nonprofit sector where he is known for his strategic program development, advocacy, and coalition-building acumen.

Zach Cahalan has previously worked with Catholic Charities USA for five years and over 10 years of his professional career working for the American Red Cross. He has served in multiple disaster relief operations throughout the United States including, but not limited to: Hurricanes Sandy, Harvey, and Maria. Under his leadership, design, and direction, the American Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign which has saved nearly 2,000 lives across the nation. He co-administered Project Comeback: Texas, one of the largest Disaster Case Management Programs in history, in collaboration with NVOAD and its member agencies. He previously served on the NVOAD Board of Directors as well as Chair of the NVOAD Advocacy Committee. He has a robust background in crisis operations, grants management, partnership cultivation, and nonprofit program operations.

Zach Cahalan earned his B.S. in Education from Central Michigan University and his M.A. in International Development Administration from Western Michigan University. He resides in Northern Virginia with his three children, Hannah, Elise, and Griffin, and his loyal Vizsla, Kaya.

 

Johnetha Lindsey

Director of Development

Johnetha Lindsey was born in Jackson, MS, and raised in northern Mississippi. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Business Administration from Jackson State University and is currently an Executive Leadership PH.D. candidate at the University of Holy Cross.

Building on her love and passion for Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Johnetha began her career in Institutional Advancement at the historic Tougaloo College. As an Institutional Advancement professional, Johnetha served as a liaison who works to engage alumni and donors to help meet institutional goals.

Most recently, Johnetha led the department of Corporate and Foundations, where she was responsible for identifying corporate and foundation prospects, cultivating relationships with them, developing funding proposals for them, soliciting, and following up in securing philanthropic support. She also prepared reports for the Vice President and Office of the President, served as the liaison and technical support for the Alumni Relations and Development team, and distributed communications for fundraising projects.

She was a co-chair for the Presidential Inauguration at Tougaloo College in 2021. In addition, she is currently a committee member for the annual Two Rivers Black-Tie Gala, the DIA Commencement team, and a data project manager for Give Love Xavier Day at Xavier University of Louisiana. Johnetha also currently serves as the project manager for the Annual Business Luncheon, where in February 2022, Tougaloo exceeded its goal and raised over $300,000 during the event.

Johnetha is an avid fundraiser enthusiast who enjoys raising money for philanthropic causes, events, and nonprofit organizations. Her passion for serving stems from the opportunity to connect people to deserving causes. Johnetha also serves as a Girl Scout volunteer, assisting leaders and co-leaders in growing future women leaders. When she is not working, Johnetha is either spending time with her family or traveling and exploring life’s adventures.

 

McKenna Guajardo

Grant Program Coordinator

McKenna Guajardo was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas where she received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at ATSU College of Graduate Health Studies.

She found her passion for serving nonprofit organizations when she started her career as an Event Coordinator & Development Specialist at the Epilepsy Foundation of Central & South Texas. Her deep-rooted passion and engagement for this nonprofit organization stemmed from losing her father to epilepsy at the tender age of 29, while she was a 5-month-old infant. During her tenure with the Epilepsy Foundation, she managed numerous fundraising events including golf tournaments, neuroscience networking conferences, Walks to END Epilepsy, and the annual Cheers for a Cause Gala. Under her leadership, she exceeded the goal for the Gala raising over $180,000, the most ever raised at the Foundation.

McKenna is highly experienced in development leadership, including but not limited to: fundraising, grant writing, event & program coordination, partnership cultivation, sponsorship stewardship, campaign building, and hosting committee meetings for the Board of Directors. With her free time, she is either spending time with her children being their biggest cheerleader at their sports and boy-scout events or studying to further her education and career prospects.