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Cindy Brams is a seasoned accounting professional with over 35 years of experience, currently leading Elliott Davis’s nonprofit practice, as well as serving as the Office Leader for the Charleston location and a member of the Firm’s Board of Directors. She also previously led both the Charleston and Charlotte assurance practices for the firm. She brings extensive expertise in financial statement reporting for the not-for-profit, healthcare and professional services industries. Her deep understanding of financial operations allows her to assist clients with strategic solutions to navigate complex financial and operational challenges. In her role as Office Leader, Cindy regularly mentors other team members on various aspects of career development, community engagement and navigating the day-to-day challenges of a working professional.
A Certified Public Accountant, Cindy earned her B.A. in Accounting, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia. She is actively involved in the Charleston business community, having served in leadership roles with organizations such as the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Roper Hospital, Trident United Way and the College of Charleston Accounting Advisory Board. She currently contributes her expertise as a member of the Board of My Sister’s House and a participant in the Trident CEO Council.
Beyond her professional commitments, Cindy is dedicated to civic engagement and fostering strong community partnerships. A member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, she remains committed to excellence in her field and to supporting the broader accounting and nonprofit sectors.
Francine Christiansen has spent over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, serving as a senior staff manager, executive director, consultant, funder, and board chair across social services, arts, government, education and healthcare. Her consulting practice specializes in strategic planning, board development, alliances, positioning and fundraising.
An active community leader, she currently serves on the Elizabeth Park Conservancy, Patriot Art Foundation and American College of the Building Arts. She previously chaired multiple boards, including the Village for Families and Children, Friends of the Family and the Junior League of Hartford, and played a founding role in United Way Women’s Leadership Steering Committee. She has also led major gifts programs, capital campaigns and signature fundraising events, including the Stowe Prize and the American College of the Building Arts Preservation Award.
Francine is a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer and a Results-Based Accountability Trainer, bringing deep expertise in nonprofit governance and evaluation. Her background includes teaching at the secondary and college levels, private-sector PR and marketing and executive training at Harvard in nonprofit governance and performance measurement.
Recognized for her leadership, she has received Volunteer of the Year Awards from the Junior League of Hartford and Friends of the Family and was named Woman of the Year by the Village for Families and Children in 2017.
She enjoys writing, pickleball, gardening and cooking, and splits her time between Mt. Pleasant, SC and Hartford, CT.
Stephan Christiansen has spent over 30 years in the for-profit sector as a strategic consultant, private equity investor in 20+ early-stage companies, and manager of a research and consulting firm. He has served on over a dozen boards across private and nonprofit sectors, holding roles as chair and on finance, audit and investment committees. His consulting work has focused on board strategic planning, industry trend research in insurance and finance and merger and acquisition development.
Earlier in his career, Stephan held leadership roles in product development, finance, strategic planning and actuarial management within the insurance industry. A Penn State graduate with a Mathematics degree, he is also a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society. Recently retired, he is expanding his nonprofit involvement and working alongside Francine in her consulting practice.
He currently serves on the Hartford Art School Endowment Board (Finance & Acquisition Committees, past chair) and Music at the Red Door, Inc. (Treasurer). A longtime volunteer with United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, he has served on the Community Investment Steering Committee and Hartford’s Working Cities Challenge Grant. He remains active with the Investment Committee of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, where he is also a recent past board chair.
Beyond his professional and nonprofit work, Stephan enjoys painting, singing with the Charleston Men’s Chorus, playing golf and pickleball and baking. He and his wife split their time between Mt. Pleasant, SC, and Hartford, CT.
Tosha Connors, MPA, has dedicated her entire career, from grad school onward, to nonprofit service in communities throughout Georgia, Washington DC, New York and South Carolina, dedicated to uplifting and empowering those most in need of advocacy and support. As CEO of My Sister’s House since 2017, Tosha champions survivors of domestic violence and their children, working to strengthen recovery and healing for a safer and healthier Lowcountry. Her leadership of MSH has been widely recognized throughout the region and state, most recently earning My Sister’s House recognition as the 2023 Nonprofit of the Year at the 250th Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Honors Awards.
Herbert L. Drayton III is a dynamic entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and community leader with over 30 years of experience building and scaling businesses. As Founder and Managing Partner of HI Mark Capital, he invests in artificial intelligence startups led by underrepresented founders, including women, veterans, and minority entrepreneurs, championing innovation and equity in the tech industry.
Herbert is also the founder of Vertical Holdings, which launched, built, and successfully exited more than a dozen companies in healthcare, software, and corporate professional development. His businesses have served clients across the United States, Canada, and the British Virgin Islands, showcasing his strategic vision and entrepreneurial acumen.
A Charleston native and veteran of the Marine Corps Reserve and Air Force, Herbert's leadership extends well beyond his business ventures. He is actively involved in economic development initiatives, serving on the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, where he advocates for equitable access to capital. His community leadership includes roles as Board Chair of Palmetto Goodwill, the Coastal Community Foundation and One80 Place, and board member of SCbio, SC Quantum Association, BrightFocus Foundation, Association of Black Foundation Executives, Middleton Place Foundation, and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Herbert's deep commitment to mentorship and fostering opportunities for emerging leaders aligns seamlessly with the mission of Trident United Way’s Young Leaders United. He looks forward to sharing his insights on career growth, navigating obstacles, and achieving professional success at the Cocktails & Conversations event, offering practical advice and inspiration to the next generation of Charleston’s leaders.
Walter M. Fiederowicz is a distinguished attorney, investor and business leader with a strong background in law, finance and corporate governance. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law, he began his career at Cummings & Lockwood before serving as a White House Fellow and later as Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice. He returned to private practice as a corporate law partner before transitioning into business and investment, focusing on financial services, venture capital and corporate leadership.
Since 1989, Mr. Fiederowicz has been actively involved in financial services and investment ventures, serving in leadership roles at various companies, including Covenant Mutual Insurance Company, The Connecticut Surety Company and Meacock Capital plc. He played a key role in organizing HCG Investment Trust, the first corporate investment vehicle for Lloyd’s of London. Additionally, he co-founded The Painter Hill Venture Fund, a venture capital fund supporting technology startups. His board service includes Photronics, Inc., Conning & Company and First Albany Companies, Inc.
Beyond his business endeavors, Mr. Fiederowicz has been deeply engaged in civic and philanthropic work in both Connecticut and South Carolina. He has served on numerous boards, including the Connecticut Humanities Council, the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Charleston Literary Festival, where he is currently Board Chair. His passion for the arts, historic preservation and education has been a driving force in his community involvement. Residing in Charleston and New York City, he continues to be an influential figure in business, philanthropy and cultural development.
David “D.J.” Hampton II joined Trident United Way as president and chief executive officer in April 2023.
Hampton has held critical leadership roles at some of the largest nonprofits in the U.S., including over two decades within the United Way Network, having personally developed over $50 Million in planned gifts, led teams supporting over $1.2 Billion in annual individual giving and helped launch over $1 Billion in initiative and endowment campaigns.
After United Way, Hampton led development for The ALS Association and worked to increase system-wide revenue 40% over three years following the Ice Bucket Challenge. He also served as the senior vice president of market leadership and chief development officer for March of Dimes where he drove transformation, grew $130 million in annual revenue and led over 300 staff.
Most recently, Hampton founded and led ALoDay Consulting, where he advised and supported a variety of nonprofits globally.
Hampton earned a Master’s in nonprofit management from Alfred University, a J.D. from the David A. Clarke School of Law and is a member of the D.C. Bar.
Hampton met his wife Allison while both were working at a United Way in Birmingham, Alabama. They share a passion for philanthropy and extensive United Way experience. In fact, they consider themselves a United Way family and often say that the United Way tagline, “LIVE UNITED”, was the unofficial theme at their wedding, as their nuptials made the slogan a reality.
Hampton, his wife and their two daughters relocated to the Tri-County area from Virginia. Look for him around town riding his Vespa or hosting movie night with his kids.
Wendy W. Kopp is a seasoned executive in Private Wealth Management with over 30 years of experience helping complex clients protect, grow and sustain wealth across generations. She recently joined Fifth Third Private Bank to lead the South Carolina and Coastal Georgia market.
Previously, Wendy held leadership roles at top firms, including Managing Director at U.S. Trust – BofA Private Bank, where she led the Atlanta market after building a thriving practice in Charleston. She later served as Senior Manager & Investment Counselor at Capital Group and launched the Investment Management & Trust practice for FineMark. Earlier in her career, she oversaw national marketing and strategic acquisitions for Wilmington Trust Company, expanding its presence in key wealth centers.
A dedicated community leader, Wendy is former Board Chair of Trident United Way and remains on its Executive Committee. She also serves on the Investment Committee for Coastal Community Foundation, the Board of Visitors for Charleston Southern University and the Board of Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, among others. Her past board service includes The High Museum of Art Atlanta, The Gibbes Museum of Art and Susan G. Komen Lowcountry.
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Wendy relocated to the Southeast in 2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Canisius University and additional professional certifications.
David Stasiukaitis is the CEO of Low Country Case and Millwork, a commercial woodworking firm in North Charleston. As CEO, he has led the team at LCCM through exponential growth over the last decade, growing to a team of 60 and projecting another year of 50%+ growth on the horizon. David has transformed LCCM into a culture-focused organization where people, family, and leadership take priority—an often-rare approach in the construction industry. He believes that people are a business’s greatest asset, fostering a culture of high performance and growth in and outside the walls of LCCM. Under his leadership, LCCM has been recognized for many industry-specific, national awards for their craftsmanship, twice as a South Carolina Best Place to Work, and the Charleston Metro Chamber’s 2024 Small Business of the Year. A Forty Under 40 Honoree, David serves on the Executive Committee and Board of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and chairs its Political Action Committee (PAC), advocating for economic growth in the region. Above all, he is a dedicated husband and father of four, balancing leadership in business with a strong commitment to family.