Kendall Inskip, Executive Director
A third generation Nevadan with a Master of Science in Management & Leadership from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nevada Reno, Kendall has 25 years of experience creatively raising funds for non-profits, K-12 and higher education and a passion for building effective community partnerships. She became Executive Director in July 2014, and previously worked as Grant Writer for the Washoe County School District on the team overseeing 200+ grants totaling more than $65 million annually in state, federal and private grants and teaching others how to write and get grants. Kendall has also served as UNR Director of Development, raising major gifts for the Reynolds School of Journalism and completing the capital campaign for the Redfield Campus, and as Development Manager for the William F. Harrah National Automobile Museum. Kendall was awarded the Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Sierra Chapter in 2015. She is one of 389 Grant Professional Certified GPC in the country (eight in Nevada). This credential recognizes proficiency in grant writing, demonstrated achievement, and a commitment to service for public and private philanthropy. Kendall is crazy about her husband of 33 years, Derron, and super proud of their two accomplished children: son Donovan and daughter Alyssa.
Favorite childhood book: I love books! One favorite I still have from my childhood in some old trunk is The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. I could not put it down mainly because of the lenticular pictures (I had to look this word up: you know – the pictures morph between two different appearances when the angle of viewing changes), so beautiful! Recently a wonderful manager from our partner, Better World Books, gave me the loveliest watercolor-illustrated Little Mermaid book after I told him it was my favorite as a child – a most touching gift!
Email Kendall: kinskip@washoeschools.net
Brittani Haggarty, Collaborative Coordinator
Born and raised in Alaska, Brittani came to Reno to attend the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. Upon graduation, Brittani served the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada as their Program and Marketing Coordinator. Brittani moved to the Bay Area to work for My New Red Shoes; partnering with several community agencies to provide shoes and clothing to more than 6,500 homeless and low-income youth. She returned to Reno to be near family and work for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada as their PR & Communications Coordinator. She is driven to build meaningful opportunities for the students of Washoe County while growing a deeply skilled workforce that enriches our community. Brittani believes we all have great potential to make a positive impact in our community, and in turn reap generous rewards. Robert Ingersoll said it beautifully, “We rise by lifting others.”
In her free time, Brittani loves to read, cook and spend time with her husband Dan, and their daughter Emma.
Favorite childhood book: My favorite book growing up was The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen. It teaches children self-acceptance, kindness, and confidence.
Email Brittani: Brittani.Haggarty@washoeschools.net
Kathleen Newman, Secretary
Kathleen moved to Reno, Nevada, from New York more than 40 years ago and has called the Biggest Little City home ever since. After graduating from Katherine Gibbs Business School, she launched a career in hospitality at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. Once in Reno, she took a position with the then-MGM. While her three daughters were in elementary school, Kathleen worked as a teacher aide and a computer teacher in the Washoe County School District, before returning to the hospitality industry in 1995 with the opening of the Silver Legacy. She went on to work at the Reno Hilton, RSCVA, Grand Sierra, and most recently managed small meetings at the Nugget in Sparks.
In her free time, Kathleen volunteers as a catechism teacher with her church and hikes and kayaks all over the Sierra Nevadas. She’s incredibly proud of her three daughters: Alexandra, a 2005 graduate of UNR and now an editor at the Wall Street Journal; Sarah, a graduate of both Yale and Brown and now a professor of anthropology at the University of Chicago; and Katherine, a graduate of Mount Holyoke and UMass Amherst who recently began a dual position as Covid-19 Ambassador/ Coordinator for the Town of Amherst and UMass Amherst.
Favorite childhood book: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Kathleen still remembers feeling sorry for the children in The Secret Garden who lost their mothers. She couldn’t imagine life without a mother. She made a pact with her childhood friend at the time to be there for each other if they were to ever lose their mothers. From the bonds of friendship, beauty blooms.
Email Kathleen: Kathleen.Newman@WashoeSchools.net