Deborah Brown, MBA

Chief Operating Officer, Principal

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Debbie serves as Chief Operating Officer of Development Guild, where she helps guide the firm’s strategic direction and oversees the operational and administrative functions that support its work with nonprofit organizations nationwide. In addition to overseeing firm operations, Debbie serves as a key leader in business development and growth strategy, helping connect prospective clients with the firm’s services and expertise. Over the course of her career with the firm, she has held several leadership positions and today works across virtually every aspect of the organization, bringing deep institutional knowledge and extensive experience to support the firm’s continued success.

As COO, Debbie leads the firm’s administrative and management functions, including finance and accounting, human resources, technology, contracts, proposals, and business operations. She also oversees the analysis and reporting of sales and business development data that inform the firm’s growth strategies, operational planning, and decision-making. Working closely with firm leadership, Debbie helps ensure that the systems, processes, and resources are in place to support both client service excellence and organizational growth.

Prior to joining Development Guild, Debbie spent eleven years with Fine Arts Express, one of the nation’s leading art handling companies, where she served as Director of Human Resources and oversaw internal policies, procedures, and employee relations. Debbie is a member of the Northeast Human Resources Association and the Society for Human Resource Management. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. from Simmons University.

Outside of work, Debbie enjoys painting watercolors, spending time with her family, reading, and escaping to Long Beach Island on the New Jersey Shore for her annual summer vacation.