Our TEAM
Career Nexus is a community initiative of the Fresno Business Council, and one of 19 initiatives of Fresno DRIVE – an effort supported by the Central Valley Community Foundation, with initial funding provided by the James Irvine Foundation, to improve the greater Fresno region’s economy.
As a community initiative, Career Nexus is engaging all sectors to work collaboratively to make this effort a success – a fact that’s reflected throughout our diverse partners and leadership.
Interested in joining the team? View current opportunities here.
Meet Our LEADERSHIP
Kurt Madden
CEO of Career Nexus and
CFO of the Fresno Business Council
Prior to serving as CEO of Career Nexus, Kurt was the Chief Technology Officer for Fresno Unified School District for 14 years. He has also held several leadership positions including CEO of One by One Leadership, a community leadership development organization, a Corporate VP for a Fortune 1000 technology firm and President and Founder of two local technology companies. He is the author of two books: Leadership Questions and Synergetic Follower. Kurt serves on several boards and councils including the Fresno Business Council Board, the Economic Development Board of Fresno County, Fresno State University Alumni Board and the Cradle-to-Career (C2C) Leadership Council. Kurt is a long-time adjunct professor at Fresno State University. His focus has been on increasing student growth and success by synthesizing learning, experience and technology.
Deborah Nankivell
CEO of the Fresno Business Council
Since 1993, Deborah J. Nankivell has been the CEO of the Fresno Business Council, a civic organization made up of business, academic and community leaders committed to using their skills and resources to improve critical aspects of the community. Prior to moving to California, Deborah was the executive director of Common Cause Minnesota for nearly ten years. She practiced law in the areas of criminal defense, workers compensation and personal injury.
She also served as a consultant for Community Intervention, an organization that provides tools nationally to community leaders to systemically address addiction issues centered in the schools with a focus on prevention, early intervention and recovery. In 2014, she published Bugle Call: Stewardship is Serious Business to share the lessons learned as a civic practitioner committed to community transformation. She has a BA in philosophy from the University of Minnesota and a JD from William Mitchell College of Law.
Genelle Taylor Kumpe
CEO of San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance and COO of the Fresno Business Council
Genelle Taylor Kumpe has devoted her career to empowering others, advocating for women and children, and improving her community in every possible way. Genelle is currently the COO of the Fresno Business Council (FBC) and CEO of its manufacturing initiative, the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance (SJVMA). She was reintroduced to FBC’s work when she served as an adjunct faculty member at Fresno City College teaching 21st Century Workplace Skills. She transitioned to City College after spending three years as the Executive Director of the Marjaree Mason Center, Fresno County’s resource for shelter and services for victims of domestic violence and their families. Genelle’s dedicated and innovative work in this role earned state-wide recognition, receiving the Breakthrough Leader Award from the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.
Prior to joining the Marjaree Mason Center, Genelle served as the Associate Director of the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for 10 of the 15 years of her tenure at California State University, Fresno. She led more than a dozen programs that promoted innovation and entrepreneurship nationally and internationally and have been replicated in other regions. Genelle received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno; and is a certified entrepreneurship teacher via the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
Meet Our STAFF
Timothy Lowe
Internship Manager
Timothy Lowe was born and raised in Southwest Fresno. An Edison High School graduate, Timothy has developed an extensive background in customer service and community relations, specifically for low-income areas. He was appointed to the Fresno Housing Authority by then Mayor Ashley Swearengin, where he served as the Resident Commissioner for three years, focusing on outreach, access and services to the disadvantaged. Timothy went on to work with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), helping individuals in the community with PG&E Assistance. Now as the Internship Manager with Career Nexus, Timothy will be working with program interns – helping guide, encourage and coach them towards success.
Alton Williams
Employer Coordinator
Prior to joining Career Nexus, Alton held a position as an Inside Sales Representative with Bitwise Industries, where he served their portfolio companies. He has held several leadership positions including Marketing Chair at Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals, where he spearheaded projects for marketing and community relations in promoting FLYP as a premier brand in the Central Valley. Alton currently serves as Chairman and Executive Director of Fresno Pro-Am Foundation, where he is responsible for driving overall growth from a business and organization standpoint.
Aurora Salazar
Internship Associate
Aurora grew up in Madera and moved to Fresno in 2018. In 2021, she obtained her Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting, at Madera Community College. Aurora is currently enrolled at California State University, Fresno working to obtain her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Brent Lindquist
Psychologist, Coach
After a 40-year career as a licensed psychologist in the nonprofit NGO sector, Dr. Lindquist retired to devote his time consulting with local, national, and international nonprofits in assessment, training and continuing personal and professional development strategies, from an international learning portal based in a tech start-up in Cambodia. With Career Nexus, Brent provides individual contacts and group learning times with interns to integrate their training and strengths modules with the everyday life of their internships, encouraging them in their efforts to thrive.
Join Our TEAM
Opportunities to join the Career Nexus team are listed below. To learn more about an open position, click on the job title link. As part of the application process, you may be required to attach your resume or additional information.
- Please check back; no current position listings.