Senior Leadership

Pamela E. Davis is the founder, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), which includes Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC); Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance, Risk Retention Group (ANI); a captive property reinsurer; and a management company. All companies in NIA are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits.

In 2021, Ms. Davis was named for the second time to The NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 list which recognizes innovative leaders and visionaries of the nonprofit sector. She first appeared on the Top 50 list in 2002. In 2017, Ms. Davis was named among 125 Elite Women by Insurance Business America as one of the women at the vanguard of the insurance industry. In 2013, the NIA was selected as one of The Bay Area News Group’s Top Workplaces. In 1997 and 2010, Ms. Davis and the NIA were featured in the documentary series Visionaries, which airs on PBS stations nationwide. In 2008, she was named a “Women of Influence in Silicon Valley” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and in 2000, Business Insurance named Ms. Davis one of the 100 Leading Women in the insurance industry, and in 2006, one of the “Women to Watch” in the commercial insurance industry worldwide. She was named one of the nation’s 15 BEST BOSSES by Fortune Small Business and Winning Workplaces in 2005 in recognition of innovative and progressive leadership in establishing a great workplace.

In 2004, Ms. Davis received the first-ever Award for Policy Innovation from The Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley. She holds a BA with highest honors in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MA in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

NIA has been assigned an A IX (Excellent) rating by AM Best, and was named Best Overall Insurance Provider for Nonprofits in 2021 by Investopedia. Together, the NIA companies have assets of more than $713 million and a surplus of more than $272 million. NIA insures and provides risk management services for more than 24,000 tax-exempt nonprofits in 32 states and the District of Columbia. NIA was founded in 1989.

Kim Aday is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance. She has served the Group since 1997, in various positions throughout the finance department. Prior to joining the group, Ms. Aday was an accountant for Marina Village Real Estate. Kim holds a BS in Finance from San Jose State University and has completed the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program through the San Jose State University College of Business. Her volunteer work has included the California State PTA and coaching youth soccer and softball teams.

Thomas Bakewell is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance.  He is an accomplished IT executive with a proven track record over 30 years of improving business operations, increasing productivity and reducing costs.  He has led the IT organizations in several high profile companies in Silicon Valley.

Mr. Bakewell has served on the CEO boards of Splunk and Vectra Networks.  He also holds a teaching credential in Computer Science from the State of California.

In addition to his professional career, Mr. Bakewell has been involved in many nonprofit and charitable organizations.  He has served as Chairman of the Board for the de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University, was a member of the Diocese of San Jose Advisory Board, and is currently in a leadership role with a UN recognized worldwide charitable organization.

Mr. Bakewell lives in San Jose, California with his wife.  Their children reside throughout the Bay Area and Western United States.  When not working they enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle.

Melissa Dalske is the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) for Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), guiding the Member and Broker Services Team. She brings 20 years of insurance industry experience to her role with the organization. 

Prior to joining the NIA Senior Leadership Team, Ms. Dalske has held leadership and management roles with national insurance brokerages, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Partners Specialty Group, and Lamb Insurance Services. She is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania and holds a B.A. in Music and Communication Studies. She earned her CIC designation from The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors in 2011.  

Ms. Dalske lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and children. In addition to her professional career, she enjoys volunteering her time to the local school district music and theater programs and supporting the arts in her community. 

Dave Gibson is Chief Claims Officer (CCO) for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance. Mr. Gibson brings more than 30 years of experience in the insurance claims industry, and has held management positions for most of that time with Universal Underwriters Insurance Company, Zurich Direct Markets, and Philadelphia Insurance Companies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts  degree in Psychology from Rutgers University. His most recent nonprofit service has been as a youth soccer coach in Rocklin, California, for recreational, select, and competitive teams.

Dusti McKeown is the Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), leading our team of dedicated underwriters as they serve our member organizations.

Ms. McKeown brings more than 30 years of insurance industry experience to the Senior Leadership team, including roles in organizations such as Aetna, Crump E&S Insurance Services, Dwyer & Associates, and WM Kelly & Associates.

Since joining NIA in November 1999, Ms. McKeown has held various leadership positions throughout the underwriting department and has been instrumental in the growth and development of the underwriting team.

Ms. McKeown lives in Santa Cruz County, where she raised her three children. In addition to her career, she enjoys reading, dancing, art, gardening, and volunteers at the local school library and with youth athletic leagues.

Chris Reed is an experienced corporate attorney and business advisor, with expertise in corporate matters, contract law, all aspects of IP law, employment law, and insurance. He is an experienced investigator, having worked for the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation.

Mr. Reed is an expert with software tools and relevant laws governing discovery and matters of privilege. He is also a member in good standing of the California Bar and a registered Patent Attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Prior to becoming an attorney, he spent 20 years as a software engineer, and is named as an inventor on two granted patents that underlie aspects of artificial intelligence, security, and network communication.

Mr. Reed has held prior roles with the University of California, Electric Power Research Institute, Nokia, the U.S. Senate, and Borland. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree Electrical Engineering from San Jose State University and a JD from Monterey College of Law.

His volunteer work includes standards creation and implementation for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, including being a founding participant in the 2030 Smart Grid standard used today across the world and leading the data modeling subcommittee on that standard.

Starr Thompson is the Chief People & Administration Officer for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance.  Prior to joining the group, Ms. Thompson led overall human resources strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, and DEI strategy as vice president of human resources for Fitness Club Management, the largest franchise company of Crunch Fitness Gyms.  Prior to that, Ms. Thompson held positions as director of human resources at The Medical Group Executive Services, and human resources manager at Lemonade Restaurant Group.

In addition to her professional work, Ms. Thompson is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management, the National Human Resources Association, and Professionals in Human Resources Management; and she enjoys sharing her expertise in human resources management as a mentor to young professionals.