For more than 25 years, Shanda has worked with corporations, public agencies and nonprofit organizations to tackle some of our most critical social issues. She is known for her passion, high energy, positivity, strategic thinking and midwestern work ethic. Having served as an in-house CSR leader in corporations, a nonprofit fundraising and marketing executive, and an educator on CSR and nonprofit management best practices, Shanda brings a unique perspective to social impact that is authentic, inclusive, collaborative and results-oriented. She has designed, led and managed partnerships and initiatives focused on workforce development, STEM education, health and wellness, youth development, disaster relief, environmental sustainability and diversity and inclusion among other key issues.

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​Prior to launching Fourth Wave Strategies, Shanda created and led the CSR and community investments strategy for QEP Resources, a multi-state energy company headquartered in Denver, Colorado. In this role, she developed, led and executed an integrated social impact program that aligned with corporate goals and stakeholder interests. Under her leadership, QEP was recognized as one of Colorado’s most civic-minded companies through the Civic 50 Colorado awards; was ranked on the Denver Business Journal’s (DBJ) Top Corporate Philanthropists list for five consecutive years; earned multiple campaign awards from the American Heart Association and received multiple citizenship awards and recognition in the local communities where QEP operated. Her work was featured in the DBJ, on NPR “All Things Considered” and in multiple regional media outlets. The DBJ named Shanda to the  2019  “Top Women in Energy” list.

 

​Before joining QEP, Shanda led Colorado social impact strategies and foundation grant-making for Xcel Energy, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Minneapolis. Prior to her transition to CSR, she served as the Director of Development & Marketing for Mile High Youth Corps, where she helped grow the agency budget from under $300,000 to over $3 million during her 10-year tenure. She previously held positions with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.

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​Shanda currently serves as a board member for B:CIVIC, a partner of the Metro Denver Chamber Leadership Foundation that promotes and advances corporate social responsibility. She is an Executive Board Member for the Emmanuel Sanders Foundation and immediate past President of the Colorado Firefighter Calendar, a fundraising organization for the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation. She earned a certificate in Corporate Citizenship Practice from the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, a master’s degree in nonprofit management (MNM) from Regis University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Kansas. She was an affiliate faculty member in the Regis University MNM program for seven years and a frequent guest speaker in the Corporate Social Responsibility Certificate Program at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business.

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Shanda and her partner, Brett, reside in Maui and love enjoying the outdoors, engaging in the community and “living aloha”.