Who We Are

Jessica Kohnen

Interim Executive Director

Jessica Kohnen is a strategist, facilitator, and thoughtful advisor dedicated to supporting mission-driven organizations. In addition to more than a decade as a consultant in the nonprofit sector, she has served as Executive Director and Interim Executive Director for nonprofit organizations that include Evergreen Health Care, Playworks Baltimore, Reading Partners Baltimore, Moveable Feast, and The Grandmother Collective.

Jessica has a BA in Urban Studies from Vassar College, a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at NYU. 

Karen Smith

Program Manager

Karen is a skilled communicator, community weaver, and creative strategist who champions organizations driving meaningful social impact. Prior to joining Grandmother Collective, she served as Operations Manager, Director of Communications, and Editor for organizations and firms that include global consulting agencies, a premier marine manufacturer, and international NGOs focused on climate, gender, and human rights.

Karen has a BA from UMass Amherst. A writer and photographer based on Cape Cod, she creates newsletters for a local organic farm, serves as Board Chair for a non-profit sailing program, volunteers for various conservation organizations, and loves adventuring with her black lab, Juni.

Leigh Horton

Operations Coordinator

Leigh Horton is a seasoned operations leader with over 20 years of experience supporting churches and public institutions through her expertise in finance, administration, facilities management, and human resources. 

Leigh began her career in public service after earning a BA from George Mason University and a Master of Public Administration from James Madison University. She has held positions as a Budget Analyst for the Governor’s Office in Kansas, a Grant Auditor and Budget Analyst at the U.S. Department of Justice, and a project and HR manager at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. A native of Virginia, Leigh now spends her free time with her two children and enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and the arts.

Jennifer Hanks-Allaire

Board President

Jennifer Hanks-Allaire co-founded and chairs the Board for the Grandmother Collective. Jen brings a broad range of private sector experience and perspective to this work with 20 years of professional experience in strategy & operations across media and digital publishing. Jennifer held several leadership roles at both The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune and has consulted for blue-chip media organizations across the globe. Ms. Hanks-Allaire graduated from Columbia University in Anthropology and holds a Masters of Science in Public Management from The London School of Economics, with a focus on developing world NGOs.  Jennifer is personally inspired by her grandmothers and her belief in the power of women to improve the world for all.

Matthew Moneypenny

Board Treasurer

Mathew serves as Grandmother Collective's Board Treasurer, bringing with him decades of business and non-profit experience. He is the founder and former Chairman & CEO of Great Bowery, the largest fashion talent agency in the industry. He is also the founder and former CEO of premium luxury image licensing agency, Trunk Archive. In 2019, Mr. Moneypenny founded Moneypenny & Co, a boutique consulting company serving clients in fashion, luxury, media & tech.  Mr. Moneypenny served as an Agent at Hollywood talent & literary powerhouse, International Creative Management (ICM) and at the legendary photography agency, Art + Commerce. 

In 2024, Matthew moved into the non-profit sector as the CEO & Executive Director of the Southlands Foundation, a 200 acre nature preserve and equestrian center in the Hudson Valley.

Dr. Lori Esposito Murray

Board Member

Dr. Lori Esposito Murray is a global affairs consultant with deep expertise in international policy and a distinguished career advising senior leaders across government, business, and academia. She most recently served as a senior fellow for national security and managing director of CEO programs at the Council on Foreign Relations, and previously as president of the Committee for Economic Development, where she led efforts to shape policy on geoeconomic and geopolitical issues. Dr. Murray also held the national security chair at the U.S. Naval Academy and served as president and CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America.

Her bipartisan government service includes senior roles in the Executive Branch and Congress—ranging from special advisor to the president on the Chemical Weapons Convention to assistant director at the U.S. Arms Control & Disarmament Agency. She chaired the Secretary of Defense’s Federal Advisory Committee on Gender-Integrated Training, consulted for President George W. Bush’s WMD Commission, and advised Senator Nancy Kassebaum for nearly a decade. A Yale and Johns Hopkins SAIS graduate, Dr. Murray is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the boards of CED and the Global Interdependence Center.

Silvia von Gunten

Board Member

Silvia von Gunten is a strategic leader with more than 20 years of international experience who combines systems thinking with public-private community building to drive positive social impact. Her global network and holistic approach bring together diverse voices from across the innovation ecosystem – from startups to Fortune 500 companies, from NGOs to government ministers. 

Working directly with C-suite executives and founders worldwide, she has designed and led numerous global initiatives that collaboratively align on the shared goals of businesses, governments and civil society. As member of the leadership team of the World Economic Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, she worked with multiple stakeholder communities to ensure emerging technologies benefit both society and the planet. 

Currently residing in Belmont, MA, Silvia has lived and worked in six countries across East Asia, Europe, and North America. She brings a global, local, and innovative perspective to all that she does and in particular her roles as a non-executive board director, mentor for women leaders, and advocate for inclusive communities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​