About Us
ELM & Associates was the brainchild of Erma Lois Mills (Raymond & Erma Nelson) first born baby girl. Donna, President & CEO made a commitment soon after October 8, 1993 ‘to do something’ in memory of her mom. With the seed planted ELM & Associates came to life August 2000 in Springfield, MA. and a year later returned home to Paterson, NJ where Erma Nelson served as a community activist, political leader and one of the smartest and most compassionate individuals that has graced this earth.
Biographical Summary:
Donna R. Nelson-Ivy, M.Ed.
Bringing the strong influence of her mom, in addition to her incredible sense of humor. She brings intelligence, compassion, excitement and professional and personal life experiences to all of her assignments.
Ms Nelson-Ivy captivates her audience whether she is delivering a keynote, presenting anyone of her original training modules, teaching a college course, or building management teams.
She is powerful and has a proven track record of being most effective.
Ms Nelson-Ivy grew up in Paterson, New Jersey and lived over a decade in Springfield, MA. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey and Master of Education degree from Cambridge College, Cambridge, MA.
She enjoys being ‘first’ in her human services professional career. Ms Nelson-Ivy was the first executive director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center; first director for the United Way of Pioneer Valley’s Voluntary Action Center and the first black senior level manager in Western Massachusetts for the Commonwealth’s Department of Mental Retardation.
As the Springfield Area Director she successfully managed a $26 million budget, supervised, mentored and supported 36 staff and ensured safe, effective and meaningful services to over 1200 individuals and provided support to many family members. During her tenure, Ms Nelson-Ivy started an effective collaborative partnership with 20-25 contracted vendors and the area office. This model became a mandate to all area and regional directors throughout the Commonwealth by the Commissioner.
Resulting from the collaborative partnership, another group was formed to address the complex medical needs of individuals receiving services and/or supports. The group applied and received a grant from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, authored and published a training manual which supports individuals with cognitive limitations during hospitalizations.
Ms Nelson-Ivy accompanied by agency executive directors provided trainings throughout the Commonwealth and by invitation, presented the material during an International Conference in Seattle, Washington.
As Volunteer Center Director, Ms Nelson-Ivy had an article published in the Voluntary Action Leadership Summer, 1992 journal titled: “Networking ‘An Essential Tool for the 90s” and was instrumental on a national level with selecting the new vision statement for volunteer centers across America under the esteem leadership of John L. Dutton on loan from Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL).
Ms Nelson-Ivy, President & CEO of ELM & Associates has returned to her home state of New Jersey. During the past several years, she has served as senior manager for St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation utilizing her grant writing, program development, staff development, guidance, and mentoring skills. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor for Ramapo College of New Jersey teaching a required 4 credit Social Issues course and for Passaic and Essex County Community Colleges while teaching the New Jersey Department of Human Services/Career Ladders Program specialized curriculum for state employees.
Ms. Nelson-Ivy works with the United Way of Passaic County in the capacity of Director of Community Impact, adjunct professor for Essex County College, William Paterson University; Passaic County Workforce Investment Board, Passaic County Department of Human Services and provides nonprofit management, strategic planning and grant writing services for LITE CDC, JELUPA Productions, Inc.; and other nonprofit entities.
She is blessed with a son, Malcolm N. Ivy, who is a mechanical engineer graduate of the University of Massachusetts.
Ms Nelson-Ivy’s list of community involvement activities is extensive and she is the recipient of numerous awards, special recognitions and the best honor - blessed to live her purpose!
"A tree cannot stand without its roots" -African Proverb