Erica Waasdorp
Founder and President of A Direct Solution

Erica Waasdorp started A Direct Solution in 2003 with more than twenty years of experience in direct marketing, from both sides of the desk, on the client side and the agency side.

Before starting her own business, Erica was Vice President Fundraising at DMW, a direct response fundraising agency in Plymouth.

On the client side, she was with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for seven years, last as Marketing Manager of Planned/Committed Giving. She raised $18 million a year (increased from $5 million) and directed acquisition, donor, monthly giving, major-donor and planned-giving programs in seven countries: US, Canada, UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and South Africa. Her upgrade strategy for the monthly giving program in the UK won IFAW and their telemarketing agency the Gold UK DMA award and the Gold FEDMA Award in 1998.

Prior to working at IFAW, she worked with several companies in the Netherlands, including Readers Digest, Kluwer Academic Publishers and Reed Elsevier Seminars.

She is an active board member of the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association (DMFA), (responsible for membership, speakers and the Boston luncheon). She is a member of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Non-Profit Federation, the Direct Marketing Association of Washington (DMAW) as well as the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) (formerly known as NSFRE).

Erica Waasdorp serves as writer, editor and advisor for various direct-marketing and fund raising publications. She has written various articles about monthly giving, international fundraising, fundamentals of fundraising, writing and answering RFP's and many more.

She has moderated sessions and spoken at several nonprofit conferences, ranging from fundamentals of fundraising, to international fundraising, to monthly giving.

Laura McMahon

Laura began working with A Direct Solution in June 2007 developing print design materials and, more recently, as a grant writer. Laura has a diversified background in business and in professional writing.

Before relocating to Cape Cod in 2000, Laura McMahon enjoyed a 14 year career with The Otis Elevator Company, a division of United Technologies, where she managed the international business department. Laura primarily worked in the areas of international transportation, finance, and export logistics.

Her areas of expertise were in the development of international policies and procedures, contract negotiations, and the development of intercompany publications. During her time with Otis, Laura also held a seat on the United Technologies Transportation Council and worked to negotiate international transportation contracts on behalf of the Otis worldwide organization.

Since moving to the Cape, Laura has been focusing on raising her young family and has returned to school to pursue new interests. Having been involved in many volunteer and non-profit activities in the Cape and South Shore areas, largely in the areas of theater and the arts, she has developed an interest in both graphic design and in professional writing.

Currently, Laura is pursuing a graduate degree in Professional Writing from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth and she is also working to obtaining a certificate in Print Design from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Laura has enjoyed working in both of these areas - providing creative services in the areas of writing and designing print materials for nonprofit development. She has found that a natural extension of this work is in grant writing. Laura enjoys learning and writing about the exciting and meaningful things our local non-profits do for our community, while helping them raise more money to do so.

Michaela Miteva

Michaela Miteva joined A Direct Solution in November 2007 as a Marketing/PR Intern. Since then, she developed several break-through marketing and fundraising campaigns (such as the 6th Annual Red Cross Heroes Breakfast and the Red Cross Open). In May 2008 Michaela graduated with distinctions with a BS in Communications and Journalism, Public Relations and Marketing major from Suffolk University. She is passionate about marketing, graphic design, fundraising, public relations and multi-tasking. Michaela enjoys planning integrated marketing campaigns by designing print materials, radio and TV ad scripts, developing media campaigns, public affairs and event support. Creativity is her strength. Just give her a project, and she will get the job done, whatever it takes.

Sara Fleck

Sara joined A Direct Solution in April, 2008 where she is a marketing and fundraising coordinator. Sara relocated to Cape Cod from Pensacola, Florida following her wedding in April, 2008 to join her husband who is stationed here with the United States Coast Guard. She and her husband live in Sandwich with their dog, Dooley.

Sara graduated from the University of West Florida in December, 2007 with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. She enjoys working directly with non-profit organizations and helping them make a difference and help others. Sara loves long days on the beach and spending time with her family and friends.