About GAFS Co.

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At GAFS Co., our approach is centered on tailored solutions and proactive strategies. We work closely with each client to understand their unique needs and goals, leveraging our expertise in grant writing, funding acquisition, and financial management. By combining industry knowledge with innovative approaches, we ensure that our clients receive personalized support and achieve sustainable success. 

Laura Shields brings a strong background in environmental policy, business management, and nonprofit operations to GAFS Co. She holds a B.S. in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources and a minor in Accounting from NC State University. Laura completed her M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management, with a concentration in Fish and Wildlife Management, at American Public University in December 2024.

Her career spans roles in grant administration, compliance, program development, and community engagement. Laura has managed HUD-funded housing programs, supported trustee relations for higher education, and overseen contracts and safety operations for private enterprises. She has also served as a naturalist and educator, creating and delivering environmental programs, and continues to contribute as a writer, speaker, and fundraising coordinator.

Laura’s wide-ranging certifications include nonprofit management, Salesforce operations, environmental education, social media marketing, and wilderness first aid. With a passion for community collaboration and organizational excellence, she supports GAFS Co. clients with expertise in grants, compliance, and project coordination.

TBA

Michelle Ferguson brings over 15 years of experience in grant writing, project management, and nonprofit consulting to GAFS Co. She has a proven track record of securing funding from federal, state, and foundation sources, with expertise spanning health, human services, arts, education, housing, transportation, and environmental programs.

Prior to joining GAFS Co., Michelle served as a Senior Grant Writer & Project Manager for California Consulting, where she managed funding strategies for municipalities across California and cultivated relationships with major funders such as the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Energy, and Health and Human Services, as well as multiple California state agencies.

Michelle’s career also includes senior roles with Easterseals Colorado, Access Gallery, and Joining Vision and Action, where she advanced disability services, workforce programs, and community arts initiatives. Earlier, she worked with PetAid Colorado and Spark Policy Institute, building strong skills in communications, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Her professional foundation began at The New York Times Company as an Editorial Assistant, honing her precision and attention to detail.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism and Chinese Language from New York University, where she graduated on the Dean’s Honor Roll. She is passionate about connecting organizations with resources that expand opportunity, equity, and resilience for underserved communities.

Cody Bright brings more than 15 years of experience in business development, operations, and project management to GAFS Co. An award-winning pre-construction manager, Cody has a proven track record of driving over $12 million in new business annually through strategic client engagement, accurate estimating, and diligent project oversight.

Before joining GAFS Co., Cody served as Pre-Construction Manager at Baring Industries, one of North America’s largest kitchen equipment contractors, where he led projects for high-profile clients from schematic design through final construction. His career also includes nearly a decade in multi-unit operations, where he oversaw 12–15 franchise locations with more than 100 employees, generating over $10 million in annual revenue and consistently achieving double-digit year-over-year sales growth.

Cody holds a B.S. in International Business from Florida International University and an Associate degree in Business Administration from Broward Community College. He is also a licensed and trained franchisee.

At GAFS Co., Cody applies his expertise in business development, project development, and cross-functional collaboration to support clients with funding strategies, grant development, and operational execution.

Michael brings more than three decades of experience leading large-scale information technology operations, disaster recovery planning, and technical services teams for Fortune 500 companies. Over his career, he has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, supervised teams of more than 150 professionals, and successfully implemented enterprise-wide initiatives that improved reliability, reduced costs, and strengthened business continuity.

At Ryder Systems, Michael served as Vice President of Technical Services and Operations, overseeing a $50M budget and IT services supporting more than 1,000 global locations. His leadership included consolidating servers through virtualization, insourcing telecommunications to save millions annually, and eliminating external disaster recovery contracts by designing internal failover systems.

Previously, he held senior roles with Heilig-Meyers and Builders Square, where he directed infrastructure modernization, network conversions, and security initiatives that consistently increased uptime to 99.9% or higher. His hands-on expertise spans disaster recovery, active directory deployment, network management, and enterprise IT strategy.

Michael’s career reflects a proven record of delivering results in high-pressure environments through strong vision, technical depth, and team mentorship.