Randy Hawthorne is a visionary connector and dedicated leader in the nonprofit sector. With decades of experience and a vast human network, he makes it his mission to connect people to their next big opportunity. Hawthorne's extensive background includes serving on 12 boards and holding key leadership roles in various organizations.

Currently, Hawthorne serves as the director of nonprofit innovation and education at Filament Essential Services, where he focuses on enhancing the capabilities of nonprofit organizations through innovative solutions. Before this, he was a product manager at Nelnet, where he built software tailored for the nonprofit sector, streamlining donor management systems and prioritizing development of new CRM features.

Hawthorne founded Nonprofit Hub, an educational resource for nonprofits worldwide, where he grew website traffic to over 100,000 visits a month and increased email subscriptions to 40,000. He also established The Foundry, a collaborative center for nonprofits and a community coffee shop in downtown Lincoln. As the executive director of Launch Leadership, he provided strategic oversight for leadership development programs for middle and high school students.

A lifelong marketer, Hawthorne speaks and teaches classes on branding and strategy, helping entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life. He has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, teaching courses on leadership and communication as well as content marketing.

Hawthorne's professional journey includes roles such as vice president of business development at Firespring, where he championed the research and development of products for small businesses and nonprofits, and director of franchise services, where he managed rebranding projects and developed training models. He also served as the chief operating officer at AlphaGraphics, managing operations and executing integrated marketing strategies.

Hawthorne holds a bachelor of journalism degree in broadcasting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His commitment to community service is evident through his volunteer work with organizations like Lincoln Community Playhouse, Lied Center for Performing Arts, Rotary Club #14, Leadership Lincoln, TEDx Lincoln and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He has participated in Leadership Nebraska and Leadership Lincoln and regularly volunteers for Youth Leadership Lincoln.

Recognized for his contributions, Hawthorne has been named Lincoln’s first luminary for embodying community values, received an Impact Award from Downtown Lincoln and was named Servant Leader of the Year by Leadership Lincoln.

In addition to his professional achievements, Hawthorne enjoys mentoring students and entrepreneurs, performing in theater, exploring local history and going on dining adventures. His dedication to fostering community, supporting nonprofits and guiding the next generation of leaders continues to inspire those around him.