Our Staff

Leadership Team

Priscilla Perkins

President and CEO

Priscilla was named President and CEO of Accounting Aid Society in January 2022. Priscilla brings more than 20 years of volunteer and professional experience in fundraising, leading teams and managing efforts supporting underserved populations. She came to agency from her role as Senior Director of Development at Beaumont Health Foundation, where she guided major donors and family foundations in support of women’s and children’s programs and capital projects at Beaumont, Royal Oak. Priscilla and her team established a network of relationships that raised more than $20 million in major gifts annually, which supported new vital healthcare programs for vulnerable women and children. Prior to Beaumont Health Foundation, she was the Chief Development Officer for Lighthouse of Oakland County, an organization that strives to build equitable communities that alleviate poverty. She holds both an MBA and BA from Louisiana State University.

Kathleen Hatke Aro, JD, MBA

Immediate Past President

Kathleen was appointed president of Accounting Aid Society in 2004. She is an attorney with experience in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Under her leadership, Accounting Aid was named a “Best-Managed Nonprofit” by Crain’s Detroit Business in both 2008 and 2020. In 2012, Kathleen was named a “Shining Light” and honored with the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award by the Detroit Free Press and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition. She holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, a law degree from George Washington University, and a BA from Purdue University.

Harry Cook, CPA

Director, Finance and Administration

Harry joined the agency in 2014 after 15 years of experience handling accounting and property management for several small businesses. As director of finance and administration, Harry handles operations and HR, bookkeeping, facilities, technology, and oversees the call center. He has a BA in economics from the University of Detroit, and a master of science in accountancy from Walsh College. A Certified Public Accountant, Harry is also an adjunct instructor in accounting at Walsh College.

Dana Gingrich Doman

Director of Development and Community Engagement

Dana joined Accounting Aid Society in December of 2021 as the Director of Community Engagement, bringing over 10 years of experience in donor relations, major giving, alumni affairs and board management. Prior to her current role, Dana served as the Major Gift Officer and Alumni and Donor Relations Officer at Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business, where she specialized in securing major corporate and individual gifts, DEI initiatives and student programming. Dana also was an AmeriCorps member, where she mobilized college students in hands-on programs to alleviate poverty. She has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Political Science and Public Relations from Central Michigan University and Master of Public Administration, with a concentration in nonprofit policy and management from Wayne State University.

Matthew H. Hetherwick, MBA

Director, Individual Tax Programs

Matt began his career at Accounting Aid Society in January of 2018 as a tax site coordinator and was promoted to the role of Director of Individual Tax Programs in 2019. He is a mission-driven finance and accounting leader with over 12 years of experience in the realms of finance, business and operations. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Michigan State University, Matt earned both his masters degree in finance and MBA from the University of Michigan – Dearborn.

Jeremy Lewis

Director, Accounting Aid Academy

Jeremy Lewis joined Accounting Aid Society in 2021. A native Detroiter, Jeremy has a unique corporate business development and community development background. After graduating from Hampton University in Virginia, he developed and managed client relationships in advertising sales roles in Atlanta, New York, and Chicago, respectively. He returned to Detroit in 2015 and combined his passion and connection to the city to support the work of neighborhood-focused small business community development in traditional and historically underserved communities. He has since earned a Master of Community Development from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Gabrielle Thomas, MBA

Chief Operating Officer

Gabrielle became chief operating officer in 2015. She joined the agency’s development staff in 2005 and was promoted to director of development a year later. In 2012, she became director of operations and process improvement. In addition to development experience and business planning, Gabrielle has nine years of private sector experience in production supervision, project management and program development. She earned an MBA from University of Detroit-Mercy and a BS in Food Science from Michigan State University.