Lois is an experienced nonprofit executive, social worker, and community change agent. She recently served as Managing Partner at KAVA Consultancy, a boutique woman-owned firm founded by her sister, Rumbidzai (Rumbi) Mufuka, PhD. At KAVA, Lois worked with nonprofits on operational effectiveness, board governance, and interim leadership transitions. Her work also included executive search and career development coaching.

Prior to KAVA, Lois served as a Managing Director at DSG | Storbeck and as VP of Search & Consulting at CalWest Educators Placement. At both search firms, Lois placed senior leaders and executives at nonprofits and independent and charter schools.

As CEO of Bethlehem Haven, Lois led a multi-service housing organization. There, she managed a $3.5 m budget and led a team of 50+ staff to transition women from homelessness to housing and self-sufficiency. Lois raised over $800,000 in individual giving annually, managed local, state, and federal funding, and advocated for policy to support a housing-first model.

Lois also served on the senior leadership teams of United United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Early in her career Lois worked with first time teenage mothers and their infants as the mothers worked to finish high school. She also served as a social worker and a college and career counselor for first generation students at a community college.

As a Zimbabwean immigrant, Lois is most proud of her work as a founding trustee and scholarship coordinator with the Douglas & Jean Mufuka Private Foundation from 1999 to 2019, where she facilitated the enrollment of 20 Zimbabwean students to attend Lander University in Greenwood, SC. In 2019 the foundation transitioned into the endowed Dr. Douglas & Mrs. Jean Mufuka Scholarship at Lander University.

Lois facilitates workshops on nonprofit organizational effectiveness and leading through change. She also speaks about the transformational power of education on her own immigrant American journey and how it shaped her understanding of culture, differences, and human connection, after living in 5 countries as a child.

Lois earned a BA in History from Lander University, an MEd in Counseling from Clemson University, a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Duquesne University and a certificate in Leading Innovation and Creating a Dynamic Organization from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.

Lois is married to Derek A. Martin of Pittsburgh, PA and they have two young adult children. She enjoys traveling with her family, reading, and riding her bicycle on designated bike trails throughout Pennsylvania and New York.