Experience

Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President/CEO

  • Jul 2016 - Present



Non-Profit Solutions

• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Owner

  • Jan 2014 - Jul 2016

  Owner/Consultant of a highly respected Milwaukee based consulting firm that provides comprehensive resource development services for capital campaigns, general fundraising and capacity building. Selected Clients include: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Donate Life Wisconsin, Autism Society of Southeastern WI, Boys and Girls Clubs of Portage County, St. John's Northwestern Military Academy.• Provided counsel and direction to numerous clients from higher education to human services in the area of fundraising capacity building, major gift development, campaign planning and implementation and campaign feasibility studies. • Experienced in all facets of feasibility studies, including planning the study; interviewing potential donors and leaders and conducting analysis to develop recommendations for the campaign that follows.• Designed, managed and enhanced Major Gift Programs for numerous clients resulting in new dollars. This included identifying appealing funding initiatives, developing a communications plan around each, involving the right people to promote the projects or programs and connecting those opportunities with the right donor prospect(s) for major gift asks. • Counseled non-profits on Board Development and volunteer capacity building by:o Assessing board effectiveness and recommend ways to improve it o Expanding the board by defining the ideal profile of new board memberso Identifying and evaluating candidates and cultivating candidates; recruiting new members; and effectively orienting them to serve in their new role.• Acted in the capacity of Campaign Director for clients for their Capital Campaigns. This included developing, recruiting and staffing their capital campaign committees. Also, it provided the opportunity to research, strategize and solicit for their campaigns.



Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Vice President Development

  • 2011 - 2014

  Executive leadership team member of a $23 million local youth serving agency in Milwaukee. The BGCGM is noted as one of the top youth serving agencies in the country. Directly responsible for all fundraising operations, annual fund, capital campaign, marketing and public relations for the agency.• Managed a team of twelve people in the areas of individual giving, grant writing, data base management, marketing, public relations and special events. • Raised a record amount for annual support of $4.2 million in 2011 a 5% increase and $4.4 million in 2012 a 4.5% increase. Raised new and increased dollars of $900K in 2011 and $1.0M in 2012. • After 8 years of a declining donor base, increased the number of donor by 35% over a two year period of time. In addition we increased retention rate of donors from 52% to 82% in 2012. • Increase the total giving from individuals by 20% in 2011 and 24% in 2012. Increased corporate giving by 8% in 2011 and 12.5% in 2012.• Completed a $30M private capital campaign to support the clubs by raising $5.3M. • Raised a record $1,050M in restricted program support for our members nearly doubling the number of restricted gifts given to our programs over the previous year. • Rolled out our first marketing awareness campaign with the largest media buy in the Clubs history—utilizing radio, TV and billboard to increase number of donors, build community awareness and gather new members



Lutheran Services Florida

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Vice President Agency Advancement

  • 2009 - 2011

  Executive team member of a $30 million, state-wide social service agency serving over 38,000 people in the state of Florida. Directly responsible for all fundraising operations, marketing and public relations for the agency. • Provided leadership, management to an advancement team in the areas of individual giving, grant writing, prospect research, data base management, marketing, public relations and special events. • In a twelve month period of time, raised a record amount of gifts and pledges in the history of the organization.• Increased the number of donors to LSF by 31% last fiscal year by recapturing lapsed donors and obtaining new donors through direct mail initiatives and personal contacts with prospective donors. • Increased overall giving to LSF by 28% in the first 12 months. • Tripled the amount of private foundation gifts last fiscal year for programmatic support. • Raised the largest gift in LSF history last year for our newly developed charter school.• Personally responsible for a portfolio of 75 high net worth donors.• Directly responsible for all marketing plans, media relations, web-based content. Served as spokesperson for LSF. • Manage the Board Nominating committee. Within the past year, LSF has recruited 4 highly capable, respected board members which raised the profile of LSF.



Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

• United States
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President of Development

  • 2003 - 2009

  Executive team member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra reporting directly to the President and Executive Director and serving a 44 member Board of Trustees.• Provided leadership, management and direction to a team of nine professionals in the areas of individual giving, planned giving, grant writing, prospect research, data base management, public relations and special events. • Responsible for a fundraising budget of $8.2M consisting of individual, corporate and foundation support. Fundraising accounted for approximately 65% of the MSO’s total revenue budget.• Exceeded annual fundraising totals by $500,000 in 2005 resulting in a 13 % increase. The 2006 annual fundraising campaign again exceeded its fundraising by $600,000—a 9% increase. The 2007 annual fund grew by $1.1 million in unrestricted dollars—a 26% increase which was the largest increase in the 50 year history of the MSO. • Secured multiple seven figure gifts from individuals and foundations for endowment, recapitalization campaign and project support.• Increased corporate giving by 25% over a two year period of time (05-07). • Completed a $500,000 Chorus endowed chair campaign in less than four months. • Was an instrumental in helping the MSO achieve financial solvency for the first time in 20 years through an aggressive business plan which required the fundraising team to raise an additional $15 million in debt reduction over a three year period.



Marian University of Fond du Lac

• United States
• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Assistant Vice President

  • 1999 - 2003

  Provided leadership, management and direction to a team of eight professionals in the areas of planned giving, grant writing, alumni relations, prospect research, data base management and special events. • Extensive capital campaign experience working directly with the campaign committee and the Board of Trustees to complete a $17.1M comprehensive capital campaign—The Marian Initiative. Exceeded goal by $1million dollars. The centerpiece of the campaign was the construction of the Stayer Center for Technology and Executive Education.• Successfully established new fundraising plateaus at Marian College. The college raised more money in a three-year period of time (2000-2003) than the total combined years of the history of the college.• Extensive work with Board of Trustees and volunteers both on the capital campaign, annual fundraising and other fundraising initiatives.• Accelerated grant fundraising from $100,000 to $1.3M in one year. Lead a team of faculty and staff to secure one of Marian College’s most successful grant applications in the history of the college. A $1.3 million Title III grant from the Department of Education. • Increased Alumni giving by 40% from 2000 to 2004. Expanded alumni donor base by 20% from 2000-2004. • Initiated Marian’s first comprehensive Planned Giving program. Increased Planned gifts from $225,000 to over $1.9M in three year period of time.