In This Section
Conference HandoutsKeynote Speech
Guy Kawasaki: The Art of InnovationSpecial Sessions
Chief Advancement OfficersMaster Classes
Alumni Relations Development - Campaign Strategies Advancement Services - You and Your Team Communications - Media TrainingPre-Conference Sessions
New Advancement Professionals Emerging LeadersTrack Sessions
Alumni Relations Development Communications Advancement Services Community Colleges Independent Schools Professional InterestTrack Session #5
Monday, November 16 - 2:00-3:15pm
Advancement Services
Prospect Management and the CRM Advantage
Learn how to evaluate your data sources in order to implement change initiatives through the use of effective constituent relationship management strategies and technology. This session will discuss how to evaluate and build the infrastructure and processes required to enable a 360 degree view of your prospects.
Nancy Benavente, Associate Director, Advancement Services, Community Relations, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Nancy Benavente oversees advancement services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and has leadership experience in Prospect Research & Management, Information Technology, Donor Relations, Stewardship, and Donor Information Systems, as well as expertise in reporting and analysis functions for fundraising. She has a strong background in implementing fundraising systems and reengineering business processes having managed or implemented the top three fundraising systems for our industry. Additionally, she has managed several projects involving the redesign of gift and prospect management systems to produce forecasting, predictive modeling, and performance metrics reporting capabilities.
Wayne Combs, Director, Advancement Services and Information Management, Occidental College,
Wayne Combs is the Director of Advancement Services and Information Management at Occidental College. Prior to Occidental, Combs served as Manager, Gift, Data, & Record Services at University of California, San Diego, and as Campaign Operations Manager for the University of Washington's $2 billion campaign, where he oversaw a three-year strategic plan for nine operating units. Combs began his career in higher education at UCLA, supporting advancement efforts in the use of technology to prepare for a $3 billion campaign.
Communications
Zen and the Art of Brand Maintenance
This session will focus on the relationship between marketing and branding, and how a brand can be defined and then used to enhance the position of an institution in its marketplace.
Ron Stephany, Retired Vice President for University Relations, University of Redlands
Ron Stephany began his career at Ohio Wesleyan University. He then served Oberlin College as vice president for development and alumni relations and later at the University of Redlands as vice president for university relations. He chaired both CASE Districts V and VII and was as a member of the CASE International board. A recipient of CASE’s Frank Ashmore Award for service to CASE and the advancement profession, Ron has lectured nationally on the topics of fund development and marketing and branding.
Community Colleges
CEO Fundraising Panel - Advice From the Top
This workshop is essential for leaders determined to remain ahead of the curve in developing dynamic and successful fundraising campaigns during this era of financial uncertainty. This session will give CEOs, presidents, administrators, and support staff practical tools to establish and/or enhance your college’s fundraising program. Techniques are based on tried-and-true concepts from successful campaigns. Presenters will also demonstrate how administration and support staff play a pivotal role in creating successful resource development plans.
Michael S. Brophy, Ph.D., M.F.A., President, Marymount College
Michael Brophy is the sixth president of Marymount College. Prior to assuming this role in 2006, Brophy served as Campus Executive Officer and Dean of the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County; Dean of Students & Associate Provost at Long Island University-Southampton (New York); Dean of Enrollment Management at the State University of New York College of Technology at Canton; and Director of Enrollment Management at The Sage Colleges (New York). As a Noel-Levitz enrollment management consultant, he worked with the Kentucky, Indiana, and Louisiana community and technical college systems, leading successful academic, enrollment management, fundraising, and student life programs, producing enrollment increases at The Sage Colleges, Long Island University, and the State University of New York, and new academic, cultural, and campus facility programs at the University of Wisconsin.
Brice W. Harris, Ph.D., Chancellor, Los Rios Community College District
As Chancellor, Brice W. Harris oversees the Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento, one of the largest multi-college districts in America and enrolling nearly 90,000 students each semester. Prior to his appointment as Chancellor, Harris was President of Fresno City College in Fresno, and a faculty member and Vice Chancellor in the Kansas City, Missouri community college system. Harris is past president of the Board of the California Community College Chief Executive Officers, and chaired the Task Force on Leadership in California community colleges and the Task Force on Global and International Education.
Advanced
Development / Alumni Relations
Planning & Strategizing Special Events in Today's Economy
The story is becoming all too familiar: in spite of recent staffing cuts and a dramatically reduced budget, the president still expects your division to significantly advance the institution and surpass your previous year’s operational goals. On top of that, you are being asked to plan bigger and more elaborate events. But special event planning can itself be an elaborate process. Aworking team has to be recruited, goals must be established, and consensus must be reached—all before a save-the-date can even be printed. At this interactive session, participants should come armed with questions regarding their anticipated event challenges. Suggestions for managing the event, as well as post-event strategies will be shared, offering attendees fresh ideas, new approaches, and practical tips.
Jean Bjerke, Vice President, Advancement, University of La Verne
A 30-year development veteran, Jean Bjerke has spent the past 17 years at the University of La Verne, where she and her team have raised more than $91 million and recently completed a five-year, $42-million“Building on Excellence Campaign,” featuring a $26.1 million Campus Center Project.Previously, Bjerke served as Campaign Director for KCET-TV/Los Angeles and as Director and Associate Vice President for Chapman University. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
Deborah Mandabach, Communications Consultant
After 14 years in higher education, first at the University of La Verne, then the University of Redlands, Deborah Mandabach now consults in the fields of communication and special event management. In addition to participating in several successful fundraising teams, she has managed numerous high-end special events, including campaign "galas," major donor recognition events, golf tournaments, anniversary celebrations, and presidential inaugurations.
Regina Webester, Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Southern California University of Health Sciences
Regina Webester joined Southern California University of Health Sciences in 2008, where early on she was assigned to manage the presidential inauguration. Prior to her current post, Webester was Associate Vice President for Development at California State University, Fullerton, fundraising for numerous programs and schools; Vice President of the Los Angeles Women's Foundation; and Executive Director of Development at the University of La Verne.
Newcomer, Intermediate, Advanced
Independent Schools
The Catalytic Gift as a "Green" Opportunity
In this session, we will look at a case study of Punahou, and how a lead gift to that institution led to a sustainability "revolution."
Barb Morgan, Senior Director of Legacy Planning, Punahou School
Barb Morgan is a descendant of the founders of Punahou School—the largest independent school in the nation with an alumni base of more than 25,000 worldwide—and has led the school’s advancement efforts for the last 17 years. After successfully completing three capital campaigns (over $100m) and more than doubling the endowment, she is currently working to build the school’s planned giving program. In addition, during and following the process of planning Punahou’s Case Middle School (a $62-million, nine-building new project that is LEED Gold Certified), Morgan has served on the Steering Committee focused on sustainability efforts and working toward extraordinary goals for both curriculum and institutional practice by 2016.
Intermediate
Professional Interest
Been There, Should've Done That
In this enlightening session, four experienced advancement professionals will walk you through the twists and turns in the careers through the lens of 20/20 hindsight. Learn the art and science of dealing with thorny issues, adapting to your environment, the cost and payout of tough choices, and leading from the top down and the bottom up. Bring your burning questions to this session, and prepare to learn from others' experience - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Pam Hillman, Vice President University Advancement, California State University, Fullerton
Pamela Hillman joined California State University, Fullerton, in February 2003. As vice president, she leads the university’s comprehensive fundraising program, alumni relations, strategic communications, public affairs, government and community relations, special events, and advancement services, and oversees the Philanthropic Foundation. Her responsibilities include designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating a comprehensive advancement program, as well as building relationships externally and within the campus community to garner private support for CSU, Fullerton. Previously, Hillman was Associate Vice Chancellor for Development at University of California, Riverside, responsible for leading and coordinating the institution’s fundraising efforts—both in the central office and within the colleges, school, and programs. Hillman has also served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, where she implemented and directed a successful $40 million capital campaign; Director of Development for the UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management School; and Director of Annual Giving at California Institute of Technology.
Russ Kost, Vice President of Development, Desert Research Institute
Russ Kost is the Vice President for Development for the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas. Prior to joining the Desert Research Institute, Russ Kost spent 23 years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he served as Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations and Development, as well as Executive Director of the UNLV Alumni Association. He began as the Assistant to the UNLV Foundation Executive Director, and then assumed the following roles: Annual Giving Coordinator, Director of Annual Giving, Director of Major and Planned Giving, Director of Gift Planning and Director of Principal Gifts.
Theresa (Tere) Mendoza, Senior Advisor, California State University System
As Senior Advisor, Tere Mendoza strategically partners with the president and executive leadership of each campus to build successful advancement programs that enhance the university's prestige, build alumni loyalty, and procure philanthropic resources to enrich the academic and student learning environments. Prior to joining the Chancellor's Office, Tere was Vice President of University Advancement and founding CEO of the Campanile Foundation at San Diego State University. During her nine-year tenure, the university raised an unprecedented $400 million, and increased the annual productivity from $20 million to $65.5 million. Ms. Mendoza spent 15 years at Arizona State University where she served as the Executive Vice President of the Arizona State University Foundation and Campaign Director of ASU's Campaign for Leadership, which raised over half a billion dollars.
Jim Purcell, Vice President University Relations, Santa Clara University
Jim Purcell has been vice president of Santa Clara since 1997, responsible for Alumni Relations, Development, and the Office of Marketing and Communications, as well as serving on the and President's Cabinet. Under Purcell’s leadership, the Development Office recently completed the “Campaign for Santa Clara,” raising more than $404 million for scholarships, faculty, capital projects, and technology.
Newcomer, Intermediate, Advanced