Director of Philanthropy: Fund Raising, Community, Economic and Neighborhood DevelopmentUniversal Pre-School for ALL -- Foster the development of Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS) as the leader in early childhood education in the State of Indiana through grass-roots community development, leveraging of public and private resources, fund raising, and advocacy.Strong Communities Create Strong Schools -- Execute tactics to create and nurture local, regional, and national strategic relationships in support of the mission of FWCS including, but not limited to fellowships, sponsorships, gifts, grants, and donations.Principal ResponsibilitiesServing as Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Community Schools Foundation, develop and grow the not-for-profit organization through a variety of non-traditional funding and advocacy strategies to aid in executing the mission and vision of FWCS.Serving as lead development staff manage solicitation of grants, gifts and sponsorships to FWCS maximizing benefit to the children of our district while fostering the image of FWCS as the schools of choice in Northeast Indiana.Serving as a primary representative for FWCS create a strong, positive corporate culture for the school system through community partnerships, grass-roots outreach, advocacy, and servant leadership.

*Overhauled the operating model for the Foellinger Theatre incorporating national ticketing, quality performer amenities, regional marketing strategies, and an industry-standard cash management model all designed to draw more high-quality entertainment options to the City of Fort Wayne. *Created innovative, award-winning program designed to build trusting relationships between inner city youth and their families and the Fort Wayne Police Department. This grass roots effort has already resulted in crimes prevented and crimes solved. Principal Responsibilities:*Directed all operations – programming, revenue generation, customer service, marketing, staffing, sales, volunteer training and recruitment, finance and facility management -- for the Foellinger Theatre and the Botanical Conservatory. *Led year-round teams at Weisser, Jennings, Cooper and McMillen Youth Centers as well as a seasonal playground program to provide safe havens and youth development opportunities in Southeast Fort Wayne through education, recreation, and socialization.*Served on boards, commissions, and committees connecting community organizations with the mission and services of the Parks and Recreation Department.

*Transformed the Foellinger Theatre from a largely free performance space into regional draw with annual sales topping $2.6 million and featuring national touring acts.Principal Responsibilities:*Managed all operations of the Foellinger Theatre and the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory including programming, marketing, fund raising, capital development, finance, and staffing.*Led capital development and major improvement projects at both venues in excess of several million dollars.*Generated earned and gift revenue in a highly competitive environment at each facility posting substantial increases each successive year.

*Executed a business model turn around converting a facility on the brink of shut down into a tourism/quality of life magnet attracting over 100,000 guests annually and rated as one of the top three Parks and Recreation Department amenities in all broad-based community needs assessments completed over the past 15 years. Principal Responsibilities:*Managed the Botanical Conservatory, the most popular attraction owned and operated by the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department — all facets including programming, promotions, fund raising, capital development, finance, and staffing.*Executed the mission of providing educational, recreational, and aesthetic benefits to the Fort Wayne community and visitors.*Created partnerships with downtown businesses, cultural institutions, and government to enhance tourism and downtown development.

Developed fund raising program increasing gifts/grants from an average of $80,000 annually to over $1,000,000+ in less than 18 months.Principle Responsibilities:*Created strategic partnerships with media for promotional and public information purposes.*Crafted proposals for capital and operating grants with a 98% success rate.

Communications and Fund Raising

Marketing and Communications