Rich Merkel Email & Phone Number

Greater Milwaukee Area

Initiate and facilitate strategic planning process to align resources around key value proposition. Initial efforts yielded a streamlined program plan and key fundraising tools for board members.Lead board in new annual fund campaign design and implementation initiated upon arrival at organization. Create a process to engage board members in donor cultivation and solicitation, the donor base is on track to expand by 25% (as planned) for fiscal 2011-12.Manage significant data used for continuous improvement and decision making. Conducted due diligence and secured board support for new data management system to support effective fund development efforts.Facilitated and supported strategic partnerships with public schools, state /national advocacy groups and programs, and corporations to advance a collective vision and agenda for STEM Education regionally.Lead multiple public / private partnership efforts focused on STEM advocacy . Work with the Greater Milwaukee Committee, large/small corporate partners, school districts, and institutions of higher learning, FIRST, Project Lead the Way, and others to advance a collective strategic STEM vision for Southeastern Wisconsin.Direct and supervise team members in order to accomplish goals. Includes two paid employees and a significant volunteer base.Public speaker and spokesperson for STEM Forward and partnerships. Develop and maintain all marketing and public relations including significant partnership with the Milwaukee Business Journal. Prepare and present to various groups of stakeholders and potential STEM advocates.

Greater Milwaukee Area

Lead staff working directly with CEO on significant cultivation effort yielding a $3 million program and capital gift, the largest in the organization’s history.Direction of Board of Directors volunteer campaign that energized participation, growing 34% in one year by involving 803 volunteers from 73 prominent companies. Team strategist as part of senior management. Key role in strategic planning process that has been implemented successfully with the addition of a new facility and significant program growth.Securing of philanthropic partnerships with corporate, private and community foundations, yielding consistent annual growth and an overall 81% increase in revenue since 2007.Management of annual budget including setting and meeting revenue and expense targets. Sound fiscal practice applied to senior management role in setting and monitoring overall agency financials.Representative staff member with accountability for the Racine County and Waukesha Board of Directors. Successfully increased membership and resources.Directed economic education programs for the four county metropolitan Milwaukee area and ensured program growth each year. Supervised a team of four implementing programs grades kindergarten through 12, successfully placing programs in virtually every school district in metro Milwaukee. Development and delivery of collateral material and proposals for $10 million capital campaign. Project case statement, targeted marketing, and solicitation tools aided in the success of the campaign.