I am pleased to announce that the Learning & Organizational Development Program Manager position is now posted on the HR Jobs website.  The Learning and Organizational Development Program Manager is responsible for managing the UR orientation and onboarding program; managing and expanding learning and development programs and opportunities for new and existing employees; and leads the division’s project management function.  Anyone interested in the position should contact Melanie Davis at 631-1837.

All my best,

Micki

As we are called to do something to support these families of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CT, our day of prayer is Thursday, December 20th.  Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour, please try and set aside some time between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 20^th, to stop in at the Blessed Brother Andre Chapel (200 Flanner Hall) where we will have a continuous day of prayer.  It would be ideal to have 15 minute shifts throughout the day; if you can stay longer than 15 minutes that would be terrific.  The idea is that someone from University Relations is there in this chapel praying continuously for these families from 8:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Thursday the 20th.

These times are still open:

10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

1:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Please e-mail me at Leyes.1@nd.edu and let me know if you can help.

Thank you,

Doug

Douglas J. Leyes  MSA 2003, Finance and Administration Assistant Manager

Good Morning:

As Lou mentioned at the end of the Lunch on Friday, there was an unexplainable, heart wrenching tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut. If you are like me, it is hard to fathom something like this happening. As we are called to do something to support these families, I suggest we commit to a day of prayer.  Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour, please try and set aside some time between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 20^th, to stop in at the Blessed Brother Andre Chapel (200 Flanner Hall) where we will have a continuous day of prayer.  It would be ideal to have 15 minute shifts throughout the day; if you can stay longer than 15 minutes that would be terrific.  The idea is that someone from University Relations is there in this chapel praying continuously for these families from 8:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. If you cannot tie yourself down to any specific time, you are more than welcome to come over any time that day. I will also try and schedule one of our priests to say the Rosary at 4:30 p.m.

Please e-mail me at Leyes.1@nd.edu and let me know if you can help. You need not e-mail if you are not sure what time. I will keep all of you abreast as to how we are doing in filling in this schedule.

Thank You,

Doug

Douglas J. Leyes  MSA 2003                                                                                               Finance and Administration Assistant Manager

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Bill Gangluff as Alumni Association’s new Director of Marketing and Communications.  Bill joins us after seven years at the Mendoza School of Business where he worked in a variety of capacities, most recently as the Director of Marketing and Communications.

Bill’s keen marketing vision, energy and good nature will be a fantastic addition to our team.

Bill is married to his wife Tracey.  They have two children, Holden a senior at St. Joseph High School and Gillian who is in 8^th grade at Christ the King.

Please join me in welcoming Bill to our staff with an expected start date of January 21.

Our sympathy to Stephen Smith on the death of his father, Austin W. Smith Jr. Arrangements are as follows:

Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wake: 10:00am Central
Funeral: 10:30am Central

All services will be held at Compassion Baptist Church     http://compassionbaptist.org/          2650 E. 95^th Street                                                                                                                Chicago, IL 60617                                                                                                                        (773) 933-2700

A message from Stephen:

As many of you know for the last 20 years my father was a full time pastor. 13 years of that time he  spent tirelessly working to build a larger new church that would not only be a place of worship but also serve the larger surrounding community. Thankfully my father was able to see this building come to fruition last fall. However, there remain many debts to be paid. Therefore, my mom has asked that in lieu of flowers you would consider making a small donation in honor of Austin W. Smith Jr. to Compassion Baptist Church Investing in Eternity Building fund.  If you so choose, checks should be made out to: Compassion Baptist Church and sent to my mother at:

Shirley Smith                                                                                                                                      17601 Maple Ave                                                                                                                    Country Club Hills, IL 60478

The kind, generosity of the Notre Dame family has been a great help to me during this very difficult time after the passing of my grandmother.

I would like to offer my most sincere thanks for the many calls, cards and notes during this difficult time.

Thank you so very much for your support.

Greg Simpson & family

Dear Colleagues –

The position of Manager, Donor Experience has been posted on the HR web page.   This position plays a key role as a part of the Annual Giving Programs Leadership Team.

The Donor Experience team is principally responsible for providing a high level of support to the more than 10,000 members of recognition societies at Notre Dame who contribute more than $27.5 million in annual giving to support the University.  The Manager, Donor Experience will be responsible for developing and executing a plan to achieve service levels necessary to deliver best-in-class support when measured against Notre Dame’s peers with annual giving programs.  The Manager will lead and coach a team of five direct reports.

Core processes in the donor experience area include: acknowledgements, football ticket support, concierge service, annual renewals, voice of the donor engagement, and phone and e-mail communications.  High service levels will be achieved principally through the application of continuous improvement methods to drive standard work and flow in the Donor Experience operations.  Innovation and adoption of best-in-class stewardship practices from other organizations will be critical to success.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply on-line and contact me directly to discuss the position.

In Notre Dame,

Brian Couch, Sr. Director, Annual Giving Programs

Dear Colleagues –

The position of Director, Major Gifts has been posted on the HR web page.   This position plays a key role as a part of the Annual Giving Programs Leadership Team.

The Director of Major Gifts will be responsible for designing, planning, and executing the major gift fund-raising program and leading the Sorin Society for unrestricted giving at the University.   The Director will be responsible for over $22 million in unrestricted revenue in FY 2013, and will manage 3 Major Gift Officers (MGOs) and a research assistant.  The focus for major gift fundraising will be on optimizing the process used and results achieved by MGOs through a donor-centric, systematic approach to identification, qualification, cultivation, ask and close activities for prospects in an MGO’s portfolio.  These asks are targeted in the range of $5,000-$25,000 per year.  A critical factor for success will be the achievement of a high level of engagement, satisfaction and donor relationship building within the Sorin Society.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply on-line and contact me directly to discuss the position.

In Notre Dame,

Brian Couch, Sr. Director, Annual Giving Programs

I am happy to announce that Courtney LaVere has accepted the position of Associate Regional Director for West Region Development effective December 10, 2012.

Courtney is a 2006 graduate of Our Lady’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Theater and Television.  She also was a team player on the Notre Dame women’s basketball team during all four years.

Upon graduation in 2006, Courtney served as a buyer for Omnicon in New York interacting with network executives and the television market.  In 2008, she joined Turner Broadcasting in California as a sales planner where she developed sales stories for clients and business targets in the marketplace with her largest client being Disney Studios.

Please join me in welcoming Courtney to our team!

Kevin Cannon

Dear Colleagues,

It is with mixed emotions that I advise you of Anne-Marie Campbell’s decision to return to the East Coast as she and her husband Coley take the next exciting step for their family.  The Campbells will be relocating back to Saratoga Springs, New York.  Coley has been promoted to a new role in his firm and Anne-Marie has accepted the position of Director of Leadership Gifts and Gifts Planning at Skidmore College.  Anne-Marie’s last day at Notre Dame will be Friday, December 14^th.

Anne-Marie has made significant contributions as the Director, Major Gifts for Annual Giving Programs.  Her fundraising expertise, energy and commitment to Notre Dame’s donors have all been of significant benefit to Our Lady’s University.  We thank her for her dedication to the mission of Notre Dame and the friendship she has brought to many.  She will be missed.

The posting for the position of Director, Major Gifts will be active on the HR web page shortly.  Sorin Society and Major Gift responsibilities will be re-apportioned among the Major Gift Officers and the Annual Giving Programs Leadership Team until a new Director is named.

Please join me in wishing Anne-Marie, Coley, Grace and Adeline all the best and Godspeed in their transition to their new life in New York.

In Notre Dame,

Brian Couch, Sr. Director, Annual Giving Programs

Dear Friends,

Thank you for supporting our Christmas charity efforts! Across University Relations we have sponsored gifts 35 senior citizens in North Central Indiana through Elves for Elders. ESC has only 3 gift tags left, so grab one while they’re there! Christmas will be merrier for these men and women thanks to your generosity.

Gift deliveries will start in the middle of next week. That means you will need you to bring your wrapped gifts—tags secured to the outside—to campus this Monday, December 10^th. Please place gifts under the tree in the ESC before noon on Monday.

A reminder to those donating cookies: Please drop-off your cookies outside Eck Visitors Center on Wednesday, December 12^th between 7:45 – 8:45 A.M. Volunteers will be on hand to collect the cookies.

If you have any questions, feel free to call or email Beth Ferlic or Kris Machalleck

In gratitude,

Beth, Bob, Huyen, Jim and Kris

(ESC representatives of the UR Service Committee)

Dear Colleagues –

I am delighted to announce the promotion of Laura O’Sullivan to the expanded role of Program Director, Annual Giving Events.  Laura will report to me as a member of the Annual Giving Programs (AGP) Leadership Team.  She will have responsibility for planning and executing events in support of AGP’s strategic and tactical goals for engaging benefactors.   Events will range from intimate gatherings for high level donors to informal large gatherings for Annual Fund donors and student engagement.

Laura has done an extraordinary job leading Recognition Society events to the next level of excellence in her role as Events Coordinator.   Sorin Society members and others have raved about the improvements made in Football Weekend events in particular this year.  Perhaps more importantly, her team members and partners in executing these events both inside and outside of the University are delighted to work with her.  Laura’s strong organizational skills, relationship building, creativity and event acumen are great assets for AGP and Development as a whole.

Please join me in congratulating Laura as she takes on this important, expanded role.

In Notre Dame,

Brian Couch, Sr. Director, Annual Giving Programs

I have the sad duty to report that Don Schindler, our director of print, web and multi-media services in University Communications, will be departing soon after the new year to take a position as Vice-President of Digital Initiatives at Dairy Management, Inc.  This is a great opportunity for Don and, of course, we wish him well. His considerable talent and his wise advice have served Notre Dame well and he’ll always be part of the UC family in my mind.

Matt

Matthew V. Storin, Chief Communications Executive

It’s with a sincere sense of loss AND gratitude that I write about the news of Chas Grundy’s departure to join the OIT Team here at the University of Notre Dame to accept a PRODUCT MANAGER position.  Frankly, over the past three months much of the stuff we’ve generated out of the Marketing & Communications team would not have been possible without the skills and work ethic that Chas has displayed.  HE WILL BE MISSED — BIG TIME!

Chas starts the new gig on Monday, so please be sure to stop by and congratulate him on this new opportunity here at Notre Dame and to THANK him for being a world-class teammate to Development.

Jim Small, Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

Gifts due Monday, Dec. 10

Thank you for helping spread Christmas cheer! We have fulfilled wish lists from 35 senior citizens from REAL Services. Our division is filled with generous “elves!” Please bring gifts to campus on Monday, December 10^th before noon.  Remember to wrap your gift (or use a gift bag) and attach the tag securely and visibly to the outside of the package.  If you have questions, please contact the department representatives listed below. A special thanks to Rachel, Carol, Sharon, and Angel who stepped up to help with this project!

1)  5th Floor Grace – Rachel Hughes, Carol Bradley

2)  10th Grace – Sharon Rankert

3)  11th Floor Grace – Angel Hess

4)  405 Main Building – Roberta White

5)  Eck Center – Katie Rutledge

6) Eddy Street Commons Café – Kris Machalleck, Beth Ferlic, Huyen Nguyen

Cookies due Wednesday, Dec. 12

Thank you, volunteer bakers! We have 95 dozen cookies pledged. We know we’ll have enough to share with the four agencies.  However, anyone can still pledge or just show up with cookies next Wednesday! All donations are welcome.

Drive through Drop-Off: Volunteers will be waiting outside the Eck Visitors Center to receive your cookies on the morning of Wednesday, December 12^th.  Drivers may pull up on the south side of the building in front of the Saint André Bessette, C.S.C.  statue. Please drop-off cookies between 7:45 AM – 8:15 AM.

Drop-off Inside: Cookies will be stored in the Visitors Center near the auditorium in the southwest corner of the building. Bakers may leave their donated cookies on the back tables any time before 5:00 PM.

Tray Assembly: Several colleagues have volunteered to help plate/assemble trays of cookies for the four organizations. Everyone is welcome. We will meet in the Visitors Center around 5:00 PM.

Please email katie.rutledge@nd.edu with your cookie pledge or if you’d like to help assemble trays.

Sincere thanks from the entire UR Community Service Committee! May you have a blessed Advent and Christmas!

Brittany Bauer, Jessica Brookshire, Jill Donnelly, Beth Ferlic, Huyen Lee, Kris Machalleck, Jim Reeves, Katie Rutledge,  Bob Quakenbush, Roberta White, and Tim Sexton

Please keep Candace and Matt Davenport in your prayers as they lost Matt’s father, Coye Davenport on December 4, 2012.  Mass and Christian burial will be Thursday, December 6, 2012, in Statesville, North Carolina.

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that a new position for Administrative Assistant within the Office of Development West Region has been posted on the HR jobs site. The candidate will perform a diverse set of advanced administrative, clerical and project management duties requiring strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical and computer skills.  This role will interact with donors, alumni, benefactors and University personnel on a daily basis.  This position will report to and support two regional directors.

Specific responsibilities include:

–          Coordinating and managing schedules for two regional directors.

–          Preparing correspondence and other business documents.

–          Maintaining an organized office, including detailed files and records.

–          Daily interactions with our benefactors and donors requiring good interpersonal communication skills.

–          Serving on projects and committees, as requested.

We have identified a preferred candidate for this position.

In Notre Dame,

Kevin P. Cannon, Senior Regional Director, West Region

Stewardship Programs is happy to welcome Susan Miller to the team on a temporary basis. Starting this week, Susan will be with us until March. A Purdue graduate and owner of Creative Chameleon Writing Services in Bremen, she will be writing acknowledgments during the Christmas year-end crunch, and filling in as needed while Beth Ferlic is on leave. Beth’s first baby is expected in the new year.

Before opening her own company in 2010, Susan served as a new media manager and web content editor for MMA (now Everence Financial, Inc.) in Goshen. An accomplished writer and editor with over 25 years of professional experience, Susan wrote for Phil Vitale Publishing and is a past reporter for the South Bend Tribune.

Susan has been married for 23 years to Alan Miller, a Purdue mechanical engineer, and they enjoying traveling and hiking. In addition to writing contemporary fiction (and hoping to be published one day soon), Susan plays alto sax in local big bands, makes jewelry, and loves to bake. Please join us in welcoming Susan to Notre Dame.

Katherine Lane, Director of Stewardship Programs