It is my pleasure to welcome Sarah Wodrich, pronounced Woodrich, to the Gift Planning team as our newest Gift Planning Officer. Sarah’s first day is Monday, August 9, and she will be partnering with fundraisers in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.

Sarah is an alum of Indiana University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminal Justice and earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Kentucky.

Sarah comes to Notre Dame from a successful career at Sanders Pianowski LLP in Elkhart. At Sanders Pianowski LLP, Sarah focused on estate planning, estate administration, and labor and employment laws. She lives in Osceola with her husband, Eric, and their son, Calvin.

 

Rich Naponelli

 

Dear Colleagues,

Please join me in welcoming Austin Gammage to the East Coast Region as a Regional Director serving the Atl/Car market.

Prior to joining the East Coast, Austin was an Associate Director for our Annual Giving team. Austin also previously served as the Manager of Business Development for the City of South Bend where he worked on projects such as the new Turbomachinery facility and Innovation Park. He grew up in South Bend, graduated from Ball State University in 2012, and received his Master’s from Bowling Green State University in 2017.

Austin and his wife, Katrina, have two children Kyra (11) and their newest edition Oakley (9 months). We are so excited to have Austin and his family join our team! The best is yet to come!

Thanks,
George W.

Colleagues,

I write to share that Ashley Baranowski has accepted a new role as Program Director with the Inspired Leadership Initiative here at Notre Dame starting on August 9th.

We are very grateful for Ashley’s many contributions these past 2 years to our team and the Cavanaugh Council and President’s Circle programs including: her incredible work on our annual impact report, especially this past year as we transitioned to a digital format; coordination and relationships with students including our CCPC scholars; her work with our mentorship program; and her partnership with the Central and Illinois regions.

Please join me in congratulating Ashley on her new role and wishing her all the best in this next chapter!

If you were working with Ashely on any projects or have any questions, please contact me or Jen Odell.

Thank you,
Mary Jane Añón

It is with mixed emotions that I share Julia Onghetich’s decision to devote her energies to being a full time mother to her sons Tim and Nile. You may know that Julia and her husband Bob, who graduated from the Notre Dame Law School in 2020, have already relocated to Indianapolis. I say mixed emotions because we are happy for Julia to be able to spend more time with her family, but will miss her leadership and dedication dearly. Under her leadership, stewardship communications have evolved greatly. She and her team were responsible for quickly making acknowledgments from Fr. John Jenkins and Lou Nanni electronic when COVID required remote work. She was the creator of the latest versions of the Stewardship Report, enhanced financial aid stewardship communications and many other impact communications and reporting significantly. She has also served as an incredible stewardship partner for both Corporate and Foundation Relations.

Julia’s last day on the Stewardship & Donor Relations team will be September 3. If you are interested in learning more about this role as Director for Stewardship Communications, please let me know. We plan to post as soon as possible. Julia is also happy to discuss her role with interested colleagues.

Katherine Lane

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the family of Danny Knight, whose husband Andrew passed away on Saturday, July 24.

Andrew was a devoted husband and father and a man of deep faith. His loss is felt by all those who had the privilege to meet and know him. Andrew’s obituary can be found here.

Visitation will be this Thursday, July 29, from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. Andrew’s life will be celebrated on Friday, July 30 at 6:30 PM. Services will take place at Osceola Grace Church, 58343 S. Apple Road, Osceola, IN.

Thank you for your love and support of Danny and her family.

 

-Mark Welch

 

Dear Colleagues,

It is with mixed emotions that I write to share that Renee Romanelli is resigning as regional director on the New York Metro team. Her last day will be Friday, August 13.

In the two and a half years Renee has served in her role, she has built and strengthened key relationships on behalf of Notre Dame, raised significant resources for our students and represented the University with class. She will be missed.

Please join me in thanking Renee and wishing her well in her next endeavors!

All the best,
Ryan

I am pleased to announce that Matt Cannizzo has joined the NY Metro team as regional director, effective July 26.

Matt (ND ’94) has served his other alma mater, Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, New Jersey, for the past 24 years. Matt began as the Director of Admission and Financial Aid before being appointed the Dean of Studies and Director of Admission and Financial Aid in 2009, with the division exceeding ambitious enrollment targets annually under his leadership. For the past 7 years, he has led and successfully grown the school’s development efforts as the Director of Institutional Advancement, most recently completing an 8-figure capital campaign that exceeded goal by 25%. Matt and his wife, Sarah, an ND alum, have two children, Nate and Grace.

Please join me in welcoming Matt to our UR team!

All the best,

Ryan

With the transitioning back to the office, a few reminders about parking at Eddy Street:

1. Parking spaces in the area under the building are assigned spots. If you do not have an assigned spot, parking is available in the ESC garage.
2. Parking in the ESC garage must be above the “bump” on the ramp (no first-floor parking) and not in any reserved spots on the 2nd level.
3. Parking spaces under the building will periodically be coned off indicating those spots are not available.
4. The Smart Cars will be moved back into their assigned parking spots under the building later this week. If you use a Smart Car, please return it back to the assigned parking spot.

Any cars that do not abide by these rules, will be ticketed per Eddy Street Building Management.

If you have any questions about parking on Eddy Street, please contact Lana Taylor.

After nearly 18 years working in service of Our Lady’s mission, Al Bucci has announced his retirement. We offer Al our deep appreciation, gratitude and congratulations.

Al has been an incredible member of the UR Development team. His kindness, leadership and team-focused approach will be missed. Al has developed strong relationships internally and externally with benefactors. His work has left a lasting positive impact at Notre Dame and with the students the University serves. He leaves this role feeling blessed for the opportunity to have worked at Notre Dame and grateful for all his friends and Development colleagues. His last official day will be August 31st.

A 1977 graduate of Notre Dame, Al walked on the football team and still claims he has eligibility left if only offenses would utilize the fullback. He met Marilyn, his wife and a 1978 St. Mary’s College grad, here. They have four children, two who graduated from Notre Dame.

He looks forward to writing more novels and “hanging out a bit.” He promises that whatever he does, it’ll be fun. He added, “I’ll be watching, too, as I know the development office will continue its great success.”

Thank you, Al for all that you have provided in service of Notre Dame for nearly two decades. We wish you all the best that life has to offer as you, literally and figuratively, write these next chapters.

Dear everyone,

I’m thrilled to announce that Steve Orsini will join the Southern Regional Development team as a Regional Director of Development on July 12th.

Steve brings a love for Notre Dame and a strong background in leadership and development in Athletics, previously serving as Director of Athletics for SMU and prior to that University of Central Florida. Steve earned his BBA in Accounting from Notre Dame and was captain of the 1978 Notre Dame National Championship Football Team.

Steve and his wife Amy are grateful and excited to be moving back to the Notre Dame community. Amy is a South Bend native and they look forward to being close to family here in South Bend. Steve and Amy also have a daughter Angela that lives in Dallas, Texas.

Steve is enthusiastic and energized to serve the mission of Our Lady. As Steve shared with me recently, it’s about “the people, the place and the purpose.” Please join me in extending a warm, SOUTHERN welcome to Steve!

Anne