It is my privilege to announce and recognize the following colleagues who have received tier promotions for FY24. Please join me in celebrating and congratulating them — for their willingness to take on the increased goals and responsibilities, and moreover, their steadfast performance over time.

Tier 3: Pete Hlabse and Susan Lynch
Tier 4: Mike Connaughton and Dylan Reed
Tier 5: Aaron Wall

Congratulations Pete, Susan, Mike, Dylan, and Aaron, and know we look forward to celebrating you in person at the UR Summit!

– Sara

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to my University Relations colleagues for all the kind notes and well-wishes that I received on the occasion of my recent retirement. Twenty-seven years sounds like a long time, but it went by in a flash!

Eileen Gieselman

Team,

Three leadership roles on the Annual Giving team are open. If you’re curious, let’s talk!

👉 Senior Director, Annual Giving

👉 Director, Leadership Annual Giving

👉 Senior Associate Director, Athletics Annual Giving

God Bless and Go Irish!
Brandon Tabor

Please join me in welcoming TJ Alford. He is joining the Development team as a Regional Director on the Chicago Team. Prior to his arrival at Notre Dame, TJ served as the Assistant Athletics Director for Development at the University of Illinois Chicago. He oversaw all fundraising efforts for the athletic department. Prior to UIC, TJ spent five years in the Sunshine State working as the Director of Sales at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, the premier multi-purpose facility at Florida State University and home to the men’s and women’s basketball programs. In his role, he generated significant revenue while overseeing all premium sales and arena sponsorships. Prior to starting at the Tucker Center, TJ spent two years as a Service & Retention Consultant for FSU Athletics and Seminole Boosters. He oversaw sales, marketing, and solicitation of new business opportunities for group sales while serving as the primary contact for more than 1,500 donors, season ticket holders, and boosters. TJ is an alum of Southern Illinois University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration. He and his wife, Ashton, live in Granger with their two children. His first day at Notre Dame will be August 2.

– Jerry Barca

Prospect Management and Research is thrilled to welcome back Elicia Dennis to University Relations! Starting Monday, July 24, Elicia will serve the NY Metro Region as our newest Prospect Management Consultant.

Elicia joins us from the College of Arts and Letters and their Office of Communications, where she managed a portfolio of over 100 websites and led web strategy, including multiple award-winning site redesigns. Prior to this role, she was an intern in University Relations, first with Annual Giving and then with Stewardship. Elicia also currently serves as President of Notre Dame’s Black Faculty and Staff Association.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Elicia earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and a Master of Science in data science from Notre Dame. She and her boyfriend, Raymond, now reside in Mishawaka with their two dogs: Hope and Buckley.

Please join me in welcoming Elicia to our team!

Jonathan Retartha

Dear Colleagues,

The first fall renewal mailing (renew #1) is dropping in mailboxes starting Thursday, July 20 to all our unrestricted and giving society benefactors. As a reminder, this mailing is sent to all assigned and unassigned benefactors whose annual giving is less than $25,000, asking them to renew their previous calendar year gift by their respective fund owner. This mailing is being sent to over 26,000 households and will be followed by email reminders in the weeks to come. If you have any questions regarding our renewal strategy, please reach out to the appropriate fund (Sorin, Rockne, Law, etc.) owner on the annual giving team and they can assist.

Thanks!
Annual Giving Team

Be advised of a possible UPS labor strike on August 1, 2023, when the company’s current labor union contract with employees expires.

While the strike may be averted by a new labor contract, we have a set of recommendations to minimize potential disruptions to outbound shipping operations in the event there is a strike.

These steps include:

• Departments with existing Federal Express (FedEx) parcel accounts should leverage this service provider as the primary conduit for urgent mail shipments during a strike—contact Procurement Services for parcel account lookup and user administration. See below for how to request a FedEx account should one be needed. FedEx provides priority domestic and international air and ground delivery services, including a competitive discount, in-office pickup, and authorized drop-off locations on or nearby campus.

• FedEx parcel accounts can be used at FedEx Office locations, namely the LaFortune Student Center location. FedEx Office associates will create shipment labels on demand at the counter and accept a FOAPAL as payment. Store locations will also accept pre-labeled FedEx Express and FedEx Ground packages in lieu of using in-office pickup or a FedEx Drop Box.

• A secondary means of sending priority mail and small package shipments include using the United States Postal Service (USPS). Procards are accepted as payment at the on-campus Hammes Mowbray location. FOAPALs are accepted as payment through an arrangement with Mail Distribution.

• For outbound shipments weighing more than 150 lbs. (i.e., Freight), contact Central Receiving for assistance at 574-631-4188.

In addition to these measures, there are steps you can take at the unit level to prepare for a potential UPS strike, including:

• Begin to transition outbound shipments to alternate carriers to avoid packages being held up within the UPS transit system if a strike occurs.

• Plan ahead and prepare for longer lead times for both inbound and outbound shipments.

• Expect delays.

• Drop off pre-labeled packages, as in-office pickup services may be limited while a strike is active.

• Review projects, work, and needs through August and inform colleagues who may be dependent upon shipping for their work of the implications of a potential UPS strike.

Moving forward, Procurement Services will continue to monitor the UPS situation and offer updates on this webpage. In the meantime, please contact our office if you have any questions.

How to request a FedEx parcel account:

To set up a new FedEx parcel account and parcel user profile, please email the following information to jsokol2@nd.edu:

• Department Name, Street Address, City, State, and Zip Code

• Shipper’s Name, Phone Number, and Email Address

• FOAPAL (this will be used as a default for outbound shipping charges, this value is required and can be changed at the time of label creation)

Additional FedEx information can be found HERE.

Respectfully,

Procurement Services

buy@nd.edu

574-631-4289

Please note the location of the next Benchwarmers playoff game listed in today’s souNDoff was incorrect. The next game will be played at Boehm Park.