The Prospect Management team is excited to welcome Alexandra DeWeese and Brigette Kinney as two new Consultants working with the Southwest and East teams, respectively.  

Alexandra (Alex) comes to us from University Enterprises and Events where she helped build that department’s sales team from the ground up. Alex started at the University in 2014 in Student Services with the Mendoza College of Business where she was a Program Manager. She then moved to UEE’s Business Development team where she has been since 2017. Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ball State University and is an Indianapolis native. She and her husband, Chad, reside in South Bend, with their three children: Emerson (5), Trey (3), and Kennedy (7 months).

It’s also a bittersweet time in the Development Coordinator (DC) world. While we are thrilled for Brigette Kinney’s promotion, we note the loss of Brigette as Regional Associate (RA) on the team in which she’s served as a natural leader since 2015. A graduate of Indiana University, Brigette has consistently applied her skills in strategy, project management, process improvement, and training. She was one of two people to re-envision and reconstruct the DC Training Toolkit that has proven invaluable to the team, and she has actively contributed to the efforts of the RA Guiding Coalition. As an excellent partner with her Regional Directors and the broader Development team, Brigette has continuously identified value-add opportunities toward fundraising effectiveness. 

In their new roles as Prospect Management Consultants, Alex and Brigette will work closely with Shelby and George in building and managing portfolios, while providing actionable insights and recommendations on the path to goal. They will start with the team and begin their onboarding process on December 5, and will likely join in regional meetings starting after the new year.

Congratulations Brigette, and Welcome Alex!

Jonathan Retartha, Anita Sareen, Lori Tinkey

Friends and Colleagues,

I write to tell you that Mike Brown is no longer with the University, effective Wednesday, November 16th.

We thank him for his years of service to the University and wish him well in his next chapter. All benefactor needs or questions should be directed to me. Thanks in advance for your collaboration.

-Riley Koval

Friends,

I’m thrilled to welcome back Zach Thurston to the Annual Giving team in a new role as Solutions Manager starting November 28th. After a stint serving as Marketing Automation Manager at Indianapolis-based software company Bloomerang, Zach has the following to say about his return to Notre Dame:

“I didn’t think I’d miss this place as much as I did during the six months I was gone. Very excited to be back.”

We’re excited, too, Zach. Now, onward and upward as we close out calendar year-end!

– Brandon Tabor

Please join me in extending sincere condolences to Meghan Walsh, our Prospect Management Consultant for the Southern region. Her father, Daniel Roche O’Connor, Jr., passed away in Salisbury, MD this Saturday at the age of 88. Daniel was a Navy veteran who gave over 30 years of service to his country in various government roles. A Notre Dame alum from the class of 1959, Daniel was blessed to spend the last day of his life with his children cheering the Irish to victory.

More information about Daniel’s life and funeral arrangements can be found here: https://www.bradshawandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituary/daniel-roche-oconnor-jr?lud=F0CE2E8DC804069E49BE0F2B395F3397

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

-Jonathan Retartha

Wendy Sigala-Rubio welcomed her beautiful daughter, Aliah, into the world on November 9th at 11:40pm weighing 7 pounds. Both mom and baby are doing well!

I’d like to offer a warm welcome to Caiti Houlihan, the new Academic Advancement Associate! Caiti joins us from almost two years as a visa officer for the Consulate General of Ireland, Chicago. She is a 2019 ND grad with a major in Economics and a minor in Irish Studies. She obtained her Masters in Irish and Irish American Studies from NYU in 2021. She also speaks Gaelic!

The AAD team is thrilled to have Caiti on board and look forward to having her be a department-wide resource on campaign priorities, proposal development, and stewardship. I’m not going to say I teared up a little when she arrived, but I also can’t guarantee it didn’t happen.

Please stop by the AAD space and say hello!

Thanks so much,

KO

Dear Colleagues,

Please join us in congratulating Maureen Daday on her recent promotion to Assistant Program Director (APD) on the DC Team of Regional Development. Maureen has been an integral partner in Gift Planning since 2019 after she graduated with a MS in Management from Notre Dame. She’s a proud alumna of Saint Mary’s College with a BA in Music.

Maureen has worked in tandem with Chris DeTrempe, Jessica Brice, and Sarah Wodrich. At the beginning of the pandemic, she successfully took over management of the Life Insurance Program, stewarding ~50 donors and providing research to advance the program. She also helped RaeLee Rea bring the estate program into the digital era. Besides her work duties, as a dedicated contributor to UR culture, Maureen is best known for captaining the Benchwarmers softball team and her work on the DEIU GEE committee.

In her new role, Maureen will continue her current responsibilities while taking on new project-based work and mentoring partnerships. This will include strategizing with the Gift Planning team, training people inside and outside of Gift Planning, and continuous improvement processes.

Congratulations on the well-earned promotion, Maureen!

-Jen Koebel and Lori Tinkey

Dear Colleagues,

Please help me to welcome LaTeesha (Teesha) Wright to Regional Development as a Regional Coordinator (DC). Teesha’s first day was Monday, November 7th.

Teesha has spent the last twelve years assisting the Environmental Staff at the Saint Joseph County Health Department. Her calm demeanor and organizational skills were an asset to our community in getting through the frightening days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Teesha lives locally and is a proud graduate of LaSalle High School. She received a certificate in medical coding and insurance billing (NHA/BCS) from Ivy Tech. When not cheering on the Fighting Irish or the Chicago Bears, she can be found on the hunt for the best cheeseburger (Byron’s in Chicago, in her humble opinion), Teesha spends time with her 4 grandchildren, and her 3 grown sons (TJ, Terraell and Timothy). as often as she can.

Welcome to Notre Dame, Teesha!

Deena Chamberlin

Lori Tinkey

Monday, November 7th, was a very special day for the Central Region team.

Tara Reilly has returned after a short stint with the Inspired Leadership Initiative. We have missed Tara’s energy, good humor, strong faith, and example of how to minister to benefactor families.

Tara will primarily be working with families in the Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, PA areas. Tara, thank you for your friendship and welcome back to the Central Region!

Jason Scarlett