Welcome, Aubre Bragg!

Please give a warm welcome to Aubre Bragg, who has joined the Storytelling and Engagement team as a marketing specialist. She will work closely with Storytelling and the Office of Gift Planning to help drive the University’s expansion in planned charitable contributions among other responsibilities. Aubre brings a wealth of experience with marketing tools and analyses, including as a consultant with Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits in St. Petersburg, FL, the nation’s largest wine and spirits distributor, where she managed 98 accounts, consistently hit monthly sales targets, and generated over $1 million of revenue in 9 months. Aubre comes to Notre Dame from a successful year with Young & Laramore in Indianapolis, where she assisted national and regional accounts across all stages of their media campaign cycle – research, planning, execution, trafficking, maintenance, measurement, and account management. She was responsible for day-to-day campaign needs including pacing, optimization opportunities, and performance reporting.

Aubre graduated summa cum laude from Ball State University, with a major in marketing and a minor in strategic communications. She is also a 10-year trained professional dancer. Originally from Fishers, Indiana, Aubre looks forward to living in South Bend where she can enjoy all of her hobbies—baking, cycling, and weight training—and perhaps in colder times, to vacationing in her favorite getaway of Key West, Florida. Welcome, Aubre!

-David Chaudoir

In Memoriam: Jimita Potter

Jimita Potter, who formerly worked in Notre Dame Development as an administrative assistant, peacefully passed away on Saturday, June 29, 2024, with her husband and daughters by her side. Jimita’s legacy of passion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to her family and community will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all who knew her.

A visitation will be held on July 9th from 4-8 PM at Hahn Funeral Home with a rosary at 7:30 PM. A funeral mass will be held at St. Pius X on July 10th at 10:30 AM, with visitation an hour prior at church. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Mishawaka. You can view here obituary here.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jimita Potter may be made to the Junior League of South Bend Endowment, Riverbend Cancer Services, Center for Hospice Care, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Best Wishes to Jeff Faust!

Dear Colleagues,

I write to share the bittersweet news that Jeff Faust will be leaving the Development Development for a position in the Office of Information Technology working primarily for the Office of Research.

Jeff has been an invaluable member of the Information Technology and Services team for 11 years and will be greatly missed by all of us.

I am grateful for his numerous contributions to the team and the department. Please join me in expressing heartfelt appreciation to Jeff for all his hard work and dedication. I wish him nothing but the utmost success in all his future endeavors.

-Rose

Best Wishes, Eric!

Friends,

Join me in sending best wishes to Eric Atkins, who will be leaving the University on July 5th to return to Baltimore to spend more time with his immediate and extended family and to pursue opportunities closer to home.

Eric has been an incredible teammate who brought passion and humility to our team on a daily basis. He’ll be missed, but we couldn’t be more supportive of his decision, and he’ll always be a part of our Athletics and Development family.

Thank you,

Riley

Welcome to the East Region, Katy!

Dear Colleagues,

We want to take the opportunity to welcome our newest member of the East Region. It is with great pleasure that we share that Katy Orenchuk will be joining our team as a frontline fundraiser, effective July 1. Many of you know that Katy has made the decision to serve the mission of Notre Dame as a Regional Director after fearlessly leading our Academic Advancement team as a Senior Director. Prior to her time at Notre Dame she spent 13 years as a fundraiser in the DC and Chicago markets. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Katy.

Thank you,
Nadia

Welcome to Deanna Gumpf!

Team,

Please join me in welcoming Deanna Gumpf, who will serve as Regional Director on the Southwest team, working primarily with families in southern California. Deanna’s first day is Monday, July 1 (please feel free to pop in at Eddy Street to keep her company!)

Deanna joins us after 23 years of leading the Notre Dame softball program as head coach, where she amassed 882 wins, making her the winningest head coach in Notre Dame athletics history. Beyond her success on the field, Deanna is known as a servant leader, devoted to her players, coaches and the University.

Deanna and her husband John are longtime residents of South Bend, and the proud parents of Brady (ND’24) and Tatum, who will enroll as a freshman at the University of Kentucky next month. Please join me in welcoming Deanna to the team!

All the best,
Ryan Brennan

Congratulations Katie & Matt Kerby!

I’m excited to share that Katie and Matt Kerby have welcomed their first child into the world! Born just in time for our FYE celebrations, Quinn Kerby arrived on Friday, June 28, weighing in at 7 lbs 13 oz and measuring 20.25 inches. Both mom and baby are healthy and doing well.

Please join me in congratulating Katie and Matt on this wonderful addition to their family. Welcome to the world, Quinn!

Brandon Tabor

Eddy Street Parking Policy Updates

Effective Monday, July 8, 2024, Kite is updating several parking policies are Eddy Street. The updated policies are:
  • Parking beneath the building in the half-circle or along the cement island is for actively loading and unloading vehicles only. Vehicle flashers MUST be on. Any vehicle not actively loading or unloading will be towed at the owner’s expense.
  • Parking in any of the Development Office’s assigned spots now requires a Kite-issued hangtag. Any vehicle parked in an assigned spot without a hangtag will be towed at the owner’s expense.
  • Parking along the westside curb (between the building and Harper Hall) will be transitioned into a NO PARKING zone. Any parking in this area must be approved by Kite.
  • If you have an Eddy Street Garage access card, parking on the 1st-floor level is not allowed. Parking must be above the “bump” in the ramp leading to the 2nd level. Anyone with an access card parked on the 1st-floor level will be ticketed by the City of South Bend.
You can see the full list of Eddy Street parking policies here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Lana Taylor.

UR July Birthdays

Happy Birthday to all our UR colleagues celebrating their special day in July! You light up our department like a firework!

7/2— Annica Hill
7/2— Amber Machowiak
7/2— Cheryl Vowels
7/3— Katherine Lane
7/4— Giovana Heeter
7/5— Ashley Van Avermaete
7/8— Brian Diss
7/8— Brittany Jaso
7/10— Patrick Brennan
7/10— Megan Hale
7/10— Christina Ryan
7/11— Megan Richard
7/14— Anita Sareen
7/14— Lori Tinkey
7/15— Carleen Quinlan
7/15— Justin Zimmerman
7/16— Gail Slevin
7/17— Patty Kokesh
7/17— Teesha Wright
7/18— Kevin Vaughn
7/19— Meghan Buysse
7/19— Susan Lynch
7/20— Jordan Wahlstrom
7/23— Morgan Anthony
7/23— Valerie Plinovich
7/23— Christopher Walsh
7/23— Brandon Williamson
7/27— Arnaud Zimmern
7/30— Jill Calderone
7/30— Josey Kronewitter
7/31— Sammy Kacius