We are really excited to announce that Amber Cerveny ’03 joined our Storytelling Team this week as our Program Coordinator serving Planned Giving. In Amber’s role, she’ll be directing the storytelling efforts for all Planned Giving projects.

Amber joins us from the Diocese of Springfield (IL) where she served as the Director of Faith and Ministry Promotion. Prior to this she served Catholic Charities (Springfield, IL) as their Development Coordinator. Amber also had a 10-year run in the Chicago market in the residential real estate industry. Thinking about buying vs. renting (?) go see Amber first!

Here’s some fun facts about Amber:

• She played TROMBONE for The Band of the Fighting Irish (she claims it’s the best section in the band)
• She’s graduated from Notre Dame in 2003; magna cum laude with a degree in Psychology
• She loves “challenges” as an adult Amber has learned to play the piano, took up boxing and ran the Chicago Marathon

Soon after graduating from Notre Dame, Amber took a job in the Los Angeles area with a company called Kurtzman Carson Consultants. While living in the Hollywood area, our Amber snuck into a Matthew McConnaughey Malibu House Party… Amber admits; “for fear of being arrested, I didn’t stay long…” I think we all need a little more detail about this story!

Please be sure to stop by and introduce yourself to Amber — she’s situated with the Storytelling Team at Eddy Street Commons.

Jim

Dear Colleagues,

On Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 11:00 am ET, please join us for the 2022 Notre Dame Endowment Update Teleconference. This private, invite-only event is for participants in Notre Dame’s charitable remainder trust and donor advised fund programs. The call is an opportunity to learn more about the University’s Endowment and participate in a question and answer session with Mike Donovan and the Investment Office team.

The current list of participants for this event can be found here.

To join this event, please contact Laura Walker.

Happy birthday to all our UR employees celebrating their special days in February! We love having you all as our colleagues!

2/2 – Kim Biagini
2/3 – Shelby Carroll
2/4 – Rebekah Kincaid
2/4 – Sara Munoz
2/10 – Jessica Reasons
2/12 – Aaron Wall
2/13 – Christa LeeVan
2/14 – Rich Naponelli
2/16 – Matt Abernathy
2/20 – Riley Koval
2/21 – Kara Primmer
2/23 – Heather Moriconi
2/24 – Shannon Longo
2/27 – Amy Schell
2/29 – Bill Kempf

Dear everyone,

It is my pleasure to welcome Tommy Chase to University Relations as a Regional Director of Development in the Southern Region.

Tommy is a 2013 Notre Dame Alum and monogram winner. As an undergrad, Tommy was captain of the Notre Dame baseball team and double majored in Accounting and Psychology. After graduating from Notre Dame, Tommy spent 7 years coaching baseball at the collegiate level, including roles at the University of Dayton and West Point among others. Tommy comes to us from Lippert where he was a Manufacturing Manager.

Tommy and his wife Teresa have four beautiful young children, David (4), Peter (2 and a half), Patrick (1) and Elizabeth (4 mos). In his free time, Tommy enjoys spending time with his wife and children, all things sports related and reading.

Please join me in welcoming Tommy Chase to University Relations!

Best,
Anne Overly

Congratulations to Kat Gardner and her husband Wills on the addition of a second son to their family! Robert “Bobby” Neuet Gardner, whose first and middle names are both in honor of beloved family members, came into the world at 7:52 a.m. on Tuesday, January 18th. Bobby was 20.5 inches long and weighed in at 7 lbs. and 5 ounces. Kat reports that Bobby, big brother Liam (almost 3), and parents are all doing well! Our best wishes to Kat and the entire Gardner family!

Cristi Ganyard
Stewardship & Donor Relations

Today we offer our prayers and condolences to Angel Hess and her family, following the passing of her father on Friday, January 28. Joseph Chamberlain of Mishawaka, Indiana was 86. A full obituary can be found here.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, February 2, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery with military honors by VFW 360 / American Legion 161 Burial Squad.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm on Tuesday at Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Pendle Home, 19303 Pendle Road, South Bend, IN 46637.

Team,

Melissa will be transitioning from her current role of Communication and Data Analyst in Gift Management to Gift and Biographic Analyst in Advancement Records. The Advancement Records team couldn’t be more excited to have Mel transition to the squad recognizing the incredible work she has done while in her role in Gift Management. Mel’s first day with the team will be February 1st however she will continue to ensure continuity in the acknowledgment and pledge reminder processes until a replacement for that role is found.

Welcome to the team Mel!

-Patty

Team,

Please join in congratulating Sara Munoz and Matt Futa and big brother Teddy as they welcome Charlotte Elaine Rose Futa! Charlotte arrived on January 24th at 10:01 am weighing 8lbs 4oz and is 20 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful!

-Stacy Koebel

It is my pleasure to welcome Patrick Charles to the Southwest team as a regional director of development. Patrick’s first day will be on January 24, and he will serve benefactors in southern California.

Since 2016, Patrick has been the co-founder of Wonderspaces, Inc., a company that creates immersive and interactive art experiences in Philadelphia, Scottsdale, and Austin. Prior to this, he was a senior innovation manager for TomorrowLab where he managed multiple consulting projects across multiple industries. He has also worked at Booz Allen Hamilton as an associate for supply-chain and logistics analytics. Patrick served our country in San Diego and Iraq in the Marine Corps as an operations planning and training officer, where he received an achievement award for managing the largest Marine Corps tactical communications network ever created.

Patrick graduated from the University of Scranton with a degree in Accounting, Peking University in Beijing with a certificate in business, Vlerick Business School in Brussels with his MBA, and finally, the University of Notre Dame with his Master of Science in Business Analytics. Patrick is originally from Pennsylvania but is going to be moving to South Bend in a few weeks from Phoenix, Arizona.

I am thrilled to welcome Patrick to the Notre Dame family and the Southwest team. Please join me in welcoming him to the UR team and thanking him for his service!

Shelby