What was your career path that led you to your current position?

Senior year searching for jobs, I connected with the dir. of development for the Diocese of Tyler, a UD alum. After graduation, I immediately took over running the Bishop's Annual Appeal. I eventually was promoted to dir. of development for the Diocese. I oversaw all fundraising for the Church in East Texas and managed the Diocese's first major capital campaign, which has raised $18 million for seminarian and parish needs. During this time I also received my MBA.

I've since done consulting work for nonprofits and boutique medical practices. In addition, I've now taken on the exciting role of Dir. of Development/Communications for the Catholic Church in Park City, UT. Park City is regularly ranked as one of "America's Favorite Towns," home to some of the world's best skiing, held much of 2002 Winter Olympics, and hosts the Sundance Film Festival. My wife, daughters, and I are blessed to live by the oldest Catholic Church in Utah, off of Historic Main Street Park City.

What kind of credentials, education, training, prior experience are needed? Use the reading and critical thinking skills you received at UD to dive into marketing and fundraising content, as well as evolutionary psychology, biology, and sociology literature. Stand up straight and trust your gut...don't navel gaze. Intern in a sales position that forces you to "network," push your boundaries, and become comfortable with uncomfortable situations. Find mentors and constantly seek the advice of those successful, interesting figures you look up to...especially UD alumni. Get married and have kids. How was your major and/or your degree from UD related to your current work? In fundraising, you have to know how humans beings actually behave. Not how they should behave. Studying history provides you this incite. It's the discipline inside Plato's cave.

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