Conference Chair

Kevin J. Heaney
Vice President, Constituent and Central Development Programs and Deputy Campaign Director
Oregon State University Foundation

Kevin Heaney is the vice president for constituent development programs and associate campaign director at the Oregon State University Foundation. He oversees the constituent-based development programs for the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Forestry, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Pharmacy, Science, and Veterinary Medicine, as well as the Linus Pauling Institute and the Oregon 4-H Leadership Development Program. In addition, he is part of the leadership team for OSU's first comprehensive campaign, "The Campaign for OSU: This Amazing Place, This Historic Moment."

Prior to joining the OSU Foundation, Heaney served in a variety of major gift and planned giving capacities at Georgetown University ("The Third Century Campaign"), Johns Hopkins University ("The Johns Hopkins Campaign: Knowledge for the World") and Harvard University ("The University Campaign").

He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati, a master's degree from Columbia University, and a juris doctorate from Boston College Law School.

Faculty

Mary Gresch
Principal
Mary Gresch & Associates

Mary Gresch serves as a consultant to universities on brand development, campaign communications and integrated marketing planning. The former associate vice president for strategic communications and marketing at Washington State University has enjoyed a 25-year career that has included work as a development officer, journalist and leader of marketing and communications.

Since opening her own practice in 2007, Gresch has specialized in using brand marketing to develop philanthropic cultures in higher education. Her consultancy deals with all aspects of communications leadership and management, including market research and message development, institutional brand marketing, fundraising communications and campaign planning, organizational and staff development, creative strategy and execution in all media, media relations and budget management. She is a frequent speaker on campaign and philanthropic communications strategy with CASE. Current clients include Oregon State University, Seattle University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Idaho, Rollins College and the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

Prior to her work in higher education, Gresch was the director of public relations and publications at the Cate School in Carpinteria, Calif., and a development coordinator for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She serves on the national advisory board for the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, journalism department, where she earned her bachelor's degree, and is an active volunteer advocate for public education and community philanthropy in Idaho.  

Beth Herman
Principal
EBH Consulting

I found development work fresh out of college (University of Washington 1984), when a wise soul saw how my high energy, fearless pursuit of goals, and love for exploring peoples' stories could suit me to solicit gifts and engage volunteers. I found my calling early and have spent a quarter of a century helping college and university leaders strategically build fundraising programs, develop advancement teams and volunteer boards, and conduct successful campaigns.

To serve my profession in new ways, in 2011 I earned certification as a personal and professional coach with Martha Beck, Inc. and Sounding Board Ink and now serve not-for-profit leaders facing challenge and change. EBH Consulting LLC helps high-achieving idealists find new ways to understand and manage themselves and others for optimal productivity. I help clients leverage strengths, set priorities, build major gift fundraising skills, and achieve bold goals. Training in positive psychology helps me engage the whole human, one client at a time. Deep advancement experience means I understand your world.

As an advancement team leader from 1985 to 2010, I helped these institutions build engagement and significantly increase total gift income (most recent listed first):

• Washington College, Chestertown MD, VP for advancement, 2004-10

• Franklin & Marshall College, vice president for advancement, 2003-04

• University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, associate VP for development, 1993-2003

• University of Washington College of Forest Resources, director of development, 1990-93

• University of Redlands, Redlands CA, director of annual giving, 1986-90

• Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma, WA, communications and annual giving director, 1985-6

While pursuing some personal goals:

• Frequent presenter, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE); Steuben Apple Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2001.

• Trainer for Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Institute for Charitable Giving, University of Maryland System, University of Colorado and Colorado College, many others

• Contributor, Effective Measures: The Return on Investing in Talent Management (CASE, 2012)

• CASE District VIII Board member and conference co-chair in the 1990s

• Award-winning essayist for EQUUS magazine

• Hunter/jumper equestrian, showjumping competitor

Monica Taylor
Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations
University of Delaware

Monica Taylor joined the University of Delaware as vice president for development and alumni relations in September of 2007. Previously, she served as executive director of external affairs of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, she was responsible for alumni relations programming worldwide for Wharton's undergraduate and graduate alumni and managed the operations for the Wharton School's Campaign for Sustained Leadership.

Taylor's prior work experience includes development positions for the University of Pennsylvania, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Georgetown University's alumni and university relations office. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds a law degree from the James E. Beasley School of Law at Temple University. Taylor is an active member of the Artisan's Bank Board of Directors.

Lisa Thomas
Assistant Vice President, Campaign
University of Washington

As Assistant Vice President, Campaign, Lisa is responsible for driving the planning for the University of Washington's third comprehensive capital campaign. Her work encompasses budget, timeline, priorities, plans, policies and operations, bringing together leadership across the University's centralized/decentralized advancement model.

Lisa has a long history at the University of Washington. During Campaign UW: Creating Futures (2000 - 2008), she served as a major gift fundraiser (2005-2010) and directed the University of Washington's prospect identification, research and relationship management efforts (2000 - 2005).

Proud to work for her alma mater, Lisa earned bachelor's degrees in sociology and communications and a master's degree in communication research during the Campaign for Washington (1987-1992).

CASE Crystal Apple award winner for excellence in teaching.