Kelly Everett New VP for Institutional Advancement

Article Body: 01/04/2008
(November 8, 2007) – Graceland President John Sellars announced today that Kelly Everett will become Vice President for Institutional Advancement effective November 15. “We are so fortunate to have someone with Kelly’s background and skills,” according to President Sellars. “It is important to build solid relationships with donors and Kelly possesses that rare talent. To have Kelly here, with that kind of ability, is a real blessing.”

Kelly has been interim VP for Institutional Advancement for more than a year. He joined the development team at Graceland in 1998 after a successful career in sales. About the work he does at Graceland, Kelly said, “I build true, heartfelt friendships with donors and provide them opportunities to give gifts because they know what significant impacts those gifts will make.” Kelly added, “I make sure donors know, ‘I made a gift and it made a real difference here at Graceland.’”

Kelly, a 1977 Graceland graduate, and his wife Tammy Ewing Everett, a 1979 GU graduate, reside in Lamoni. Tammy is an Assistant Professor of Education at Graceland. They are members of the Community of Christ Lamoni Congregation. Kelly is also a VP with the Lamoni chapter of Lions Club International. They have three children, Liz Everett Lloyd, of Lamoni, Jake, of Chicago, and Jennifer, also of Chicago. All are Graceland graduates.

President Sellars also announced that Associate Director of Development Todd Sturgis will become Director of Development, also effective November 15. Todd, a 1991 Graceland graduate, has worked in development at Graceland since 2002. He and his wife Joy and four-year-old son Blake, reside in Liberty Lake, Washington. Joy is expecting a baby in February 2008. “I am excited about the challenges, and excited about the future of Graceland,” Todd said. “And, that future is very bright. I am looking forward to being a part of that.” Todd will continue working from Washington and look toward transitioning back to Lamoni. Todd is the son of Larry and Mary Lou Sturgis of Lamoni.

President Sellars additionally announced that Associate Director of Development Rick Isham will become Director of Development for the Independence and Kansas City area. Rick will concentrate on fundraising for our Schools of Nursing and Education, our Seminary and the Center for the Study of the Korean War, all located at our Independence Campus. Rick has worked in development for Graceland since 2004. He and his wife Sandy King Isham are both 1982 Graceland graduates and they reside in Leawood, Kansas. They have two boys, Austin, a senior at Graceland, and Collin, a freshman at Graceland. Rick said, “There are so many possibilities for the Independence Campus. The potential for my work in the Kansas City area is limitless.”

President Sellars said, “Todd and Rick represent a combination of great, young talent. They will provide Kelly with the freedom to be out traveling, talking with donors, doing what he does so well.” And Kelly said, “Both Todd and Rick have a wealth of experience. We are breaking fundraising records right now and with this new team, our best years lie ahead of us.”

In closing, President Sellars added this concerning his choice for Vice President for Institutional Advancement, “Kelly has the gift of sincerity. Out of that comes genuineness and credibility. At the end of the day, that’s what determines a great program.”

Contact: Randy Meline 641.784.5213
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