LET US INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS!

	C. Eugene Musser - President and Chief Executive Officer Since joining Kirby-Smith Associates in 1991, Mr. Musser has become President and Chief Executive Officer of Kirby-Smith Associates. In his capacity as president, he oversees all corporate administration and staff development, as well as Campaign Development and Marketing. Kirby-Smith Associates and its affiliates provide Christian client services that assist churches, schools, and organizations to achieve their financial goals within the context of Christian stewardship. Mr. Musser graduated from Millersville State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics with an emphasis in business management and finance. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in his senior year of college. Upon commissioning, he attended flight school and transferred to the Air Force Reserve. As a reserve officer, Mr. Musser has served with units in Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and Maryland. He has completed a variety of senior level officer’s schools and has extensive graduate level work equivalent to a master’s degree. As an officer and commander, Mr. Musser has provided logistical assistance with various humanitarian efforts throughout the world, including numerous hurricane relief efforts in the United States. Mr. Musser completed 28 years of military service, retiring from the Air Force Reserve in May of 2007 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Musser was employed by the Junior Achievement organization for ten years where he served as Chief Executive Officer for three major metropolitan areas in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. His ten years of experience within a non-profit organization eventually led to a personal calling to dedicate his expertise exclusively to the Christian community. Throughout his career, Mr. Musser has worked with senior level boards and has been instrumental in the recruiting and training of executive staff and volunteers. Mr. Musser is often called upon to speak on a variety of stewardship and fund-raising topics throughout the country. He has written extensively on stewardship and conducting capitals campaigns within the Christian community.
	Dale Bateman - Executive Vice President Mr. Bateman is Executive Vice President of Kirby-Smith Associates, a company founded in 1938 as a Ministry of Church Finance. In this capacity he is responsible for capital, budget, and debt reduction campaigns, along with stewardship development programs. Mr. Bateman is a graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. He has received advanced certification in organizational management, fund-raising, individual major gift-giving, non-profit management, board of director development, strategic planning and telemarketing. Mr. Bateman is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve and is the Commander of the 69th Aerial Port Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
	Dr. Jay Campbell - Vice President Dr. Jay Campbell joined Kirby-Smith Associates after serving as Director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. As Director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, his main responsibilities were developing a diocesan-wide comprehensive stewardship program, cultivating and nurturing best relationships with current and potential donors of major gifts, administering the Diocesan Millennium Capital Campaign, establishing the return of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, developing and directing a comprehensive planned giving program, and master planning to determine the locations, time frames, and funding mechanisms required to fully realize the physical presence of the Church through new parishes and schools. Dr. Campbell’s first profession was Dentistry. His second was Financial Planning Services. However, God had yet another career planned. After serving as a volunteer for his local parish, St. Peter Catholic Church in Monument Colorado, his success with Stewardship education and fund-raising impressed the Bishop of Colorado Springs sufficiently to extend an invitation to do the same for the Diocese. Bishop Hanifen said “Getting money out of people is like pulling teeth, so I hire a dentist.” The tongue in cheek humor of Bishop Hanifen aside, Dr. Campbell’s professional skills in donor relations, individual major gift solicitation, strategic planning, planned giving, and “grass roots” communications has served the Church’s ministry well.
	José De Jesús - President, Millennium Consulting Kirby-Smith Associates is pleased to partner with and welcomes Mr. José De Jesús to our Ministry of Church Finance team. After 15 years of service to literally hundreds of Catholic churches throughout the United States and abroad, José, under the advisement of various mentors and church leaders, has decided to continue his vocation of excellence and service with the founding of Millennium Consulting. Today, more than ever, the spiritual message of stewardship as a way of life, coupled with the practical know-how and experience of strategic planning, vision development, and solid fund-raising, is vital to the growth and vitality of our parishes into the future. José grew up in Brooklyn, New York and has served in many facets of ministry from music to catechesis and evangelization. He has worked with and has a full understanding of various fund-raising models. He has served and spoken at many stewardship conferences throughout the United States, including the International Catholic Stewardship Conference. He has conducted successful major diocesan capital campaigns as an executive director and served the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida as the Director of Stewardship for 4 years. He is fully bilingual, has a great understanding and a vast amount of experience working with many of the various Hispanic cultures throughout the United States. Millennium Consulting is strategically located and staffed to provide service to the Connecticut, greater New York, and New Jersey areas. Kirby-Smith Associates is excited to have developed this strong partnership with Millennium Consulting and hopes that your parish or diocesan team will consider the full range of services for vision development, feasibility studies, stewardship and capital campaigns, leadership development, and strategic planning.
	Rev. Dennis Emrick - Vice President Mr. Emrick brings to Kirby-Smith Associates, and its clients, extensive experience in stewardship ministry. Since 1969, Denny, an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, has served the church in Eastern Pennsylvania. He began his ministry in rural Lancaster County, and has served churches in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region, the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, as well as in suburban Philadelphia. He has served in rural, resort, and small city settings. From 1980 to 1984, he served as Director of Camps and Conferences for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Mr. Emrick has training in Stewardship Development at the local church level, church planting, tele-evangelism, and church redevelopment. In 1995, Mr. Emrick left full-time parish ministry to found Millennium Resourcing, a Capital Stewardship Campaign consulting firm through which he ministered for 10 years. He has conducted Annual and Capital Campaigns in a diverse group of congregations throughout the Northeast, and in Minnesota and St. Louis. He has worked in Lutheran, Baptist, and United Methodist Churches. He is the author of several articles on stewardship, and has conducted many seminars on stewardship development in local churches.
	Rev. Karl T. Frick - Director of Ministry Development and Staff Training Mr. Frick studied at Prairie Bible College in Alberta, Canada and at Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Oregon, to earn a Bachelor of Theology Degree (Th.B.), a five-year program. Additionally, he has studied by extension toward a Th.M. in Theology and Inter- Personal Relationships. He began active Pastoral Ministry in the Fall of 1960, was ordained in July of 1961, and served pastorates in Nevada, California, and Pennsylvania for a total of thirty years. One third of these years involved Church Planting Ministry. Mr. Frick joined Kirby-Smith Associates in January of 1989. Since then, he has served on more than 187 campaigns (capital and budget). In addition to conducting campaigns, he has worked in marketing and advertising, made Presentations to churches, led Orientation Meetings, Follow-up Training, Stewardship Seminars, Feasibility Studies, served as a Keynote Speaker and as company representative at Congregational Meetings. He continues to direct campaigns, oversees the ministry emphasis of Kirby-Smith Associates, as well as interviewing, hiring, and training of the visitors and directors.
	John D. Kavanagh - Vice President Mr. Kavanagh, a native of New York City, earned a bachelor of Civil Engineering from Marquette University and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy upon graduation. He served four years as a Line Officer in the Cruiser-Destroyer Forces of both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Upon release from active duty, Mr. Kavanagh embarked upon a management career that spanned more than thirty years with two Pennsylvania Fortune 500 corporations. Over the years, Mr. Kavanagh has held a variety of senior executive positions responsible for general management, sales, marketing, planning, advertising, and public relations. Mr. Kavanagh also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
	Rev. Jeffrey Knauer - Senior Vice President Mr. Knauer is a Vice President with Kirby-Smith Associates, having been certified as a Campaign Account Executive, as well as a Campaign Director. He is familiar with the flow of a Capital Funds Campaign from start to finish. Mr. Knauer spent 22 years in pastoral ministry, serving churches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where he completed two major building programs, extensive renovations to a second facility, and the raising of more than $3 million in preparation for a third building project. Mr. Knauer has been involved in raising more than $1 million dollars for Missions through the churches he has pastored. Mr. Knauer’s broad pastoral background has equipped him for his work with Kirby-Smith Associates. He is familiar with assisting pastors, communicating clearly with Boards, and understanding the dynamics of church congregations and communities. He has taken projects from the point of conception to the day of completion.
	John McLaughlin - Senior Vice President Mr. McLaughlin is a product of 16 years of Catholic education, from Philadelphia Catholic schools through the University of Notre Dame. After 20 years as owner of a successful sales & marketing firm, Mr. McLaughlin received a M.Ed. degree in storytelling and brought story- telling to classrooms, boardrooms, and congregations. He authored two diocesan-wide long-range plans and chaired a diocesan capital campaign that raised more than $37 million. He knows the importance of making the best decision for one’s church or diocese and the inherent trust placed in counsel. In 2001, John received the papal cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for his many years of service to the church. He brings a unique perspective to his position of Senior Vice President of Kirby-Smith based on more than 25 years of experience in Catholic schools governance as chair of parish and diocesan school boards, and task forces in his home diocese of St. Augustine, Florida.
	Chuck Petruska - Vice President Born in Troy, New York, Mr. Petruska graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1968, and served with distinction in the US Army, Field Artillery, for eight years, including five years of small unit command. In the business arena, he focused on the Transportation and Distribution field, with successes in Operations, Sales Management, and Safety, before finding a passion for Human Resources. In 1987, a prior CEO with whom he worked sought him to serve as Director of Human Resources for a growing third-party logistics company, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1994, he received recognition as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, a certification he retains today. In 1995, Mr. Petruska left the corporate world to pursue his own business as a Consultant, assisting individuals and small businesses in maximizing their potential. He has been a lay leader with San José Catholic Church since their arrival in Jacksonville and has been active in several ministries, to include the Knights of Columbus, RCIA, service as a Lector, and the Stewardship Committee. His commitment to the life of a servant and as a steward of the blessings God has given him led to his decision to join Kirby-Smith Associates.
	Joseph W. Purka - Vice President Mr. Purka joined Kirby-Smith Associates as Vice President after seven years as campaign communications director for multi-million dollar fund-raising campaigns, including the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC and Rutgers University in New Jersey. Prior, he served in the Air Force for more than 28 years, primarily as a public affairs officer, directing news media relations, employee communications, and community relations. He retired as a Colonel in 1996 to begin a new career in fund-raising. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and graduated from the Air Force’s Air War College. Mr. Purka brings more than 35 years of experience in strategic and marketing communications, public relations, crisis communications, and image management to Kirby-Smith Associates. His diverse communications background includes higher education, fund-raising, government, and industry.
	Rev. Thomas C. Davis-Shappell - Vice President Mr. Davis-Shappell is a graduate of Messiah College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Studies and a Pennsylvania Secondary Education Certification. As an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, he has served twenty-seven years in both church ministry and various extension ministries. Mr. Davis-Shappell pastored four churches in ministry. He also chaired the Jacob Albright District Board of Church Location and Building. He has done extensive and concentrated work in vision casting, team building, and church growth. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President at Kirby-Smith Associates. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading capital, budget, and debt reduction campaigns and stewardship development programs.
	Ann Marie Shaw - Senior Vice President Mrs. Shaw is a graduate of Emmanuel Bible College. In preparation for ministry, she completed a variety of educational courses related to the ministry of church administration. She did her Clinical Pastoral Education at Lancaster General Hospital. Mrs. Shaw completed ordination requirements and is a licensed minister in the Brethren in Christ Church, having served twenty- five years in Congregational and Denominational Ministries. Currently, Ann Marie is in the full-time employ of Kirby-Smith Associates as Director of Campaign Services. Her responsibilities include on-site campaign leadership and servicing, representing and marketing Kirby-Smith at campaign receptions, staff training, conducting feasibility studies, and making presentations.
	Charles J. Slimowicz - Vice President Mr. Chas Slimowicz is a Vice President of Kirby-Smith Associates. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut, Master of Arts in Social Science from American International College, and a Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. His background includes twenty-three years of distinguished service in the United States Army. Upon retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel, Chas worked in management serving as the Director of Admissions for a private, technical school and later as the Director of Operations for a private restaurant chain in the Baltimore area. For the past five years, Chas has been the Director of Development for St. Margaret Church and School in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. As Director of Development, he managed a church’s Stewardship and Planned Giving, Pastoral Planning, Tuition Assistance and Communications programs, its capital and endowment campaigns, and its school’s fund-raising program, grant writing efforts, strategic planning process, and start-up of its annual fund. His five years of development experience in a non-profit religious organization led to a personal calling to dedicate his expertise exclusively to the Ministry of Church and School Finance in the Christian community. He is a member of the Association of Fund-raising Professionals and the Chesapeake Planned Giving Committee.
	William J. Sutton - Vice President Mr. Sutton is Vice President of Kirby-Smith Associates, a company founded in 1938 as a Ministry of Church Finance. In this capacity, Mr. Sutton is responsible for capital, budget, and debt reduction campaigns, along with stewardship development programs. A native of Illinois, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics from the Wisconsin State University System at Platteville, Wisconsin in 1967 and a Master’s Degree in Economics from the Northern Illinois University in 1971. His career includes working at several colleges and community colleges, both public and private, since 1972. In December of 1982, Mr. Sutton came to Kutztown University as the Executive Director of the Kutztown University Foundation and became the first full-time director and employee of the Foundation. In 1988, a new division called the University Advancement was created and was asked to serve as the Interim Vice President for Advancement, which included the areas of the Foundation, Admissions, Public Relations, Cultural Affairs, and Development. He was appointed Vice President in 1989. In the 24 years that Mr. Sutton was at Kutztown University, the university saw much growth and expansion occur. The Kutztown University Foundation has been among the leaders in the State System in terms of innovative activities and growth. Mr. Sutton also served as the senior development officer within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and served as President of the statewide Vice President of Advancement Association.
	William Venditta - Vice President With a broad range of knowledge and expertise in planning, coordinating, and directing major fund-raising projects for the American Cancer Society, as well as significant non-profit board development, marketing, and management experience as the former Executive Director of Fair Hill International, Inc., Mr. Venditta brings a unique combination of fund-raising and management skills with intimate ties and knowledge of his Catholic Archdiocese, to his position as Senior Vice President at Kirby-Smith Associates. Mr. Venditta is a graduate of St. Bernard College, Cullman, Alabama, and St. Charles Boromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Philadelphia, with a Master of Arts Degree in Religious Studies. Before embarking on his current pursuits, he completed 20 years within the secondary school system of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as a former Theology Teacher, Department Chair, Guidance Director, and Director of Development. Throughout his career, Mr. Venditta has helped individuals and organizations achieve their dreams and visions.
	Cathy Welk - Director of Administration Miss Welk has been with Kirby-Smith Associates since 1987. As Director of Administration, she is responsible for overseeing the marketing and campaign support of the Home Office to include both the clerical and graphic departments. She is actively involved in her church and supports the message of Stewardship-giving sacrificially of one's time, talent, and treasure.
	George Whalen - Vice President George Whalen, Vice President of Kirby-Smith Associates, is honored to partner with the most experienced and most successful, fund-raising company whose ministry of Church Finance was founded in 1938. Mr. Whalen has decades of dedicated service to building up non-profit organizations, as well as experience raising millions of dollars to develop fiscally sound Church ministries. He has been blessed to minister in behalf of Maryknoll Missionaries, the Jesuit Volunteer Corp: NW and the Diocese of Colorado Springs. He is currently an active member of his parish serving as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Parish Council for the past 10 years. George Whalen has been educated in the Vatican II Spirit of embracing the goodness of all. He has a Masters Degree in Religious Ed., is a skilled fund-raiser, pubic speaker and administrator with a focus on collaborative ministry. Mr. Whalen and his wife, Mary, reside in Carson City, NV.
	Paula Cargill — Marketing Manager / Conference Coordinator Lynn Duncan — Campaign Administrator / Graphic Artist Pat LeFever — Executive Assistant Donna Musser — Corp. Sec. / Human Resources Jim Stewart — Financial Manager

Back