By Brance Arnold ’10 MA
Founded in the early 1970s by former university President Sr. Margaret Patrice Slattery, CCVI, UIW’s Development Board collaborates closely with the university’s Institutional Advancement staff. The board helps to generate and ensure the financial support necessary to provide quality education to students beyond tuition expenses.
Board members work with President Dr. Louis J. Agnese, Jr.; Vice President of Institutional Advancement Sr. Kathleen Coughlin, CCVI; and Director of Development Rose Mary Garcia in identifying and cultivating individuals, foundations and corporations in the community who are able to assist with addressing the university’s financial needs for operation, capital and endowment.
Pictured (L-R) Development Board
Members Frank Kudla, Marian Suarez,
and Scott Lammert.
The members actively participate in programs, activities and events sponsored by the Development Board. The Swing-In Auction Party and Golf Tournament, founded by Slattery in 1977 and the board’s largest annual fundraiser, includes a live and silent auction party and first-class golf tournament. Proceeds from the event benefit the UIW Scholarship Fund. Board members call upon their contacts in the community to secure auction items and sponsorships.
According to Garcia, the proceeds generated from Swing-In have a superlative effect on helping students to attend UIW.
“Last year the event raised over $319,000,” said Garcia. “The Development Board’s efforts are key to our ability to raise so much money from Swing-In. Without this annual infusion of funds, fewer students would be given access to a college education.”
Marian Suarez ’12 Ph.D., senior manager of training and development at NuStar Energy, has served as a board member for three years and is the current chair of the Swing-In Auction Party.
Development Board Member Paula Plofchan.
“We have several different ways people can contribute to our UIW fundraising efforts—they can buy silent auction items (there are items at every price level), they can buy a live auction big-ticket item, or they can buy a raffle ticket where, if they are the lucky winner, they get to pick one of five prizes, one being a trip to Paris,” said Suarez in reference to the auction party.
“There is always a fun theme,” continued Suarez. “Last year it was Carnival and this year is Swing-In Sock Hop. People dress up. There’s always terrific music, food and activities.”
Former chairperson and board member for six years Scott Lammert, executive vice president of Republic National Distributing Company, strongly believes access to obtaining a higher education allows individuals to reach their full potential and succeed in modern society; and this is at the heart of why members serve on the board.
“Serving on the board with the primary mission to help raise funds for scholarships allows me to be part of an organization to help individuals who may otherwise not have the opportunity to reach their potential,” said Lammert.
Pictured (L-R) Development Board Member
Gary Joeris and wife, Maria Antoinette.
Board members also attend and support campus events including fine arts programs, athletic events, and fashion shows such as the Cutting Edge Fiesta® Fashion Show. And to help “open the door” to their contacts in the community, the board hosts cultivation events throughout the year.
Another principle function of the Development Board is to help recruit individual and corporate donors to give at the Associate Level.
“They also help cultivate and steward Associates,” explained Garcia. “These are donors who make a gift to the annual fund of $1000 or more.”
Members of the board themselves contribute annually through a personal or corporate gift at the Associate Level or above per the criteria of their membership. The gifts assist UIW in realizing fundraising goals.
Development Board Member Donna Muslin.
In its full membership, the board consists of 50 members each of whom serve a three-year term. Members are eligible for reappointment after the completion of their term. Nominated by a committee selected by the chairperson of the Development Board, members are appointed by the UIW Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the Development Board. To ensure continuity, approximately one-third of membership is rotated every year.
Permanent committees were established in 1998 to better focus the board’s efforts. Currently, the committees consist of the Executive Committee, Friends, Nominations, Awards & Recognitions, Swing-In Golf Committee, Swing-In Auction Committee, and Communications & Outreach.
The board is made up of a variety of individuals, both distinguished business professionals and community volunteers. Alumni often become members as well and ten alumni currently serve on the board.
Suarez, who graduated from UIW in December, said the board reached out to her company for representation and, thus, provided her the opportunity to give back to her alma mater and her community.
“The CEO of my company was approached about having a representative from NuStar be on the board,” said Suarez. “I was asked since I was attending UIW at the time pursuing my Ph.D. in organizational leadership.”
“I knew firsthand the value of a UIW education and wanted to help raise money so that deserving students would be able to experience the wonderful learning community that is the University of the Incarnate Word,” shared Suarez.
A crucial function of the board is to act as a liaison in developing working relationships with the communities of San Antonio and South Texas from which it receives much of its student-base and support. The board, as well, advises the university administration in planning and executing programs and activities that may best serve these ever growing communities.
Pictured (L-R) Development Board Members
Dan Pedrotti Jr. and Robert Crosby.
“The board seeks to spread the word in the community about the uniqueness of the University of the Incarnate Word—what separates us from other San Antonio universities and why people should want to assist us in helping more students receive a UIW education,” said Suarez.
As for the future, Garcia said the board and Office of Development will continue to grow UIW’s fundraising success with both the Associates program and Swing-In.
“Our goals for 2013 are to secure 430 Associates and exceed the $319,000 we raised last year through Swing-In,” said Garcia.
As a board member, Lammert hopes for the Development Board to maintain its commitment to supporting the university and aide in the financial support to offer higher education to the future of tomorrow.
Be sure to join UIW for the 36th Annual Swing-In Auction Party & Golf Tournament. The auction party is scheduled for Thursday, May 2 in the McCombs Center Rosenberg Sky Room and the golf tournament will be held Friday, May 3 at The Republic Golf Course. For more information, contact the Office of Development at (210) 829-6013.
| 2012-2013 UIW Development Board | |
| Anta Kegley Deaton(Chair) | Kegley, Inc. |
| Melinda Andrew | Macy’s |
| Charles C. Andrews, Jr. | 4NAffairs |
| Lawrence S. Baker | Disability Services of the Southwest |
| Bryan Boeck | Republic National Distributing Company |
| Steve Braha | Fulcrum Property Group, Inc. |
| Todd R. Braulick | U.S. Trust/Bank of America |
| Teresa Cavallo | Corporate Travel Planners |
| Kate M. Crosby | Frost Bank |
| Robert C. Crosby | Wortham Insurance & Risk Management |
| Brian Crush | InGenesis, Inc. |
| Howard E. Davis, Jr. | Law Office of Howard E. Davis, PC |
| Mark DeHoyos | Silver Eagle Distributors |
| Gloria Steves Dilley | Steves & Sons |
| John W. Feik, Jr. | DPT Laboratories, LTD |
| Richard B. Fink | Community Volunteer |
| Mikel Fitzgerald | Wortham Insurance & Risk Management |
| Mary A. Hogan | Texas Center for Medical & Surgical Weight Loss |
| Gary L. Joeris | Joeris General Contractors, LTD |
| Yvonne Kall | RE/MAX Preferred |
| Tina Kahlig | Tina Kahlig & Associates |
| Mark L. Koshnick | Southwest Securities, FSB |
| Olga S. Kucerak | Crown Lending, Inc. |
| Frank M. Kudla, Jr. | FNK Ventures, LLC |
| Scott Lammert | Republic National Distributing Company |
| Steve Lipari | Central Montana Resources, LLC |
| Yvonne LaVaude | Transmed |
| Howard H. Lutz | Broadway National Bank |
| Dr. Kenneth Maverick | Focal Point Vision |
| Yobany J. Mayen | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
| Michael McChesney | McChesney Bianco Architecture |
| Renée McElhaney | Attorney |
| Bryon Miller | Miller Child Development Center |
| J. Scott Miller | Kercheville & Company |
| Donna Muslin | Muslin & Associates, Inc. |
| Daniel A. Pedrotti, Jr. | Foresight Golf, LLC |
| Paula Plofchan | Community Volunteer |
| David G. Pope | Broadway National Bank |
| Ricky Powers | Vanguard Resources, Inc. |
| Chris Purcell | Gilead Sciences |
| James D. Rosenblatt | The Rosenblatt Law Firm |
| Jill Rosenthal | Community Volunteer |
| Aaron Seaman | SWBC |
| Richard W. Smith, Jr. | Chapman Schewe Benefits Consulting |
| Dr. James W. Speights | Ophthalmologist |
| Laura Speights | Speights Law Firm, LLP |
| Daniel T. Straus | Business Development |
| Marian Suarez | NuStar Energy |
| Roland A. Treviño | Los Barrios/LaHacienda De Los Barrios & Violas Ventanas Restaurant |
| Martha West | Instructional Services for Educators |
| Linda L. Woods | Marketing Consultant |
| Jeff Zimmerman | KWEX-TV, Univision Communications |
