Brad Carlson, CFRE has 20 years of fundraising experience. In October 2007 he began his consulting firm, Brad Carlson & Associates, Ltd. He provides an interim development director service as well as counseling in the areas of annual development planning, planned gifts, major gifts, grant writing, direct mail, telemarketing, special events, and capital campaigns. Most recently Brad was the Chief Development Officer at Benedictine University, with a staff of nine. But he has been a "one-person development shop" at Horizons Community Services in Chicago and at Hephzibah Children`s Association in Oak Park. Brad also worked at the American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Chapter and at Easter Seals of DuPage and Fox Valley. Brad also worked in marketing management for four national brands. Brad`s education includes a master`s degree double majoring in marketing and finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Eileen Mullin-Gasteier is the Director of Development for New Leaders for New Schools, Chicago Program where she is responsible for raising nearly $1 Million annually. Eileen successfully manages partnerships with Corporations, Foundations and Individuals. Included in her development duties are management of a Board of Advisors, Volunteer Opportunities and Community Outreach. As a part of a small office, Eileen also contributes to policy and program overview. Prior to her role at New Leaders, Eileen served as Development Director at St. Joseph College Seminary at Loyola University Chicago for six years. All too familiar with one-person and small Development shops, Eileen has done it all, from data entry to donor cultivation and major event creation and delivery. She continues to hone her craft in an effort to spend each hour of the short week most effectively to reach fundraising goals.
Frank Podkul has been involved in Development work and Marketing strategies since 1985 helping to evolve these programs at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana. Following an 8 year run at Noll, he moved over to Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana where he started the school`s first professional Development office and directed the school`s first capital campaign, annual fund and institution of web based marketing and data management. In the summer of 2007, Frank accepted the position of Director of Development and Alumni Affairs at Elgin Academy in Elgin, Illinois. His primary responsibilites center on a capital campaign to fund a 40,000 square foot media, science and fine arts center, supervising all major events and developing the school`s first planned giving program.
