PhilanthroTourism

James P. LaRose, CFRE: Co-Founder, NDI

James P. LaRose, CFRE known around the world as Jimmy LaRose the “Fundraiser's Fundraiser” continues to transform nonprofit executives tasked with raising money in a tumultuous 21st Century economy. His passion for the nonprofit sector is without bounds and his love for individuals who serve it is unparalleled. Jimmy's heroes are those men and women of the charitable world who lay down their lives daily for the hurting and the hopeless. He has spent the last twenty years supporting leaders who spend themselves in service to others. He is the founder of Development Systems International, The National Development Institute, and Jimmy LaRose.Com. He’s served as the President of both the Association of Christian Development Professionals (ACDP) and as the founding President of the Western Maryland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). He holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification, and is a graduate of Indiana University's Executive Leadership Institute and Faculty Training Academy, Indianapolis, IN, the National Planned Giving Institute, Memphis, TN, Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, TN, and Word Of Life Bible Institute, Schroon Lake, NY. Jimmy and his wife, Dianne make their home in Columbia, SC where they spend much of their time with friends and family in worship and service at Central Assembly of God Church.

Wesley A. Rediger, Ed.D: Co-Founder, NDI

Wesley, author of the “Perfect Capital Campaign” concept and co-founder of the National Development Institute entered Jimmy's life in 1996 and became his greatest influence. Jimmy is fond of sharing with audiences, “Wesley's knowledge of development is without bounds...he's challenged everything I believe about the raising of money." Having traveled the world together, they now sow their vast experience into a new generation of development officers, challenging them to “get out of themselves, find a need, and meet it.” Wesley Rediger has more than twenty years of professional experience in higher education including ten years as chief student development officer and six years as vice president for development. Dr. Rediger has comprehensive experience in all aspects of advancement including fund-raising, public relations, alumni, parent and community relations, current fund and campaign leadership. During Dr. Rediger’s tenure as vice president for development at Huntington College, the number of annual fund donors and gift income increased more than 30%. He directed a comprehensive campaign for current funds, scholarships, and endowment, including deferred gifts, which generated $4.3 million against a goal of $4 million. Dr. Rediger has also served as a development auditor for the Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities. Dr. Rediger holds a B.A. from Taylor University, an M.A. in Student Personnel Administration and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Ball State University. He holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive certification from NSFRE. He is also certified to administer, score and interpret the Myers Briggs Type Indicator which he has used widely in management training and team building seminars.

Ann E. Akerman: NDI President

Ann Akerman has 20 years of experience in the area of nonprofit service deliverables and nonprofit management. Ann began her service in 1986 with the American Red Cross where she served as a Blood Donor Recruiter. In 1988, at the age of 25, Ann was appointed as the Executive Director of a local grassroots nonprofit organization where she served for seven years. Following her tenure as the E.D. of that organization, Ann was appointed as the E.D. of a statewide organization where she served more than 40 local member organizations. Ann subsequently moved to California where she was named the Executive Director of a newly formed nonprofit organization that would, under her leadership, open and operate the largest domestic violence transitional shelter in the State of California. After serving more than three years in this position, Ann returned to South Carolina where she was named the Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia; a position she has held for six years. During the 20 years of service in the area of community service, Ann has raised more than 6 million dollars, including a 1 million dollar grant award, the first of its kind under a new program administered by the State of California. Ann is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She was awarded a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Southern California and a Certificate in Grant Writing from the National Grantsmanship Center. Additionally, Ann has received professional training in the areas of Human Resources, Board Governance, Board Development, Public Relations and Marketing. Ann is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the National Association of Female Executives. Ann has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Central South Carolina Association of Fundraising Professionals for four years. Ann was awarded the Fundraising Executive of the Year Award in 2006 from the Central South Carolina Chapter of Association of Fundraising Executives.

Honnie Korngold: Christian Travel Finder Founder and President

Honnie Korngold has nearly 20 years experience developing highly successful travel programs for Christian ministries and the travel industry. Honnie has been recognized by national media for her innovative approach to Christian events and faith-based travel programs, and has been featured in TIME Magazine, USA Today, The CBS Early Show, Los Angeles Times, Travel Weekly, and TBN. Honnie is also the host of “Travel with Spirit” on Salem's WTLN Orlando; a 30-minute radio program that features faith-based, family-friendly travel options. As Director with the Conference Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ for nearly 10 years, Honnie was involved in marketing, developing, and overseeing nearly 6,000 Christian events. She has authored articles and lectured on the topics of faith-based travel and events. Honnie also serves as co-founder and Vice-President of the World Religious Travel Association. Her strategic approach to building a business is reflected in her work as founder and President of Christian Travel Finder, a unique and innovative California-based travel company specializing in Christian cruises and travel events. ChristianTravelFinder.com is the leading company and Internet resource specifically geared to providing Christian travel products and services to both consumers and travel agents. Included among these are the specialized Christian themed cruises and charters, faith-based land tours and specialty tours such as Cruise with a Cause™ and Smooth Praise® Cruise.

Jerry Grimes: NDI Moderator

Jerry Grimes is passionate about many things: Marketing, good cooking, his family, church planting and radio...but not necessarily in that order! Since July of 2005, Jerry has served as our General Manager. He came to WMHK in 2001 as Director of Marketing & Outreach having spent nearly 20 years in marketing and media management, including several years as Director of Audience Development for WIS-TV, Channel 10. Jerry is a graduate of CIU, having earned the Masters of Leadership, Evangelism and Discipleship degree from the seminary. In addition to his duties at WMHK, Jerry serves as a coach for church planters and a church marketing consultant. He lives in Northeast Columbia with his wife, Lisa, a software support engineer for Indus International The couple's two grown sons also live in the area. Jerry grew up on a small farm near Indianapolis as the youngest of five children. He was the first in his family to come to Christ in his family, at age 11.

Rachelle Bussell, CFRE: NDI Faculty

Rachelle Chaney has over 17 years of experience in nonprofit development and consulting. Her career includes three years Executive Director in health care administration, four years as vice-president for development for a private school, and the last seven years as a founding principal in a full service consulting firm for non-profits. Rachelle’s extensive development career includes start-up operations for development, current and capital campaigns, phonathons, endowments, estate planning, golf tournaments, special events, public relations, direct mail, marketing, and publications. She has conducted development and admission audits, feasibility studies, and board and staff workshops. She serves on the Board of the Association ofFundraising Professionals, and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation from CFRE. Rachelle holds a B.A., General and Experimental Psychology and a A.D.N. in Nursing from Midlands’ Technical College.

Charlotte L. Berry: NDI Guest Speaker

Charlotte Lunsford Berry, who has received numerous local and national awards, spent the late 1980s traveling the world as the National Chairwoman of Volunteers of the American Red Cross, supervising and planning activities for 1.8 million volunteers. Her interest in the 1990s focused on the motivation and education of boards and groups to provide more meaningful involvement of volunteers. Today, she continues as a local volunteer as well as an active leader nationally. Berry is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va., and did post-graduate study at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She is the founding chairwoman of the National Museum Committee (History and Education Center) of the American Red Cross. She serves on the boards of dozens of community organizations, including the Palmetto Health Foundation, Junior Achievement of Central South Carolina, Girl Scouts of the Congaree Area, South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, the College of Charleston, Carolina National Bank, Volunteers of America of the Carolinas Inc. and the United Way of America, for which she serves as chair of Planned Giving. She received the Order of the Palmetto in 2002 from then-S.C. Gov. Jim Hodges, and in 2004 received the Cooperative Ministry Outstanding Community Service Award.

Louise R. Slater: NDI Guest Speaker

Louise began her work in 1979 in the training and development industry through internships with Milliken and Company and J.P. Stevens & Co., both textile manufacturers in South Carolina. After receiving her master’s degree in industrial phychology, Louise joined Wilson Learning in 1981 as a performance consultant. While a performance consultant, Louise developed and taught courses for DuPont, AT&T, John Deere, General Mills, Amtrak, and Raytheon Aircraft. Louise worked in both union and non-union plants for Sonoco. Louise’s current activities include teaching a supervisory course at the University of South Carolina (USC) that she has been teaching for over 8 years. This workshop includes supervisors from companies throughout the Southeast, primarily manufacturing. She also teaches “in-house” workshops for USC for clients such as Alcatel, Toyota, Fuji, and Piggly Wiggly. Since 1997, Louise has been chairman of the board of a family owned steel fabricating company headquartered in Columbia, SC. Louise is past chair of the South Carolina State Museum Foundation, volunteers regularly at her church, and past secretary of EdVenture Children’s Museum Board. One of her passions is her volunteer work with incarcerated youth at the S.C. Dept. of Juvenile Justice. She is a member of three committees (VECTOR, Friends of Dept of Juvenile Justice and the Dept of Juvenile Justice Advocacy Committee) organized to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, alleviate and prevent juvenile delinquency through “after school centers”, and advocate for positive changes in the juvenile justice process.