| Mary Kay Sherer Named Director of Development |
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Mary Kay Sherer and her staff are most
likely involved if it has anything to do with raising funds for
Wisconsin Public Radio:
Membership:
Staff members send out mailings to members, respond to members'
questions about their gifts, enter and
analyze membership data, and plan and oversee all on-air pledge
drives and volunteer services.
Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate development officers around the state
work with corporate donors to set up on-air recognition
announcements.
Major Gifts / Planned Giving: This team works with donors who wish to
contribute large amounts to Wisconsin Public Radio, or
contribute through a planned gift such as a bequest.
Audience Services: When you call 800-747-7444, you'll get quick
answers to your questions about programming.
Mary Kay Sherer was named director of
development for Wisconsin Public Radio in August. She now
oversees the staff and activities in our membership, corporate
sponsorship, major gifts, planned giving, and audience services
departments.
Previously Wendy Wink, who, last
December, was named executive director of the Wisconsin
Educational Communications Board, held the position.
Mary Kay had been serving as our
membership manager since 2002. Before joining Wisconsin
Public Radio she worked as a hospital fundraising and public
relations director, as development director at public radio
station WXPR / Rhinelander, and as an endangered resources
fundraising specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources.
Obviously her 20+ years of fundraising
experience will serve Wisconsin Public Radio well. "We
have tremendous potential to expand Wisconsin Public Radio's
service through increased donations," said Mary Kay.
"The areas of growth potential are most likely corporate
sponsorship and major/planned gifts, although we certainly hope
to see membership expand as well. It all starts with how many
people are listening, then how many become members. It
goes from there."
"Mary Kay has the ultimate 'can-do'
personality," said Dean Kallenbach, acting associate
director of Wisconsin Public Radio. "Present her with a
challenge, and she'll develop not only one solution, but two or
three alternatives as well. Mary Kay is a strong communicator,
both with her fellow supervisors and with her staff. That's
very important in leading the development department, as its
work reaches out into all areas of Wisconsin Public Radio's
operation."
Colleagues also praise Mary Kay for her
professionalism and enthusiasm. "She believes all of
us should work together and strive to raise the bar and jump
it," said Bonniejean Hutchison, manager of our
audience services department. Kathy Beringer, manager of
membership services, said Mary Kay is "very positive
and decisive. Mary Kay's philosophy is that everyone is a
potential member and everyone is an important member. From the
9XM Circle donors to the $10 per year giver, every member
plays a role in supporting Wisconsin Public Radio."
Jennifer Dargan, on-air
fundraising/volunteer manager, said, "Mary Kay uses
the phrase 'customer astonishment,' that's personal phone
calls, thank you letters, and other efforts to go above and
beyond what listeners and members expect."
Mary Kay is very optimistic about
her new job. "I feel I am in the right place at the
right time. I almost never feel pressure to raise $6 million
per year. I truly believe that people love our service and they
want to contribute what they can. Sometimes we simply need to
ask them," she said. "People are amazingly
generous when it comes to supporting something that is
important to them -- something that reflects their belief
in an educated and informed society."
Mary Kay feels confident because, she
says, her development staff "is incredibly talented
and dedicated. I marvel at my good fortune in being able to
work with them. Wisconsin Public Radio has a lot to offer, and
receives a lot in return. I feel very good about both sides of
that equation."