Prior to founding The Hodge Group, Russ held political fund-raising staff positions in two gubernatorial campaigns in Missouri and Nebraska. In addition, he has served as a consultant on a third gubernatorial campaign and one presidential campaign as well as serving as the deputy director of the Ohio Republican Finance Committee. Russ' vast array of resources and solid-networking abilities has earned him a nationally recognized track record in the fundraising arena.

Professional and Personal Achievements

Provided leadership for approximately 30 campaigns with goals that ranged from $20 million to $50 million

Recruited, trained and hired more than 25 senior development officers for a wide variety of organizations

Recruited and trained development professionals for Hodge, Cramer & Associates

Successfully directed the completion of grants to most national foundations

One of the youngest Americans to successfully climb Mount McKinley

Has completed two marathons

Select Project Experience

2nd & Main Limited – Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton Ohio - $50,000,000

Big Brothers Big Sister, Columbus Ohio - $3,000,000

Bentonville Public Library, Bentonville Arkansas – $6,000,000

Des Moines Public Library - $20,000.00

First Community Church, Upper Arlington Ohio - $5,000,000

Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio – $25,000,000

Recreation Unlimited, Ashley Ohio - $7,000,000

Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio - $13,000,000

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Toledo Ohio - $5,000,000

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Summa Cum Laude
Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri

Professional Designations and Affiliations

Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) since 1996
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
Named as a member for the U.S. State Department Delegation to Slovenia NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations)

Recent Speaking / Conference Engagements

Institutions Leadership Changes – CRD Regional Conference (Orlando, Florida)

Back to the Future for Ohio Libraries & Philanthropy – Mid-Ohio Regional Library Organization Annual Conference (New Philadelphia, Ohio)

Annual Fund Basics – ALDE National Conference (Irvine, California)

Tearing Down the Walls: Managing a Small to Moderate Size Development Office Without Barriers – ALDE National Conference (Irvine, California)

That Will Work Here – How to Fund Development Principles for the Continuum of Care – AOPHA Annual Conference (Columbus, Ohio)

The Art of a Capital Campaign – National Philanthropy Day (Columbus, Ohio)

Why Serious Philanthropists Support Community Colleges – League for Innovation Annual Conference (San Francisco, California)

It's Not a One-Way Street – Donor Recognition & Stewardship – How to Make & Keep Friends – Boys & Girls Club National Conference (San Antonio, Texas)

Fast Track to Fund Raising Success for New Campus CEO's – League for Innovation Annual Conference (New York, New York)

Personal

Married, residing in Dublin Ohio with 21-year old daughter. Enjoys golf and trap and skeet shooting.

Curt started his fund-raising career as a partner with The Suddes Group where he managed campaigns for Chambers of Commerce and regional economic development organizations (EDC’s). He continued his work as a partner for Capital Funding Strategies which merged with Resource Development Group. Curt learned the art of not-for-profit consulting with Hodge, Cramer and Associates where he was the team leader and/or consulting team for 29 projects/campaigns. He also worked at the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University as Director of Development where he helped fund a $500,000 scholarship in the name of a former school director.

Curt has trained hundreds of volunteers to complete solicitations for capital campaigns.

His professional background includes sales, marketing and lobbying.

Curt attended The Ohio State University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Communication from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.

He resides in Columbus with his wife, Jean, and their two daughters.

Steve was also founder and Managing Director of William Lane LLC, a nonprofit resource group providing capital formation, board development, strategic planning and operational assessment services to foundations, healthcare, higher education and faith-based organizations. Steve has also served in various executive positions in healthcare, retail, technology and service organizations throughout his 30-year career.

Select philanthropic projects include:

Rotary Club, Bentonville/Bella Vista, AR - $300,000 historic auditorium renovation

First Baptist Church, Bentonville, AR - $3 million children’s education building

Bates Medical Center, Bentonville, AR - $2 million surgical suite expansion

Fellowship Bible Church NWA, Rogers, AR - $14 million, 4-building campus expansion

Other professional accomplishments:

Founding member of Ouachita Student Foundation

Founding chairman of Bates Health Foundation, responsible for Executive Director search, board formation and raising $1 million in first year

Past Chairman and Director, respectively, of Arkansas and Missouri Quality Award governing bodies (Baldrige Quality Award, US Dept. of Commerce)

Steve is also a writer and speaker and is published as a participant in the 2005 White House Conference on Aging Solutions Forum, Elder Caregiving: A Renewed Faith-Based Emphasis.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Ouachita Baptist University.

He resides in Little Rock, AR with his wife Penny and they have two adult children.

As Director of Government and Public Affairs for the American Payroll Association, a $20 million, 22,000-plus member, national nonprofit organization with over 120 local chapters, Ms. Kelley received the American Society of Association Executive's Award of Excellence in Public Relations for “National Payroll Week,” a multi-media campaign reaching over 20 million.

Carolyn was honored by Presidents George H. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton for contributions to simplifying the U.S. tax administration system across more than 4,000 federal, state and local jurisdictions by invitations to the White House's Rose Garden and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Cash Room, respectively.

Ms. Kelley has led two organizations as Executive Director, the National Technical Services Association, Alexandria, VA, and The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc.

She has testified before the United States Senate and House of Representatives on such major federal legislation as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), provisions of numerous tax and appropriation bills and President Clinton's health care proposals.

Carolyn's work has been covered in various news media, including C-SPAN, WNBC New York, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, CEO Magazine, The San Antonio Express News, La Prensa, Rumbo, Conexion, Texas Public Radio and various trade publications, including The Journal of Taxation and Executive Management Forum, published by the American Society of Association Executives.

Among other community involvements, Ms. Kelley was a founding member of Women for Economic Leadership Development in Columbus, OH and Chair of the Tobin Hill Neighborhood Plan Team. She is currently President of the Tobin Hill Community Association, a member of the San Antonio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and a member of the United Way's Children's Issue Council.

Carolyn received her Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism from New York University and has been life-long learning ever since.

When not working, Carolyn can be found working in her garden, restoring her 1920s cottage in Tobin Hill, reading, cooking for friends, or traveling.

Her extensive experience in planning library facilities include the $33 million new Central library building in Des Moines, $6 million renovation/additions for 4 branch libraries in Des Moines and $1 million renovation of a Special Collections/Genealogy Department at the main Library and the design of a Branch Library in Davenport. Kay served as President of the Public Library Association in 2000.

Kay has been a guest lecturer at the University of Iowa Library School and serves on the University's Library School Advisory Board. Her community work has included: Wells Fargo Bank Board, Rotary Clubs of Des Moines and Davenport, Des Moines and Davenport Public Library Foundation Boards, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and Leadership Iowa, Downtown Development Corporation Boards of Des Moines and Davenport.

Other involvement includes: Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors and Alumni Board and Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, Chair of the Iowa Public Radio Board of Directors, Chair of the Kaplan University Board of Trustees, and elected councilor to the American Library Association. Her expertise is in library buildings, management and fundraising.

With 20 years of experience in branding, public relations, marketing and philanthropy, Sharon weaves these practice areas together to create innovative philanthropic strategies to help organizations raise funds, build awareness and cultivate brand loyalty.

Some highlights from the lengthy list of organizations Sharon has worked with include Best Western, Lodging Concepts, Magnolia Hotels, Wendy's International, Bob Evans Farms, Kroger Corporation, Flying Horse Farms (a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camp for seriously ill children), Collier County Hotel Association, Head Start Programs, Tech Prep College Programs, University of Florida Health Science Center, The Ohio State University Newark Campus Development Fund, State of Ohio, and The Lutgurt Companies and Kaye Homes in Naples, Florida, Medical Center of Newark, and Scout Healthcare Development.

Sharon began her career launching a branch office in Naples, Florida, for a large public relation firm. She then was tapped as director of public relations for the University of Florida Health Science Center. In 1990, she became the executive director of the Licking County Foundation, The Thomas J. Evans Foundation and the Newark Campus Development Fund. Under her leadership as executive director, then as a consultant, the foundation grew from $3 million to $20+ million. She also initiated proactive grant making programs in the areas of healthcare, education and recreation.

In 1994, she opened her own public relations firm launching numerous initiatives in vertical markets: health care, real estate development, nonprofits, community programs, financial, sales, hospitality, and the film industry...to name a few. As a consultant for Jersey Baptist Church, she raised $3 million for their capital campaign. Most recently she helped to launch a $20 million capital campaign for a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camp for seriously ill children and establish relationships for the camp with area NBA and NFL teams.

Her work with start-up organizations, small and mid-sized businesses, and Fortune 500 companies, gives her a distinct perspective and vision on collaboration and partnership building possibilities.

As senior counsel for The Hodge Group, Sharon is poised to help organizations connect, communicate and captivate donors for successful and sustainable fundraising programs.

Ms. Gorczyca recently completed 18 years as the executive director of the Sinclair Foundation of Sinclair Community College (Dayton, Ohio). Her responsibilities included organizing and directing the 20-person Sinclair Foundation board of trustees; leading all fundraising activities of the foundation; managing the annual giving program, which included direct mail, on-line giving, and phonathon components; and supervising production of printed and electronic communication such as annual reports, magazines, brochures, solicitation pieces, invitations, and web material.

Her successes at Sinclair include: growing the Sinclair Foundation to become the largest community college foundation endowment in Ohio at $29 million, managing the college's first capital campaign to a successful conclusion of $13.2 million; and increasing the foundation's gift revenue from $150,000 to nearly $2 million annually.

She has also assisted many other community colleges through her work with The Clements Group, a national consulting firm specializing in fundraising in community colleges.

She is knowledgeable about development software as well as wealth research and analysis. She advises on accounting, budget management, and IRS compliance practices for 501(c)(3) organizations. She has been successful in writing proposals for corporate, foundation, and individually funded grants

Ms. Gorczyca has grant-making experience from her work at the Dayton Foundation (Dayton, Ohio), in the late 1980's. From 1981 to 1990, Ms. Gorczyca worked in the University of Dayton's community outreach program which provided technical assistance in fundraising, board development and management to neighborhood and community development organizations seeking to improve housing, job opportunities, and quality of life in their communities.

Ms. Gorczyca most recently has assisted the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation in Dayton as it reorganized and educated its board to take a more active role in fundraising.

Ms. Gorczyca's professional affiliations include membership in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) where she has served as president and board member. She was named AFP Professional Fund Raiser of the Year in 2000. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and led the CFRE study group from 2005 to 2008 for the Dayton Area chapter of AFP. She represented AFP on the advisory committee of Networks, a non-profit consortium convened by the Dayton Foundation. She served many years as volunteer and board member of the United Way of Greater Dayton and is currently a board member of Goodwill/Easter Seals of Dayton. She is a frequent presenter for non-profit groups especially on fundraising and board development topics.

Ms. Gorczyca holds a Bachelor of Arts in French/Spanish and a Master of Arts in Communication and Business from the University of Dayton.

Dianna brings over 25 years of diverse not-for profit and fundraising experience spanning the areas of Relationship Management, Donor Relations, Annual Giving Event Operations, Budget Administration and Marketing Communications to the firm. As well her vast corporate planning experience including Training & Development, Manager of Projects & Resources Budget Development & Administration and Expense/Cost Analysis.

Dianna has served on the executive board of the Nationwide Children's Hospital as President and continues to be an active board member. She is a graduate of Leadership Columbus, and is active in CASA, the Center for Child and Family Advocacy (CCFA) and City Year. Dianna attended The Ohio State University with a degree in Communications and Journalism.

After graduating from Denison University (B.A. Economics), Leslie spent two years as an Educational Leadership Consultant with Kappa Alpha Theta. While visiting over 70 college campuses across North America, Leslie conducted on-site consultations to ensure policy compliance, offer process improvements and audit internal practices to result in goal-oriented and result-driven action plans.

Originally from Pepper Pike, Ohio, Leslie moved to Columbus in August of 2008. She currently volunteers on a national advisory board for her sorority, serves on the social action committee for the Young Adult Division of The Columbus Jewish Federation and enjoys spending time with the animals at the Pets Without Parents shelter in Clintonville.