James P. LaRose, CFRE: President

Jim, during his career as a development professional has assisted over 200 non-profit institutions in the U.S. and overseas. The organizations he's served include child and human welfare agencies, colleges and universities, private K-12 schools, civic organizations, mental health institutions, animal protection agencies, and fine arts coalitions. He specializes in major gifts cultivation, special events, direct mail, foundation solicitation, annual fund campaigns, capital campaigns, feasibility studies and board/staff development. Jim has worn the hats of conference speaker, development officer, and agency director, and is past President of both the Association of Christian Development Professionals (ACDP) and the Western Maryland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).  He is the founder of the National Development Institute, a certificate program for development professionals committed to continuing education. He holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive certification from the AFP, 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. 

Kathy Wilson-Robinson: Senior Counselor

Kathleen Wilson (BA, Moody Bible Institute; MEd, Texas Woman’s University; PhD, Michigan State) is a research professor and director of the Center for Neighborhood Development. Her field is rural community development, with special emphasis on community capacity building to achieve positive development outcomes in children, youth, and families.  Prof. Wilson is nationally and internationally known for her professional work and writings on systems-based approaches to community improvement, which is used by practitioners to transform and create social organizations, government, and community social structures and processes that build social capital needed to stimulate economic and social development. She has done extensive community development work related to human service and health systems reform, and food, agriculture, and natural resource management. Prof. Wilson previously served as associate director of the Institute for Families in Society at the University of South Carolina (1995-1999). Before coming to South Carolina, Prof. Wilson was a tenured professor in the College of Agriculture and Human Resources (Department of Human Resources) and in the College of Social Sciences (Department of Urban and Regional Planning) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1981-1994.She was a tenured research associate at the East-West Center before joining the UHM faculty (1978-1981).  She has also been Vice President of Programs for an international club, camping, and leadership development program, Pioneer Ministries (1970-1975), Acting Director of Educational Design Associates (1975-1978) a private consulting and publishing firm, a science teacher in the Denton Texas school system (1967-1970) while completing her MEd, and Director of a nonprofit literacy program in inner city Chicago from 1964-1967, while completing her BA.  From 1966-present, she has been actively involved with the Peace Corps in Africa and Asia conducting pre-departure training programs, consulting with various country staff, developing division projects, and re-designing and evaluating various programs.  From 1975-1978, while completing her PhD, she co-directed a multi-million dollar United States Agency for International Development project at Michigan State University to build Indonesia's technical college system. From 1981 to 1992, Prof. Wilson served as national team leader for the US Department of Agriculture’s national Systems Approaches to Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Project. This project sought to create new instructional resources for faculty and to train faculty in new systemic approaches to resource management. The project was sponsored jointly by the USDA, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, the Association of State Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources, and an industry advisory group. In 1986, she received an Award of Distinction from the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges for her work on this national project. She was awarded the University of Hawaii Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching and Research in 1990, the highest award given at UHM. She also has received awards of distinction from the Peace Corps and USDA for her community development work. Having traveled and worked in 151 countries, she is a recognized leader in rural community development in developing countries.

Gifford Claiborne, CFRE: Counselor

Gifford Claiborne, fundraising consultant also serves as Director of Development for the Rescue Mission Alliance, Oxnard, CA. Prior to launching his Consulting business, he served as Sr. Vice President, National Operations for City Mission Network International, after being promoted from Sr. Vice President, Development and Expansion, of the Los Angeles Mission, a CMNI subsidiary. Prior to joining the Los Angeles Mission, where he previously served as Director of Development from 1991-1993, Claiborne served as Executive Director of the San Diego Rescue Mission, from 1993-1995.From 1986-1991, Claiborne served for five years as Vice President, Missions Group, at the Russ Reid Company, Pasadena, CA, where he created a syndicated Rescue Mission fund raising program used by Missions nationwide. Prior to that, he served as President of Claiborne/Jensen Advertising, a full service agency exclusively serving the nonprofit community, based in Arcadia, CA. Claiborne has a master's degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Point Loma University, San Diego, CA, a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Biblical Literature from Azusa Pacific University and a non-traditional doctor's degree in Mass Marketing from American International University. A  lover of music, Claiborne sang in a gospel quartet, touring the United States for ten years and recording albums on the Cornerstone and Word labels. Claiborne served the First Christian Church, Englewood, CO as Minister of Music and Youth, 1962-1965. He served as Admissions Officer and Director of College Advancement at Azusa Pacific University between 1965-1969. From 1980-1986, he was a founding pastor of Faith Community Church, Covina, CA. Gifford and his wife, Wini, were foster parents to seven children during the years they were raising their own three children. They now have ten grandchildren and live in Wrightwood, CA.

Wesley A. Rediger, CFRE: Counselor

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.