Grand Forks (5.8.2013) -- After 11 years as Executive Vice President and CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, Tim O’Keefe has announced he will retire on March 31, 2014.

“This chapter of my personal and professional life has been a privilege,” O’Keefe said. “I can’t imagine more rewarding work than for an organization and a mission close to my heart and so critical to the public good and future of the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, our region and my beloved great state of North Dakota.”

O’Keefe, in partnership with UND leadership, led the University through its first major capital campaign. North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND, which ends at Homecoming in October, surpassed its $300 million goal six months early. During the campaign, the number of unique donors to UND jumped from 8,000 a year to more than 13,000, and funds raised annually jumped from $8 million to $45 million.     

“Our alumni and friends are special people. The branding of our campaign as ‘North Dakota Spirit’ could not have been more accurate in its representation of the accomplishments, integrity, shared passion and loyalty among our followers for our University and state,” O’Keefe said.

“The University of North Dakota has a great friend in Tim O'Keefe,” UND President Robert Kelley said. “His work as the head of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation has been exemplary, and we are the beneficiaries of that work and leadership, which includes oversight of the $300 million North Dakota Spirit Campaign. Tim’s legacy is already helping to provide an exceptional UND for the future. All of UND joins me in wishing Tim and his wife, Becky, the very best on the next exciting phase of their lives.”

A transition team made up of current and former UND Alumni Association & Foundation Board members as well as UND partners will map out the steps for finding O’Keefe’s replacement.  

“Tim has been a visionary leader with an incredible list of accomplishments over his tenure, which has benefited us all,” said Al Royse, UND Foundation Chair. “But while we will certainly miss Tim and his leadership, he has positioned us very well for the future, and we look forward to continuing what he has started. A transition team has been formed, and we are in the process of finding the next great leader for this organization.”

“Tim’s leadership has been transformational for the UND Alumni Association & Foundation,” said Carolyn Becraft, UND Alumni Association Chair. “Under his tenure, the connection to alumni has been greatly strengthened and the endowment has more than tripled. You can see his vision in the Gorecki Alumni Center, the Hopper-Danley Spiritual Center, the President’s residence, and multiple projects currently in the pipeline that will continue to transform the campus.  He has built a strong organization that will continue to do great things for UND.”

During O’Keefe’s tenure, UND alumni and friends have established more than 479 new endowments ― investments that provide support for years into the future ― including 262 for student scholarships.

“We only exist for one reason, and that’s students in one form or another,” O’Keefe said. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s alumni. We have always attracted a unique quality of student to UND, and it is the students who have inspired me every day.”

North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND has already surpassed its fundraising goal with months to go before the campaign wraps up during Homecoming this fall.

Tim O'Keefe, UND Alumni Association & Foundation executive vice president & CEO, announced today during at the annual State of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation Address that two large donations have pushed the campaign total over the $300 million goal to $300,593,489.

“When we set the goal of $300 million a little over six years ago,” said O’Keefe, “many thought we were beyond overly optimistic. In fact, some even questioned our sanity. We have not only blown through this goal, but we are going to accomplish so much more throughout the balance of this campaign and beyond.”

The objective now, O’Keefe said, is to push to see just how much more can be secured to impact the University’s passionate students, inspirational educators, innovative programs, and extraordinary places.

“I think we have some great projects and programs that will keep us motivated through the end of the campaign,” said DeAnna Carlson Zink, associate executive vice president and chief development officer. “We have a number of alumni and friends that are still planning to get engaged, so we are thrilled to see where we’ll end up in October.”

The impact of the Spirit Campaign was the focus of the State of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation address, which is held as part of UND Spirit Week. UND student and 2011 Spirit Award scholarship winner Adam Swigost gave a heartfelt speech in which he thanked those who’ve given to the campaign.

“I want to thank all of alumni who have ever given the University of North Dakota,” Swigost said. “Without your gifts, my education would not be possible, nor would the education of my classmates. You are what make this University such a rich and fulfilling place.”

Other highlights of the financial report given during the address:

• 575 new funds have been established on campus since the Spirit Campaign started, including 270 scholarship funds.
• 354 new endowments have been funded since the start of the campaign.
• 36,400 alumni and friends have made donations to the Spirit Campaign.
• $43.7 million was committed to the Spirit Campaign by 13,161 investors in Fiscal Year 12.
• In FY12, the Foundation’s assets hit an all-time high of $246 million.
• The endowment balance at the end of FY12 was also a record at $140.3 million.

• Support for student scholarships in FY12 hit $4.8 million, and total support including scholarships and programs was $11.1 million.

The students, along with the rest of the more than 300 people in attendance, were inspired by the stories of the successful alumni honored this year: Ben, ’62, ’63, and Dorothy Gorecki, the namesake donors for the Gorecki Alumni Center; Kathryn Uhrich, ’86, Dean of the Mathematical & Physical Sciences department at Rutgers University in New Jersey; Mark Chipman, ’83, ’85, President of True Sports North & Entertainment, parent company of the Winnipeg Jets; and Garfield Beckstead, ’61, Florida real estate developer and owner of Useppa and Palm Islands.

Read about this year's recipients and watch videos of their acceptance speeches here.   

The University of North Dakota Alumni Association and UND Foundation have chosen four distinguished alumni to receive their highest honor, the Sioux Award. In addition, two deserving alumni have been named Young Alumni Achievement Award winners. Each year, the awards are given based on achievement, service and loyalty.

The Sioux Award Banquet will be held on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Alerus Center. A social hour starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the awards ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m. Reservations can be made online at www.undalumni.org/siouxawards2011.

The 2011 Sioux Award recipients are:

Norm Hoffman, ’59: Norm is the retired co-founder and President/CEO of Technical Ordnance, Inc. He received a degree in Chemical Engineering from UND and ran Technical Ordnance, which specialized in detonators and initiators used in rockets and various military safety systems, for 40 years before retiring in 2006. He and his wife, Ann, have established the Ann and Norman Hoffman Chair in National Defense/Energetics at UND.

Gary Marsden, ’63: Gary is the retired founder and CEO of Marco, Inc., and a former UND Alumni Association & UND Foundation Board member. The Hillsboro, N.D., native transformed Marco, Inc., based in St. Cloud, Minn., into a 450-employee office technology company with 21 locations. Gary currently serves on the National Campaign Steering Committee for North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND.

Dr. Robert Nordlie, ’57, ’60:  Dr. Nordlie is a retired Biochemistry professor from the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Dr. Nordlie dedicated 38 years of his career to the SMHS and served as the chair of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department from 1983 to 2000. He has published more than 130 papers and was a member of 16 professional and scientific organizations.

Diane Odegard, ’86: Diane was a teacher in Grand Forks for 25 years and a former UND Alumni Association & UND Foundation Board member. Diane and her late husband, John, drove the development of the aerospace program at UND. She recently helped complete the fundraising to establish the Delta Gamma Foundation/Everson Family Lectureship in Values and Ethics, a program that will bring nationally prominent speakers to campus.

Amanda Bentow, ’04, ’06: Amanda is a Community Relations Officer in the Office of University Relations at UND. Within the Grand Forks community, she’s president of the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals; a member of the Steering Committee for the Community Visioning Project; a member of the Altru Foundation Board of Directors, and has been heavily involved on the steering committee for the Launch Grand Forks Initiative.

John Kutch, ’93: John is the President/CEO of Trinity Health in Minot, N.D., where he has successfully recruited more than 70 physicians to the region. Kutch is a member of several professional and civic organizations and serves on the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences Advisory Board representing the west region and various advisory boards for the Greater Minot Area.

The University of North Dakota Alumni Association and UND Foundation are pleased to announce four new staff members.
  

Spring Bakke is the new Development Coordinator-Officer. She is responsible for managing the day to day operations for the Chief Development Officer and assisting in the overall fundraising efforts of the UND Foundation and the university itself. She previously worked at the Altru Medical Fitness Center as a certified advanced health & fitness specialist. She graduated from UND in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. Bakke currently lives near Inkster, N.D.

Melissa Dillman has been hired as an Accountant. Dillman is involved in trusts, gift annuities and endowment activity and provides assistance in preparation of audits and income tax returns. She graduated from UND in December 2010 with a Bachelor of Accountancy & Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. While attending UND, she worked at the UND Foundation as an accounting and finance intern. She and her husband, Edward, currently live in Grand Forks.

Sam Melquist has been hired as the Associate Director of Graphic Design. He is responsible for the design and layout of the award-winning Alumni Review magazine as well as for all design projects related to the UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation. Melquist spent 4 years with BBI International as a designer for Ethanol Producer Magazine. He lives in East Grand Forks, Minn. with his wife and two children.

The Fighting Sioux Club provides the support necessary for UND student-athletes to get an education and have the best competitive experience in their sport.

“A scholarship offers me an opportunity to pursue my education and athletic career at a place that I love,” said UND women’s hockey student-athlete Jocelyne Lamoureux. “Those opportunities aren't just in the classroom and at the hockey rink, but meeting with kids and trying to make an impact on the community is something that goes farther and means more than grades and stats.  Fighting Sioux Club members’ support is unbelievably appreciated.”

Along with record dollars, the Fighting Sioux Club’s membership remained steady, with 2,334 Sioux fans loyally supporting UND Athletics, a substantial increase from 1996, the first year of the Fighting Sioux Club, when there were 621 members. Donations that first year totaled $368,000.

“Fighting Sioux Club members are difference-makers for UND Athletics and to keep experiencing the growth that we have going back to the start of the Fighting Sioux Club is phenomenal,” said Fighting Sioux Club Executive Director Josh Morton. “Quite simply, we couldn’t do it without their support. Championships start with scholarships and this year we see it again, not only in competition, but in the classroom and community as well.”

The Fighting Sioux Club is a primary source of private support for UND Athletics. The membership club, operated by the UND Foundation, supports scholarships and programs for UND’s 20 athletic programs.

The University of North Dakota Alumni Association and UND Foundation are pleased to announce three new staff members.

Paula Byklum has been hired as IT Coordinator. She is responsible for computer troubleshooting, managing Web content and helping to maintain the organizations’ database and network. She previously worked as a bookkeeper at Evergreen Implement in Thief River Falls, Minn., and before that was the Administrative Assistant for the Goodridge (Minn.) Independent School District. Paula recently moved back to her hometown of Hatton, N.D.

Alyssa Shirek is the new Associate Director of Marketing. In this position, Shirek is involved in the development and implementation of strategies and messages in giving campaigns, donor relations and alumni programming. She has worked for the Grand Forks Herald since 2006, most recently as News Editor. Shirek graduated from UND in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communication with an emphasis in print journalism. She lives in Grand Forks.

Milo Smith has been hired as the Associate Director of Communications. One of his primary duties will be to act as editor of the award-winning Alumni Review magazine. He will also write stories for the quarterly publication. In addition, Smith will direct media and public relations efforts for the Alumni Association and UND Foundation. Smith spent nearly 15 years as a News Anchor and Producer at WDAZ-TV in Grand Forks. He lives in Grand Forks with his wife and two children.

Let the 2010-11 season begin. More than 100 Fighting Sioux Club members packed Playmaker’s All-American Lounge Thursday night at the 3rd Annual Fighting Sioux Club Home Opener.

“It was great to see so many Sioux fans excited to get the year underway. This truly is our “home opener” weekend with volleyball and soccer hosting games and you can tell that our fans are anxious to see our teams play,” said UND Athletics Director Brian Faison.

 Faison, football Head Coach Chris Mussman and volleyball Head Coach Ashley Hardee addressed the group talking about the upcoming season. A few lucky fans walked away with some great prizes including a signed football helmet, signed volleyball, Canad Inns gift cards and the opportunity to be first in line to buy men’s hockey single game tickets. No surprise the winner of the final door prize chose the Sioux – Gopher series.

“We not only have the best fans, but Fighting Sioux Club members prove to be the most generous as well. It’s nice to have events like this so they know how much they are appreciated,” said Fighting Sioux Club Executive Director Josh Morton.

The UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation is pleased to announce the newest members elected to its Board of Directors. These individuals began serving a three-year term on July 1 and are eligible to serve up to three terms (9 years).

UND alumnus Steve Burian earned a B.S. degree in 1990 and an M.S. degree in 1992, both in civil engineering. He is CEO of Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., a Grand Forks – based company he co-founded while in grad school.

Originally from Bismarck, Burian resides in Grand Forks with his wife Barb, daughter Tiahna, and son, Tyler.

A native of Rio de Janero, Brazil, Fernanda (Santos) Philbrick is an engineering manager with Intel. In 1994 she received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering and in 1996 an M.S. degree in chemical engineering from UND.

Philbrick and her husband Steven, ’95, live in Phoenix.

Cathy (Wilson) Rydell, ’88 is executive director and CEO of the American Academy of Neurology. She also serves as executive director and CEO of three affiliated organizations, the American Academy of Neurology Foundation, the American Academy of Neurology Professional Association and AAN Enterprises, Inc. Rydell earned a B.A. degree in political science from UND in 1988.

Rydell and her husband, Chuck, reside in Bismarck and St. Louis Park, Minn. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Beginning their third term are Carolyn Becraft, ’66, Burke, Va.; Jill Burchill, ’76, Hudson, Wis., and Lauris Molbert, ’80, ’83, Fargo.

Bart Holaday, Placitas, N.M., and Patrick Dirk, ’71, ’72, Newport Beach, Calif. begin their second, three-year term.

Retiring board members are Kristi Brindle, ’78, Castle Rock, Colo.; Robert Erickson ’71, ’74, Alexandria, Va.; Erwin Martens ’83, ’85, Sudbury, Mass.; Diane Odegard, ’86, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Robert Solberg, ’69, Houston.

The UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation recently hired five and promoted one to a new role within the organization.

Karen Ryba, ’93, ’05, is now the associate director of alumni programming and outreach. She manages Alumni Association outreach efforts and events programming. Ryba has nearly 20 years of experience working on campus, most recently at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

Pam Laffen was hired as a special events coordinator. She assists with, plans, and executes events including the Sioux-Per Gala and alumni socials. Before joining the organization, Laffen worked for 26 years as an elementary teacher.

Krista Thom is the associate director of communications and online engagement. Her duties include writing for a variety of media and managing the organization’s online presence. Thom’s previous experience includes working for several newspapers and a publishing company.

Shannon Solberg is an administrative assistant. In addition to administrative duties, Solberg assists with data entry and other projects. Before joining the Alumni Association, Solberg worked at Altru Health System as a medical transcriptionist and transcription clerk.

Sierra Woods, ’08, was hired as a gift entry and database specialist, where she is responsible for tracking gifts and pledges, and maintaining an accurate database. Woods earned her degree in management and marketing from UND.

Katie Compton, ’09, was promoted to annual giving officer. In her new position, she meets with prospective donors, and stewards donations from annual donors. Previously, Compton was associate director of alumni programming and outreach.

Doris Cooper has been named executive director of the UND Alumni Association. In this role, she is will manage alumni programming and public relations for both the UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation.

“The UND Alumni Association has a rich history and traditions that help the University’s alumni stay connected. I look forward to building on our history and help alumni continue to connect, engage and grow with UND,” Cooper said.

Cooper has been with the UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation since 2007 as the director of development marketing and communications.

Originally from Hazen, N.D., she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UND in 1991.

“As we look to the future and fulfilling our mission to advocate for alumni and help support our University, we’re confident Doris’s leadership abilities will be a positive force in helping our organizations, as well as UND, move from great to exceptional,” said Executive Vice President & CEO Tim O’Keefe.

Cooper resides near Reynolds, N.D., with her husband, Kevin, and their three children.