DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Professor of Business at Tabor College
• RINOKEROS Consulting

Dr. Romney Ruder is Professor of Business at Tabor College. He is also the Host of Anapausis (a Spiritual Retreat Homestead). Prior to joining academia, he was the Chief Operating Officer for World Impact, an interdenominational Christian Missionary Organization dedicated to the urban poor. With nearly 300 staff across the United States and an annual budget of $15 million, Romney ran the day to day operations for this organization that had an international footprint and nearly $100 million in assets. During his tenure, he oversaw Finance, Accounting, HR, Marketing, Asset Management, Partnership Development, Board Liaison, Fundraising, IT, and acquisitions. Due to his positions both professionally and academically, Romney has been a sought-after speaker where he has been featured at such places like The Academy of Business Research Conference, Association Growth, and C12; as well as preached in churches nationally and internationally. Romney spent 20 years in the Forest Products industry in both Senior and Executive Leadership for Fortune 10, Fortune 500 and privately held corporations. Some of these included Ace Hardware Corporation, Enron, and Idaho Timber (a division of Leucadia International). Over the years, he gained hands on experience in risk management structures, commodities trading, multi-site manufacturing, international trade, sales, acquisition, and infrastructure development. During this period, he also did individual consulting for groups like commodities firm FC Stone and tool distributor Midwest Tool. He has been quoted by Bloomberg Business, featured in both the Chicago Tribune and Crain's Chicago Business, and was awarded "40 under 40" by the Wichita Business Journal. Prior to his professional career, Ruder was an officer in the U.S. States Army Reserves specializing in Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs. As an ordained minister, Romney gained his theological education from The Urban Ministry Institute. He received his BA in Political Science from Illinois State University; where he was elected Student Body President. He received his MBA from Texas A&M University and his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. He is a former Board member for Christian Blind Mission International (CBM) where he served as interim U.S. President. He is currently on the Board of Awana Lifeline and is an Elder at Pathway Christian Church in Wichita, KS.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Partner
• Senior Executive

Through The Development Alliance you gain the personal attention of a primary consultant who can draw from the collective expertise of the group. Our consultants have more than five decades of professional experience including a total of 19 years of collaboration. J. Mark Hutchins has spent more than 25 years fueling his passion for matching people's interests with impactful projects. Throughout his career, he has championed efforts that have raised more than $75 million that has been used to enhance the lives of people and promote projects that foster community growth and pride. He has served Louisiana Tech University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Mississippi State University, and as associate vice president, vice president or interim president at Wood College (MS), Murray State University (KY) and Tennessee Tech University. He has also served in a variety of roles in fund raising and marketing on the boards of civic and church organizations including chambers of commerce, Habitat for Humanity, school and youth athletic teams, and churches in Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee. Hutchins has made presentations across the country on a variety of topics including planning and management in capital campaigns, alumni strategic planning, solicitation strategies, planned giving for annual giving professionals, management issues, internet fund-raising, two-year college fund raising strategies, small shop fund-raising strategies and establishing priorities for fund-raising success. Additionally, he has taught in the Tennessee Governor's School for Information Technology Leadership. He holds a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in human relations and supervision from Louisiana Tech University. He has co-authored an accreditation study for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, designed and created college alumni magazines and designed a host of materials that support fund raising efforts. Having guided comprehensive advancement programs that have included fund raising, advancement services, alumni relations, communications and marketing, foundation management and board development, Hutchins is ready to serve you in guiding your efforts to great success!

Job Titles:

• Founding Partner
• Member of the Leadership Team

Through The Development Alliance you gain the personal attention of a primary consultant who can draw from the collective expertise of the group. Our consultants have more than five decades of professional experience including a total of 19 years of collaboration. With more than 30 years of experience as a development professional, Mr. Bradford is uniquely qualified to provide fundraising insights and service. His abilities include: visualizing the need and implementing a plan to meet those needs; creating public relations materials which provide organizations with a high profile; maintaining strong individual relationships; and training and motivating a dedicated, cohesive volunteer team. He has conducted national and regional campaigns for various non-profits including: Mississippi State University; Liberty University; the Crystal Cathedral; Robert Schuler Ministries; PGA Golf Tour; Bryan College; The Baptist Foundation of Kentucky; the Baptist Sunday School Board; Columbus Medical Center, Columbus, GA; Raleigh YMCA, Raleigh, NC; First Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale, NY; Christian Academy of Knoxville, Knoxville, TN; Hough Ear Institute, Oklahoma City, OK; Buckner Family Services, Dallas, TX; and Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC. Projects that Mr. Bradford has either directed or supervised have raised over one quarter billion dollars in the past fifteen years. Mr. Bradford has 18 years experience as a fundraising consultant and as an officer in two national firms. Prior to that, Mr. Bradford was responsible for Mission/Crusade ventures to various cities in Japan, Korea, England, Canada, and the northwest United States. In addition, he secured 25 mission sites in Florida for the Presbytery of Tropical Florida. Mr. Bradford holds a BA in dual majors of psychology and English education from Houston Baptist University and has completed work toward an MA in Abnormal Psychology at Houston University. Mr. Bradford has received numerous fundraising awards and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

Job Titles:

• Founding Partner
• Member of the Leadership Team
• President

Through The Development Alliance you gain the personal attention of a primary consultant who can draw from the collective expertise of the group. Our consultants have more than five decades of professional experience including a total of 19 years of collaboration. Thomas Kemner, President and Founding Partner, brings over thirty years of leadership skills, marketing expertise and an established track record in fundraising. Tom's vitae combines a strong record of service in a variety of not-for-profits, as well as individual and agency consultancies in a wide array of international to national to regionally-based organizations. His career has carried the theme of acting as a catalyst to implement higher yield in the full spectrum of fundraising including major gifts, estate planning, direct marketing, orchestrating institutional marketing theory and practice, and strong creative skills. While in agency consulting, Tom Kemner served such clients as Focus on the Family, The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association, Tyndale House Publishers, World Concern, Bluefield College, Christian Friends of Korea, Presbyterian Renewal Ministries, Mid-America Christian University, Presbyterian Lay Committee, Kairos Prison Ministry International and Providence Christian Academy. Additionally, Tom assisted in the design of the most successful marketing plan in the history of one international airline. He has served on staff with organizations such as Bryan College (TN), King College (TN), Moody Bible Institute (IL) and the Christian and Missionary Alliance (NY). Tom Kemner has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degree from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. He also holds a M.S. in Business Administration/HRD from National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. In recognition of his creative expertise, Tom has gathered numerous regional advertising council awards (ADDYs). Tom Kemner is an active participant in various regional planned giving and financial planning professional organizations.