St. Mary-of-the-Woods College President David G. Behrs has announced the appointment of Serafina I. Spatola as vice president for development. Spatola brings 20 years of progressive leadership experience and accomplishments from her work in both the private and nonprofit business sectors. She currently resides in Cincinnati and will begin her service at SMWC on June 8.
“I am honored and delighted to be part of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College as the newly appointed vice president for Development,” Spatola said. “I was told prior to interviewing with St. Mary-of-the-Woods College that it was a special place – a caring community. I must admit that I have been drawn into the genuine and gracious spirit that lives on this campus. The Woods is a community that cares.”
In her new position, Spatola will provide leadership and management for the College’s development and alumnae/i relations efforts, and work with the board of trustees’ development committee in providing direction, information and support. She will also oversee a portfolio of leadership gift prospects and coordinate the involvement of the president in fundraising activities.
Some of the programs and services she will supervise include the annual Woods Fund drive, community and donor relations, special events, major and planned gifts, alumnae/i affairs, the SMARTS recruitment program and development volunteers.
“Serafina has a unique blend of experiences, leadership, vision, creativity and motivation,” Behrs said. “Her skills as a strategic thinker, entrepreneur, creative visionary and effective manager of people, programs and resources will make her strong asset to St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.”
Most recently, Spatola spent four years at Antioch University New England in Keene, N.H. From 2004 to 2007, she served as strategic management, advancement and business consultant, and from 2007 to 2008, she was vice president for institutional advancement. In that role, she provided leadership for Antioch’s comprehensive and integrated institutional advancement program with specific responsibility as a key strategist for the university. She was also responsible for the overall leadership and management of the university’s alumni development and communication strategies.
From 2002 to 2004, Spatola spent two years as the vice president/chief development officer for the Public Library of Hamilton County in Cincinnati, where she was responsible for creation and implementation of a comprehensive advancement/development program and division that promoted and funded the library’s strategic initiatives.
From 1998 to 2002, she was with Salmon P. Chase College of Law in Highland Heights, Ky., where she served as the director of development and executive director of alumni relations, coordinating and executing systems to raise awareness and funding for the law school.
Her responsibilities included securing general income and endowment funds from individuals, board members, foundations, industry and other private sources.
The majority of her higher education experience came during her time at Xavier University in Cincinnati. She spent 12 years at the institution, from 1986 to 1998, beginning as the director of admissions and student services for the MBA program. She then when on to work with the development office on their Science Center Campaign, assisting the vice president of university relations and advancement in cultivating and raising funds for the $40 million capital campaign.
While at Xavier, she also served the institution as the director of the Business Mobilized for Xavier Campaign. In this role, she planned, conducted and executed a $1,250,000 annual fundraising campaign directed to solicit financial support from the Greater Cincinnati business community.
In her final two years at Xavier, she served as the regional director of development/major gifts, providing leadership for fundraising and articulating resource needs, including the identification, cultivation and solicitation of major gifts from prospective contributors. In this role, she identified, cultivated and solicited $100,000-and-above gifts for the $100 million capital campaign.
Before coming to Xavier, she held various positions, including owner of Westside Datsun/Williams Subaru in Cincinnati, district campaign manager for Bailey Deardouff and Associates, city planner for the City of Cincinnati Planning Commission & Advanced Planning Division, and market representative/client consultant for the Service Bureau Company, Division of Control Data Corporation, Division of IBM.
Spatola holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, a master of arts degree in public administration and urban planning from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master of business administration degree in finance from Xavier University.
“Our mission will be to plan and implement communications and advancement programs to increase awareness, understanding and support for the College’s mission of teaching, research and service,” Spatola said. “I believe that we can accomplish our goals and missions only by communicating and partnering with the College’s inside and outside constituents, including parents, students, faculty and staff, alumni, friends, the business community and foundations.
“I know that with your continued commitment and support that we are up to the task of continuing our heritage of excellence,” she continued. “I look forward to being part of this wonderful community and institution.”
Business
The Woods appoints new vice president for development
- Business
-
-
Naysayers should treat good news as good news
I like to complain as much as anybody else. In truth, I may do more than my share of finding fault and wagging a finger in warning. Nonetheless, I’m tired of commentators (including many economists) who find nothing good and only the darkest clouds for the past few months.
-
All mothers appreciate extra help
Think of all the times and ways that your mom has helped you over the years — when you were a child, and after you became an adult. With Mother’s Day upon us, now is a good time to pay mom back with a little Extra Help — with her Medicare prescription drug costs.
-
Upcoming meetings
The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce is hosting a health care reform seminar for businesses from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Old National Insurance at 925 Wabash Ave., suite 200.
-
Indiana ranked best place to do business in Midwest
Indiana was ranked as the best place to do business in the Midwest and the fifth best nationwide in a survey of more than 500 chief executives by Chief Executive magazine.
-
First Farmers rated among top 100 community banks
First Farmers Bank & Trust of Converse was named one of the 100 top-performing community banks for 2012 by SNL Financial.
-
Newsmakers: May 12, 2013
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has recognized John Thompson, president of Thompson Thrift Construction, and Paul Thrift, president of Thompson Thrift Development, as “Patriotic Employers.”
-
On the Move: May 12, 2013
Stacey Joseph, a realtor in Terre Haute, has earned the Certified Residential Specialist designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
-
Chamber lauds four with Business Recognition Awards
Congratulations to our Business Recognition Awards winners! Our Awards Luncheon at the Meadows Banquet and Conference Center was a great event to wrap up Business Recognition Week, sponsored by Union Hospital. At the Luncheon we recognized four local businesses as the 2012 Business Recognition Award winners:
-
ISU students provide detailed grocery analysis
As the National Cooperative Grocers Association makes business decisions in the coming years, the organization likely will take into account an analysis of some of its competitors – about 4,000 of them.
-
Construction firm holding grand opening in Marshall on Friday
Construction, H&H LLC is holding a grand opening and Marshall Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday at 812 N. Second St. in Marshall, Ill.
-
AP Source: Subaru to expand Indiana plant
Subaru plans to expand its Indiana factory and add workers to build the Impreza small car in 2016, a person briefed on the matter says.
-
Transit proposals can prove to be game changers
After baseball, my favorite TV watching is the government channel. Here I can see the local government in action or local government inaction.
-
On the Move: May 5, 2013
Melissa Schollaert, RDH, HHP, has been added as a counselor of holistic health and nutrition at The Maple Center for Integrative Health.
-
ISU set to offer financial planning program in 2014
When Indiana State University junior Jennifer Groth began scheduling classes last semester, she planned them out by thinking of an academic program the university does not yet offer. Groth will be one of the inaugural students in the financial planning program that ISU will begin to offer in spring 2014.
-
Newsmaker: May 5, 2013
Gov. Mike Pence announced the appointment of Jessica Robertson to commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration, a role she will begin on Wednesday.
-
U.S. Postal Service opens village office in Worthington
The U.S. Postal Service officially opened the 40th Village Post Office in the Greater Indiana District on Monday in Worthington.
-
How consistent is your business?
There are six areas in which consistency is critical in the majority of companies. Too often, business owners feel as they are “chasing down” rather than “leading it along.” If you can get a high level of consistency with your standards and practices, then your company will benefit.
-
Good time to try Spanish online service
Cinco de Mayo is May 5 — a time to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride. Why not join the celebration by visiting Social Security’s Spanish website, where you’ll find a number of useful services and a wealth of information in Spanish.
-
First Financial’s net income up 3 percent
First Financial Corp. has announced results for its quarter that ended March 31. The Corp.’s net income increased 3.4 percent to $7.7 million, compared to $7.4 million for the same period of 2012.
-
Curtain goes up on new theater owner
The Indiana Theatre in downtown Terre Haute is under new ownership with a new purpose.
-
Indiana Theatre SOLD!
The Indiana Theatre at 683 Ohio St. is sold.
Rob Lundstrom, who owns the Copper Bar and Louise’s, took possession of the historic downtown theatre on April 25. -
Higher education completion rates questioned
Spring is really here. Baseball is being played, the Cubs are already tragic and Faye of the Forest reappeared on the back deck. She was parked on the railing as I sat down to write this column.
-
Vectren Corp. awards $2.3 million in grants
Vectren Corp. has announced that it awarded more than $2.3 million in 2012 through the Vectren Foundation and corporate contributions.
-
Hard work, good attitude produces success
Like clockwork, Indiana State University graduate Joe Evelo regularly provides monthly updates to the first client he signed up when he started his financial investment career more than 35 years ago.
-
On the move: April 28, 2013
Old National Bank has promoted Howard Mills to vice president, mortgage loan originator.
-
Newsmakers: April 28, 2013
Lenise Kohlway of Spencer was presented with the WorkOne Achievement Award last week for overcoming several employment barriers and pursuing a better life for herself.
-
Ivy Tech offers free business counseling
The Ivy Tech Business and Entrepreneurial Services Center and the Terre Haute chapter of SCORE are offering free, confidential business counseling and low-cost high-impact training workshops to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners.
-
Social Security: Try this word puzzle challenge
In 1938 — only a couple of years after Social Security was signed into law — a depression-era, unemployed architect named Alfred Mosher Butts studied the front page of The New York Times to figure out how often each of the 26 letters was used. The result was a game he called Criss Cross Words, renamed 10 years later as Scrabble. In honor of Scrabble’s 75th anniversary, we’d like to challenge you to a word puzzle.
-
Knox/Crawford United Way seeks executive director
The United Way of Knox County, Ind., and Crawford County, Ill., is in search of a new executive director.
-
Rockville Correctional Facility wins Champion Award
The Rockville Correctional Facility was recognized as a Champion Award recipient at the Indiana State Employee Community Campaign awards ceremony in Indianapolis.
- More Business Headlines
-
Naysayers should treat good news as good news




