Blog/News
Traci Basden Has Been Awarded the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Designation
CFRE International has named Traci Basden as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Traci Basden, Associate Vice President of Fundraising Services at Gabriel Group joins over 5,300 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation.
Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International which include tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations. They have also passed a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive, and have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.
“The CFRE credential was created to identify for the public and employers those individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and commitment to perform fundraising duties in an effective and ethical manner,” states Jim Caldarola, CFRE, Immediate Past Chair of CFRE International. “As the certification is a voluntary achievement, the CFRE credential demonstrates a high level of commitment on the part of Traci Basden to herself, the fundraising profession, and, the donors who are served.”
CFRE recipients are awarded certification for a three-year period. In order to maintain certification status, certificants must demonstrate on-going fundraising employment and fundraising results, and continue with their professional education. Employers and donors who work with CFRE’s know they are getting a professional who is committed to the best outcomes for their organization and has the requisite knowledge and skills.
Gabriel Group Makes Donation in Honor of Clients
In the true spirit of the season, Gabriel Group is celebrating its sixth year of meaningful gift giving by making a donation to Our Little Haven.
Each year for the past six years, Gabriel Group has made a donation in honor of its clients in lieu of a traditional gift. This year, Gabriel decided to let its clients and friends help choose a deserving St. Louis children’s organization to be its 2013 pay it forward recipient. With an overwhelming majority of the votes, Our Little Haven was selected as the organization for which Gabriel Group associates would raise money.
Our Little Haven is relentlessly committed to providing a safe, secure and healing environment for children suffering from the tragedy of abuse or neglect. Its dedicated and compassionate community of caregivers make the hurting stop, the healing begin and the love last, one child at a time.
“We can’t think of a better way to thank our clients for their business and to ‘pay it forward’ as we wish them a Happy Holidays and Joyous New Year,” said Art Kerckhoff, Principal.
All associates participate in this pay it forward effort year-round. From making a donation to dress down on Wednesdays to participating in monthly raffle basket drawings to pieing our Executive and Sales team members, associates raise money to make a significant donation to a worthy cause each year in honor of clients.
To date, Gabriel Group has funded a spring water aqueduct in the Dominican Republic to help provide children with safe drinking water; built four double-family homes for families in earthquake-ravaged Haiti; funded a new classroom at an early childhood education center in Zambia; provided food and clothing to an orphanage in Mozambique and supported relief efforts following the devastating tornado in Joplin; and provided farm animals, fruit trees and bicycles to poverty-stricken children and families through the company’s client, World Vision.
Gabriel Group Continues to Grow as it Acquires Assets and Client Servicing from Wilkes Group
Gabriel Group announces that it has acquired some assets of Wilkes Group, including equipment and systems, and has begun servicing a number of Wilkes Group direct marketing clients effective immediately. In addition, Gabriel has hired 10 former Wilkes associates who will continue to service the accounts.
Three of these new hires have joined Gabriel Group’s sales team: Jim Poneta as Vice President, and Larry Keatts and Steve Koch as Sales Executives.
Prior to joining Gabriel Group, Jim Poneta successfully led a direct marketing team as President, C.S. at Wilkes Group. With his sales and executive background in the printing and direct mail field, he brings a wealth of direct marketing knowledge and experience.
Poneta has served in leadership positions for various organizations, most recently as a current member of the Board of Trustees at McKendree University. He and his wife, Jan, have three children, Elisabeth, John and Katherine, and five grandchildren, Benjamin, May, Sadie, Owen and James. In his free time, Poneta enjoys hunting, golfing and writing.
Based in Denver, Colorado, Larry Keatts comes to Gabriel Group after being with Wilkes for two years. Working in the direct marketing industry for the past 26 years, he has vast experience working with clients nationwide to develop solutions for their specific marketing needs.
Keatts graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a BA in Business Administration, with a concentration on Marketing. He is an active member and previous Board Member of the Rocky Mountain Direct Marketing Association. Keatts has a passion for music and enjoys hiking and biking on the trails near his home in Denver.
Steve Koch will be focusing on sales and new business acquisition. Since 2006, he has held a lead position in the Casino Marketing Team at Wilkes. Prior to that, he served in Account Executive roles at various St. Louis direct marketing organizations.
Koch graduated from Southwest Missouri State University, in Springfield, Missouri, with a BS in Marketing. He has two children: Sarah, a nurse at Missouri Baptist, and Sam, a chef at Denali National Park in Alaska. Koch is a tri-athlete and completed his first half ironman in Boulder, Colorado last year. He also enjoys reading, movies and entertaining friends.
“We are very excited to welcome all of our newest team members and clients,” said Michael Peterson, CEO. “We have been diligently working on the integration of these Wilkes accounts over the past several weeks to ensure a smooth transition, and anticipate a seamless transfer of these relationships.”
