ROBERT A. QUAKENBUSH W. Gatehouse Drive South Bend IN Home: 574/ Cell: 574/

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1 ROBERT A. QUAKENBUSH W. Gatehouse Drive South Bend IN Home: 574/ Cell: 574/ SUMMARY: Versatile, engaging, and effective communications professional offers a wealth of advertising, crisis communications, development marketing communications, media relations, and public relations experience as a leader, communicator, and volunteer in agency, corporate, institutional, and non-profit settings, including higher education. Deadlineoriented working manager with strong writing, communications, and interpersonal skills who is equally comfortable in the roles of team leader or team player, and helping others understand how their roles, contributions, and collaboration across disciplines contribute to the success of the organization as a whole. Seeking a position in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina as part of family relocation (spouse recently accepted a position at Duke University Medical Center). EXPERIENCE: Assistant Director for Development Marketing and Communications University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana 2010-present Engaged in planning, writing, editing, design, and production of an array of print, electronic, and web-based marketing communications in support of Notre Dame s annual giving programs, reunion giving programs, planned giving programs, University recognition societies, and other significant fundraising efforts and programs. Edited and produced monthly President s Newsletter broadcast and microsite for two years. Edited and produced President s Circle annual report for past two years. Develop and write development-related stories for ND TODAY, the electronic newsletter of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Scripted (and one of three chosen to conduct) special campus tours to introduce new University Relations employees (and occasionally major donors and prospects and job candidates) to the history and traditions of Notre Dame. Develop scripts for special events, including campaign wrap-up for trustees, special event featuring Regis Philbin to launch the very successful Love Thee Notre Dame planned giving initiative, and regional gatherings of members of Notre Dame recognition societies.

2 Campaign Communications Coordinator The Culver Educational Foundation (Culver Military Academy, Culver Girls Academy, and Culver Summer Schools & Camps) Culver, Indiana Primary responsibilities included planning, writing, and developing print and electronic communications, including campaign newsletters and website content, to support By Example: The Campaign for Culver, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to raise money for endowment, annual fund, construction and renovation of facilities, and other school priorities. As part of the campaign, developed and implemented communications effort for the Batten Leadership Challenge, a special 16-month campaign to earn $50 million in matching funds for the school s endowment. The By Example Campaign raised $376 million -- the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of American secondary education. The Batten Leadership Challenge raised $50 million in 16 months - in a difficult economic environment - to earn the entire $50 million in matching funds, resulting in a $100 million increase in the school s endowment. Drafted Culver s submission for the 2010 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for the Batten Leadership Challenge, resulting in Grand Gold Award for Culver from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Drafted Culver s successful nominating materials for the 2010 CASE-NAIS Seymour Preston Award for Frank and Jane Batten. The award is presented annually by CASE to independent school trustees for exceptional leadership and commitment in developing voluntary support for independent schools. Developed Culver Academies Annual Reports for two fiscal years. Wrote and developed special full-color brochure for Culver Girls Academy targeted toward reconnecting the school s alumnae in advance of the school s 40 th anniversary. Regular contributor of news, feature articles, and bylined content for CULVER Alumni Magazine and various electronic newsletters and other electronic communications. Freelance Public Relations Writer/Consultant Freelance writer and public relations consultant. Vice President for Marketing & Communications Services Family & Children s Center, Mishawaka, IN employee non-profit organization with four affiliates serving thousands of children and families in Michiana

3 Directed and implemented advertising, media relations, publications and web site development. Won national Gold Award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and helped raise more than $350,000 by creating name, concepts and launch of marketing & communications campaign for the Great Big Kid Club, a new fundraising and awareness effort for the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County. Developed new web sites for Family & Children s Center and its affiliates. Won national award for development of Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County web site. Promoted special events to increase friends and funds for FCC s affiliates: the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, The Children s Campus and two counseling agencies. Director of Marketing and Public Relations Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL Chicago s oldest Catholic university Directed and implemented advertising, media relations, publications and web site development. Contributed to 46 percent increase in applications and undergraduate enrollment records for three consecutive years between September 1997 and September Contributed to 34 percent increase in graduate student enrollment during the same three-year period. Chief Communications Officer Archdiocese of Chicago, Chicago, IL Nation s second-largest Roman Catholic diocese Served as Chief Communications Officer and spokesman for the Archdiocese of Chicago and the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago. Directed and implemented internal and external communications including media relations and crisis communications, including crises related to priest sexual misconduct with minors and allegations made against the Archbishop. Planned and conducted major news conferences for Cardinal Bernardin in Chicago, Jerusalem and Washington, D.C. Served as official spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Chicago Created worldwide communications tool by developing Archdiocese of Chicago s first web site. Provided public relations support for annual multi-million dollar fundraising efforts, including The Cardinal s Appeal and the Big Shoulders Fund. Provide public relations support for nation s largest Catholic school system. Planned and implemented pro-active communications programs in support of major initiatives including the Catholic Common Ground Initiative, archdiocesan strategic

4 planning efforts, Cardinal Bernardin s first pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the illness, death, and funeral of Cardinal Bernardin, and the installation of a new archbishop. Successfully introduced and publicized Cardinal Bernardin s book, The Gift of Peace (published posthumously), leading to its appearance on New York Times bestseller list for four months. President Robert Quakenbush Public Relations, Chicago, IL Owned and operated small, independent public relations firm Major account was The Prudential Property Company during the redevelopment of Chicago s historic Prudential Building and construction of a new 64-story office tower, Two Prudential Plaza. Guided crisis communications for two Catholic high schools. As a volunteer, generated publicity in support of special events and fundraisers for churches and non-profit organizations, including developing a public relations plan for the introduction of the Archdiocese of Chicago s Big Shoulders Fund (a special program to raise funds to support inner-city Catholic schools) and, for eight of its first nine years, serving as marketing and publicity chairman for Old Saint Patrick s Church s World s Largest Block Party. EARLY CAREER: Selz Seabolt & Associates, Chicago s oldest PR agency, Chicago, IL Experience included media relations for the 64 th National Convention of the American Legion, feature writing, national publicity for Tropicana Products, Inc. marching band contests, and consumer education programs. Hill & Knowlton, world s largest public relations firm, Chicago, IL Experience included media relations, corporate and marketing publicity, new product introductions, and managing news conferences for clients such as Searle, a major pharmaceutical company, and other clients of the agency. Foote, Cone & Belding, major U.S. advertising agency, Chicago, IL Experience as account executive at FCB s public relations subsidiaries (FCB/PR and Carl Byoir & Associates) included planning and implementation of corporate and marketing publicity programs for Cummins Engine Co., the world s largest diesel engine manufacturer, and Ryder, the nation s largest truck leasing and rental company.

5 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Current member of the School Board of Saint Joseph High School, South Bend, Indiana, chair of the board s Branding & Marketing committee, and interim chair of Strategic Planning Committee. President of River Commons Homeowners Association ( ). Current vice president of Notre Dame Class of 76 and co-chair of Reunion Giving Committee for Reunion Former board member of Notre Dame Club of Chicago (Notre Dame s largest alumni club) and chair of the club s Universal Notre Dame Night celebration and Knute Rockne Awards Dinner. PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Accredited by the Public Relations Society of America Author of The Gipper s Ghost: A Story of the Spirit of Notre Dame. Editor of Knute Rockne: His Life and Legend. My introduction to my Rockne book was also included in The Spirit of Notre Dame published by Random House in Author of A Notre Dame Carol, an amusing story published in two-parts on the editorial pages of the South Bend Tribune in November EDUCATION: Master of Business Administration. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana graduate. Bachelor of Business Administration. University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana graduate. Brother Rice High School, Birmingham, Michigan graduate.