To put together a successful big project, it usually “takes a village.” The SECC village is pretty big, but a lot of key villagers are totally behind the scenes, quick to step forward when something is needed, then back into the shadows to watch their good work yield fruit. Here are just a few of these silent superheroes, unmasked:
John Gibson—John has set up and run the backend of the SECC site, the system that enables secure log-on, online giving, payroll deduction, that ties to the agencies and manages the reporting. John is one of the first to the table and almost the last to leave it.
Kenna Bush—Kenna works for United Way, which serves as the organizing regional entity in Galveston, regardless of where you ultimately make your gift. Kenna works hard to facilitate what we do.
Mike Cooper—Mike works in Public Affairs and he built and maintains the front end of the SECC site, the pages you see when you visit www.utmb.edu/secc. He’s streamlined and modernized the site in a way that really serves users well.
Diana Davison—Diana does everything that would otherwise fall through the cracks. If you’ve ever worked with anyone like her, you know what I mean.
Ralph Mendoza and Tim Williams— The facilities team always comes through for us and the SECC, whether it’s hanging banners, putting up plywood thermometers, or lending physical and financial support to the campaign itself.
Katrina Lambrecht—It may be the people’s campaign, but it needs the president’s support, and Katrina (as our on-the-front-line representative of the President’s Office) has been a great advocate, advisor, supporter and team member.
Mark Navarro—Need a logo? Photo? Crazy piece of SECC art? Mark’s always been our man.
Stephanie Everling—The “Ying” to John Gibson’s “Yang,” Stephanie heads up an IT team that helps the campaign get better and easier to support each year. “Not possible” isn’t in her vocabulary.
Craig Elmore, Ruth Jones, and Kim Ray—Payroll guys. They make what should be complex (for us), look pretty easy. ‘Nuff said.
Becky Trout—The SECC Queen Bee. Without her running around and tending to the thousand details that are the foundation of the campaign, holding everything together, the hive would collapse.
Are there others? For sure, and that’s always the problem with attempting such a list. As I’m sitting here another dozen names pop in my head (Myra McCollum, Scott Livanec, Denise Gonzalez, Raymond Brouillard, Ruth Finkelstein, Casey Peterson, Brittni Stinson…). If I missed someone you know, or if there’s someone in your area who really serves as the chief cheerleader and SECC missionary that you’d like recognized, drop me a note and I’ll do another post.
Bottom line, thank you all, named or still in the shadows.