What do you love most about working with planned giving at UC Davis? Working at UC Davis is professionally challenging in terms of the types and number of planned giving prospects, gift scenarios and potential solutions we run across and our work supporting the development team across the colleges, schools and units. It definitely keeps us all on our toes, staying current, as much as possible, with tax changes and trends. It’s rewarding in being a part (a small part, but I feel like I helped) of the broad scope of good things happening at UC Davis – from the Davis campus to UC Davis Health and beyond – and the school’s impact in the region, the state, and the world. But the thing I look forward to the most is the work I do directly with our Planned Giving team itself. They are a dedicated, caring, thoughtful, driven and fun-loving group of professionals and I love the culture we have built over the years. We have a good time and get a lot done.
How have you been able to relate your experience with PGFGS to your work? My PGFGS experience correlates directly to being successful in planned giving (or really any career): you have to start with a good foundation of knowledge, continue to develop and build on that, and make sure you connect with peers and mentors along the way to build your professional network and resources. PGFGS provides all of those opportunities. And as a former board member, I know it’s important to give back to make a place better than you found it – and I’ve always tried to do that.
What has been your favorite part about being a member of PGFGS? I’d have to say the networking – connecting and re-connecting with people I really enjoy seeing, people who I’ve worked with or volunteered with over the years, the people making a difference in the Sacramento area.
Which membership benefit(s) do you find most valuable? The access to the trainings and the connection to the national organization (NACGP) have been very valuable over the years.
Share a fun fact about yourself. Not sure how much fun it is, but I’ve been a distance runner for about 15 years. I’m on a little hiatus right now, but over the years, have completed a bunch of half marathons, some 20-milers, finished the California International Marathon 12 times and the American River 50 Mile Endurance Run two times. I’m hoping to run a 5K with my granddaughter someday, she’s 8 now, so I have to stay in shape. More fun than running maybe, I enjoy writing song parodies (ala Weird Al), mostly with a planned giving twist and mostly from classic rock or songs from the ‘70s. It was usually for my own amusement (I can’t sing or play an instrument), but the fun-loving part of our PG team will actually perform them!
