the University of South Dakota.

Before moving to South Dakota, he was responsible for cultivating and soliciting underwriting support at NPR member station WKSU-FM in Kent, Ohio. Previously, he was Director of Development at the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland where he led the museum's fundraising activities while professionalizing the department. Earlier, John managed both the corporate and major donor portfolios as a senior fundraiser at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Before embarking on a career in the nonprofit sector, John worked in the broadcast equipment industry. He has held a variety of senior sales management and corporate training roles for several privately held firms and a Fortune 500 company. A successful entrepreneur, John also has experience with small business start-up consulting.

John earned a Master of Public Administration degree and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs where he is past president of its alumni association. He is a life member of the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs Administration and is the 2003 recipient of the W. R. Hopkins Award for academic excellence and outstanding potential for future success. He holds a BA in radio/television from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

John and his wife, Liane, moved to Vermillion, SD from Cleveland Heights, Ohio in 2007. They previously lived in Evanston, Illinois; Adelaide, South Australia; and West Lafayette, Indiana. They have four Pembroke Welsh Corgis: Fletcher, Audrey, Maizy, and Nigel.

In June 2010, John was elected to a four-year term as an alderman on the Vermillion City Council for the central ward. The ward is home to the city’s three historic districts. As a reflection of his interest in architectural restoration and preservation, John has served on the Clay County (SD) Historic Preservation Commission.

He devotes much of his free time to the innumerable restoration projects demanded by their 1916 arts and crafts bungalow in the Forest Avenue Historic District. The house enjoys status on the National Register of Historic Places. Some people who know him well believe this is just a ruse enabling him to acquire more tools. Always the active learner, he appreciates comparing notes and swapping creative repair solutions with other old-house homeowners.

organization and then served as Event Coordinator for the Second Annual Nonprofit Management Conference. Malene was hired for her full-time position in October 2011.

As Managing Administrator, Malene is the “air traffic controller” for the organization. She is responsible for the many deadlines and details of running the day-to-day operations. She reports she is absolutely delighted to be working for such a dynamic organization.

Malene graduated with an English major and a history minor from Northern State University (NSU). During that time, she served as president of the English Club, Shelterbelt, and Sigma Tau Delta. At various times, she also served as the secretary, treasurer, and vice president of the History Club. Malene worked several jobs while she was earning her undergraduate degree. For two years, she wrote and edited articles for the Exponent, NSU’s student paper. She also worked at the Beulah Williams Library as a student worker and as a Reference Assistant.

After graduating from NSU, Malene continued her education at The University of South Dakota (USD), where she taught English for four years while earning her MA in English and finishing two years toward her PhD in English. After reexamining her career goals, Malene found a career path in nonprofit management to be more personally rewarding and moved to the Political Science Department where she earned her Master of Public Administration degree with an emphasis in nonprofit management.

A native South Dakotan, Malene and her two children live in Vermillion. Malene is a strong advocate for education at all levels: she serves on USD Head Start’s Policy Council, USD Head Start’s Grantee Board, and the Vermillion PTA. Malene also teaches as an adjunct for USD's Political Science Department.

Malene adds that you can figure out how to pronounce her name (and remember it) by thinking “She may lean a little and fall over!” It’s a silly mnemonic, but it works.