Catholic schools are not merely an institution of academic excellence, but sacred spaces where hearts are transformed and faith takes root. Christ is the reason for our schools. From moments of prayer to acts of service, from quiet transformation to bold witness, we are reminded that every advancement conversation is ultimately a conversation about Christ. This is not just a job—it’s a mission. 

Join Maureen Engen and Kirsten Wondra as they kickstart the Advancement conference, beginning the day with prayer and reflection on the mission of Catholic education.

Presenters: Maureen Engen (Bishop Miege High School) and Kirsten Wondra (Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas)

Maureen Engen is Principal at Bishop Miege High School. She has been committed to Catholic education in the Archdiocese for 30 years, serving as a middle school Science teacher, Vice Principal at St. James Academy, and Principal at Sacred Heart in Shawnee.  Maureen has been an active member of a variety of committees, most recently, the Commission of Education and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. Maureen is married to Mark. They have 6 children who all attended Catholic schools. She is a member of Holy Spirit Parish. 

Kirsten Wondra holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wichita State University. Her career began as a classroom teacher before transitioning into the role of educational consultant at the South Central Education Service Center (now Orion), providing professional learning support to 26 area school districts. Later, Kirsten moved to Lawrence to assume the position of principal at Pinckney Elementary before becoming principal at Corpus Christi Catholic School through a set of circumstances that could only have been God’s providence. 

Communications is the art of building relationships with the various constituencies of your school (parents, alumni, grandparents, friends, parishioners, etc). It all begins with understanding the concept of Branding and how it plays a role in building sustainable bridges to those whose support we seek.

Presenter: Chris Hagerty, Senior Partner at Partners in Mission.

Before entering the advancement profession, Chris was the Founder, President and General Manager of Heart Broadcasting (WEYZ and WFLP radio stations).

Upon the successful operation and sale of these radio properties, Chris returned to his alma mater in hopes of lending his sales and marketing abilities to lead the school’s advancement program. In his role as Director of Advancement at Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria, the Annual Fund grew from $120,000 to over $1,500,000 (while tripling alumni participation), and tripling the Cathedral Prep and Villa Scholarship Fund to over $850,000 per year. Chris also implemented and executed four multi-million dollar capital campaigns, “Share The Vision”, which raised $3,200,000 exceeding the goal of $3,000,000, “Transforming Lives”, which raised $20,100,000 exceeding the goal of $18,200,000, and “Vision 2020” a $12,000,000 campaign that raised $14,200,000, and “Called to Lead” a $48,500,00 campaign that raised over $50,000,000. Chris personally solicited 7 seven-figure gifts, including gifts of $5,500,000, $10,000,000, $25,000,000 which represents the largest gift ever received by Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria.

In addition to helping improve the financial condition of Prep and Villa, Chris worked with the President in repositioning and re-messaging the school’s internal and external communications, including an overhaul of the school’s website, marketing, and public relations.

If you’re wearing multiple hats and feeling stretched thin, but you know your school needs stronger marketing and communication—this session is for you! Discover creative, cost-free ways to make your school more competitive, engage new families, and strengthen your brand with the resources you already have. I’ve been in your shoes, and I’ll share practical, time-saving strategies to help you focus on what truly moves the needle. You don’t need a big budget—just a smart plan!

Presenter: Tracy Smith, Enrollment Management Specialist at Facts

Tracy Smith is passionate about enrollment management and dedicated to supporting those responsible for admissions and enrollment. With a master’s degree in Christian Education, certification from the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP), and over a decade of experience in private school admissions, she understands the essential components of effective Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Communication. Now in her fourth year with FACTS, Tracy provides professional development, strategic training, and best-practice methodologies to hundreds of schools. Her presentations are engaging, practical, and rooted in real-world solutions. Tracy calls San Antonio, TX, home, where she and her husband enjoy visits with their two grown daughters and delight in their role as grandparents to two little ones who call her Gigi.

Almost everything in a school revolves around student enrollment. Increasing or stable enrollment provides so many more opportunities than when enrollment is decreasing. And because families have more and more learning options to choose from, it is critical to think both about recruiting AND retaining students. In this session, you will learn action steps that will help retain your current students along with a few ideas for recruiting new students.

Presenter: Bob Noyed, Vice President at CESO Communications

Bob Noyed, APR, has more than 35 years of experience working in school districts as a strategic communications professional. Prior to joining CESO Communications, he served as the director of communications for several Minneapolis-area school districts. Along with his district experience, Bob served as 2006-2007 president of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and as North Central Region Vice President from 1999-2002. He has also served two terms as the president of the Minnesota School Public Relations Association (MinnSPRA). He continues to be active in both organizations. Bob was the 2005 recipient of NSPRA’s Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award and received NSPRA’s 2021 Presidents’ Award. He is the author of several school communication-related materials and is a frequent presenter for local, state and national conferences.

Meet other attendees, network, share your contact information, and more. This informal chat is an opportunity to meet others and build your professional network. You are welcome to eat your lunch during this time!

Most every organization knows that grants could be helpful for them, but they come with a lot of questions: How do grants really work for a Catholic School? How do we get started- or get to the next level? What do we need to be “grant ready?” Where do we look for opportunities?

Some think of grants as giant projects: 50 page, heavily researched, immense undertakings. Some think only big organizations get grants or that you have to “know somebody.”

This presentation will try to answer these questions in three main topic areas:
1. Why grants at all?
2. How do grants work, specifically for US, whatever size we might be?
3. Getting started and ready- or getting BETTER.
With any time left over, we’ll cover few pro tips and answer some questions.

Presenter: Thom Fox, Principal Consultant at Why Wise Fundraising

After 22 years in nonprofit and education sector, 17 of those in grants, Thom Fox remains both committed to and excited about the incredible potential of nonprofit organizations to improve their communities. Having made impact in areas as diverse as workforce development, special education, juvenile justice, housing and homelessness, foster care, mental health, immigration, and food systems, Thom always looks forward to the next challenge and new ways to help those in our communities live more productive and more fulfilling lives.
When he’s not obsessing over finding the competitive advantage in every single grant section or question, outcome data, or a budget line item, Thom loves cooking, Ozark hiking, camping, canoeing and playing music with his son in vibrant Kansas City, Missouri.

School marketers are juggling more than ever—tight budgets, endless tasks, and increasing competition. How can you stand out without burning out? The answer: AI-powered marketing.

In this fast-paced session, you’ll learn how AI can streamline your efforts, boost engagement, and increase inquiries, without losing the personal touch. Discover how to create high-converting content in minutes, automate repetitive tasks to free up valuable time, and leverage AI-driven strategies to attract more families. If you’re ready to work smarter, not harder, don’t miss this session!

Presenter: Brenden Schneider, Founder and CEO at SchneiderB Media

Brendan Schneider is among the most sought-after voices in K-12 school marketing today. As the founder of SchneiderB Media, he has helped hundreds of independent and private schools elevate their marketing efforts, drive enrollment, and navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.
A recognized leader in digital marketing, Brendan is the creator of the MarCom Society, a membership community for K-12 marketing and communications professionals, and the developer of School Marketing CRM, a platform designed to help schools manage and streamline their marketing and admissions processes.
Brendan is also the author of School Marketing The Right Way, a must-read for school leaders looking to build a strategic, data-driven approach to enrollment marketing. Known for his engaging and down-to-earth style, he speaks nationally on topics ranging from AI’s impact on school marketing to the latest trends in inbound marketing, SEO, and digital advertising.

This session focuses on building and sustaining a mission-driven board. Key topics include: clarifying goals and individual board member responsibilities; establishing an effective onboarding process for new members; enhancing the efficiency of board meetings and activities; utilizing reflective practices for continuous improvement; identifying potential challenges and offering strategies for a positive board culture.

Presenter: Kathy Rasmussen, Board of Trustees Chair at St. James Academy (Lenexa, KS)

Kathy holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University and an MBA from the University of Kansas. Her 18-year professional career includes operational roles at Procter & Gamble and The J.M. Smucker Company. She contributed to K-State’s Chemical Engineering External Advisory Board for six years, serving as Chairman for two. Additionally, Kathy has served on the Board of the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties and the Board of Trustees of St. James Academy, where she currently holds the position of Chairman.

This session will focus on strengthening your school’s budgeting process through simple forecasting strategies and financial planning tips. We’ll cover how to forecast tuition, parish subsidy, and fundraising income more realistically, and discuss basic best practices for reserves and facility maintenance. Ideal for leaders looking to move from reactive budgeting to proactive planning.

Presenter: Dalena McGrew, Director of Accounting and Parish Business Services for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

With more than 25 years of accounting experience in public, private, government, and nonprofit sectors, I have found my true home with the archdiocese. I oversee a team of 7 accountants at all levels, and we do the accounting for 4 legal entities.. We recently started a new department to better assist parishes and schools who need accounting support.

We will explore dynamic strategies to help Catholic schools enhance their enrollment, strengthen community engagement, and promote spiritual growth. The presentation will highlight the importance of aligning marketing efforts with Catholic values, utilizing modern tools and approaches to connect with prospective families, and fostering a sense of belonging within the school community. By leveraging innovative marketing tactics, Catholic schools can build sustainable growth while staying true to their mission of faith-based education and service.

Presenter: Richard Fischer, Senior Sales Director at Our Sunday Visitor

Rich Fischer has fostered stewardship, fundraising, mission-focused education, and communication efforts for more than 16 years and is currently the Senior Sales Director for OSV. His focus has been investing his time infusing an ideology of mission-based abundance through Increased Offertory Programs, digital solutions, and Annual Funds with OSV. He has coordinated training and education for the sales, product development, and implementation teams at OSV on stewardship and fundraising. He began many of these mission-based efforts and stewardship education at the diocesan level including directing the Diocesan Annual Appeal, development efforts, communication efforts, and stewardship strategies in parishes and schools with his work as Director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Burlington. He has served several terms on his parish finance council, school marketing committee, and school board and is completing his first year of studies for the diaconate.