I grew up in Newark, graduating from the same high school as Philip Roth and Connie Francis. I enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, where I majored in Russian history and eventually received my doctorate in that field, having spent two years in Finland and the Soviet Union researching my dissertation.
My teaching career included the University of California, Santa Barbara, Vanderbilt, Wittenberg and Ohio State. Eventually, I started my second career, publishing a weekly newspaper in Columbus, Ohio, before moving to the Northwest where I began serving non-profits as a fundraising consultant. I eventually purchased a regional firm and over a quarter century managed almost 200 campaigns that raised more than $2 billion. I also served on a variety of boards, including Artist Trust, Portland’s Robison Jewish Home, Portland’s Providence Child Center, the Group Health Cooperative Foundation, and the Tacoma Art Museum. Currently, I’m a board member for Tacoma’s Museum of Glass. I chaired the standing nominating committee for the Group Health Cooperative board and served on the finance and strategic planning committee, eventually receiving the Cooperative Achievement Award. I also received the Professional Achievement Award from the Northwest Development Officer’s Association. I’ve published two full-length books and many articles on fund raising, in addition to many other occasional pieces in regional, national and international publications.
I have lived with my life partner Pamela Transue for the past 37 years, including the past 23 in Tacoma, where she served as the president of Tacoma Community College. We enjoy travel, visiting more than 100 countries on all seven continents.