2008 Woodie Awards
VP for Advancement appointed
Jacob Kalos
Issue date: 3/25/05 Section: News
|
This is one of the "sayings" that Michael Poston, Guilford College's new Vice President for Advancement, hands out at his team meetings.
Poston followed his own advice during his second week at Guilford, which happened to be Serendipity, through his good-natured reaction to hearing rumors of students arriving to work at the grill in the nude.
President Chabotar announced Poston's appointment on March 1. "I am delighted (to have him here)," Chabotar said. "His experience, intelligence, sense of humor, and values are just perfect for Guilford College and our fund-raising needs now and in the future."
Poston is succeeding Charlie Patterson, who retired at the end of 2004 after holding the position for six years.
Patterson played a big role in Poston's decision to come to Guilford; the two have known each other since 1976. They met when Poston took a summer seminar led by Patterson at Randolph Macon Women's College in Virginia.
The two also worked together at Wake Forest University, where Poston held the position of Vice President and Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Affairs at the Medical Center from 1993 until he came to Guilford.
While working at Wake Forest, Poston led and organized a $200 million capital campaign.
Poston has had over 30 years of experience leading fundraising efforts in higher education and medical industries. Past employment has included the University of Florida Health Science Center, Orlando Regional Medical Center, University Hospitals of Cleveland at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and Allegheny College.
This past experience and success is what made President Chabotar know that Poston was right for the job.
"We wanted someone with experience in college and university fund-raising, excellent communication skills, committed to continuous quality improvement in our fund raising, appreciative of the contributions of faculty and students to the life and image of the college, and experience running a capital campaign," Chabotar said. "We wanted someone that had the confidence and expertise to build on the very fine legacy of Charlie Patterson. Mike had all these qualities and more."
"I really felt like I was burning down in medicine," Poston said of his decision to come to Guilford. "I'd raised a lot of money. I liked it, I liked the people I met, I loved the doctors, but it's an intense business. I think you do something for a long time you got to change gears."
