Key Decision Makers Track Breaking in a New President Jake Heuser Vice President for Advancement, Bradley University

What is your situation? Why are you here What terms led to the previous President’s departure What was the feeling toward the last President Will this be the first Presidency for your new President Do you already have your new President

My situation? Why are you here What terms led to the previous President’s departure What was the feeling toward the last President Will this be the first Presidency for your new President Do you already have your new President

The Rules Be prepared Don’t be in a rush Be consistent and flexible? Let them find their way with your direction The new President won’t remember everything Relax - Everyone else is anxious to get started and have a fresh start (everyone has an agenda, everyone is looking for this person to help their situation)

How I was Prepared Rushed everything Tried to please everyone – Advancement staff, Interim, Deans, connection across campus, Board members…I am here to help you Kept gift conversations moving forward…broadened the relationships Waited to develop my schedule and plan after I got to know the person

The Interim Does this person want the job Broadening the relationship across campus with constituents Closing gifts – should you and could you Prepping the administration Making a priorities plan

Prepping fellow Administrators Top Prospects Fundraising historically Events plan Decision making paradigm

Balancing Priorities The broad base versus key prospects versus introducing them to uniqueness of your institution and your constituency.

Balancing Priorities Bios of Top 10, Top 20, Top 50 – pictures, why, what, and timing Events schedule – why, what, and timing Fundraising Initiatives – status and projections

The new President is here Before they start The first meeting Understanding their schedule Using natural opportunities to introduce info Establishing expectations (historical performance, benchmarking) Understanding their personal development process – seeing, hearing, doing

Evaluating and adapting Learning how they work an event, how they like to ask, how they stay connected to constituents, how they travel This is always going on, just like with a long term President