New Employee

National Council Welcomes National Store Support Manager

National Council Welcomes National Store Support Manager 799 1117 SVDP USA

The National is excited to welcome the new National Store Support Manager, Jim Conley.

In his new role, Jim will oversee the opening and operation of the second SVdP National Thrift Store in Fairview Heights, IL. Once open, the store will serve as an additional location for Conference and Council Stores leaders to come and learn best practices to take back to their thrift stores.

Jim received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the University of Missouri – St. Louis in 1997.

After graduating, Jim went on to work in retail management for more than 20 years. He worked for companies such as The Home Depot and, most recently, Total Wine and More.

Jim enjoys teaching and training associates to deliver outstanding customer service, as well as helping to build successful, profitable businesses. He is very passionate about helping his associates reach their career goals and providing them the level of training needed for that.

Jim currently lives in Ballwin, MO and has a 13 year old son.

Please join us in welcoming Jim to the SVdP team!

If you would like to contact Jim, he can be reached at (314) 576-3993 ext. 229 or by email at jconley@svdpusa.org.

National Council Welcomes Associate Vincentian Formation Director

National Council Welcomes Associate Vincentian Formation Director 1544 1160 SVDP USA

The National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul is excited to welcome the new Associate Vincentian Formation Director, Sr. Consuelo Tovar, DC.

In her new role, Sr. Consuelo will work closely alongside the National Formation Director to help direct the spiritual formation and training to all members and especially to Hispanic and Latino members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States.

Sr. Consuelo has been a member of the Vincentian Family as a Daughter of Charity for over 55 years. She comes to the National Office after 30 years of community organizing in the Southwest Region of the Industrial Areas Foundation of Texas and New Mexico. She is familiar with the landscape and needs of the poor and vulnerable throughout the southwest and the border of Mexico and Texas. Her organizing work focused on the formation and training of institutional leaders to help congregational leaders and nonprofits build their capacity to address the issues affecting the quality of life in their communities.

Over the years, she has been in the ministry of mission integration, leadership formation, and advocating for charity and justice with and for our brothers and sisters in need.

Sister’s Vincentian formation as a Daughter of Charity and her experience in organizing easily transferred into the work of Mission Integration and Advocacy at Ascension DePaul Services in San Antonio. “I understood my role as Mission Integration Director to be that of helping create the framework in which spiritual growth and integration of the mission occurs for all of us,” said Sr. Consuelo. “And more importantly, so that our Vincentian service reflects our work for and with the poor and vulnerable”

It was in San Antonio too, that Sister Consuelo had the opportunity to serve with the South Texas Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as El Carmen’s Conference Spiritual Advisor, Council Board member, and Chair of the Voice of the Poor Committee. “I am so grateful for those early experiences with the Society, and it has truly prepared me for this new opportunity to serve as Associate Director of Vincentian Formation. I look forward to working alongside fellow Vincentians who love and desire to deepen our Vincentian charism and mission.”

If you would like to contact Sr. Consuelo, she can be reached at (314) 576-3993 ext. 228 or by email at ctovar@svdpusa.org.

Spanish Translation

El Consejo Nacional de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl de los Estados Unidos se complace en dar la bienvenida a la nueva Directora Asociada de Formación Vicenciana, Sor Consuelo Tovar, DC.

En su nuevo cargo, la Hermana Consuelo trabajará en estrecha colaboración con el Director Nacional de Formación para ayudar a dirigir la formación espiritual y la capacitación a todos los miembros y especialmente a los miembros hispanos y latinos de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl en los Estados Unidos.

Sor Consuelo ha sido miembro de la Familia Vicenciana como Hija de la Caridad por más de 55 años. Ella llega a la Oficina Nacional después de 30 años de organización comunitaria en la Región Suroeste de la Fundación de Áreas Industriales de Texas y Nuevo México. Ella está familiarizada con el paisaje y las necesidades de los pobres y vulnerables en todo el suroeste y la frontera de México y Texas. Su trabajo organizativo se centró en la formación y capacitación de líderes institucionales para ayudar a los líderes congregacionales y organizaciones sin fines de lucro a desarrollar su capacidad para abordar los problemas que afectan la calidad de vida en sus comunidades.

A lo largo de los años, ha estado en el ministerio de integración misionera, formación de liderazgo y abogando por la caridad y la justicia con y para nuestros hermanos y hermanas necesitados.

La formación vicenciana de la hermana como Hija de la Caridad y su experiencia en la organización se transfirieron fácilmente al trabajo de Integración y Defensa de la Misión en Ascension DePaul Services en San Antonio. “Entendí que mi papel como Directora de Integración de la Misión era el de ayudar a crear el marco en el que el crecimiento espiritual y la integración de la misión ocurre para todos nosotros”, dijo la Hermana Consuelo. “Y lo que es más importante, para que nuestro servicio vicenciano refleje nuestro trabajo por y con los pobres y vulnerables”

Fue en San Antonio también, que la Hermana Consuelo tuvo la oportunidad de servir con el Consejo del Sur de Texas de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl como Asesora Espiritual de la Conferencia de El Carmen, miembro de la Junta del Consejo y Presidenta del Comité de la Voz de los Pobres. “Estoy muy agradecido por esas primeras experiencias con la Sociedad, y realmente me ha preparado para esta nueva oportunidad de servir como Director Asociado de la Formación Vicenciana. Espero trabajar junto a otros vicencianos que aman y desean profundizar nuestro carisma y misión Vicentina”.

Si desea comunicarse con la Hermana Consuelo, puede comunicarse con ella al (314) 576-3993 ext. 228 o por correo electrónico a ctovar@svdpusa.org.

SVdP National Council Welcomes New Director of Philanthropy

SVdP National Council Welcomes New Director of Philanthropy 238 240 SVDP USA

The National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul is excited to welcome Donald Dowdell as its new Director of Philanthropy. Don will work alongside Dennis Kempf to increase the Society’s visibility and fundraising success on a national level

Don will work alongside Dennis Kempf to increase the Society’s visibility and fundraising success on a national level.

Don has served in a variety of roles throughout over two decades working in Development. He has worked for the following prestigious consulting firms Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners; Changing Our World, Inc.; Cornerstone Fundraising, and Trinity Consulting.

His knowledge and experience includes years of development leadership in overseeing major campaigns and development strategies for hospitals, churches, schools, retirement institutions, nursing facilities, performing arts centers, museums, and social service organizations throughout the United States.

More than half of Don’s clients have been in the Catholic Community, from parish campaigns to diocesan efforts and religious orders. Fundraising efforts have been for capital campaigns, general operations, endowments, catholic schools, stewardship programs, increased offertory, ministry needs, support of religious vocations, retirement, and health care needs of the clergy, and support of laity initiatives and their growing role in the Catholic community.

In his personal life Don was active with music and youth ministries, taught religious education at his parish for elementary and middle-school students, a cantor at his parish, and was a founding member of Creative Ministries, a group that used music and theater to reach out to the community in a different way to relay the Good News.

Don shares his love of the outdoors and nature with his children and grandkids.

Welcome Don!

If you would like to contact Don, you can email him at ddowdell@svdpusa.org or call him at (314) 576-3993 ext. 227.

SVdP National Council Welcomes New Director of National Fundraising Programs

SVdP National Council Welcomes New Director of National Fundraising Programs 414 424 SVDP USA

The National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul is excited to welcome the new Director of National Fundraising Programs, Alyssa Bergman.

Alyssa will focus on growing revenue through all direct mail channels, mid-level donors and the monthly giving program.

Alyssa was born and raised in the St. Louis area. She attended the University of Tulsa where she graduated with a degree in Communications. Alyssa has a variety of experience in the nonprofit industry including event planning, volunteer coordination, fundraising campaign development, and donor management. She has always been passionate about service to others and is looking forward to sharing the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

She currently lives in St. Louis with her husband, Josh and they are overjoyed to be welcoming their first child in March.

If you would like to contact Alyssa, she can be reached at (314) 576-3993 ext. 218 or by email at abergman@svdpusa.org.

SVdP National Council Welcomes New Accounting Associate

SVdP National Council Welcomes New Accounting Associate 480 640 SVDP USA

The National Council is excited to welcome Ashley Rhodes as the new Accounting Associate.

She will work with the CFO as a member of the Finance team and help us continue to provide excellent financial services to the National Council and our subsidiaries.

Ashley has worked for the past 13 years in doing administrative and finance work for Sodexo. During her time with the company, she worked in the universities segment at St. Louis University, Webster University, and the University of Missouri – St. Louis. (UMSL).

“I am grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to be a part of the SVdP National Council,” said Ashley.

Ashley currently lives in O’Fallon, Missouri with her husband and their rescue puppy, Zeke.

Welcome Ashley!

If you’d like to contact Ashley, she can be reached at (314) 576-3993 ext. 209 or by email at arhodes@svdpusa.org.

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