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Karen Ferraro
Director of Development
Karen Ferraro is enabling the Guideposts Foundation to build and expand its Outreach Ministries. By visiting with devoted supporters of Guideposts, she dedicates her time to deeply connect with individuals who share the common interest of ensuring Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s timeless messages of hope, inspiration and comfort continue to have significant impact and make a difference for those in great need today and for generations to come. Optimism is the guiding influence that shaped Karen’s life, thanks to her mother who believed in The Power of Positive Thinking. Karen is with Guideposts to ensure this message and outreach ministries continue to have great influence for many.
Prior to joining Guideposts in 2009, Karen provided marketing, strategic planning and business development to support major corporations, start-up’s, not-for profits, advisory councils and boards in her capacity as consultant, board member and executive. Her commitment to fundraising for causes around health, wellness and spirituality, have made an impact locally in New York and nationally. Adding to her professional talents and ability to move people and business forward—Karen is a certified coach, author of numerous articles on introspection and work-life balance, and motivational speaker.
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Michelene Murphy
Associate Manager, Annual Gifts
Michelene Murphy joined Guideposts in 1990. She began in the Editorial Department where she transcribed the nightly messages from those needing prayer, an experience that led her to realize how the Lord was drawing her closer to Him. Ever since then, she has been promoted to various positions until finally moving into Philanthropy in 1999.
Michelene has managed the Norman Vincent Peale Fellowship since 2001. She is responsible for cultivating and building donor relationships for this devoted group, as well as working with Guideposts club members. Her vast knowledge of donor history and their engagement with the organization has been immensely helpful, especially for those heading out the door to make personal face-to-face visits.
She enjoys working out at the gym, playing basketball, cooking, baking, home decorating, reading romance novels, listening to classical music and loves to travel. She is fluent in Spanish.
Michelene lives in Poughquag, NY with her two children, Patty and Kevin and her elderly parents.
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Kathleen Ryan
Vice President
Kathleen Ryan is Vice President of Guideposts Foundation. Kathleen has been with Guideposts since 1989. She has held various positions in marketing, starting in the Book division managing Daily Guideposts, Christmas Greetings, Book Sales, and Ideals.
In 2002, Kathleen became Senior Manager of the Fund Raising Division overseeing all the direct mail acquisition, renewal, and monthly giving programs. Fund Raising manages a combined file of 1,700,000 donors. In April 2006, the Fund Raising Division was combined with the Philanthropy staff.
As Vice President of Guideposts Foundation, Kathleen oversees the annual giving appeals in addition to being responsible for managing the Foundation budget and operations, implementing all marketing efforts, publishing the Annual Report, facilitating donor recognition, and being a key driver for the Foundation’s strategic initiatives.
She has a BA in Marketing Management from Pace University.
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Brian Porter
President
Brian Porter is President of Guideposts Foundation. He has responsibility for strategy and planning; administration and management; staffing and stewardship of the Foundation board and volunteer groups.
Prior to joining Guideposts, Brian was Director, Major Gifts and Planned Giving for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation where he was responsible for researching, soliciting, securing and stewarding all major donors. Brian’s non-profit career includes: Save the Children Federation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
His marketing career includes Garden Way, Inc., where he was the Vice President of Marketing, and Anheuser-Busch where he managed businesses and brands in multiple functional and product categories, as well as managing the corporate charitable giving programs. Brian has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy from the University of the South in Tennessee.
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Rhonda Neal
Manager of Outreach Services
Rhonda R. Neal, Manager of Outreach Services is responsible for leading the strategic direction of Guideposts Outreach through Complimentary Publications, Outreach Programs and Partnership development. Complimentary Publications consisting of magazines, booklets and annual products has a distribution impact of over 4 million to hospitals, the military, VA’s, prisons, ministries, nursing homes, etc. Rhonda has been instrumental in developing a strong foundation for Outreach program growth and success. She has created strategic plans to expand our Military Outreach efforts, increase our Complimentary Publication reach to 10M, and grow our newest program, Guideposts for Kids Comfort Kit to reach ill and injured children across the United States. Rhonda is enthusiastic about the development of our relationships with key partners to us help expand our reach and augment our impact in today’s society.
Rhonda is the mother of thirteen-year-old Niema Riley, is an avid tennis player, has earned an MBA from the University of Bridgeport and is pursing a Master’s of Arts Degree in Ministry in Daily Life at Hartford Seminary.
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Reverend Doctor Peola C. Hicks
Manager, OurPrayer
As Manager of OurPrayer, Peola has been instrumental in growing the prayer ministry to more than 750,000 annual prayer requests through programs, partnerships and working with the digital team of Guideposts. She has a wealth of experience in developing, planning and organizing programs, and has created and implemented customized projects for various churches.
Peola joined Guideposts in 2006 and has served in ministry for more than fifteen years. In her role as Executive Pastor of Firm Foundation Ministries of Danbury, Connecticut, she conducts seminars and classes in practical Christian living including money management. Prior to pursuing a career in the ministry, Peola was a manager in finance at IBM. She has a bachelors degree in Accounting and an MBA in Finance and Organizational Behavior. An ordained minister, Peola holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Samuel Dewitt School of Theology.
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Pablo Diaz
Vice President of Ministries
Rev. Dr. Pablo R. Diaz is the Vice President of Ministries for Guideposts. He is responsible for leading his team in developing strategies and implementing business goals for OurPrayer Ministry, Complimentary Publications, Military Outreach, and Guideposts for Kids Comfort Kit Program.
Prior to joining Guideposts in 2003 he served as the Interim Minister at The Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco, NY and Gilead Presbyterian Church, Carmel, NY. His other leadership roles held include: Executive Director of Parent Institute for Quality Education, California, and Executive Director of T.H.I.N.K. Together, California, Community Ombudsman, and Director of Health Academy, Boston Public School District.
Dr. Diaz graduated with a B.S. degree from New York University, School of Social Work and earned his Master in Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, Massachusetts. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree with distinction from Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. Pablo and his wife Elba live in Carmel, New York, and have two children, Christine and Paul.
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| Caroline Harris, Outreach Associate, assists in the distribution of Guideposts Outreach Complimentary Publications, and expansion of Outreach Programs. Her immediate role is to help increase our Military Outreach efforts, and grow our Complimentary Publication reach. |
