Bill R. Schmiedicke

Bill's career in the field began 27 years ago when he was asked to become Director of Development at a private school. "I really liked it and met with success," he comments. "This happily led to my entrance into the consulting business 21 years ago." He likes the challenge of bringing a strategic approach to tested and traditional fundraising methods – “while the 'tried and true' works, it's important to be flexible and have an open mind about different approaches and ideas."

He has been actively involved as a speaker at national seminars and as a Board or committee member of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, which is now called the Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP); the Association of Philanthropic Counsel (APC), and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Bill holds degrees from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids , Michigan and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.

In his spare time, Bill enjoys the art of photography from taking pictures to developing and printing them. This hobby goes well with that of traveling and experiencing new cultures, including a trip to Cuba with the People to People Program. When retirement comes, Bill is looking forward to something his father developed in him- a love of woodworking. In the meantime, Bill also makes time to be actively involved on nonprofit organizations. Currently, he volunteers his time and expertise with the Michigan Women’s Foundation, Community Circle Theatre, and First Hand Aid, a humanitarian effort to support a pediatric oncology hospital and a church clinic in Cuba.