New Advancement Team Has No Shortage of Experience
Missouri Valley College President Joe Parisi is pleased to introduce the college’s new advancement team – led by two veteran fund raisers—Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Dan Grigg and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Brent Davison.
The two have been working this summer building an experienced support team, including Director of Alumni and Community Engagement Amanda Linneman, Director of Institutional Advancement Dallas Hopping, and Campaign Coordinator Danielle Gutsman.
Grigg has 25 years in fundraising and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver. He worked most recently at Indiana Tech where he had great success managing the “Building for a Century of Excellence” campaign, which raised over $30 million. He spent six years at Texas Christian University, finishing a $250 million campaign early with $434 million. He also worked as vice president for advancement at Lindenwood University, and executive director for advancement at Liberty Christian School in Texas.
“Dan is a such a friend-raiser and has never met a stranger,” said President Parisi. “He is a great fit at Missouri Valley.”
Davison has more than 28 years of experience in fundraising and advancement leadership. He comes to Valley from King University in Tennessee, where he created a new strategic fundraising plan that grew gifts by 353 percent in his first year. He had led two successful comprehensive fundraising campaigns, one at the University of North Texas that raised $203 million and another at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor that raised $85 million.
Davison has also led advancement efforts at the World Golf Foundation, American Quarter Horse Foundation, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and began his career in fundraising at Kansas State University. He is skilled in charitable gift planning and has booked more than $200 million in planned gifts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southwest Baptist University.
“Brent will run our planned giving efforts and manage the growth of our annual fund,” Parisi said. “He is motivational and inspirational and will do a wonderful job overseeing the team’s day-to-day efforts.”
Linneman is no stranger to Marshall or Missouri Valley College. She is returning to her role as director of alumni relations and community engagement. It’s a role she excelled in previously.
“We are thrilled to have Amanda rejoin the Missouri Valley team,” Grigg said. “She knows the college inside-out, as well as our alums. She will carry a heavy load on Homecoming.”
Linnemann has served most recently as the Executive Director of the Marshall Chamber of Commerce. She spent nearly three years as alumni director at Valley previously, cultivating relationships and orchestrated Homecoming, alumni socials, and other events. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Central Methodist University.
Hopping is well-known in the Marshall area as well. He has served as a key member of the leadership team at the Salt Fork YMCA as program director since 2021. He successfully juggled volunteer coordination, budgeting management, sponsorship solicitation, and program growth. Prior to the YMCA, Hopping worked as a new accounts representative at Wood & Huston Bank.
Gutsman is Valley’s new campaign coordinator, a key role on the fundraising team. She is a positive and upbeat administrative professional, who excels in just about anything she does.
“Building the right team is important in leadership, and it is absolutely crucial this summer as we look forward to the next year and accomplishing our lofty fundraising goals,” said Parisi. “I’m proud of this team and I can’t wait to see where they take us.”