Prior to founding The Hodge Group, Russ held political fundraising staff positions in two gubernatorial campaigns in Missouri and Nebraska. In addition, he has served as a consultant on a third gubernatorial campaign and one presidential campaign as well as served as the deputy director of the Ohio Republican Finance Committee. Russ' vast array of resources and solid-networking abilities has earned him a nationally recognized track record in the fundraising arena.

Professional and Personal Achievements

Provided leadership for approximately 50 campaigns with goals that ranged from $20M to $50M

Recruited, trained and hired more than 40 senior development officers for various organizations

Successfully directed the completion of grants to most national foundations

One of the youngest Americans to successfully climb Mount McKinley

Has completed two marathons

Select Project Experience

2nd & Main Limited - Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton Ohio - $50,000,000

Big Brothers Big Sister, Columbus Ohio - $3,000,000

Bentonville Public Library, Bentonville Arkansas - $6,000,000

Des Moines Public Library - $20,000.00

First Community Church, Upper Arlington Ohio - $5,000,000

Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio - $25,000,000

Recreation Unlimited, Ashley Ohio - $7,000,000

Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio - $13,000,000

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Toledo Ohio - $5,000,000

A native of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Russ holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. He is involved in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), is a member of the Giving Institute, and is a past AFP Professional Fund Raiser of the Year. Russ was named as a member of the U.S. State Department Delegation to Slovenia NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations), and is a nationally recognized lecturer and instructor in philanthropy. He is currently an instructor in the Not for Profit Management Certificate Program for The Ohio State University and for The Foundation Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Russ is married and resides in Dublin, Ohio. Enjoys golf and skeet shooting.

Dianna brings over 25 years of diverse not-for-profit and fundraising experience spanning the areas of Relationship Management, Donor Relations, Annual Giving Event Operations, Budget Administration and Marketing Communications to the firm. Additionally, her past experience in corporate planning, including Training & Development, Manager of Projects & Resources Budget Development & Administration and Expense/Cost Analysis benefits the firm and our clients daily.

Dianna has served on the executive board of the Nationwide Children's Hospital as President and continues to be an active board member. She a graduate of Leadership Columbus, and is active in CASA, the Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children's Hospital and is a grant reader for The Women's Fund of Central Ohio. Dianna is an alumnus of The Ohio State University and is a member of Varsity O in Track and Field. Dianna (Di) resides in Columbus (German Village), Ohio with her life-long partner, Dwaine.

During his tenure, he helped refine its focus to help local businesses expand, attract new companies to the region, and support business start-ups. He also advanced a vision for regional economic collaboration resulting in an unprecedented alignment of economic development public and private-sector entities.

Marsh's work in the government sector included serving as Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman's first Chief of Staff, as well as having served in the same capacity for legendary Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Vern Riffe. He also served as a staff director U.S Congressional Subcommittee. More recently, Marsh chaired Ohio's 21st Century Transportation Task Force, which provided a vision for an Ohio interconnected transportation system designed to enhance Ohio's economically competitive position in global and national markets.

In 2011, Marsh launched Ty Marsh Associates, a consulting firm that provides strategic counsel and connections to businesses, organizations, and governmental entities. The firm helps clients navigate an often-times complex process of interaction between government and private-sector entities towards successful results.

Marsh continues to be involved in high-level civic efforts. He chairs the Organizing Committee for 200 Columbus - the city's bicentennial as well as the Board of Trustees of the RiverSouth Development Authority. He also served on the Board of the former Ohio Business Development Coalition, and is an honorary trustee of the Columbus Council on World Affairs.

A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Marsh is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University with dual degrees in Political Science and Economics. He and his wife, Laurie who serves as Executive Director of Leadership Columbus, reside in the Old Beechwold neighborhood of Columbus.

Ms. Gorczyca recently completed 18 years as the executive director of the Sinclair Foundation of Sinclair Community College (Dayton, Ohio). Her responsibilities included organizing and directing the 20-person Sinclair Foundation board of trustees; leading all fundraising activities of the foundation; managing the annual giving program, which included direct mail, on-line giving, and phonathon components; and supervising production of printed and electronic communication such as annual reports, magazines, brochures, solicitation pieces, invitations, and web material.

Her successes at Sinclair include: growing the Sinclair Foundation to become the largest community college foundation endowment in Ohio at $29 million, managing the college's first capital campaign to a successful conclusion of $13.2 million; and increasing the foundation's gift revenue from $150,000 to nearly $2 million annually.

She has also assisted many other community colleges through her work with The Clements Group, a national consulting firm specializing in fundraising in community colleges.

She is knowledgeable about development software as well as wealth research and analysis. She advises on accounting, budget management, and IRS compliance practices for 501(c)(3) organizations. She has been successful in writing proposals for corporate, foundation, and individually funded grants

Ms. Gorczyca has grant-making experience from her work at the Dayton Foundation (Dayton, Ohio), in the late 1980's. From 1981 to 1990, Ms. Gorczyca worked in the University of Dayton's community outreach program which provided technical assistance in fundraising, board development and management to neighborhood and community development organizations seeking to improve housing, job opportunities, and quality of life in their communities.

Ms. Gorczyca most recently has assisted the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation in Dayton as it reorganized and educated its board to take a more active role in fundraising.

Ms. Gorczyca's professional affiliations include membership in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) where she has served as president and board member. She was named AFP Professional Fund Raiser of the Year in 2000. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and led the CFRE study group from 2005 to 2008 for the Dayton Area chapter of AFP. She represented AFP on the advisory committee of Networks, a non-profit consortium convened by the Dayton Foundation. She served many years as volunteer and board member of the United Way of Greater Dayton and is a recent past board member of Goodwill/Easter Seals of Dayton. She is a frequent presenter for non-profit groups especially on fundraising and board development topics.

Ms. Gorczyca holds a Bachelor of Arts in French/Spanish and a Master of Arts in Communication and Business from the University of Dayton.

Bob has also been executive director of the Jewish Community Center of Cleveland. Bob holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Case Western Reserve University, an M.A. from Case and a B.A. from Miami University. He has taught courses in political science, social science, literature and writing at a number of area colleges including Cuyahoga Community College and Lake Erie College. Bob focuses on issues such as research, planning and resource development for nonprofit and public organizations. Recently he has served as a consultant for the Mandel Foundation; as consultant and founding executive director of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges Center for Development; and as a consultant for a major fundraising campaign for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio. Bob currently serves as the executive director of the Lakeland Foundation and director of development for Lakeland Community College. His relationship with Lakeland Community College allows him to be a part of The Hodge Group team on an ongoing basis.

With 20 years of experience in branding, public relations, marketing and philanthropy, Sharon weaves these practice areas together to create innovative philanthropic strategies to help organizations raise funds, build awareness and cultivate brand loyalty.

Some highlights from the lengthy list of organizations Sharon has worked with include Best Western, Lodging Concepts, Magnolia Hotels, Wendy's International, Bob Evans Farms, Kroger Corporation, Flying Horse Farms (a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camp for seriously ill children), Collier County Hotel Association, Head Start Programs, Tech Prep College Programs, University of Florida Health Science Center, The Ohio State University Newark Campus Development Fund, State of Ohio, and The Lutgurt Companies and Kaye Homes in Naples, Florida, Medical Center of Newark, and Scout Healthcare Development.

Sharon began her career launching a branch office in Naples, Florida, for a large public relation firm. She then was tapped as director of public relations for the University of Florida Health Science Center. In 1990, she became the executive director of the Licking County Foundation, The Thomas J. Evans Foundation and the Newark Campus Development Fund. Under her leadership as executive director, then as a consultant, the foundation grew from $3 million to $20+ million. She also initiated proactive grant making programs in the areas of healthcare, education and recreation.

In 1994, she opened her own public relations firm launching numerous initiatives in vertical markets: health care, real estate development, nonprofits, community programs, financial, sales, hospitality, and the film industry...to name a few. As a consultant for Jersey Baptist Church, she raised $3 million for their capital campaign. Most recently she helped to launch a $20 million capital campaign for a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camp for seriously ill children and establish relationships for the camp with area NBA and NFL teams.

Her work with start-up organizations, small and mid-sized businesses, and Fortune 500 companies, gives her a distinct perspective and vision on collaboration and partnership building possibilities.

As senior counsel for The Hodge Group, Sharon is poised to help organizations connect, communicate and captivate donors for successful and sustainable fundraising programs.

Her extensive experience in planning library facilities include the $33 million new Central library building in Des Moines, $6 million renovation/additions for 4 branch libraries in Des Moines and $1 million renovation of a Special Collections/Genealogy Department at the main Library and the design of a Branch Library in Davenport. Kay served as President of the Public Library Association in 2000.

Kay has been a guest lecturer at the University of Iowa Library School and serves on the University's Library School Advisory Board. Her community work has included: Wells Fargo Bank Board, Rotary Clubs of Des Moines and Davenport, Des Moines and Davenport Public Library Foundation Boards, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and Leadership Iowa, Downtown Development Corporation Boards of Des Moines and Davenport.

Other involvement includes: Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors and Alumni Board and Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, Chair of the Iowa Public Radio Board of Directors, Chair of the Kaplan University Board of Trustees, and elected councilor to the American Library Association. Her expertise is in library buildings, management and fundraising.

Steve was also founder and Managing Director of William Lane LLC, a nonprofit resource group providing capital formation, board development, strategic planning and operational assessment services to foundations, healthcare, higher education and faith-based organizations. Steve has also served in various executive positions in healthcare, retail, technology and service organizations throughout his 30-year career.

Select philanthropic projects include:

Rotary Club, Bentonville/Bella Vista, AR - $300,000 historic auditorium renovation

First Baptist Church, Bentonville, AR - $3 million children’s education building

Bates Medical Center, Bentonville, AR - $2 million surgical suite expansion

Fellowship Bible Church NWA, Rogers, AR - $14 million, 4-building campus expansion

Other professional accomplishments:

Founding member of Ouachita Student Foundation

Founding chairman of Bates Health Foundation, responsible for Executive Director search, board formation and raising $1 million in first year

Past Chairman and Director, respectively, of Arkansas and Missouri Quality Award governing bodies (Baldrige Quality Award, US Dept. of Commerce)

Steve is also a writer and speaker and is published as a participant in the 2005 White House Conference on Aging Solutions Forum, Elder Caregiving: A Renewed Faith-Based Emphasis.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Ouachita Baptist University.

He resides in Little Rock, AR with his wife Penny and they have two adult children.

As Director of Government and Public Affairs for the American Payroll Association, a $20 million, 22,000-plus member, national nonprofit organization with over 120 local chapters, Ms. Kelley received the American Society of Association Executive's Award of Excellence in Public Relations for “National Payroll Week,” a multi-media campaign reaching over 20 million.

Carolyn was honored by Presidents George H. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton for contributions to simplifying the U.S. tax administration system across more than 4,000 federal, state and local jurisdictions by invitations to the White House's Rose Garden and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Cash Room, respectively.

Ms. Kelley has led two organizations as Executive Director, the National Technical Services Association, Alexandria, VA, and The Junior League of San Antonio, Inc.

She has testified before the United States Senate and House of Representatives on such major federal legislation as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), provisions of numerous tax and appropriation bills and President Clinton's health care proposals.

Carolyn's work has been covered in various news media, including C-SPAN, WNBC New York, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, CEO Magazine, The San Antonio Express News, La Prensa, Rumbo, Conexion, Texas Public Radio and various trade publications, including The Journal of Taxation and Executive Management Forum, published by the American Society of Association Executives.

Among other community involvements, Ms. Kelley was a founding member of Women for Economic Leadership Development in Columbus, OH and Chair of the Tobin Hill Neighborhood Plan Team. She is currently President of the Tobin Hill Community Association, a member of the San Antonio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and a member of the United Way's Children's Issue Council.

Carolyn received her Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism from New York University and has been life-long learning ever since.

When not working, Carolyn can be found working in her garden, restoring her 1920s cottage in Tobin Hill, reading, cooking for friends, or traveling.