What I Wish I Had Known
Join us for this panel of 5 experienced development professionals to hear their stories, wisdom, advice, and "what they wish they had known".
Panelists Lynn Weill, Susan Kantrow, Charlene Montelaro, Mila Sexton and Connie Caldwell will discuss how they began grew their careers, their biggest mistakes and how they corrected them, their strategies for success & productivity, the best advice they ever received and what they would do differently if they could “do it all over again.” Plan to laugh, learn, and be inspired as these consummate professionals share the ups and downs of their development journeys with us!
Lynn Weill retired from Woman’s Hospital in December of 2013 where she served as Vice President/Chief Development Officer. As such, she was responsible for all of Woman’s Hospital's fund-development activities, including the major gifts program, the planned giving program, the annual giving program, endowment development, donor relations, and special events. Prior to joining Woman’s, Lynn was Vice President for Development & Chief Development Officer at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. In 2014 with over twenty years of fundraising experience, Lynn founded Lynn Weill Consulting to provide a “helping hand in philanthropy, planning and performance”. She also served as AFP, Greater Baton Rouge Chapter President in 2006; was honored as the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser of the Year in 2008 by AFP, Greater Baton Rouge Chapter; received the Brother Donnan Berry Award in 2016; and named one of the Influential Women in Business in 2005 by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Lynn founded Lynn Weill Consulting to provide a “helping hand in philanthropy, planning and performance”.
Susan Mintz Kantrow was Director of Development for PAR since 1999 until her recent retirement. Prior positions include: Director of Development and Public Affairs, Odyssey House, Louisiana (New Orleans); Development Director, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (New Orleans); and Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Director of the Parkway Partners Program, New Orleans Parkway and Park Commission. Ms. Kantrow served as Vice- President of the Greater New Orleans Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Executives (AFP) and was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Greater New Orleans Chapter. She was also named a YWCA Role Model and a Young Leadership Council Role Model. She served as President of the Greater Baton Rouge Chapter of AFP and received the Brother Donnan Berry Award from the Greater Baton Rouge Chapter. She is a member of the Planned Giving Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Rotary Club of Baton Rouge and Capital Area Network.
Charlene Montelaro is the Senior Vice-President of Development & Philanthropy for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Mrs. Montelaro also served a President of the Junior League of Baton Rouge and President of AFP of Greater Baton Rouge Chapter. She achieved the designation Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy from The American College in 2015. Charlene joined the Food Bank in 2006 after having served as Development/Marketing Director for the Istrouma Area Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Academic Distinction Fund in Baton Rouge, LA. Charlene was recognized by AFP as the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser in 2012. She has also served as President of Cancer Services of GBR Board and is a graduate and board member of Leadership Baton Rouge.
Mila Sexton, CFRE, is the Senior Director of Development for the LSU College of Human Sciences and Education Pre-College Division. Previously, Mila served as Director of Development at the LSU Laboratory School Foundation, VP of the Southeast Affiliate American Heart Association, Director of Development for the General Health System and Development Associate at the Louisiana Council on Child Abuse. Mila was recognized at the AFP Outstanding Professional Fundraiser in 2007, and received the Brother Donnan Berry Award in 2005. In 2018, she became a AFP Certified Master Trainer.
Connie Caldwell began her career in fundraising in 2000 as Development Director at the Istrouma Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. She came to Cancer Services in 2004 as Development Director and served in that capacity for 8 years before joining the Baton Rouge General Foundation as Annual Giving Manager. She came home to Cancer Services in 2014 to once again serve as Development Director. In February of 2018 Cancer Services merged with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Connie looks forward to an exciting future for Cancer Services as the partnership will allow Cancer Services to provide more programs and services to all in our community who are living with a cancer diagnosis.