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Will Whiting
Executive Director of Development at The University of Texas at Austin
Professional Background
Will Whiting is a dynamic and accomplished fundraiser who currently serves as the Executive Director of Development at the University of Texas at Austin. In this pivotal role, Will is at the forefront of fundraising initiatives, managing a top-producing team that successfully raises over $50 million annually for the highly esteemed McCombs School of Business. With an impressive international portfolio spanning major cities such as South Korea, London, New York, and San Francisco, Will is a true leader in the realm of educational fundraising.
Will collaborates closely with campus leadership, dedicating his efforts to generating essential resources for students, faculty, innovative programs, and state-of-the-art facilities at Texas McCombs and throughout UT Austin. His commitment is fueled by the genuine inspiration he derives from the generosity of others and the significant impact transformational gifts can have on the educational landscape. Will strives each day to facilitate these meaningful contributions, ensuring they resonate as gifts of a lifetime.
Before embarking on his impactful journey at Texas Development, Will held the position of Senior Director of Development for the University of Tennessee Foundation, where he was based at the Health Science Center campus in Memphis. In this strategic role, Will functioned as the Chief Development Officer for the College of Dentistry, effectively managing a regional development program that contributed significantly to advancing campus-wide fundraising initiatives. His collaborative approach enabled him to work closely with Deans and the Chancellor, ensuring that fundraising efforts were aligned with the institution's goals.
Prior to his tenure at the University of Tennessee, Will was instrumental in fundraising efforts at the University of Arkansas, where he was responsible for securing funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support critical capital and endowment projects. His wealth of experience also includes working as the Vice President for Public Affairs at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with key positions at the William J. Clinton Foundation, where he contributed to the launch of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Education and Achievements
Will Whiting's educational background is rooted in his studies at the University of Arkansas System, where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Journalism, showcasing a strong foundation in effective communication strategies. Alongside this, he completed a Master's degree in Organizational and Crisis Communications at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, enabling him to navigate complex situations with grace and expertise.
His professional journey is characterized by a series of influential roles that highlight his versatility and competence in development and external relations. Will's track record includes:
- Executive Director of Development at The University of Texas at Austin, leading a successful fundraising team.
- Senior Director of Principal Gifts and Director of Principal Giving at the University of Texas, roles that showcase his deep commitment to advancing educational fundraising efforts.
- Senior Director of Development for the University of Tennessee Foundation, where he played a vital role in orchestrating fundraising strategies for the College of Dentistry.
- Director of Regional Development at the University of Tennessee Foundation, exemplifying his ability to expand fundraising endeavors across various regions.
- Assistant Director of University Development at the University of Arkansas, where he laid the groundwork for his future successes in fundraising and development.
- Positions at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and the William J. Clinton Foundation where he further honed his skills in public affairs and advocacy.
Through these diverse experiences, Will has developed the ability to manage complex relationships and foster meaningful connections, reinforcing his role as a leader in the fundraising community. His former status as a registered lobbyist has also provided him with keen insight into legislative processes, further enhancing his capacity to advocate for essential public policy in areas such as education, healthcare, economic development, and public safety.
Personal Life
Away from his professional commitments, Will Whiting embraces life in Austin alongside his husband, Matt. The couple takes pride in raising two beloved rescue pups, Calvin and Delta Dawn, and are actively involved in their community. This personal dedication mirrors Will's passion for making a difference in the lives of others, further driving his professional mission of securing transformational gifts for education.
In summary, Will Whiting exemplifies dedication and expertise as a leading fundraiser and advocate for the educational sector. His comprehensive background spanning decades and numerous institutions underscores his commitment to elevating educational experiences for students and faculty alike. Will continues to be an inspiring figure in the field of development, making significant strides for the University of Texas at Austin and leaving a lasting impact on the world of higher education.
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Mesh works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Mesh offers several powerful features including:
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Mesh is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Mesh offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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