STILLPOINT Archive: last updated 01/15/2013
Recently four new employees were added to Gordon’s Development Office. Here’s a bit about each of them.
Sandy Butters, vice president for development
Sandy Butters’ new position isn’t only a strategic appointment for Gordon College. It’s a homecoming.
Butters first came to Gordon as a transfer student in 1991, having learned about the College from a faculty member who was serving as the interim pastor at her church. The encouragement and instruction she says she received from her professors and classmates uniquely equipped her for her career. She majored in political studies, graduated with honors in 1993, and went to work for Massachusetts General Hospital in its Office of General Counsel.
The experience she gained at Mass General and later with a New York-based publishing company impressed former professor Bill Harper, and when in 1998 he learned of a new position in Development at Gordon, he encouraged her to apply. Butters was director of the annual fund for five years before leaving for Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where she became the director of parent giving with a major gifts portfolio.
Currently she oversees a staff of 12 who represent alumni and parent relations, and annual, major and planned giving programs, including new faces Elsje Zwart, Brad Lestage and Fred DiStefano.
Elsje Zwart, major gifts officer
Elsje Zwart grew up in Canada and spent many years working for profit and nonprofit organizations, her most recent as vice president of operations at a video conferencing company and as a consultant for business leaders. Her undergraduate degree is in political science and her master’s of science in management. She is excited to be part of a community of like-minded believers. “Believing in the mission is critical to being a good spokesperson for the cause. Knowing the cause at Gordon is Christian education makes it easy. It’s something I’m passionate about.”
Brad Lestage, senior major gifts officer
Before Gordon, Brad Lestage ’92 had devoted much of his life to working at the United Way, where he developed relationships with large companies and donors, managed the Chairman’s Division volunteer team, and achieved record increases at various companies. Before that he spent nine years in the psychology and social work fields. He graduated from Gordon with a degree in economics and has his master’s in psychology. Brad, married to Kelly (Bergeron) ’95, says, “I thank God for the opportunity to work at Gordon. I feel so blessed, and hope and pray God will
use me to help glorify Him and expand His Kingdom.”
Fred DiStefano, development gifts officer: special gifts
Fred DiStefano ’10 grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, and attended Lexington Christian Academy, where his golf coach, John Cissel ’85, encouraged him to go to Gordon. During college he participated in various internships, including one with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., and graduated with a degree in economics. “Serving Gordon is rewarding because I believe in its mission,” says Fred. “As a student I had immense spiritual and intellectual support and want future students to experience the same things I did. Developing relationships with others who love Gordon is an exciting way to give back.”
