Staff Biographies
Randall Hallett serves as the Director of Institutional Advancement. His responsibilities include oversight of all external relations/communications with alumni, families, and friends including an upcoming capital campaign, annual fundraising, planned giving, alumni affairs, special events, and marketing. He joined the Academy in June 2005.
Prior to joining the Academy, Randall served as the Director of Development at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, MO. At this all-male Jesuit institution, Randall was responsible for a $21 million dollar Defining Moment capital campaign, a $1.4 million dollar annual giving program, a planned giving agenda, and special events. Before Rockhurst, Randall served as Executive Director of the UMKC Law Foundation and Assistant Athletics Director at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Randall earned his Juris Doctorate in 1997 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. That same year, he earned his Masters in Business Administration from the same University of Missouri-Kansas City. Prior to his post-graduate work, Randall earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Randall grew up in Omaha, NE. In his spare time, Randall enjoys watching Nebraska football, reading and playing golf. He has served on many different volunteer boards, including as Chair/President of several. Randall is married to Mary Lynn (nee) Boddie of Edgard, LA (2000).
Gerry Brown '58 returned to the Advancement Office in 2006 as a Fundraising Consultant after five years of retirement. He retired in 2001 after 35 years with the Academy in various staff positions, the last 14 years in the Development Office as Alumni and Annual Fund Director.
Mary Culbertson is the Director of Communications. She serves as the editor for Saber; other responsibilities include content management for Cadets.com, advertising and public relations for the school, and communication management for all STA constituents.
Mary grew up in Highland Park, attended Derham Hall, and earned a marketing degree from St. Thomas College.
She served as Saint Thomas Academy’s Auction Coordinator from 2001 to 2004, and then moved to the communications position. Her brother John graduated from STA in 1988, and her sister Ann graduated from Convent of the Visitation School in 1991. And, yes, she is Bill Culbertson’s daughter (not to be confused with his wife Mary Jo).
Richard Kimbrough serves as the Director of Major and Planned Gifts for Saint Thomas Academy. His responsibilities include the marketing of gift opportunities and identifying campus priorities for current and potential donors to STA.
Rick began his development career at Saint Thomas Academy in 2002. Recently he returned to serve in his current role. During his hiatus from campus he served as Director of Development at Hill-Murray School and the Vice President for Development at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas. Rick’s experience also includes a consulting role as a planned gift consultant for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
He is married to Becky - the two met in college at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Becky is an elementary school teacher in the Twin Cities and is in the process of completing her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. Rick and Becky enjoy going to the movies, reading, gardening, involvement at church and watching football.
Laurie Kropp serves as Development Assistant. She handles gift processing and other database management tasks. Laurie comes to Saint Thomas Academy after working for ISD #199. She is married to Kelly and has two sons, Eric and Andrew. She is an active community volunteer. When not watching her boys play sports she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Wally Kurtz, Emeritus Director of Development, has been associated with Saint Thomas Academy for more than 56 years and currently works part-time as an advisor and mentor to the Advancement Office staff.
During his lifelong career at the Academy, Wally has been an acclaimed and much beloved teacher, a creative and innovative administrator, a successful fund and friend raiser, and a dedicated volunteer. Although “officially” retired since 1988, he still works every Monday in the Advancement Office—and many weeks have more than one Monday!
Wally taught English and typing for his first 17 years, served as yearbook advisor and was the English department chair. In 1967 he created the Academy’s first development office that also included alumni relations, public relations and admissions.
Wally was named the first honorary alumnus of Saint Thomas Academy and has received the Academy’s two highest honors, the Opus Sancti Thomae Award and the Hames Alumni Honor Award.
Sue Nybakken, Coordinator for Database Operations and Fiscal Officer, is a 20-year employee of the Academy. She overseas all the hardware and software needs of the Advancement Office; monitors the inflow and outgo of all monies, including receipting and recognition of gifts; and monitors all individual program budgets within the department.
Although Father Thomas F.A. O'Brien was born in Connecticut, he spent his grade school and high school years in Ohio and Michigan.
After receiving degrees in theology and English from Georgetown University and the University of Michigan, with further graduate work at The Catholic University of America, he was ordained a priest to the Diocese of Arlington, VA, in 1983. He later did doctoral work at The University of Virginia, before becoming Director of Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT, where he served for seven years.
He joined the Saint Thomas Academy Institutional Advancement Office in September 2005, coming from his position as Executive Director of Development and External Relations for the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN, home of The Saint John’s Bible. His hobbies include reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with many good friends.
Ingrid Peterson works part-time in the Alumni/Development Office. She retired from ISD # 197, where she was a full-time Spanish teacher. After 33 ½ years of working with kids and parents, this is a "pleasant change of scenery.” Ingrid’s main focus is database management, with an emphasis on tracking down LOST alumni but she helps out around the office as needed.
Trish Rowley serves as the Assistant to the Director of Institutional Advancement. She began in the department as a capital campaign manager in 1997.
Trish has many ties to Saint Thomas Academy. Her three sons are graduates, as well as three of her brothers, seven uncles and numerous cousins. Trish served on the Saint Thomas Academy Board of Trustees from 1994-2000 and also served as the Community Auction Chair in 1988. Prior to working at the Academy, Trish was an active community volunteer.
A graduate of the College of Saint Catherine with a degree in English, Trish and her husband, Steve, have four grown children.
Shannon Smith, Assistant to the Director of Major Gifts/Planned Giving & the Director of Annual Giving/Alumni Relations, joined the Advancement Department staff in September 2006. Most recently, Shannon served as a graduate assistant supporting 12 professors in the History Department at Minnesota State University-Mankato while she obtained her master’s degree in history. She has also worked as an office specialist for Hennepin County and as Executive Assistant to former United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz.
Shannon obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. She is married and has one son.
Norbert F. Winter III '87 is the Director of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund Program.
His responsibilities include: Bereavement Director, Executive Secretary for the Alumni Association Board of Directors, support for the on-line community, gathering information and posting class notes, and other promotions of the mission of Saint Thomas Academy, and its alumni and their business and personal achievement in our community.
Before joining the Academy, Norb worked at Creative Promotions International/Blue Earth Internets LLC, a marketing company that supported corporate clients’ goals to create and promote brand recognition and loyalty programs. He also worked at Winter and Associates LLC, a family owned business, as an investment advisor for financial products that included college funding, retirement and estate planning. He provided objective, customized solutions to assist individuals, professionals and business owners in reaching and protecting their financial goals.
Norb is married to Debbie (nee Donovan) from Andover MA (1998) and they have two daughters, Julia and Addison.
Norb's community involvement includes:
STA Alumni Association Board of Directors and Past President in 1998-99
International Special Olympics
Rob Donovan Endowed Scholarship Fund Ice Fishing Tournament
