LFOT Staff and Advisors
Reverend Gary L. Pohl, Executive Director garyp@lfot.org
A native Texan, Reverend Pohl has over 20 years of experience in the area of gift planning and development. He was named Executive Director of the Lutheran Foundation of Texas in May of 2000. Before joining the Foundation, he served as Gift Planning Counselor from 1994-1999 for the LCMS Foundation in the Southern District, New Orleans, Louisiana. From 1987-1994 he served as Director of Development for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri and from 1984-87 as Associate Director and later Director of Development for Concordia University, Austin, Texas. A lifelong professional church worker, Reverend Pohl has also served as a college admissions officer, Lutheran high school teacher and counselor, and parish pastor. His professional affiliations include memberships with the National Committee on Planned Giving, the Association of Lutheran Development Executives, and the Association of Fund Raising Professionals.
Reverend Pohl holds a BSEd degree from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, a MDiv degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana and a MEd degree from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Reverend Pohl is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin.
John Hawkins, Director of Planned Giving johnh@lfot.org
A resident of Texas since 1985, John Hawkins joined the staff of the Lutheran Foundation of Texas in May 2001. He has over 30 years of experience in development and stewardship. This includes service as Director of Major Gifts for Children's Hospital Foundation in Austin, Texas (1999-2001), Director of Development for Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas in Austin (1991-1999), and Vice President for Development for Providence Health Center in Waco, Texas (1985-1991). A native of Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Hawkins also worked in development at Children's Hospital of Michigan and the University of Detroit-Mercy (UDM) in that city. He received his BA and MBA degrees from UDM in 1975 and 1980, respectively. Mr. Hawkins is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and holds professional memberships in the National Committee on Planned Giving and the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. He is a member of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lago Vista.
Gretchen Kroesch, Trust Operations Officer kroesch@lfot.org
A native of New York State, Gretchen Kroesch has resided in Texas since 1984. She received her BA with a major in mathematics and a minor in business administration from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. Gretchen joined the LFOT staff in 1998. Prior to that, she worked for Buck Consultants of New York, New York, and Custom Benefit Services, Austin, Texas, in the actuarial field. Together with her family, she is a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Georgetown, Texas.
Operations
Executive SecretaryJuanita Karber jkarber@lfot.org
Juanita joined the staff in 2001 as executive secretary for Rev. Pohl. She handles most of the correspondence and communications for the Foundation. Juanita and her husband, Bill, have seven children and five grandchildren. They are members of Point of Grace Lutheran Church in Pflugerville.
Communications Coordinator
Joyce Best joyce@lfot.org
A part-time LFOT employee since 1996, Joyce prepares materials for congregations and other ministries to encourage giving to their endowments at LFOT, and prepares gift information for publication. Joyce and Mike, her husband, are the parents of two sons and have four grandchildren. They are members at Our Savior, Austin.
Advisors
Accountant:Mark E. Beyer, CPA, CFP, P.C.
Legal Counsel:Walter C. Guebert, JD, P.C.
Auditor:Maxwell Locke & Ritter, P.C.