Board Of Directors & Founders We’re chasing the vision God has set in our hearts.

Our Board of Directors

Our board members hold every quality you’d expect to see: They’re experienced. They’re committed. And they’re invested. But it’s their deep-rooted faith and their belief in our mission that makes them uniquely qualified to build and preserve our legacy here at The Signatry. Most importantly, they’re always available, and they’re always praying—for us, for you, and for the causes we all support.

• Gary Nagel

  Chairman

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  Gary Nagel

  Chairman

  Gary is the founder of Wealth Management Group of Kansas City. He has served on the investment committee of Wycliffe Bible Translators and RIA Charitable Investment, and has been a U.S. board member of SAT 7, a founder of Crossfirst Bank, and an advocate for Generous Church. He is married to Judy.

• Mark Bainbridge

  Vice Chairman

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  Mark Bainbridge

  Vice Chairman

  Mark Bainbridge retired as the general manager of Bancourier. He has served as a board member of Shepherds Ministry and College, an advisor to Christian University of the Americas, and executive director of the Children's Scholarship Fund. He and his wife Holly care for their two disabled adult children.

• Frank Brown

  Board Member

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  Frank Brown

  Board Member

  Frank Brown spent 30 years as a pilot in the Air Force and with Trans World Airlines before founding a bank courier service. Frank was married for 45 years, has four married children, six married grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. His faith-filled 85+ year life journey inspires generosity.

• Mark Hammett

  Treasurer

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  Mark Hammett

  Treasurer

  Mark Hammett is First Vice President of Fixed Income Sales at Commerce Bank. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Mark also serves on the board of Rachel House Pregnancy Resource Center and The Children’s SPOT of St. Luke’s Hospital. He and his wife Kristin attend Abundant Life Church.

• Bill High

  Board Member

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  Bill High

  Board Member

  Bill High is the Chief Executive Officer of The Signatry: A Global Christian Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation in 2000, Bill was a partner with Blackwell Sanders LLP, a national and international law firm. He is also the founder of iDonate, a fundraising software company serving the non-profit community. iDonate.com provides an online marketing solution for non-profits to market and receive gifts of all kinds: including cash, text, credit card and non-cash gifts.
  
  With the foundation, he has been a vital part in overseeing their efforts from startup, to almost $4 billion in contributions. Bill invests his time working with families, individual givers, ministries, and financial advisors. He also works strategically with business owners who are looking to sell and/or transition their business to the next generation, and teaches ministries how to work with major donors.
  
  Bill’s personal mission is to change the way people view and practice generosity. Through innovative resources, leadership and writing – he’s helped show generous families how to grow their impact through cash and noncash giving. As part of that mission, he’s working with families to carry on a lasting legacy of true wealth.
  
  Bill is also a published author. His recent books include a book co-authored with David Green, CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby, called Giving It All Away…And Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously (Zondervan 2017), and a book co authored with Steve and Jackie Green, This Dangerous Book: How the Bible Has Shaped our World and Why it Still Matters Today (Zondervan 2017). Other books include Stories of the Generous Life. Ordinary People. Extraordinary Generosity, and its sequel, The Generosity Bet. He co-authored Sell Well, which highlights avoiding common mistakes when selling a business, and Why the Conservative Mind Matters. He also contributed to unHeritage: 11 Pitfalls to Family Legacy and How to Avoid Them, and the companion volume, unPrepared Heirs At Risk.
  
  Apart from writing books, Bill is a highly sought-after conference speaker on topics relating to philanthropy and the transforming power of biblical generosity. He was named one of the Top 25 Philanthropy Speakers in the United States by Philanthropy Media.
  
  Bill has been married to his wife Brooke for more than 30 years. They have four children, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren.

• Kari Lipscomb

  Board Member

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  Kari Lipscomb

  Board Member

  Kari works alongside her husband Tom in the insurance industry. She is also an organizer behind the scenes at Heritage Christian Academy and Grace Church of Overland Park where her family attends school and church. As a women's Bible study leader, Kari helps women develop a passion for generosity.

• Emmitt Mitchell

  Board Member

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  Emmitt Mitchell

  Board Member

  Emmitt Mitchell is president of The Moody Center. As a businessman with experience in the banking, real estate and automobile industry, he also served as chairman of Urban Youth Leader, senior pastor of Victory Temple Christian Life Center, and board member of Bott Radio Network. Emmitt is married to Karen.

• Glen Posladek

  Board Member

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  Glen Posladek

  Board Member

  Glen is the owner, president, and CEO of A.B. May Company, a home service company. He also serves as a director of CrossFirst Bank, Freedom Fire Urban Ministries, Caring for Kids, Healing for the Nations, and he is chairman of the governing board for Hillcrest Covenant Church. He is married to Shirley.

• Jim Wright

  Board Member

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  Jim Wright

  Board Member

  Jim Wright is the retired CEO and executive chairman of Tractor Supply Company. He has served on several industry, public, and privately held boards and continues to serve as a trustee at Belmont University. Jim and his wife Susan are passionate about building a family legacy of faith and stewardship.

• Gary Venable

  Board Member

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  Gary Venable

  Board Member

  Gary Venable is the founder and chairman of All Systems. Since retiring, Gary advises a few dozen businesses, entrepreneurs, and leaders across Africa and Asia. He is currently Co-Founder and Director of Affirm Manufacturers and Traders Private Ltd. and Immanuel International Academy in India. He is married to Jan.

• Greg Ealey

  Board Member

• John Gillespie

  Board Member

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  John Gillespie

  Board Member

  John G. Gillespie is the Founder and CEO of Access Financial Group, Inc., and author of, “The Power of Seven Personal Financial Disciplines.” Mr. Gillespie has been a personal financial advisor, active in industry and community organizations. Mr. Gillespie is a member of the National Association of Charitable Estate Counselors and the National Council of Certified Estate Planners. He is a faithful supporter of CBMC (Christian Business Men’s Connection) and serves on the board of Stand in the Gap Ministries and The Signatry.

• Christine Soule

  Board Member

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  Christine Soule

  Board Member

  Christine is the Founder and CEO of Providence Heights and is an author and philanthropist. Having experienced homelessness herself, Christine has a personal passion for ministering to homeless and abused women. Christine and her husband, Mitch, are very active in their community and pursue a life of radical generosity.

• Eric Schroeder

  Board Member

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  Eric Schroeder

  Board Member

  Eric Schroeder is one of the Founders and an Organizing Board Member of CrossFirst Bank. He now serves as the Managing Director of Kansas City Institutional Banking. With 30 years of experience in the banking industry, Schroeder’s primary role is to ensure that shareholders and clients are served extraordinarily.
  

• Keith Phillips

  MT Board Chair

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  Keith Phillips

  MT Board Chair

  Keith Phillips is Managing Director and financial advisor for Wiley Bros. – Aintree Capital. He serves as the Middle Tennessee Advisory Board Chair for The Signatry. Keith is actively involved in Business as Mission which aims to both create and curate business. He and his wife Nancy attend Covenant Presbyterian Church.

• Ken Polk

  Board Member

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  Ken Polk

  Board Member

  Kenneth H. Polk, CPA, CFP® founded Arlington in 1998 and is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer. Ken sets the strategic direction for the firm and leads the investment team. He also leads the firm in assisting families align around a common purpose and shared family legacy. Prior to founding Arlington, Ken was a tax consultant with Deloitte where he worked with families and their closely held businesses. Ken graduated from Lipscomb University with a degree in accounting. Ken is a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO). He serves on the Board for two non-profit organizations focused on leadership development. Ken is married and has four children.

• Steve French

  President, The Signatry

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  Steve French

  President, The Signatry

  Stephen (Steve) French is President of The Signatry. His primary role is strategic management and leadership of the office. He also devotes his time meeting with advisors, attorneys, individuals, and business owners to develop strategies and solutions to minimize tax liability, while maximizing charitable giving. This is executed with specific emphasis in the area of non-liquid assets such as: stock, real estate, mutual funds, and portions of closely held businesses.
  
  Prior to joining The Signatry, Steve was the founder and CEO of Quovant, a Legal Spend Management company working with law firms in over 13 countries.
  
  Steve is married to his wife Debbie and they have two daughters – Marnie and Rachel, who have blessed them with four grandsons.

• Frank Mall

  Board Member, Emeritus

• Bruce Pfuetze

  Board Member, Emeritus

• Andy Eby

  Board Member, Emeritus

• Larry Powell

  Board Member, Emeritus