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

  Board Member
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  Mark Hammett

  Board Member

  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 $3 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 two grandchildren.

   

• Bob Hodgdon

  Treasurer
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  Bob Hodgdon

  Treasurer

  Bob Hodgdon is currently treasurer/board member for Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc., a gun powder business he and his family founded over 70 years ago. He also served on the board for Cross International. Passing the torch for generous giving on to the next generation is Bob’s passion.

   

• Kari Lipscomb

  Secretary
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  Kari Lipscomb

  Secretary

  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
  

• Mark Smith

  Board Member
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  Mark Smith

  Board Member

  Mark Smith had no interest in Christianity until he read the New Testament at age 35.  Soon later, he began giving Bibles to others and founded Mainstream Bible Outreach Society. Mark also acquired Knit-Rite, Inc., a family founded business, and is married to Jackie. Together, they have two daughters.

   

• Ron Baldwin

  Board Member
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  Ron Baldwin

  Board Member

  Ron Baldwin, CPA, is chairman of CrossFirst Bank and chairman, president, and CEO of CrossFirst Holdings. He was president and CEO of Intrust Bank, CFO and EVP with Fourth Financial Corporation, and president of Bank IV Oklahoma. Ron served on the Wichita State Foundation and Kanakuk Ministries’ board.

   

• 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.

   

• 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
  

Our Story

The Signatry’s very existence is a miracle.

In 1999, our two key founders, Frank Brown and Pat Lloyd (both from Kansas City), did not know each other. Moreover, neither of them dreamed that they would start a global Christian foundation whose influence would spread worldwide.

Frank Brown’s business success meant he faced a tremendous tax burden, and his financial advisor recommended Frank set up a private foundation. In researching his options, Frank stumbled upon the donor advised fund world, and he flew to a conference in Atlanta to learn more. While there, he was surprised to see his name listed in a brochure as someone interested in starting a Christian community foundation.

Pat Lloyd, who had long been known for her giving, attended a different Christian conference in the same building a week later. There she was given a brochure about starting a Christian community foundation—the same brochure that listed Frank Brown.

Through a divinely orchestrated series of connections, Frank Brown, Pat Lloyd, Bill High, and other founding board members came together in Kansas City to pray about whether God was putting something together, something bigger than any of them had dreamed.

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