Autumn Shirley
CEO, Marketing & Sales Lead, Feather Un-Ruffler
My training and work background has been in sales and communication. I graduated from MSU-West Plains in 1999 with a degree emphasis in journalism and communications. I went on to work in sales with a yellow pages firm which involved a great deal of travel. Wishing to settle down with my daughter, Lily, I joined the FundRaiser team in 2001. I knew right away that I had found my career passion - at FundRaiser, I could come to work every day knowing that, no matter what I dealt with, the people were totally amazing - both our customers, and my co-workers! The road is long and winding, but eventually my husband and I agreed to purchase the business from Gene in 2010, and the rest is yet to be written. Both Joshua and I have a passion for working with nonprofits, and are involved in several of our local nonprofit organizations outside of work, including our local library, as well as our small business incubator, where Joshua and I volunteer our mentoring services to new businesses and nonprofits. We also seem to be running our own little zoo at home, where the humans are greatly outnumbered by cats, dogs, bunnies, fish, and various rescue animals...
Joshua Shirley
CFO, Product Vision Lead, Ultimate Fixer
I came to FundRaiser with an extensive accounting background and knowledge of computer hardware and software issues, which I first put to use at the Presbyterian Church in Harrison, AR. I moved to Missouri when Autumn and I were married, and initially joined the FundRaiser team to help with website maintenance and development, then accepted a temporary bookkeeping position. When Autumn and I purchased FundRaiser, I became the CFO, and also stepped in to handle high-level tech support issues when our support staff needs a break, and take on the roll of product development and strategy. I very much enjoy working with our customers, and am honored to have been given the opportunity to direct the company to a promising future. In my (rare) free time, I like to just drive and find something new I haven't noticed before, and enjoy learning about new things and how things work, and passing that along to my son, Isaac. I also serve on the board of our Downtown Association, and volunteer my time to mentor new businesses and organizations through our business incubator, and help organize our city-wide heritage festival. All in all - life, no matter how things go, is fun to experience.
Sasha Daucus
Social Media Director, Newsletter Wizard
Before coming to FundRaiser, I learned marketing through running my own small business. Together, my partner and I provided midwifery services to families around the Ozarks, and then established a general health care practice in two small Ozark towns. I've enjoyed transferring those marketing skills to online marketing for FundRaiser. In particular, I enjoy editing the customer newsletter and participating in online nonprofit technology forums. I like being involved in a company which is helping others improve the world. I believe that working in a great working environment helping organizations who want to create a better world is a wonderful gift. Outside of work, I enjoy working on a variety of personal and community projects with friends. I love my dog and three cats, and maintaining the beautiful piece of Ozark woodlands where I live. I meditate and find the study and practice of Western style Buddhism enriching. I volunteer extensively for the Ozarks Media Arts Center, and for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Through my work at FundRaiser, I volunteer as forum host and facilitator for TechSoup, the nonprofit technology site.
Jonathan Smith
Customer Support, Developer In-Training, Resident Yoda
My training and background is in internet technology and computer engineering. I worked in IT at a large phone company in Little Rock, Arkansas. I moved to the West Plains area to be closer to family several years ago. In West Plains, I worked as a computer instructor for Missouri State University, where I heard about a small software company that has been around for many years, and became interested in working there. In 2011, several years after hearing about FundRaiser, I was very pleased to become a part of the technical support team. I enjoy working here, and I feel that there’s nothing nicer than coming in every day to serve people who are deep-down wonderful. My three main hobbies are hiking, playing chess, and building guitar amplifiers.
Mary Lenker
Lead Trainer, Customer Support, Grammar Wizard
Before coming to FundRaiser, I worked for many years at Wells Fargo, in both customer service and technical support. I have also worked with nonprofit organizations; for a while back in the 90’s, I worked with our local cage bird club to do rescue for aviary birds like finches and canaries. Eventually we educated those in the area about the smaller birds and the local club was able to pick up the work of finding new homes for any birds in need. Outside work I enjoy the outdoors. I moved to the West Plains area with my husband to have more opportunity to homestead, and we already have horses and chickens. I also enjoy hiking, photography, reading and writing. I like working at FundRaiser because it allows me to do the technical work that I enjoy, including walking people through the steps they need in the software. I enjoy the customer service atmosphere at FundRaiser and helping nonprofit organizations. I believe that when we join together to do good in our own ways that there’s no limit to what we can achieve, which makes my work at FundRaiser that much more special because I love helping so many organizations reach their goals.
Joey Patten
Customer Support, Trainer In-Training, Support Enthusiast
I came to FundRaiser after working in the Navy as the Administrative Assistant for the commander of a submarine squadron, where it was my job to do computer work and interface with IT. I joined the FundRaiser staff recently after moving back to West Plains, my home town. I have always loved working with computers and got started when I was about 6 years old. Outside of work my hobbies include hiking, fishing, hunting, being outside, and, being with my family - my son, Emmett and wife Jessica. While in the Navy, I volunteered often for Convoy of Hope, a relief organization that distributed Christmas presents and food. I was also volunteer in charge of volunteer services at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. I enjoy working at FundRaiser Software because I believe that by supporting nonprofits, we are not just helping them, but helping the world as a whole.
Joe Salrin
Data Conversion Lead, New Technology Guru
I've been working with computers and technology full time since the early 1970's, in everything from academia to the manufacturing sector. During my career, I have been through several major conversion projects from the user side. Working for Fundraiser Software since 2004, I’ve done over 60 conversions for clients. I and my wife were involved in the startup of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. My personal interests are varied, including lutherie, lapidary and gardening.
Gene Weinbeck
Founder, Lead Programmer, Mentor - Retired
I started this business in the early 1980's. When it comes to qualifications for the job, I have none whatsoever. I'm lucky to be working here at all. I enjoy working at FundRaiser because my friends at FundRaiser allow me to be myself and encourage me to grow, sometimes in unforeseen and unexpected ways. It's fun working here - I believe that spending all day in a place where people smile and laugh and feel good about themselves is a blessing that ripples across the world. Outside of work I enjoy gardening, drumming, friends, firewalking, dressing up in costume, and having opportunities to be useful. I've been active in several local nonprofits and am currently on the board of Downtown West Plains, Inc (a downtown revitalization nonprofit), and the Ozarks Small Business Incubator.
In Remembrance of Larry Weaver (1946 - 2016)
Previously: Training Lead, Vocal Extraordinaire
It is with great sadness that we report the death on January 13, 2016 of Larry Weaver, long-time employee and friend at Fundraiser. Many of you have have “known” Larry for years, as he helped all of our FundRaiser users in his roles as Technical Support expert, and in later years, the “star” of our Training videos and live classes. Larry was the first employee hired by founder Gene Weinbeck, and remained, through the ups and downs of the company and his own move from Missouri to Arizona, a staunch friend and supporter of FundRaiser’s mission.
Larry was 69, and had been retired for just a year when he died of cancer, less than a month after the death of his wife, Nanette. Larry will be remembered as a valuable member of the FundRaiser team, a wonderful friend, and a talented and creative person.
Foxy
New Chief Morale Officer
Foxy was found by Autumn Shirley in a parking lot. She had been dumped along with her day-old littermates on a cold, rainy morning, but, fortunately, they were found quickly. The Shirleys immediately took all of the kittens in and proceeded to bottle feed them every hour for two weeks. Needless to say, there was not much sleep in the household during this time... fortunately, the kittens grew and thrived and good homes were found for all of them. Foxy decided she would like to become the new Chief Morale Officer here at FundRaiser when Smudge retired, so she spends her day napping and playing with the many dozens of mice that Smudge left for her... but mostly napping. She says she'll start working on that Morale thing any day now.
Smudge
Chief Morale Officer, Conqueror of Mice - Retired
Smudge was found by Lily (our Social Media Intern, and daughter of Autumn and Joshua) at the high school tennis courts. She was very tiny and hungry, so the Shirleys brought her home, and helped nurse her back to good health. They then tried to find her a good home, knowing that it would be very difficult to part with her after bonding so strongly. Fortunately, after weeks of trying to find a new home for her, Gene Weinbeck, founder of FundRaiser Software, adopted her, and so she became the Chief Morale Officer here at FundRaiser. Smudge spent a few years roaming around the office, visiting all the employees, and terrorizing Gene. She eventually decided that she would rather be outside and lives in the countryside with Gene. She often visits the office and never ceases to bring a smile to each and every person she runs into, hence her title. She has been a large part of the FundRaiser team, paving the way very nicely for our next CMO, Foxy.
FundRaiser Software is the first recipient of the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2008.
