Our People

Chad Gobel,
Principal Consultant & President, Gobel Group
Chad is a twenty-year veteran of institutional advancement programs, having played leading roles in billion dollar medical center campaigns at the Cleveland Clinic and University of Rochester Medical Center. His experience, strategic vision and focus on results have fueled his expertise in healthcare philanthropic programs. He has a passion for grateful patient fundraising, managing campaigns, building major gifts programs and increasing the productivity of gift officers.

Chad most recently served as Associate Vice President for Advancement at the University of Rochester Medical Center.  Previously, he served as Associate Chairman for Development at the Cleveland Clinic, Assistant Dean for External Affairs at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, and Executive Director of Development at the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs. He’s a frequent speaker at AHP and AAMC conferences, serves on the faculty of the AHP Madison Institute, and published the widely circulated book, “How to Become a Top Advancement Producer in Healthcare Philanthropy.”

Desirae Davis,
Senior Consultant & Director, Grateful Patient Fundraising Programs
Desirae has significant medical center fundraising experience. She is skilled in growing grateful patient fundraising programs, building strong internal and external relationships, campaign planning and implementation, volunteer management, major/leadership gift strategy and solicitation, special events and donor recognition programs. She possesses excellent organizational and communication skills.

Before Gobel, Desirae served as the Director of Advancement at the University of Rochester Medical Center, overseeing all development functions within a clinical unit. She worked closely with physicians and board members to close six and seven figure gifts. Previously, she worked at Rochester General Hospital, partnering with employed and private physicians to implement process improvements and create aligned interests between physicians and the hospital.

Richard McKenzie,
Senior Consultant & Director, Executive Search and Talent Management
Richard brings over 35 years of advancement experience, the last decade spent at two leading academic medical centers. At the Gobel Group, Richard uses his extensive background in healthcare philanthropy and his deep connections to help clients identify candidates for various executive level development positions.

From 2008 to 2011, Richard served as the Associate Chief Development Officer for the University of Kentucky HealthCare. He helped recruit and lead an integrated staff focused on grateful patients, major gifts and alumni leadership giving. Richard’s prior work included running the development program at University of California, San Francisco’s dental school, where he led a comprehensive campaign that exceeded its $75M goal. Richard also ran the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for the United Way of the Bay Area — taking the program from #5 to #2 in the country in just three years.

Abby Reinhard,Senior Consultant & Director, Strategic Communications
Abby offers strategic counsel based on more than ten years of experience in development and marketing programs at world-class organizations. For more than four years, Abby served in a variety of roles for Harvard University, including as a senior development officer managing several multi-million dollar reunion campaigns. She is especially skilled at campaign strategy, development communications, volunteer management, as well as major & planned gift work.Previously, Abby served as director of communications in the development office of Beaver Country Day School, an independent school in Chestnut Hill, MA, and as assistant director of communications for Olin College, a private engineering college in Needham, MA. Abby began her career in New York City at Porter Novelli as an account executive, helping to lead public relations efforts for Fortune 100 clients.

Randy Fox, Senior Philanthropy Analyst

Before joining Gobel, Randy was a R&D scientist in both an academic setting and a medical device company where he worked in new product development.  He brings a strong analytical, technical, and process oriented discipline and skill set to his work. He completed his MBA at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he consulted with URMC to implement their iCARE (Patient and Family Centered Care) initiative  making recommendations on ways to enhance the patient experience hospital wide.

Lauren Kline, Philanthropy Analyst
Lauren works directly with clients and members of the Gobel team to coordinate special projects. Lauren comes to the Gobel Philanthropy Group from Relin, Goldstein, and Crane, LLP where she served as a paralegal. At Relin, she acted as a liaison between the firm and its clients. She’s previously been involved in philanthropic programs for Livingston County Cares and the Migrant Children’s Center of Geneseo.

Lauren has a strong background in project management, events and administrative roles. She brings a strategic, focused and detail-oriented passion to her work. Since starting with Gobel Philanthropy Group, Lauren has been an important asset with many clients, especially the YMCA of Greater Rochester. She has played an integral role in projects ranging from the development of a donor recognition wall to the preparation of their campaign plan presentation.

Sarah Picciotto,
Philanthropy Analyst & Marketing Coordinator
Sarah is a Philanthropy Analyst at the Gobel Group, managing client engagements in partnership with our Senior Consultants. Sarah also manages the firm’s marketing activities.

Sarah earned a B.A. in Organizational Communication at Keuka College where she served as President leading the nationally ranked Students in Free Enterprise Team. Recently, she was a Representative of ITT Technical Institute where she managed the recruiting and admissions process for prospective students. She also served as Project Coordinator for Spectrum Marketing Services Group. Sarah is an active committee member for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central New York, supporting the marketing, advertising, fundraising, family outreach, and event planning activities.