Meet Our Team

As Senior Director of the Office of Gift Planning, Rich Naponelli oversees Notre Dame's team of field fundraisers for gift planning, estate, trust, and annuity administration, and the negotiation and acceptance of all planned gifts, including traditional planned giving vehicles and gifts of privately held businesses, real estate, restricted securities and other non-cash assets. Additionally, Rich oversees the Badin Guild, a Notre Dame giving society, comprised of alumni, parents, and friends who, through thoughtful estate planning, deferred giving, and other forms of planned giving, ensure that resources will be available to support Notre Dame far into the future. Prior to joining the Office of Gift Planning, Rich worked as an attorney for nearly eight years, most recently in the Chicago office of Perkins Coie LLP, where his practice focused primarily on tax and estate planning. Prior to working at Perkins Coie LLP, Rich was an associate attorney at Winston & Strawn LLP and Madden, Jiganti, Moore & Sinars LLP. Rich graduated from Notre Dame in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He earned a master of science in accountancy from Notre Dame in 2004, before earning a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2007. Rich and his wife Jennifer have two children.

As Director of Gift Planning for the West region of the United States, Patrick Brennan works with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends with an interest in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Patrick graduated from the Notre Dame Law School in 1998 and immediately joined the Office of Gift Planning.

As a Director of Gift Planning for the East and New York Metro regions of the United States, Jessica works with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Prior to joining the Gift Planning team in 2019, Jessica worked as a CPA in public accounting, most recently as a Senior Tax Manager with LBMC, PC in Knoxville, Tennessee. Jessica received her Bachelor of Science in Business degree from Indiana University in 2006, and earned her CPA certification shortly thereafter.

As the Director of Gift Planning Administration, John Butkovich is responsible for managing all administration matters related to estates when the University is a beneficiary and the life insurance program. In addition, John provides technical and other support for Gift Planning Directors and participates in the stewardship of our Badin Guild members. John also manages the University's Charitable Gift Annuity program. John practiced law in Cincinnati for 25 years, specializing in workers' compensation law with the firm of Butkovich, Schimpf, Schimpf & Ginocchio, and served as the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, before returning to his alma mater to join the Office of Gift Planning. John graduated from Notre Dame in 1963, earning a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He earned his law degree from Chase College of Law in Cincinnati in 1968. John and his wife Mary Ann, a 1964 graduate of Saint Mary's College, have three children, Joe '88, Annie '91, and Andy, and five grandchildren; the oldest is a 2017 Notre Dame graduate.

As a Director of Gift Planning for the East and Southeast regions of the United States, Chris DeTrempe works with Notre Dame alumni, parents, and friends with an interest in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. Chris joined the Office of Gift Planning in January 2009 after having served as the Associate Director of Notre Dame's Executive MBA program for both Chicago and South Bend. Prior to joining Notre Dame in 2006, Chris was Director of Operations for McDonald's Corporation in Dallas, Texas, where he had also served as a Director of Finance. Chris received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Notre Dame in 1986 and began his career with a national public accounting firm, Coopers & Lybrand. Following graduation, he earned his CPA, and later earned a master's degree in business administration from Texas Christian University in 2003. Chris and his wife, Corinne, a graduate of Saint Mary's College, have five children.

As a Director of Gift Planning, TJ works with Notre Dame alumni, parents and friends interested in deferred and structured contributions to Notre Dame, including estate and trust gifts, gifts of real estate, and gifts of privately held business interests. TJ is a "Double Domer", having earned his Bachelor of Arts from Notre Dame in the Program of Liberal Studies in 2003 and his Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame Law School in 2008. Following law school and prior to his return to Notre Dame in 2017, TJ worked as an attorney in private practice in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Most recently, TJ served as a shareholder, member of the Board of Directors, and Chairperson of the Probate and Estate Planning Practice Group at Wickens Herzer Panza in Avon, Ohio, where TJ provided estate, tax, and business succession planning counsel to high net-worth individuals and families. TJ and his wife, Quinn, also a graduate of Notre Dame, have four children.

As Associate Program Director of Gift Planning, RaeLee is responsible for administration of the Donor Advised Fund Program at Notre Dame. RaeLee works with Donor Advised Fund benefactors and advisors to accomplish their philanthropic goals, and she manages the Donor Advised Fund grant process to benefit Notre Dame as well as other qualified charitable organizations. Prior to Notre Dame, RaeLee practiced law with Faegre Baker Daniels LLP for 13 years where she was a member of the Business Planning and Trusts & Estates practice groups. While in private practice, RaeLee assisted clients with business succession planning, estate planning, corporate transactions, and trust and estate administration. RaeLee was Treasurer of the Michiana Estate Planning Council for four years and served on the Board of Directors for the Michiana YMCA for five years. RaeLee received her bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA and her law degree from Valparaiso University. RaeLee and her husband, Jeff, have one daughter.