Gheorghe is a Web Development Technician. He spends his time making both creative and technical improvements to EDS web products and the EDS website. Joining EDS in 2022 was a logical career progression after earning undergraduate degrees from Purdue University in flight, aviation management, and aeronautical engineering technology. Gheorghe is currently embarking on a career as a commercial airline pilot while continuing to work for EDS. When he is not enthusiastically engrossed in creating websites or flying the friendly skies, he can be found traveling, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying nature.
Nancy Connor
Nancy Connor
Nancy is Graphic Designer Emeritus at EDS. She has served EDS clients since 1998 and, although officially retired, she continues to apply her wealth of knowledge and experience on a part-time basis. When she started at EDS, she brought with her years of previous experience in teaching, design, illustration, sign painting, and house painting, along with a BFA in painting from The University of Iowa. When she is not doing beautiful, thoughtful work for our clients, Nancy spends her time caring for family and friends and visiting the shore of Lake Michigan as often as possible.
Marina Cooper
Marina Cooper
Marina is Associate Editor/Proofreader at EDS. She meticulously examines all projects, correcting and improving where necessary to ensure the best possible version of each client’s work. She joined EDS in 2022 after gaining some experience as a freelance editor. When she grows weary of hunting down and eradicating errors, she enjoys playing with her pets, modeling her amazing thrift-shop finds, and reaching a Zen state through blindfolded origami. She graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in English and obtained a Professional Copyediting, Proofreading, and Fact-Checking certificate from NYU.
Connor Jett, J.D.
Connor Jett, J.D.
Connor serves as Legal Editor/Writer for EDS. He writes and reviews technical copy to ensure complete and accurate explanations of various gifting rules and strategies. Connor joined EDS in 2021, and when he is not discussing the intricacies of bargain sales or charitable lead trusts, he enjoys gaming, reading, creative writing, spending time with family, and insisting he likes cats and dogs equally. You’re likely to catch Connor in the kitchen, whipping up Mexican or Italian specialties or experimenting with Cajun cuisine. He received his BS in Psychology from Indiana University and his law degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
James Jett, J.D.
James Jett, J.D.
Jim is Senior Legal Editor/Writer at EDS. He consistently combines his sharp mind, broad experience, and creative writing talent to create, hone, and update the more technical pieces that we produce. Jim first joined EDS in 2011, stepped away for a few years (during which time he continued to write for EDS on a contract basis), and returned full time in 2021. Before joining EDS, he worked in both private practice and public service, including serving as a senior staff attorney for the Indiana legislature and as Assistant Attorney General for the Florida Attorney General’s tax litigation section. His private practice experience focused primarily on providing counsel in the areas of taxation, business, and estate planning. In addition, he served as an adjunct professor, teaching business tax, legal studies, and corporate risk. In his free time, he enjoys serving as an unofficial food taster for local restaurants and engaging in fascinating, wide-ranging discussions with his three young-adult sons. Jim received a B.A. from the University of Indianapolis in Political Science and History, a law degree from the Ohio Northern University Pettit School of Law, and a Master of Professional Accountancy degree concentrated in taxation from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He is a member of the Indiana and Florida bars.
Patricia Prather
Patricia Prather
Pat is Graphic Designer/Project Manager for EDS. She brings a wealth of design experience and talent to every project, producing strong, creative designs within each client’s specific branding guidelines. Before joining EDS in 2022, Pat worked for a number of magazines and design firms, as well as spending several years doing freelance work. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, teaching her dog to be a professional doorbell, and entering into debates on the unappealing qualities of boba tea. She graduated with a B.A. in Humanities/Fine Arts from Purdue University.
Amy Rector
Amy is Senior Vice President, Content Strategy. She is dedicated to helping our clients hone their messaging, engage their readers, and find the best version of their own voice. Before starting at EDS in 2009, she taught English in the Peace Corps (Hungary) and then switched gears, spending 15 years working in the financial industry as a writer, editor, proofreader, and project manager. She has experience working on a wide variety of materials, including newsletters, articles, websites, training courses, and books. When she is not carefully crafting and polishing text, she is occasionally spotted in the wild taking nature and travel photographs or sitting by the pool reading The Chicago Manual of Style. She graduated summa cum laude from Augustana College with a double major in English and Art and obtained her Series 6 license.
Amy Rector
Terry Sites
Terry Sites
Terry is President Emeritus at EDS. He continues to apply his vast planned gift marketing experience and writing talent to select projects on a part-time basis. He first joined EDS in 1984, and his writing and publishing experience (in both planned giving and financial services education) includes newsletters, articles, online documentation, training courses and seminars, and website content. Terry has enjoyed spending increasing amounts of time in retirement, remaining active in his church, traveling to visit children and grandchildren, and occasionally wondering just how hungry Lucy the Lab can really be at 5:30 in the morning. He received a BA from DePauw University in English Composition.
Chris Sizemore
Chris Sizemore
Chris is Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales. As a gift planning marketing consultant, Chris brings over 30 years of experience to helping organizations structure and develop planned giving marketing and promotional programs. Chris has consulted with numerous nonprofit and financial services companies, collaborating with them in the design and structure of training and marketing programs targeted to realize long-term goals and objectives. Outside of work, Chris enjoys boating with his family, caring for his Maine Coon (Victor), and tirelessly cheering on the Chicago Cubs and the Indiana Hoosiers. Chris is a past board member of Charitable Gift Planners of Indiana. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University.
Kimberly Staley
Kimberly Staley
Kim is Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations. Lovingly known as “The Bulldog” around the office, she works closely (and gently) with clients, keeping projects on track and overseeing all aspects of their planned gift marketing mailings. She also manages the company’s daily operations and maintains financial oversight with responsibility for all A/R, A/P, and payroll functions. Kim joined EDS in 1980, making her the most senior member of the leadership team. When she’s not at work, she can often be found reading, biking, tackling daunting home improvement projects, and dismantling half-humorous walls of Coke cans. She received her B.S. in Business Management from Indiana University.
Gary Strader
Gary Strader
Gary is Chief Technologist for EDS. In addition to keeping all employee technology functioning and up to date, he is directly involved in research, product development, and client support. Prior to joining EDS in 2001, he served in a number of management roles in the financial services industry, including vice president of a major regional wholesale bank, along with providing information technology consulting services to financial planning firms. In addition to his breadth of knowledge about technology (new and old, useful and random), Gary is well-known for his keen photographic eye, his wealth of stories and ideas, and his dedication to helping organize the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s annual golf tournament. Gary graduated from Tennessee Temple University.
Janet Strader
Janet Strader
Janet is Project Manager at EDS. She develops, maintains, and updates our web-based products, often applying her knowledge, experience, and persistence to solve tricky technology issues. Janet joined EDS in 1988. In 1995, at a former coworker’s suggestion, she embarked on an office romance of the best kind and has been married to Gary Strader for over 25 years now, with a blended family of seven children and nine grandchildren. When she’s not busy tracking down rogue HTML code and staying on top of technological changes, she prefers to be found in Hawaii—hiking, kayaking, and night snorkeling with the manta rays. She attended Indiana Business School and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Mark Whelpley
Mark Whelpley
Mark is Graphic Designer/Project Manager for EDS. He enjoys working closely with clients to bring their projects to life in a visually impactful way. Before joining the company in 2005, Mark worked in print production and graphic design for a number of well-known national clients, designing projects including product displays, catalogs, newsletters, posters, and album covers. When not spending quality time with his MacBook Pro or sharing his great sense of humor with his coworkers, Mark can be found hiking, photographing temporary graffiti art or stunning natural landscapes, taste-testing IPAs, and sometimes, even now, mourning the 2019 death of his 12-foot office cactus. Mark graduated with a degree in Film and Television Production from Eastern Michigan University.
Derek Wininger
Derek Wininger
Derek is Senior Vice President, Technology. He is responsible for the EDS suite of online products, including e-Booklets, e-Techniques, email marketing, and our planned giving websites. Derek joined EDS in 1999, starting in the mailroom and working his way up. With his degree in Anthropology from Indiana University, he enjoys examining the humanity behind technology and how our behavior informs product development. In addition to the design and technical wizardry he employs in creating digital products, Derek’s superpowers include fixing and organizing almost anything, defending his home using nothing but his “scary voice,” and providing entertaining and informative restaurant reviews on demand. Derek is a board member of the Charitable Gift Planners of Indiana.
Rebecca Wood, J.D.
Rebecca Wood, J.D.
Rebecca serves as Legal Writer at EDS, where she applies her extensive experience to various projects, including creating useful, interesting blog posts for this website. Rebecca has a lengthy resume of technical, feature, and creative writing for numerous magazines, digital publications, and books. Rebecca holds a degree in journalism and political science from Indiana University and a law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. She is a member of the Indiana bar. She joined EDS in 1999, stepped away for a few years to practice her prodigious arbitration and conflict resolution skills on her four sons while continuing to write on a freelance basis, then eagerly returned to the EDS team in 2022. When she’s not researching and writing, you’re likely to find her reading, baking, traveling, involved in her church, spending time with family and friends, or persevering in her impressive quest to run a marathon (half or full) in all 50 states.
