About Roger

Consultant/presenter/lecturer on Relationship Building and Gift Planning

• Cover story, May 29, 2003 Chronicle of Philanthropy
• Authored articles for Planned Giving Today - (Cold Calls) in December, 2003 , (After the First Call) in August 2004, (Getting the Gift: Systems and Passion) in May 2006, (Practical Experiences in Ethics) in May 2007 
• Caswell Zachry Grizzard Planned Giving Seminars, Dallas, Texas, July 2001, March/July 2002, July 2004, February/July 2005 
• Association of Fundraising Professionals Conferences, San Antonio, Texas Chapter, January 2002, 2003
• American Cancer Society, New England Division, Framingham, Massachusetts, April 2003
• Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, San Angelo, Texas Chapter, May 2003
• Blackbaud's Conference on Philanthropy, Charleston, South Carolina, November 2003
• Permian Basin Association of Fundraising Professionals, Midland, Texas, February 2004
• Texas Laryngectomee Association, DeSoto, Texas, March 2004
• Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 2004
• Texas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, San Antonio, Texas, March 2004
• Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference, Seattle, Washington, March 2004
• Northwest Planned Giving Roundtable, Portland, Oregon, March 2004
• North Texas Chapter, National Committee on Planned Giving, Dallas, Texas, March 2004
• American Cancer Society, Distinguished Gifts Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 2004
• Lone Star Chapter, National Committee on Planned Giving, Forth Worth, Texas, April 2004
• Planned Giving Council of the Permian Basin - November 2004 - May 2005
• Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, March 2005, March 2006 
• North Central Ohio Planned Giving Council, June 2005
• Central Illinois Planned Giving Council, August 2005, August 2006
• Eastern Illinois Planned Giving Information Consortium, July 2006
• Chicago Council on Planned Giving, May 2007
• Central Texas Chapter, National Committee on Planned Giving, August 2007
• Planned Giving Council of the Permian Basin, November 2007

Education:

• BA in Political Science, UT El Paso, 1968
• 24 graduate hours in Political Science, Rhetoric and Politics, UT El Paso 1968-1970
• The American College, Bryn Mawr, PA, Insurance and Financial Planning, Income Taxation, Planning for Retirement Needs, Investments, Fundamentals of Estate Planning I (these 5 courses qualify one to sit for the Certified Financial Planner comprehensive examination), 1996-1998
• Passed Certified Financial Planner exam on 1st try (!) and licensed, 6/2/99

Special Training:

• Principles of Planned Giving, Gordon Caswell 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997
• Advanced Gift Planning, Gordon Caswell 1995, 1998
• Charitable Tax Planning, Terry Simmons 1992
• Estate Planning and Tax Workshop, Wayne Hayenga 1992
• Priority Management, Phil Boone 1991, 1992, 1993
• Charitable Planning, Chris Hoyt 1998
• Pentera Advanced Gift Planning, Andre Dorkian, Frank Minton 2000
• Stelter Relationship Building Workshop - September 2004 
• YMCA Senior Director
• Leadership San Angelo, 1999-2000

Employment:

• Vice President for Planned Giving, West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation, San Angelo, TX - 1993-present
• Chief Executive Officer, West Texas Boys Ranch, San Angelo, TX  1989-1993
• From Assistant Executive to Executive Director, YMCA Camp Grady Spruce, Dallas, TX  1970-1989
• Instructor, El Paso Baptist College, El Paso, TX  1970
• Graduate Teaching Assistant, UT El Paso, El Paso, TX  1968-1969

Community Activities/Interests:

• Certified Lay Speaker, United Methodist Church - frequent liturgist, teacher, speaker, substitute preacher
• Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis, participant and member of various teams
• Various committees (present and past) - Sierra Vista United Methodist Church
• President (past) - Concho Valley Estate Planning Council
• Vice-chairman (past), San Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau
• North Texas chapter, National Committee on Planned Giving
• Editorial Advisory Board, Planned Giving Today
• San Angelo Rotary Club  President  - 2005/2006
• Founding trustee, San Angelo Rotary Scholarship Fund
• Founding chairman, Texas Mesquite Art Festival, San Angelo
• Facilitator for Board Retreats/Planning Sessions

Personal Activities/Interests:

• Owner of Traditionals by Roger Ellison, specializing in commissions of custom-built fine mesquite furniture
• Dutch oven cooking, gardening, backpacking, hunting, bicycling, kayaking

Family:

• Married 41 years to Linda, teacher's aide who works with special needs high school children
• Jason '99 Texas A&M, Corps of Cadets and Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, Civil Engineering major, May 2000 graduate, licensed Professional Engineer 
• Mark '03 Texas A&M, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Science major, May 2003 graduate, financial services