Capital Campaign Committee – Transition Team
April 25, 2024:
Very Rev. Zach Etienne: Pastor
Ben Joergens: Parishioner
Donald Patton: Parishioner
David Ubelhor: Parishioner
Allison Van Orsdoll: Parishioner
Brian Lankford: Parishioner & Parish Office Volunteer
Initial Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee members from May 12, 2022:
Very Rev. Zach Etienne: Pastor
Kristen Girten: Principal
Amy Barrett: Parishioner
Tim McGuire: Parishioner
Brian Lankford: Parishioner & Parish Office Volunteer
Additional Committee Members added on December 14, 2022:
Chad Groves: Parish Council Representative
Ken Schenk: Finance Commission
Michael Schaefer: School Board
Beth Elpers: Teacher and Early Childhood Development Program
Steve Witting: Parishioner and Diocesan Finance Committee Member
Timeline for Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee:
Updated March 12, 2025
December, 2021
Fr. Zach Etienne appointed four members to the new Long-Range
Strategic Planning Committee. Kristen Girten-Principal, Amy Barrett-
Electrical Engineer and parent, Tim McGuire-retired Chancellor of the
Diocese of Evansville, and Brian Lankford-retired Banker and volunteer of
special projects at Good Shepherd.
May 12, 2022
First meeting of Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee. In
attendance were Fr. Zach Etienne, Kristen Girten, Amy Barrett, Tim
McGuire, and Brian Lankford. Discussion of Request for Proposal process
by Amy. Agreed that she would work on the RFP over the summer and
have ready for distribution in early Fall, 2022.
May 18, 2022
Discussion at Parish Council meeting about Long-Range Strategic
Planning. See minutes of meeting.
July 27, 2022
Discussion at Finance Meeting about Long-Range Strategic Planning. See
minutes of meeting.
August 22, 2022
Brian Lankford proofread the RFP to ready it for distribution.
September 13, 2022
Committee met to discuss RFP that will be sent out.
September 21, 2022
Fr. Zach discussed RFP at Parish Council meeting. See minutes of
meeting.
September 30, 2022
Brian e-mailed the RFP to three architectural firms – Entheos (later
Browning-Day), Veazy, Parrott, and Shoulders (VPS), and Hafer.
October 12, 2022
Mandatory walk-thru with committee members and architectural firms.
October 13, 2022
Fr. Zach discussed walk-thru and RFP to School Council. See minutes of
meeting.
November 8, 2022
Brian contacted Joe Holtz at Holy Rosary to discuss their Master Plan
developed in 2012. Joe sent information on how they chose a firm.
November 9, 2022
Discussion at Finance meeting about addition of members to the Long-
Range Strategic Planning Committee. See minutes of meeting.
November 9. 2022
Deadline for RFP’s. All were submitted by the deadline of 2:00 p.m.
November 16, 2022
Discussion about RFP at Parish Council meeting. See minutes of meeting.
November 30, 2022
Discussion of Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee at Technology
meeting. See minutes of meeting.
December 8, 2022
Committee members met to discuss questions to ask at the interview
plus scorecard.
December 14, 2022
Additional committee members were added to the Long-Range Strategic
Planning Committee – Chad Groves, Parish Council Representative; Ken
Schenk, Finance Commission; Michael Schaefer, School Board; Beth
Elpers, Teacher and Early Childhood Development Program; Steve
Witting, Parishioner and Diocesan Finance Committee member. Now a
total of ten committee members. Entire committee met to discuss
meeting on January 9, 2023
December 15, 2022
Brian contacted Brad Clark, Asst. Chancellor of the Diocese of Evansville
in regards to getting approval for this piece of the project. He said no
approval is necessary to select an architect.
January 9, 2023
Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee met in Good Shepherd School
room #112 and interviewed prospective Architectural Firms for Master
Plan. In attendance were Fr. Zach Etienne, Kristen Girten-Principal, Tim
McGuire-retired Chancellor of the Diocese of Evansville, Amy Barrett-
Electrical Engineer and parent, Brian Lankford-retired Banker and
volunteer of special projects at Good Shepherd, Chad Groves-Attorney
and Parish Council representative, Ken Schenk-retired Accountant and
Finance Commission representative, Michael Schaefer-Engineer, parent,
and School Board representative, Beth Elpers-teacher and Early
Childhood Development representative, Steve Witting-Banker and
member of Diocesan Finance Committee. Architectural firms interviewed
were Browning-Day (Indianapolis), Veazy, Parrott, and Shoulders (VPS-
Evansville), and Hafer (Evansville). Interviews lasted one hour each with
a 20 minute introduction by each firm followed by questions asked by
Amy Barrett (parish moderator). Interviews were held separately. After
all of the presentations were made, the committee met for discussion.
After a lengthy discussion, it was a consensus that the committee
propose Hafer as the preferred Architect. It will be presented to Parish
Council on January 10, 2023, at Finance on January 11, 2023, and at
School Board on January 12, 2023.
January 10, 2023
At the Parish Council meeting, the Long-Range Strategic Planning
committee presented the three firms and proposed that we use Hafer to
prepare the Master Plan. Parish council members agreed that we should
continue moving forward with this proposal. Funding from this will come
from endowments. See minutes of meeting.
January 11, 2023
At the Finance Commission meeting, the Long-Range Strategic Planning
committee presented the three firms and proposed that we use Hafer to
prepare the Master Plan. A motion was made by Ron Pohl and seconded
by Ben Joergens to accepted Hafer as the architectural firm for developing
a Master Plan for Good Shepherd Catholic Parish. The motion was
approved 10 to 0. Funding for the Master Plan will come from
endowments. See minutes of meeting.
January 12, 2023
At the School Commission meeting, the Long-Range Strategic Planning
committee presented the three firms and proposed that we use Hafer to
prepare the Master Plan. See minutes of meeting.
January 12, 2023
Brian Lankford called the three architectural firms to tell them that Hafer
was awarded the Master Plan project.
January 31, 2023
Brian Lankford and Jack Faber from Hafer finalized the informational flyer
for the church bulletin that Hafer’s marketing team created. It will be
added to the church and school websites, church and school videos,
added to the Good Shepherd Facebook page, and as an insert in the
weekly church bulletin on the weekend of February 5, 2023. Large
posters will be placed at the three church entrances and one in the
school lobby. Ruth Becker added it to Constant Contact which is e-mailed
to all parishioners with e-mail addresses. The video also plays on the Live
Stream prior to Mass for the home-bound parishioners.
February 6, 2023
Jack Faber met with the Long-Range Strategic Planning committee to
discuss possible groups for stakeholder meetings.
February 7, 2023
Fr. Zach created a new prayer to be use by the committee and will also be
placed in the missalette for use at the Masses beginning the weekend of
February 18, 2023.
February 20, 2023
Jack Faber created a schedule for stakeholder meetings. The parish staff
created a PDF for distribution to the entire parish via an insert in the
bulletin, constant contact and School Reach. This went out March 2.
March 13, 2023
Survey questions were developed by the Long-Range Strategic Planning
committee at the February 6 meeting. These questions were sent via
Constant Contact and School Reach. This should create talking points
when parishioners attend the meetings.
March 15, 2023
The following stakeholder meetings were held from March 15 to March 21:
March 15 Finance, Parish Council and Long Range Planning
Bingo, Summer Social and Knights of Columbus
March 16 Parish Staff
Bereavement and Over 50’s
OCIA, Confirmation, VBS, Bible Studies and Youth Group
Parishioners
Parents
March 17 Administration
Maintenance
Cafeteria Staff
Faculty
GAP
March 18 Parents
Parishioners
March 20 Student Council
Athletic Director
Coaches
Little Rams Staff
Shepherd’s Hook and Quilters
School Council
Parents
March 21 Choir
Parishioners
There was a total of 23 stakeholder meetings that were held. The
meetings were facilitated by Jack Faber from Hafer. Parishioners and
parents were given three opportunities to attend as these were the
largest group meetings.
March 23, 2023
The next phase of the Master Plan process begins. Jack Faber from Hafer
will compile all of the comments and ideas from the stakeholder
meetings and report the results to Brian Lankford.
March 27, 2023
A team from Hafer visited the parish to do an assessment evaluation of
the current conditions of the parish buildings. Performing the
assessment was John Bolton, Architect; Rob Armstrong, Senior Electrical
Engineer; and Henry Steckler, Staff Mechanical Engineer.
May 02, 2023
Members of the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee met at 3:30 PM
with Jack Faber to review the Summary from recent Stakeholder interviews.
23 Stakeholder sessions have been completed, and 204 parishioners attended
these sessions.
The following PDF details comments surfaced during these listening sessions:
2023-05-02 Hafer Stakeholder Interview Summary
June 29, 2023
Jack Faber met with Brian Lankford to review the summary from the
stakeholder meetings to ensure that all areas were covered in the different
options that Jack has drawn up.
July 25, 2023
Jack Faber met with Brian Lankford to fine-tune the options available for
the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee to review.
August 8, 2023
Jack Faber met with Brian Lankford for a walk-thru of the entire campus
to ensure that he has all rooms labeled properly on the options.
August 15, 2023
Members of the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee met at 3:30
p.m. with Jack Faber to discuss the plans he has drawn up for the parish
campus. These plans include everything from the stakeholder meetings
that were held in March, 2023. There were nine options that were
discussed. The general consensus of the committee was to choose option
2.2 Further discussion will be held with Parish Council, Finance Council,
and School Council.
August 24, 2023
Jack Faber met with Brian Lankford to discuss the meeting on August 15.
Brian invited Fr. Zach Etienne to join the discussion. Jack is still fine-
tuning option 2.2 and will present this to the Long-Range Strategic
Planning Committee in the next couple of weeks. After this meeting, a
joint presentation will be made to Parish Council, Finance Council, and
School Council and will be scheduled sometime in September.
September 14, 2023
Jack Faber met with the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee to
finalize the drawings. He will e-mail the final PDF to the committee and
set up a date to review with Parish Council, Finance Council, and School
Council.
September 20, 2023
Brian Lankford was a guest at the Parish Council meeting to discuss the
progress to date on the Long-Range Strategic Plan for the parish.
October 4, 2023
Jack Faber met with the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee,
Parish Council, Finance Council, and School Council to present drawings
and phases to these groups. Those in attendance were Long Range
Committee: Fr. Zach Etienne, Kristen Girten, Brian Lankford, Tim
McGuire, Michael Schaefer, and Beth Elpers. Those in attendance from
Finance Council were: Brandon Ladley, Ron Pohl, Steve Piper, Ben
Joergens, Russell Gerteisen, and Ruth Becker. Those in attendance from
Parish Council were: Al Bragin, Greg Freyberger, David Ubelhor, and
Mykeal Wiggers. Those in attendance from School Council were: Allison
Scheu, Mark Schuler, Sean VanMeter, Marcy Groves, Gen Caudill, and
Beth Funk. Jack discussed the listening sessions we had in March, 2023
and that he has included everything discussed then in the current Master
Plan. He presented each phase of the project to date. At the end of the
meeting, the consensus was to move forward with the drawings to present
to the parishioners. This phase of the planning process will probably
occur late in 2023.
October 11, 2023
Fr. Zach Etienne wrote to Bishop Joseph Siegel to inform him of the
Master Plan for Good Shepherd Catholic Parish. Fr. Zach sent copies of
the Master Plan to Bishop Siegel and requested permission to move
forward with the project.
2023-10-11 Letter from Fr. Zach to Bishop Siegel asking permission to continue
October 20, 2023
Dean Happe, Chancellor of the Diocese of Evansville, responded to the
letter from Fr. Zach Etienne dated October 11, 2023. He stated on behalf
of Bishop Siegel the Master Planning process was approved.
2023-10-20 Letter from Dean Happe with Bishop’s permission to continue
November 15, 2023
Brian Lankford was a guest at the Parish Council meeting to discuss the
progress to date on the Long-Range Strategic Plan for the parish.
January 18, 2024
Jack Faber met with the Long-Range Strategic Planning committee to
discuss the final version of the Master Plan. Those in attendance were Fr.
Zach Etienne, Kristen Girten, Tim McGuire, Michael Schaefer, Ken
Schenk, Beth Elpers and Brian Lankford.
January 22, 2024
Jack Faber presented the final version of the Master Plan to the Parish
Council, Finance Council and School Council. There were 21 members of
the various councils in attendance. Jack stated the next step is to present
the Master Plan to the entire parish on Monday, February 5, 2024.
February 5, 2024
Jack Faber presented the final Master Plan to the parish at 6:30 p.m.
There were about 160 people in attendance. The results of the plan
seemed to be well-received.
February 22, 2024
Fr. Zach Etienne and Brian Lankford talked with an outside consultant on
interior church renovations. We also discussed using an outside firm to
create a capital campaign to raise funds for the projects.
.
March 4, 2024
Fr. Zach Etienne and Brian Lankford met with Brother Martin Erspamer from St. Meinrad Archabbey about renovating the interior of the church. After we get approval on the scope of the phased projects, we will be in contact with Brother Martin.
March 12, 2024
Fr. Zach Etienne, Brian Lankford, and Ruth Becker met with Dean Happe, Chancellor of the Diocese of Evansville to ensure that we are following the steps in the building process established by the Diocese. Five action items were suggested. 1.) Get approval for the five action items by Parish Council. 2.) Get approval for the five action items by Finance Council. 3.) Appoint a Capital Campaign committee called a transition team. 4.) Engage Brother Martin Erspamer to assist with the design of the interior of the church. 5.) Have Jack Faber from Hafer Architects to design the Pre-School/Pre-K addition.
March 20, 2024
Brian Lankford met with Parish Council to discuss the five action items that Dean Happe suggested. The council voted 9-0 in favor of moving forward with Phase One (renovation of the interior of the church) and Phase Two (building the Pre-School and Pre-K classrooms) as well as hiring Brother Martin and naming a capital campaign committee transition team.
March 28, 2024
Fr. Zach Etienne wrote a letter to Bishop Siegel asking permission to begin a feasibility study for the purpose of a capital campaign in order to fund Phase One and Two projects.
2024-03-28 Bishop Siegel [Feasibility Study Request Letter] (1)
April 3, 2024
Finance Council met to discuss the phased capital improvements for the parish. Brian Lankford presented the five action items that were discussed with Dean Happe on March 12, 2024. The Finance Council voted 9-0 to move forward with all five action items including completing Phase One and Two together.
April 5, 2024
Brian Lankford called Jack Faber at Hafer Architects to tell him that Parish Council and Finance Council approved moving forward with Phase One and Two at the same time. Brian asked Jack to begin drawing plans for the Pre-School and Pre-K additions. Jack will send a contract for us to review. The architectural plans should take about seven months to complete.
April 10, 2024
Fr. Zach Etienne called Brother Martin to ask him to begin work on the design of the interior of the church.
April 25, 2024
A new Capital Campaign Committee has been formed and is known as the
Transition Committee. Four parishioners were asked by Fr. Zach Etienne
to be on the committee and all accepted – Ben Joergens, Allison Van
Orsdoll, Don Patton, and David Ubelhor.
May 21, 2024
Fr. Zach Etienne received a letter from Bishop Joseph Siegel approving the use of Walsh and Associates for the feasibility study of Phase 1 and 2.
Good Shepherd- Cap Campaign Feasibility Study Request Approval – Memo – 5.21.24
June 14, 2024
Dean Happe e-mailed to give next steps for the project. Our committee needs to get a contract from Walsh and Associates for the diocese to review. The AIA contract from Hafer needs to be reviewed by the Diocesan attorneys. In addition, Greg Freyberger, an attorney and member of parish council is in the process of reviewing the contract for us as well.
August 5, 2024
The Diocese of Evansville, diocesan attorney, and Greg Freyberger, parishioner completed their review of the contract that Jack Faber provided. Dean Happe e-mailed Good Shepherd to say that a sign-ready contract between Good Shepherd/Diocese and Hafer is now ready. According to the Diocese before signing this contract, there must be a signed contract between Good Shepherd and Walsh and Associates.
August 19, 2024
The transition team met on Monday, August 19 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom with a representative of Walsh and Associates. They will provide a feasibility study to the parish that should take about six weeks to complete. After that, they will begin our Capital Campaign that will take about four months.
August 23, 2024
Father Zach Etienne signed the contracts for Walsh and Associates for the feasibility study and the capital campaign on August 23 and e-mailed the signed copies to Walsh.
September 3, 2024
Ruth Becker sent Dean Happe an e-mail with the contracts attached and asked him to call Jack Faber to set a time for all three parties to sign the Hafer agreement.
September 12, 2024
A fully executed AIA B101-2017 contract between Hafer and Good
Shepherd/Diocese of Evansville was signed by all three parties. Work on
the building plans will now begin.
September 30, 2024
Arthur Heredia from Walsh and Associates was at Good Shepherd for the
first on-site visit for the feasibility study. On September 30, Arthur met
with the Good Shepherd transition team to discuss the feasibility study and
capital campaign.
October 2, 2024
Jack Faber, Rick Hayden, and an additional staff member from Hafer did field measurements of the interior of the church.
October 21, 2024
Morley and Associates will begin work on the site survey for the new Pre-
School/Pre-K addition. The survey should be completed by December 6,
2024.
October 23, 2024
Jack Faber, Fr. Zach Etienne, Brother Martin Erspamer, and Brian
Lankford met via zoom to discuss plans to move forward with interior
renovations of the church.
October 28, 2024
Walsh and Associates sent a draft of the Preliminary Case Statement for
the Capital Campaign for review by the parish staff.
October 30, 2024
Final approval was given on the Case Statement for the Capital Campaign
by the staff of Good Shepherd parish staff.
December 3, 2024
Arthur Heredia from Walsh and Associates presented the findings of the
Feasibility Study to the following parishioners: Fr. Zach Etienne, Allison
Van Orsdoll – Transition team member, David Ubelhor – Transition team
member/Parish council member, Don Patton – Transition team member,
Ruth Becker – Finance Council member, Dianne Thomas – Finance
Council member, Ken Schenk – Finance Council member, Ron Pohl –
Finance Council member, and Brian Lankford. Arthur presented a very
positive study which will be presented to the Diocesan Finance Council so
that Good Shepherd Parish can move forward with the Capital Campaign.
December 12, 2024 Fr. Zach Etienne, Ruth Becker, and Brian Lankford met at the Diocese of
Evansville with the Diocesan Finance Council to present the findings of
the feasibility study.
December 16, 2024
Fr. Zach Etienne, Ruth Becker, Brian Lankford, Jack Faber, Brother
Martin Erspamer, Cameron and Jason (from Hafer Architects) met via
Zoom to discuss proposed renovations to the interior of the church. After
discussion and additional recommendations, Hafer Architects will revise
the proposal and schedule another meeting in January, 2025.
December 19, 2024
Alison Montee contacted Good Shepherd Parish to say that the Capital
Campaign for Phase 1 and 2 have been approved by the Diocesan Finance
Commision. Arthur Heredia from Walsh and Associates plans to meet via
Zoom in January, 2025 to begin work on the Capital Campaign.
January 23, 2025
Brother Martin sent a sketch of the proposed baptism font for discussion at
the next zoom meeting for church interior renovations. We have not met
via zoom since December 16, 2024 due to the fact that Hafer is working
on completing plans for the next Diocesan Building Commission meeting
in February.
January 24, 2025
Father Zach and Jack Faber discussed possible changes to the interior design via e-mail.
January 30, 2025
Jack Faber presented a tentative timeline for the construction project via e-
mail. He plans to discuss this timeline at the next zoom meeting.
January 31, 2024
Hafer and Associates met the Diocese of Evansville deadline for
delivering the digital and hard copies of the plans for Phase 1 and 2 for the
Diocesan Building Commission meeting on February 12, 2025.
February 4, 2025 A discussion of the back parking lot drainage was held via zoom. In
attendance were Fr. Zach, Ruth Becker, Jim Morley (Morley and
Associates), Jack Faber, and Brian Lankford. Since we are moving the
center drain in the parking lot, it needs to be upgraded from a 6 inch tile to
12 inch. It will drain directly into the detention pond on the north side of
the parking lot. Scott Ferguson will call 811 to get a utility locate. There
is some question as to the direction of the gas line into the school
buildings which the locate should clarify.
February 5, 2025
Traylor Building met at 6:00 p.m. with members of Parish Council and
Finance Council to discuss their possible involvement in the project. Pete
Giannini and Brittney Roudenbush gave a presentation to use Traylor
Building as the project manager for Phase 1 and 2 of our building project.
They would take the place of the general contractor’s responsibility for
ensuring that the project stays on track and finding savings for
expenditures. Those present from Parish Council were Fr. Zach Etienne,
Diane Norman, Greg Freyberger, Deacon Dan Decastra, Cheryl Schaefer,
Natalie Kropfl, and Eric Henderson. Those present from Finance Council
were Russell Gerteisen, Cheryl Wathen, Ben Joergens, Ruth Becker,Steve
Piper, Dianne Thomas, Ken Schenk, Brandon Ladley, Ethan Broerman,
Ron Pohl, and Brian Lankford. A motion to accept Traylor Building as
project manager was made by Ken Schenk and seconded by Steve Piper.
A vote by show of hands was taken with 18 in favor and 0 against. Ruth
Becker called Pete on Thursday, February 6 to tell him the results of the
discussion.
February 12, 2025
Good Shepherd representatives and Hafer Architects met with the
Diocesan Building Commission to present plans for Phase One and Two
of the building project. Those present from Good Shepherd were Kristen
Girten, Ruth Becker, and Brian Lankford. Those present from Hafer were
Jack Faber – Architect, Isaac Grounds – Architectural Graduate, Henry
Steckler – Mechanical Engineer, and Rob Armstrong – Electrical
Engineer. Hafer/Good Shepherd representatives fielded questions from
the Diocesan Building Commission representatives. The commission was
given the building plans on January 29 and had two weeks to review.
They submitted 5 pages of questions to Hafer/Good Shepherd
representatives prior to the meeting. These questions were either
answered at the meeting or were tabled for further research. Two more
meetings are scheduled with the Diocesan Building Commission with the
next meeting scheduled for March 12.
February 27, 2025
A meeting was held at 3:00 p.m. to discuss audio options to enhance the sound in the church. Those present from Hafer Architects were Jack Faber, Isaac Grounds and Rob Armstrong. Present from Soltek was Harold Ulrich. Those present from Good Shepherd were Fr. Zach Etienne, Ruth Becker, Melanie Baker and Brian Lankford.
March 12, 2025
Good Shepherd representatives met for the Diocesan Building
Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Diocese of Evansville. Those
present from Good Shepherd were Fr. Zach Etienne, Kristen Girten, Ruth
Becker and Brian Lankford. Those present from Hafer Architects were
Jack Faber, Isaac Grounds, Rob Armstrong, and Henry Steckler. Those
present from Traylor Building were Brittney Roudenbush and Pete
Giannini. Those present from Morley and Associates were Jim Morley
and Wes Fleischmann. Ken Balczo, a parishioner from Good Shepherd
and a structural engineer was also present. The Diocesan Building
Commission asked a set of questions since the last meeting on February
12, 2025. Hafer and Associates answered the questions thus far. A final
meeting with the commission is scheduled for May 14, 2025.