Name: Jeff Cathey Position: Sr. Director of Development – Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (CVHS) Hometown: Adopted hometown of Stillwater, Oklahoma – it is the longest I have lived anywhere. I moved numerous times before high school, but graduated from high school in Hot Springs, Arkansas   Where were you employed before joining the OSUF?  Immediately after graduating from OSU, I began a 12-year retail store management career that included five years of small business ownership and operation in clothing retail in Stillwater. I spent two years in outside sales and close to three years in development with the American Heart Association within the state of Oklahoma prior to arriving at the OSU Foundation

Why did you choose to join the Foundation?
 Working for the OSU Foundation was a dream of mine about seven years ago and actually helped determine my employment path following the retail business. I have an affinity for OSU and what better way to help impact the lives of students and our future alumni throughout the nation? In addition, my dad worked for the Foundation for many years, so it became a young adult memory for me to understand the satisfaction he received through his association with OSU and the Foundation.

What does your typical day look like?
I guess I would ask two things – what is typical and what is a typical day? The one constant is I wake up excited to come to work and at the end of the day I go home excited. One of the factors I really enjoy about my position is the variety each new day can bring. Priorities often drive the schedule, and priorities can often change with a phone call or a contact. Every day is different – how great is that!

What are some of the joys and challenges you face in your position?
Joys – meeting others who are passionate about OSU and desire to give back in numerous ways, enjoying the accomplishment of attaining goals, the relationships I have developed at the Foundation and CVHS,  knowing the work I do and the accomplishments we achieve are truly life impacting in many ways, and understanding we can help impact future generations.

Challenges – the occasional feeling of needing to be three (or 10) places at once and maintaining the proper cadence to maximize success. Overall, the joys far outweigh the challenges.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Spending time with my wife and family – two girls and a boy; playing guitar and keyboard as worship leader for my church; stream fishing; running marathons, triathlons and road cycling; building deeper friendships; and I often find relaxation in building things or home remodel projects. I always find time to enjoy a great cup of coffee.

What do you recommend visitors or newcomers do in Stillwater?
Slow down a bit (often a lot) and enjoy life – especially if they came here from a big city. Explore the beautiful rural landscapes – attend OSU games – the main thing is to fully inhale the overall quality of life Stillwater has to offer.

What’s the best part about living in Stillwater?
It is small enough that it is easy to get around, friendly, safe, and I have family here on both sides. Stillwater has a solid academic focus and foundation as the hometown for OSU.

What projects/campaigns/etc are you most excited about in the coming year?
Scholarship endowments are exciting every year because of the lasting legacy and the immediate impact for students. Solidifying the naming and construction of the new Clinical Sciences Academic Center and the Equine Critical Care Unit will be great. The upgrade to the Small Animal Critical Care Unit in the teaching hospital will be exciting as it will dramatically advance the overall care and functionality of the unit in the hospital. There are numerous projects – it’s all exciting – it’s veterinary medicine.

What’s the number one reason you would recommend joining the OSU Foundation?
The mission – “Uniting donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence” – how could you not want to be a part of that?!  Number 1 ½ - the people you will be blessed to work with each and every day.

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