Our Estate Coaching Team
Craig Mellendorf
Craig is the CEO of SFC Estate Coaching. He graduated from Concordia College, Seward NE in 1981 with an Elementary Education Teaching Degree. Taught six years (81-87) at Word of Life Lutheran School in St. Louis MO. 7th Grade Home Room Teacher, Athletic Director, Coach. Taught four years (87-91) at Concordia University. Primarily Elementary and Middle School Classes. Assistant Basketball Coach. Director of Student Activities. Taught 18 years (91-09) at Martin Luther H.S. 18 Subjects in Six Different Departments. Last three years Business/Tech Ed. Department Chair teaching almost exclusively Business and Computer-related classes. Head Coach Boys Basketball seven years. Head Coach Girls Basketball eight years. Head Coach Girls Tennis five years. Director of Student Activities three years. Was downsized due to Budget Cuts in 2009. Professional Health Coach/Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach/Personal Trainer Wisconsin Athletic Club & TV Spot on TMJ4 “Ask the Expert”.
Started as Gift Planning Counselor in January 2013 working with Gift Planning Services in Eau Claire, WI. Created SFC Estate Coaching in January 2015. Earned the title “Certified Gift Planning Professional” in January 2017 and Christian Gift Planner in May 2018.
Tom Slye
Tom has spent his professional career working in the non-profit arena. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Tom began a career in ministry spanning nearly 20 years. During that time, he also earned a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Trinity International University. Feeling a tug in a new direction, Tom pursued an adventure in education serving students in urban Milwaukee. He became a Dean of Students with LUMIN Schools, first at Sherman Park Lutheran School and subsequently at Pilgrim Lutheran School where he also taught History, Faith Development and Physical Education. Throughout his career, he has witnessed firsthand the impact of generosity. Working with SFC gives him the opportunity to meet new people, listen to their stories, and show them estate planning strategies that will enable them to be generous in ways they may not have known existed. Tom has been married to his wife, Amy, for 20 years and has three really cool kids: Abby, Tyler, and Aniyah. During his free time, he enjoys coaching his son’s soccer team, hiking the kettles at Scuppernong or the trails at Lapham Peak, and sitting on his back patio listening to music.
Steve Glandorf
During Steve Glandorf’s professional employment/ministry, he has served five years as a Christian school teacher and coach, six years as a police officer, and over twenty-seven years as a Christian school administrator in Lutheran elementary, middle, and high schools. Steve currently serves as an Elementary Assistant Principal at Redeemer
Lutheran School in Austin, Texas.
Building upon his years of experience in education, law enforcement and educational administration, he enjoys meeting and serving the needs of others. He enjoys guiding and assisting individuals with their estate plans in his role as a part-time Estate Coach.
Steve and his wife have two children and four grandchildren, who are the joy of their lives. In his spare time, Steve plays on several USTA tennis teams. Additionally, he and his wife love to travel and tour the country in their truck and 5th wheel travel trailer.
Betsy Steward
Betsy is an experienced fundraising consultant who advises clients on major gift cultivation and stewardship, communicating with donors through the written word and back-office organization. In addition, she coaches boards on fundraising and their role in it and guides development staff in making board presentations.
Betsy has recently completed four years as Senior Consultant with the Heller Fundraising Group, where she advised clients on capital campaigns and major gift fundraising. She has written numerous well-received blogs about fundraising. Betsy is now semi-retired and works with a limited number of clients as an independent consultant. Before joining the Heller Group, Betsy was Director of Development for the Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) for over ten years. She led WCA’s Centennial Campaign, which raised $6.6M, exceeding the goal and virtually doubling the organization’s operating budget.
Betsy was named the 2017 Fundraiser of the Year by the Lower Hudson Valley Association of Development Officers. She has a Certificate in Fundraising from NYU as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in music. You can learn more about Betsy’s experience from her LinkedIn profile here.