Concordia appointed three new members to its Board of Regents and re-appointed two current members at its quarterly meeting held on campus this week. The 17-person board serves as the governing body of the university.
The newly appointed members are: Barry Holst of Kansas City, Mo., John Kuddes of Leawood, Kan., and Max Wake of Seward, Neb. Dr. Fred Ohlde and Dr. Andy Smith were re-appointed to their third and second terms, respectively.
"We are excited to add the experience and energy of these three to our board," said Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, president of Concordia. "They will contribute greatly to our mission of providing an excellent, Lutheran, Christian education to our students as we prepare them to serve around the world."
Holst is a sales manager with Acxiom Corporation, an international business information and consulting company. He is also a coach for youth soccer, baseball and basketball teams and a member of King of Kings Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Mo. Holst is a 1986 graduate of Concordia University.
Kuddes is currently a managing partner with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He is a registered investment advisor and serves on the boards of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Foundation, the Pastoral Leadership Institute and the Kansas City Neighborhood Alliance. Kuddes is a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kan., and takes annual mission trips with his family.
Wake is the president and director of Jones National Bank & Trust Company. He is a member of the Nebraska and American Bar Associations and highly active in the community with memberships and executive positions on the St. John Lutheran Church Foundation, Foundation for Memorial Health Care Systems and the Seward Community Scholarship Committee. Wake is also a member at St. John Lutheran.
All Board of Regents members serve as directors on the Concordia Foundation Inc., which provides leadership for the university's advancement efforts.