Babejohn Kwasniak '94 named Director of Advancement at VASJ

Babejohn Kwasniak '94 has been named Director of Advancement for his alma mater, Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, effective May 1. The announcement was made by VASJ President Richard Osborne '69.

"Babe brings a wealth of talent, experience, passion and enthusiasm to our school," Osborne said. "As the Director of Advancement, he will play a key role in our strategic plan for continued success."

Kwasniak is the head coach of the VASJ boys basketball team, which ended its season this year as state runner-up in Division III. Under Kwasniak's leadership, VASJ won the 2013 state championship in Division IV. He will remain as basketball coach in his new position.

"I have often said I don't love coaching -- I love VASJ and the kids that I get the privilege to coach," Kwasniak said. "I believe taking this job proves that. I'm thrilled about the opportunity to use my business background to give back to an institution and community who made me the man I am today. This place is special. What an exciting time to be at VASJ."

The Director of Advancement reports to the President and is responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive advancement program, including fundraising, alumni relations, donor stewardship and budgeting.

Overall fundraising at VASJ, the fastest-growing private high school in Ohio, has increased some 44 percent since the 2010-11 school year. Key to this success is engagement with the school's base of nearly 20,000 alumni through calls on personal and corporate donors to meet goals approaching $1 million annually.

Kwasniak was part of the first graduating class to attend VASJ all four years after Villa Angela Academy and St. Joseph High School merged in 1990. He is in the elite category by winning a state championship as both a player and a head coach.

Kwasniak received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geopolitics from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1999. He served in the Army until 2004. His service included roles as an Executive Officer, Operation Officer, and as the head basketball coach for the Armed Forces Basketball Team, which won a gold medal in 2004 and 2001. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Medal upon completion of his military duty.

From 2005 until 2012 Kwasniak worked for Ameripath, the largest anatomic pathology company in the nation. He started as a territory manager in Kansas City where he won various president club trips for being a top salesman in cancer diagnostics and molecular testing medical field. He was promoted to an Anatomic Pathology Sales Director in Cleveland where he won an award for being the top director in 2010. Kwasniak managed in excess of $43 million of business while serving in that role.

Kwasniak is the co-founder of the Live for Joy Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds for ocular melanoma research and scholarship funds in memory of his sister, Joy Kwasniak-Swanson, a 1991 graduate of VASJ.

Kwasniak is married to Laura (Worthing) Kwasniak, MD, whom he met when they were both cadets at West Point. She is a board-certified dermatologist with a practice (Hirsh Dermatology) in Mayfield Village. The couple have three children: B.K. (10), Quinn (7) and Logan (2).

As Director of Advancement, Kwasniak succeeds Mary Paxton who has accepted the position of Director of Development with The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland Services.

Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School is a Catholic, comprehensive, co-educational high school committed to academic excellence and the development of student gifts. With a college preparatory curriculum rooted in Ursuline and Marianist core values of education, service, justice and diversity, Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School strives to bring each student to a deeper commitment to Jesus Christ and Gospel values.

For more information, contact Emily Robinson at 216-481-8414 ext. 235 or [email protected].