Kathleen Lobb Tapped to Lead ASME Foundation
Kathleen Lobb Tapped to Lead ASME Foundation
Stand Up To Cancer Co-Founder and Former Entertainment Industry Foundation Chief Communications Officer Brings a Wealth of Philanthropic Experience to the Not-for-Profit Professional Organization
NEW YORK, N.Y., Jan. 30, 2019—Kathleen Lobb has joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) as managing director of philanthropy and executive director of the ASME Foundation. In these roles, Lobb will lead a team that is building a consolidated fundraising effort for philanthropic programs across ASME and the ASME Foundation.
“We have an extraordinary suite of programs and need to convey their life-changing impact—both to our mechanical engineering colleagues and others who may be interested in supporting this work,” said ASME Executive Director Tom Costabile. “With proven non-profit leadership that blends communications and fundraising expertise, Kathleen is well equipped to help take ASME philanthropy to the next level.”
“I speak for all of the members of the ASME Foundation Board of Directors in saying we are incredibly excited to have Kathleen lead our philanthropy team,” said Tom Pestorius, chair of the ASME Foundation and chief executive officer of H&P, Inc.
Lobb brings to ASME a wealth of experience and record of accomplishment in the philanthropic arena, encompassing strategy, communications and fundraising. Prior to joining ASME, she served for 17 years with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), most recently as chief communications strategist for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), EIF’s largest division, of which she is a co-founder, and as EIF’s chief communications officer. In the 10 years since SU2C launched, more than $603 million has been pledged to support its collaborative cancer research programs. Lobb remains an active member of the SU2C council of founders and advisors.
While serving on the SU2C senior leadership team, Lobb worked closely with the organization’s scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research, whose volunteer governance structure resembles that of ASME.
“It’s an honor to have a hand in continuing ASME’s storied, 138-year history and furthering its mission to serve diverse global communities by applying engineering knowledge for improving the quality of life,” said Lobb. “I am thrilled to form a team that helps communicate the excitement of engineering and conveys the impact of these philanthropic programs to prospective donors within—and beyond—the mechanical engineering community.”
Earlier in her career, Lobb served as a consultant to a major anti-tobacco public health organization. In the corporate arena, she worked in the online services business in its earliest days and later directed media relations for GTE, prior to the merger with Bell Atlantic that formed Verizon. She also worked at leading public policy and communications firms. Lobb’s expertise encompasses communications strategy development and implementation, fundraising, event planning, management of diverse, cross-functional teams, and cultivation of important stakeholder relationships. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and did graduate communications work at Boston University.
About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. For more information visit www.asme.org.
Media contacts:
Michael Cowan
Director, Strategic Communications
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
cowanm@asme.org
(212) 591-7303
Monica Shovlin
Principal and Owner
MCShovlin Communications LLC
monica@mcshovlin.com
(541) 554-3796
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