Meet the Advancement Team
Daniel LaBry
Vice President of University Advancement & President of CCU Endowment Foundation
Email: dlabry@ccu.edu
Phone: 303-963-3093
Daniel LaBry joined Colorado Christian University as the Vice President of University Advancement and President of the CCU Endowment Foundation in September 2023. He has served in similar roles as part of senior management teams in nonprofit settings over the past 30 years at a seminary, as part of international ministries, and in secular nonprofits. LaBry’s tapestry of experience brings a deep connection to CCU’s programs and strategic priorities, including K-12 STEM education (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), the national school choice movement, evangelism training, formal and informal pastoral and ministry training, church planting movements, and international missions across Southeast Asia. LaBry is a champion for Christ-centered education at all levels and around the world.
Amanda Grogan
Senior Director of Major Gifts
Email: agrogan@ccu.edu
Phone: 303-963-3139
Amanda Grogan joined Colorado Christian University as a Senior Director of Major Gifts in May 2022. As a seasoned development officer, her role is laser-focused on connecting and fostering Christ-centered relationships that advance God's mission for CCU. Amanda received her Bachelor of Music Education from Northern State University and her Master's degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She comes to CCU from the University of Denver, where she served as Director of Development for the Daniels College of Business for four years. Before her time at DU, she spent seven years working with CU Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science advancement team and three additional years with CU System Advancement in annual giving, which supported all four campuses. Amanda has been married to her husband Bill for more than 10 years and is the proud mother of her three children – William, Molly, and Evelyn. She loves singing, spending time with family and friends, serving in her church, and finding new restaurants in her spare time!
Kara Johnston Mott
Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Engagement
Email: kjohnston@ccu.edu
Phone: 303-963-3320
Kara Johnston Mott brings more than twenty-three years of experience in higher education to her role at CCU. She previously served as the director of development and alumni relations at the Denver campus of Johnson and Wales University for eight-and-a-half years. Kara also spent seven years as the director of alumni relations and annual giving at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Kara spearheads several projects intended to deepen bonds between alumni, donors, and the University. She is responsible for annual giving campaigns, grant writing, special events, and engagement opportunities (reunions, career networking, etc.). She is married to Ted, and she has three college-age children, including a CCU student.
Learn more about Kara Johnston
Jill Sneed
Executive Assistant
Email: jsneed@ccu.edu
Phone: 303-963-3474
Jill joined the Advancement team at Colorado Christian University in February 2025 and has been with CCU since 2019. Jill brings experience from Life’s Options Pregnancy Center, a non-profit in Evergreen, CO, where she served as Executive Director for 12 years before coming to CCU. Jill received a degree in Sociology from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from CCU in 2023. Jill’s passions lie in mentoring, leadership, and community. Jill is married to her husband, Dave, and has three adult children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and two grandsons. She enjoys photography, skiing, hiking, and spending time with her family and dog.
Mark Heckelmann
Director of Major Gifts
Email: mheckelmann@ccu.edu
Phone: 303-963-3343
Mark Heckelmann joined Colorado Christian University as the director of major and planned gifts in August 2019. His role is to connect with those seeking to advance and support the mission of CCU and help create the Harwood Legacy Society. Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Kansas State University. Before joining the Advancement team, Mark served for four years as the annual fund manager at Valor Christian High School. Mark has been married to his bride, Ty, for over 35 years, who also serves at CCU as the campus development project manager. Both are passionate about Christian higher education. They are parents of two sons, and they have four grandchildren. Mark is an active church member and, in his spare time, loves to ski, play golf and tennis, cook, and garden.
Learn more about Mark Heckelmann
Paul Grizzle
Development Officer
Email: pagrizzle@ccu.edu
Phone: 303-301-6710
Paul Grizzle serves as a Development Officer at Colorado Christian University, bringing a passion for donor engagement and a deep personal connection to CCU’s mission, shaped by his own experience as a recipient of donor-funded philanthropic support as a student. Prior to joining the Advancement team, he held leadership roles within CCU’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies. Paul earned his B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing in 2018 as a campus student, where he played for the Men’s Soccer team and served in discipleship leadership. He later completed an MBA and an M.S. in Economics through CCU Online. Paul and his wife, Samie—whom he met at CCU—attend Mission Hills Church and enjoy life with their Goldendoodle, Rudy. In his free time, Paul enjoys hunting, running marathons, and staying connected with former teammates and friends.
Kerrie Baiz
Donor Services Manager
Email: kbaiz@ccu.edu
Phone: 903-268-4084
Kerrie Baiz joined Colorado Christian University as the Donor Services Manager in March 2025, where she has taken on a critical role in enhancing the donor services that support the university’s mission. In this capacity, she diligently oversees all data pertaining to the university’s donors and functions as the donor database administrator. Prior to her appointment at CCU, Kerrie garnered extensive experience across various nonprofit sectors, particularly in conservation and organizations focused on aiding homeless individuals, as well as in formulating long-term educational programs designed to address learning loss among students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Beyond her professional endeavors, Kerrie is married to Antonio and is a dedicated mother to one daughter, with personal interests that include crafting, mountain biking, and participating in 5K runs.
Bridget Radke
Strategic Engagement Gift Office
Email: bradke@ccu.edu
Phone: 303-963-3090
Bridget Radke joined the CCU Advancement team in September 2025 as the Strategic Engagement Gift Officer, bringing nearly a decade of experience in advancement, communications, creative design, and alumni engagement. A Texas native, Bridget previously served as the Associate Director of Alumni Relations at The King’s University in Southlake, Texas, where she revitalized a dormant alumni association into a vibrant, engaged community. During her time there, she launched the university’s first magazine and loved highlighting alum stories through articles, graphics, and creative photography. Bridget met her travel-loving husband of ten years while serving in Berlin, Germany, and they return often while continuing to raise their family to be proficient in the German language. Bridget has been to 10 different countries, including both China and Taiwan, and is now a proud resident of a mountaintop in Southern Colorado, where she and her family hike every day.
