DFMC BOARD CANDIDATE
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
NAME OF CANDIDATE: Andrew Brannon, CPA, CDFM
REPRESENTING (ARCH)DIOCESE OF: Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Rochester MN
POSITION TITLE: Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer
NUMBER OF YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 8 Years - 2 as CFO, 6 as COO/CFO
NUMBER OF DFMC CONFERENCES ATTENDED: 8
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
As the COO / CFO, I weave back and forth between overseeing the Administrative Departments (Finance & Accounting, Internal Audit, Human Resources, Development, IT and Building & Grounds) and interacting with the Ministerial Departments, providing insight into the vision and strategy of the those Ministerial Departments. As a Curia, we strive to meld administrative thoughts and ideas with the insight and training of our theologically degreed employees. We feel this produces a more balanced and cohesive guidance to Pastors and parish staff.
During my eight years in this position, I’ve revamped the financial reporting to the Finance Council, assisted the Diocese through its bankruptcy process, led the committee transitioning our diocese to a new bishop, chaired the building committee during construction of a new Chancery, and guided the relocation of our employee base from Winona to Rochester, MN. Throughout all of this, I collaborated with clergy and lay leaders to align financial and operational strategy with our bishop’s pastoral vision for the Diocese.
In addition to my role at the Diocese, I serve on the Finance Council of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, and the boards of the Catholic Foundation of Southern MN and the Catholic Umbrella Pool – a single parent captive insurance company providing excess liability coverage to Catholic dioceses.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR BACKGROUND PRIOR TO WORKING FOR THE (ARCH)DIOCESE:
My background spans both private sector and ecclesial leadership. I served 9 years as an Audit Manager at McGladrey LLP (Now RSM) - serving offices in Cedar Rapids, IA and South Bend, IN. Upon leaving public accounting, my wife and I purchased Tri-State Monument Co. in La Crosse, WI. We co-owned the monument company for eleven years - designing, producing, and installing cemetery memorials in the tri-state area surrounding La Crosse.
Immediately prior to my current role at the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, I had the privilege of serving Cardinal Raymond Burke for 14 years as the Finance Director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, helping it grow from a start-up to a nationally known place of pilgrimage, now welcoming over 125,000 visitors each year.
ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION:
I’ve been married to Debbie for 42 years and have four adult children. I enjoy reading, singing, playing the piano and volunteering on various non-profit boards and causes which are near and dear to my heart.
EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, ETC.:
- BA in Accounting; University of Northern Iowa
- CPA – Iowa Board of Accountancy
- CDFM – Certified Diocesan Fiscal Manager Certification through DFMC
- CM – Certified Memorialist (Expired); Issued by the Monument Builders of North America
PARISH/CHURCH AFFILIATIONS: Blessed Sacrament Parish in La Crosse WI