Martin, an Elon alumnus and parent from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, will lead the second year of the campaign’s three-year public phase.
Chris Martin ’78 P’13, an Elon alumnus, trustee and parent from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, has been named the new chair of the Elon LEADS Campaign. Martin succeeds trustee and parent Dave Porter P’11 P’19, of Boston, who led Elon LEADS during the first year of the campaign’s three-year public phase, which began on April 5, 2019.
Martin will serve as campaign chair until April 2021. The final year of Elon LEADS will be co-chaired by brothers Parker Turner ’06 and Garrett Turner ’08, both of Sarasota, Florida, and Maity Interiano ’07, of Miami, signaling the transition of campaign leadership to the next generation of alumni leaders.
The Elon LEADS chair serves several important functions, including providing oversight to the national campaign steering committee, speaking at key campaign events and assisting in securing leadership gifts and commitments to support campaign goals.
Elon President Connie Ledoux Book thanked Dave Porter for his leadership of Elon LEADS. As of May 1, generous donors had contributed $190 million toward the campaign’s historic $250 million goal.
“Dave Porter is one of Elon’s greatest champions, and his enthusiasm fueled the success of the Elon LEADS Campaign during its critical first year,” Book said. “I know Chris Martin will take Elon LEADS to the next level of needed success in the year ahead as we continue the important work of preparing courageous leaders to guide our future.”
Chris and Nicolette Martin are among the university’s most loyal and generous benefactors, making gifts to establish the Martin Alumni Center and Martin Family Scholarship, and to support The Inn at Elon. In addition, a generous estate gift from Chris Martin will establish an unrestricted endowment in the future to support scholarships and other university priorities. The couple’s son, Nick, is a 2013 Elon alumnus.
Martin, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Provident Financial Services and The Provident Bank, said he’s looking forward to engaging with alumni, parents and students whose lives have been transformed by Elon. He noted the importance of the campaign and institutions like Elon that serve as forces for good during challenging times such as the coronavirus pandemic.
“As always, Elon sets its goals high, and I am humbled to be asked to be part of this campaign,” Martin said. “Also, traveling and working with President Book and a fantastic team under (Vice President for University Advancement) Jim Piatt to achieve the goals of Elon LEADS during one of the most difficult times in U.S. history inspires us to create our own history and emerge better than we have ever been.”
Martin is also motivated by the campaign’s focus on deepening funding for scholarships.
“I believe the world needs Elon graduates, and this campaign is primarily about scholarships for students who will make a difference in the world,” he said.
Martin has served as a member and past president of the Elon Alumni Board and on the presidential search committee that brought President Book to Elon in March 2018. He also received Elon’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award for his professional achievements, community service and contributions to the university, including opening doors for students and alumni seeking internships and employment.
Elon is also grateful to Dave and Jen Porter for their loyal support of the university and the campaign. The couple has made leadership gifts to establish the Porter Family Professional Development Center in the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center and to support The Inn at Elon and Numen Lumen Pavilion, which houses the university’s multifaith center. Additional gifts from the Porters have supported scholarships, the Phoenix Club and School of Law.
“I was thrilled to serve as campaign chair because the generosity of our alumni, parents and students allows the university to move the needle in terms of national recognition, building our endowment and moving forward on all of our Elon LEADS priorities,” Porter said.
“What I enjoyed the most was the interaction at campaign events with people who share my enthusiasm for the university,” Porter said. “I have seen the direct impact Elon has had on two of my children and on the students I’ve hired, and it is clear that Elon is preparing the kind of smart, hard-working leaders our country needs.”
Porter is owner and managing partner of Baystate Financial. In recognition of his success leading Baystate, he was named one of the 50 most influential Bostonians by the Boston Business Journal and was one of the first inductees into the New England Financial Hall of Fame.
For more information on the Elon LEADS Campaign and how you can participate, visit www.elonleads.com.