Chris Hagerty brings his entrepreneurial spirit and development skills to Partners in Mission as a Senior Partner.
Before entering the advancement profession, Chris was the Founder, President, and General Manager of Heart Broadcasting, Inc., which owned radio stations WFLP and WEYZ.
Upon the successful operation and sale of these radio properties, Chris returned to his alma mater in hopes of lending his sales and marketing abilities to lead the school's advancement program. In his role as Director of Advancement at Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria, Chris has raised over $100,000,000 by turning a two-person office into a team of nine, quadrupling the Annual Fund from $120,000 to over $1,500,000 (while tripling alumni participation), and tripling the Cathedral Prep and Villa Scholarship Fund to over $850,000 per year. Chris also implemented and executed four multi-million capital campaigns, "Share The Vision," a $3,000,000 that raised $3,200,000; "Transforming Lives," an $18,200,000 campaign that raised $20,100,000; "Vision 2020," a $12,000,000 campaign that raised $14,200,000, and "Called to Lead" a $48,500,00 campaign that raised over $50,000,000. Chris personally solicited seven seven-figure gifts, including gifts of $5,500,000, $10,000,000, and $25,000,000, representing the largest gift ever received by Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria. In addition to helping improve the financial condition of Prep and Villa, Chris worked with the President in repositioning and re-messaging the school's internal and external communications, including an overhaul of the school's website, marketing, and public relations.
Chris was also instrumental in creating and establishing Mother Teresa Academy, an inner-city, low-tuition Catholic elementary school that opened in August 2017 in the Diocese of Erie.
Upon graduation from Mercyhurst University, Chris worked for a number of years as an educator in the Diocese of Erie, thus his current relationship with Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy brings him full circle in his lifelong commitment to Catholic Education.
Chris resides in Erie with his wife Jennie, who serves as the Executive Director of The Mercy Center for Women, his children Dan, Meghan, Kevin, and John, and grandchildren Emilia, Trey, Topher, Maive, Ryleigh, Raegan, and Ailish.
