Facilities team promotes while Finance and Investment teams welcome new hires

Nikki Bonomo has joined The Kresge Foundation as an infrastructure manager in the Information Technology department, after previously serving as an independent consultant to Kresge on cybersecurity. In her new role at the foundation, Bonomo will manage cybersecurity, IT compliance, network and server administration and overall data availability.

Hiring Bonomo comes at a time when Kresge’s information technology function, as well as the entire sector, doubles down on the growing demands of cybersecurity, as well as hybrid work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With decades of experience, Bonomo has held positions in information technology and cybersecurity at Gateway Computer, the U.S. Navy and with the Marathon Petroleum Corporation prior to joining Kresge. Bonomo earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland University College and a master’s degree in information assurance and cybersecurity from Eastern Michigan University.

“Nikki is a self-starter with a track record in cybersecurity, disaster recovery and business continuity, which is increasingly important to the foundation” said Wendye Mingo, Kresge managing director of Information Technology.

To further bolster Kresge’s IT department, Sean Radatz has been promoted to technology services manager. Radatz will lead the department’s customer service and helpdesk functions, along with a number of the foundation’s key systems and applications, including the Fluxx grants management system.

“No task is too big or too small for Sean and Nikki; both are ready to dive in and support the information technology needs of the foundation,” affirmed Mingo.

Outside of information technology, another Kresge operational staff member who was recently promoted is Kevin Pearson, serving now as Apprentice Engineer in the Facilities department. Kevin will support general maintenance, repair and monitoring of all foundation facilities, grounds and equipment.

 The foundation’s Finance and Investment Offices also recently welcomed Prachi B. Shende and Maximilian Zachary, respectively. Shende, a staff accountant, previously served as a controller for Copper Range Technologies and as an adjunct professor in accounting at Walsh College and Oakland Community College. Shende is a certified public accountant and earned a master’s degree in accounting from Walsh College.

Zachary, a performance analyst, will apply the experience he gained as a student at Oakland University. There, as part of his coursework, he helped manage a Kresge-powered $2 million student-managed investment fund, which was designed to teach students the essentials of portfolio management, stock selection and portfolio evaluation. Zachary is the second graduate Kresge has hired from the Oakland University program.

“All of these new hires and promotions reflect our desire to support, develop and recruit people with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to support our north star of expanding opportunity in America’s cities,” said President and CEO Rip Rapson.