February 10, 2006

Nolan retiring after 31 years as diocesan CFO

Mike Nolan recently announced that after 31 years as the chief financial officer for the Diocese of Nashville, he will be retiring at the end of the year.

He and his wife, Madeena “decided that it was time to slow down and enjoy more time with the family.”

Retirement will allow Nolan more time to visit with his two sons and their families who live in Reno, Nev., and Cincinnati, as well extended family members scattered around the country. He also plans to stay actively involved with the Nashville Symphony Chorus during retirement.

Born into a “very large Irish Catholic clan in Chattanooga,” Nolan was raised in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and was married there by his parish priest, Father James Niedergeses in 1964. Nolan, who had earned a Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgical engineering the year before, never suspected that 11 years later he would be working for the Diocese of Nashville, nor that his boss would be the newly ordained Bishop Niedergeses.

Nolan learned of the CFO position from his lifelong friend Father James Mallett, who was serving as chancellor of the diocese under Bishop Joseph Durick. After receiving his MBA from St. Louis University, Nolan was working as a solid waste management expert at a large St. Louis engineering firm and thought he had settled on a career path.

“I thought it was a joke” when Father Mallett first called him to come work for the diocese, Nolan said. But after meeting with the bishop and the finance board, he thought that the position, at the time titled “executive secretary,” would be an exciting challenge. “So I decided to make a career change, and I’ve never regretted it,” Nolan said.

Nolan was hired by Bishop Durick, who retired shortly thereafter, and then worked for Bishop Niedergeses for the next 18 years, followed by Bishop Edward Kmiec for 11 years.

Nolan has worked with Bishop-elect David Choby during the past 16 months while he served as Diocesan Administrator and looks forward to continuing that relationship. The late December announcement of Choby’s appointment as bishop, Nolan said, “was the best Christmas present.”

While the leadership of the Diocese of Nashville has changed hands several times during his tenure as CFO, the biggest shift Nolan has seen in his 31 years on the job is the role of the laity. “Every year there’s more and more involvement,” of parishioners willing to volunteer their expertise and time to parish finance and advisory boards, Nolan said.

Even though they are called on to tackle some complicated issues “the laity have responded well,” Nolan said. “It’s a joy to work with these people.”

Some of the major projects Nolan has been involved with over the last three decades include: chairing the committee for the separation of assets of the Diocese of Knoxville from the Diocese of Nashville; relocating Father Ryan High School; planning and organizing the building of Pope John Paul II High School, Villa Maria Manor and Mary, Queen of Angels.

“We’re looking to do more of something like that,” Nolan said of the MQA assisted living facility.

Nolan worked closely with Bishop Kmiec on the diocesan strategic plan and the first diocesan-wide capital campaign, Growing in Faith for Tomorrow. He helped lead the search for a stewardship director to oversee the GIFT campaign. Nolan served as risk manager for the diocese for eight years, a position now filled by Chancellor Hans Toecker.

As part of his routine duties, Nolan helped secure a variety of bank loans for parish and diocesan school expansions. He oversaw all financial functions of the diocese including accounting, budgeting, investments and real estate, as well as insurance and retirement benefits for the priests and employees of the diocese.

A search committee has been formed to find a successor for Nolan, comprised of Father David Perkin, Moderator of the Curia of the diocese; Mike Kane, chairman of the diocesan finance board; Jim Tuerff, past chairman of the board; and finance board members Pat Campbell, Kevin Marchetti and Frank Mastrapasqua.

The search committee will soon begin advertising in local Catholic outlets including the Tennessee Register, the eRegister, the diocesan website and church bulletins. The search will gradually be expanded to the local secular press, regional and then national Catholic publications and websites if necessary, Father Perkin said. The committee hopes to have an overlap between Nolan and his successor so there is a chance for on-the-job training before he retires in December.

Nolan, who lives within walking distance of the Catholic Center, notes that “I’m not going to go away,” and that he will be available for consultation when needed.

“I want to bring someone in who loves the church and can find an even better way to operate.”