In January 2022, the VMI Alumni Agencies’ board of directors named David L. Prasnicki the permanent chief executive officer of the VMI Alumni Agencies. Crissy Elliott was named chief financial officer of the VMI Alumni Agencies.
Samuel N. Stocks ’90, VMI Alumni Agencies’ board of directors chairman, announced Jan. 10, 2022, that the board named David L. Prasnicki, VMI Alumni Agencies interim chief executive officer, the permanent CEO.
Prasnicki is among the VMI Alumni Agencies’ longest-serving employees, beginning his career with the VMI Foundation in February 1986. In his more than three-and-a-half decades serving the VMI family, Prasnicki has taken on positions of increasing responsibility. In 1996, he became the VMI Foundation’s chief financial officer; in 1998, he received the title and responsibilities of vice president and chief financial officer. In those positions, Prasnicki supervised a staff that provided accounting, personnel management, financial management, and information technology services to the VMI Foundation, VMI Keydet Club, former VMI Development Board, VMI Alumni Association, VMI Alumni Agencies, and George C. Marshall Research Foundation.
For several years, he has been responsible for the day-to-day management of VMI Investment Holdings, LLC, the organization responsible for managing the endowments of the VMI Alumni Agencies, VMI, and the George C. Marshall Research Foundation. Prasnicki is a graduate of Roanoke College, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1985. He worked for the VMI treasurer from June 1985 until he joined the VMI Foundation.
“Anyone involved with the VMI Alumni Agencies in the past 36 years knows David as a consummate professional,” said Stocks. “In every position he has held, he has demonstrated strong leadership, sound judgment, and an unshakable devotion to the Institute and VMI Alumni Agencies.
“The contributions he has made toward increasing the effectiveness of the VMI Alumni Agencies are innumerable and important, especially in the past several years as the Agencies reorganized in pursuit of their shared goal of advancing the Institute,” continued Stocks. “Finally, hundreds of volunteer leaders associated with the VMI Alumni Association, the VMI Foundation, and the VMI Keydet Club have relied on David for valuable insights and advice.
“My colleagues on the Agencies’ board are pleased David has accepted this position after serving as the interim CEO since last fall. We look forward to many years of energetic and effective leadership.”
Prasnicki reacted to his appointment by saying, “I have been privileged to have a front-row seat as VMI has gone through many changes, such as stepping back from mandatory commissioning, ending Saturday classes, and transitioning to coeducation. Throughout that time, however, VMI has remained steadfastly committed to its mission and has always worked to be a stronger version of itself. It is an honor to serve the Agencies and the Institute in this new role, and I look forward to working with the entire VMI family to ensure the Institute enjoys an ever-brighter future.”
Prasnicki assumed his duties as the permanent CEO effective Monday, Jan. 10. Prasnicki is the father of two sons—the late Stephen Chase Prasnicki, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2012, and Tyler L. Prasnicki ’15, a captain in the U.S. Army with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Germany—and a daughter, Lauren, who holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from James Madison University and currently works as an occupational therapist at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Crissy Elliott was named chief financial officer of the VMI Alumni Agencies in January 2022. She began working for the VMI Foundation in 2000 and served as financial controller of the Alumni Agencies. In that capacity, she was responsible for financial accounting, internal/external reporting, supervision of accounting staff, and information technology. She has also served as the secretary of VMI Investment Holdings LLC.
A native of Buena Vista, Virginia, Elliott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Lynchburg College and has passed the CPA exam. Before coming to work for the Agencies, she served as director of finance for Rockbridge County Public Schools and worked for the public accounting firm Brown, Edwards, and Company LLC. She and her husband, Randy Elliott ’94, have a daughter, Josie, a junior at Oklahoma State University.
“Crissy Elliott’s promotion bolsters the strength of our fiscal program at VMI,” said David Prasnicki, VMI Alumni Agencies chief executive officer. “Her experience, talent, and enthusiasm for VMI is demonstrated in everything she does. We are lucky to have her on our team and in this new role.”
The communications officer supports the strategy for all communications, including web content, public relations messages and collateral pieces in order to articulate and promote the mission of the VMI Alumni Agencies and promote philanthropy among varied constituencies.
The development writer plays a key role in producing advancement communications. This role imagines, creates, and produces a variety of written communication to inspire donors to make gifts benefiting VMI. Utilizing journalistic features and storytelling, the development writer will produce content for areas such as Annual Giving, stewardship, and gift planning.
