"I am excited that he has decided to join our leadership team," said Dean Robert Palazzo. "A seasoned professional, I am confident that he will strengthen all aspects of our fund raising operations needed to achieve the goals of our Strategic Plan and help improve the visibility of the College."Mr. Ledkins received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Auburn University in Hotel & Restaurant Management. His interest in fundraising started far from academia. After graduating from Auburn, the majority of his tenure was spent in corporate hotel sales. Prior to returning to Auburn and the Office of Development, Randall spent a combined eight years between the hotel giants of Starwood and Marriott, serving as Senior Corporate Sales Manager in the highly competitive Southeastern Corporate Market. He brings over 17 years of fundraising, sales, and marketing experience to this position.
Over the past eleven years, Randall has experienced great success in the world of academic fundraising. His entrance into the field allowed him to build a development program for the Auburn University Libraries as their first Development Officer, quite literally from the ground up. During this time he was able to build a successful fundraising machine even with the Libraries three year delayed entrance into the University's comprehensive campaign, raising over $4.25 million in under five years. Randall was subsequently appointed Senior Director of University Development and Strategic Priorities in the Central Office of Development at Auburn, where his responsibilities were broadened to include all academic units, athletics, libraries and the museum. This donor-centered, institutionally focused approach to philanthropy has led to $3.4 million in private support in the past year alone.
Randall is a seasoned fundraising professional with numerous awards to his credit including: Executive Board Member of ALADN (Academic Library Advancement & Development Network) 2008-10; Auburn University Foundation's Recognition of Achievement, Largest Percentage of Increase in Amount of Gifts Received 2007 & 2005 and Recognition of Achievement Largest Percentage of Increase For Endowments for 2004; Starwood Sales Manager of the Year 2000; Starwood Constellations Award; and Marriott's Teiffel Presidential Award for Outstanding Customer Service.