News Release -- 2006

Will Thomas resigns from BBT staff to assume faculty position in accounting at Southwest Minnesota State University

April 5, 2006, Elgin, Ill.

Will Thomas resigned today from the Brethren Benefit Trust staff after serving nearly seven years with the agency in a number of roles. Will’s resignation takes effect July 31.

Will’s current assignments have been many. As director of customer service operations for the Brethren Foundation, Will has spearheaded BBT’s customer service interactions with current and prospective asset management and deferred gift clients. In this role, Will has written the monthly Investment Perspective newsletter, which is sent to all of the Foundation’s asset management clients.

Will has been responsible for supervising and maintaining relations with BBT’s eight investment managers, scheduling quarterly and annual reviews and examining each manager’s results against established industry benchmarks. He currently is leading the process for staff and the Board’s Investment Committee of replacing one of BBT’s two bond managers.

Will has also served as BBT’s primary voice for its socially responsible investing (SRI) initiatives. He was responsible for BBT shareholder resolutions in 2002, 2003, and 2004 that asked Yum! Brands to ban smoking in its corporately owned restaurants. Though those resolutions were not approved by shareholders, having the issue presented to the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s, A&W All American, and KFC prompted the firm in 2005 to announce that it was banning smoking in its own restaurants and that it would work to eliminate smoking in the restaurants of its franchisees, stating, “It is the right thing to do.”

In addition to advocacy work and ensuring the SRI screens BBT mandates of its investment managers are being met, Will helped establish BBT’s Community Development Investment Fund, an investment choice for Foundation and Pension Plan members that helps infuse development funds into low-income areas of large cities.

As BBT’s representative to the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, Will has been involved with many ecumenical SRI initiatives. For the past five years he has served on the ICCR governing board, which has included serving for one year as chair. He currently serves as vice-chair.

Will’s remaining BBT responsibility has been serving as a contributor to the Communication Team. Will has served as a senior writer and editor, helping to create and shape many of the publications that are produced by the team.

“Throughout his tenure, Will has represented BBT on many fronts,” said Wil Nolen, BBT president. “His knowledge of investments; his affability with clients, church members, and staff; and his passion for pressing companies to be better global citizens have been very positive contributions to BBT. He will be missed.”

Will leaves BBT to return to higher education: He has accepted a faculty position in accounting at Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, Minn., in August. While Will’s full-time service with BBT will conclude on July 31, he is still scheduled to serve as part of the BBT team at National Older Adult Conference in September.