About the Speakers

Russell James III, J.D., Ph.D., CFP®
Professor & CH Foundation Chair in Personal Financial Planning, Director of Graduate Studies in Charitable Planning, Texas Tech University

Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® is a chaired professor in the Department of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving). Prior to his career as an academic researcher, Dr. James worked as the Director of Planned Giving for Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri for 6 years and later served as president of the college for more than 5 years, where he had direct and supervisory responsibility for all fundraising. During his presidency the college successfully completed two major capital campaigns, built several new debt-free buildings, and more than tripled enrollment. Dr. James has published research in over 75 peer-reviewed scientific  journal articles and has been quoted on charitable and financial issues in a variety of news sources including The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, the Associated Press, Bloomberg News and the Chronicle of Philanthropy and his financial neuroimaging research was profiled in The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money Magazine.

Larry Katzenstein, J.D.
ACGA Director and Partner at Thompson Coburn LLP

Larry Katzenstein practices in St. Louis in the Thompson Coburn LLP client services group. He is a nationally-recognized authority on estate planning and planned giving, is an advisor to charitable organizations both locally and nationally, and a frequent speaker around the country to professional groups. He has spoken at many other national tax institutes, including the Notre Dame Tax Institute, the University of Miami Heckerling Estate Planning Institute and the Southern Federal Tax Institute. Larry has served as an adjunct professor at the Washington University School of Law where he has taught both estate and gift taxation and fiduciary income taxation. He additionally serves on the American Council on Gift Annuities board of directors and its rates committee.  He is a former chair of the American Bar Association Tax Section Fiduciary Income Tax Committee and is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of its Charitable Planning and Fiduciary Income Committees.  He has also served as a member of the advisory board of the New York University National Center on Philanthropy and the Law. Larry is also the creator of “Tiger Tables” actuarial software, which is widely used by tax lawyers and accountants nationwide, and has testified in United States Tax Court on actuarial valuations.  He received his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his law degree from Harvard.

Kevin McGowan
ACGA Director and Chief Financial Officer at Catholic Extension

Kevin McGowan has been the Chief Financial Officer at Catholic Extension since 2008. In addition to his financial responsibilities, Kevin manages the 3,500+ contracts in the CGA program, overseeing the marketing, donor outreach and follow-up, internal and external reporting, investing and administration. This unique responsibility for a CFO requires him to closely coordinate with the Annual Giving and Major Gift Officers. Prior to joining Catholic Extension, Kevin was a management consultant for over 20 years, working with Fortune 500 companies on their strategic, operational and organizational challenges. 

Kevin earned a BA with Honors from Wesleyan University and an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He has served on the ACGA board since 2016.