Leadership of the Peru State College Foundation and its staff was handed over to new Executive Director Jon Firmature.
Firmature has been the organization’s Director of Development since January 2024. He succeeds longtime College and Foundation staffer Ted L. Harshbarger, who remains as the Foundation Director of Alumni Relations.
The Foundation is a private non-profit corporation established some 70 years ago to support Peru State College through the management and solicitation of charitable contributions and other gifts.
“Jon was the perfect fit for the Foundation” noted Foundation Board chair Jeff Greenwald ‘71. The Foundation is led by a 12-member volunteer Board and employs a staff of four.
With over 30 years of experience in fundraising and non-profit organization management, grant writing, and economic development, and his work over the past year and a half, Firmature’s experience and skill set made him an ideal candidate for the position, Greenwald said.
For Firmature, the past 18 months with the Foundation convinced him he had found the right place.
“It is an honor to step into the role of Executive Director at Peru State College Foundation, following the dedicated leadership of Ted Harshbarger,” Firmature said. “Peru State College holds a deep tradition of excellence, and the Foundation plays a pivotal role in ensuring the continued success of our students, faculty, and programs. I am excited for the opportunity to build upon the solid foundation that Ted has established and to work alongside alumni, donors, and community partners to advance our mission.”
With over $21 million in assets and a robust portfolio of scholarships to support Peru State students, academic and extracurricular programs, and other college needs, the Foundation is already well established. But Firmature sees even more opportunities to increase the Foundation’s impact on Peru State.
“I look forward to collaborating with alumni, donors, and community members as we take the Foundation to new heights. Together, we can create opportunities that empower students, strengthen programs, and elevate Peru State College’s presence as a leader in education and innovation,” Firmature said.
Both Firmature and Greenwald lauded the work of Harshbarger and the rest of the Foundation staff for setting a solid base for future success. Harshbarger worked at the College in a variety of roles from 1989 until joining the Foundation in 2021.
“While I had only briefly met Ted in 2021, I was quickly convinced that his genuine and heartfelt concern for the College and Foundation was very apparent,” Greenwald said. “He really loves collaborating with our alumni, and they feel the same about him.”
Firmature’s primary responsibilities include fundraising and donor relations, and leadership and strategy for the Foundation. He will oversee fiscal management of the Foundation, manage its operations, and direct Board and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
An Omaha native, Firmature is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Before coming to Peru State’s Foundation in January 2024, he was Executive Director of the Iowa West SportsPlex in Council Bluffs.
Among the other positions he held, he was Director of Development for Credit Advisors Foundation in Omaha, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County (Neb.), General Manager and Partner for Taste Bistro/Small Business Group in Omaha, and Director of Business Development for Summitsoft Corp. in Omaha.
Firmature and his wife Stephanie Wegner are the parents of six children and recently became grandparents for the first time with the arrival of Jude Edward Firmature.
(photo) Jon Firmature recently started as the Executive Director of the Peru State College Foundation. He took over for Ted L. Harshbarger who remains on the Foundation staff as the Director of Alumni Relations.