Hey friends,
We have a special feature coming your way each month this year. You will get a short biographical sketch of a guy in our network along with some really great personal stories of how they love and work for the good of metro Indianapolis.
We want our network to grow deeper in relationship with each other this year, making connections in person and through sharing personal stories, ramping up tangible love for God by loving our city and each other well in the name of Jesus.
The monthly feature will be short and impactful so please read, say a special prayer for the featured guy, and be inspired to love your family and neighborhood, your coworkers and the least of these, as we help build an Indy that will be described as ‘exceptional’ by God’s grace.
Lots of brotherly love,
Greg and Don
We have a special feature coming your way each month this year. You will get a short biographical sketch of a guy in our network along with some really great personal stories of how they love and work for the good of metro Indianapolis.
We want our network to grow deeper in relationship with each other this year, making connections in person and through sharing personal stories, ramping up tangible love for God by loving our city and each other well in the name of Jesus.
The monthly feature will be short and impactful so please read, say a special prayer for the featured guy, and be inspired to love your family and neighborhood, your coworkers and the least of these, as we help build an Indy that will be described as ‘exceptional’ by God’s grace.
Lots of brotherly love,
Greg and Don
BACKGROUND: Dave Neff, Chief Growth Officer for Prolific, is an Indy native. His parents met at Butler, and, although his family moved away briefly for his father’s medical practice, they were back by Neff’s 3rd grade year. He graduated from Heritage Christian High School and attended Ball State University, receiving a BS in Sports Administration. Prior to Prolific, he worked for Pacers Sports & Entertainment and ExactTarget, and co-founded EDGE Mentoring, serving as its president and CEO while expanding the non-profit to 45 states and multiple countries. Neff and wife, Joelle, have four children, aged 6, 4, 2, and 9 months and are part of the Soma Midtown church community.
NEFF’S IDEAS FOR A BETTER INDY
BE A DOER. At the beginning of his career, Neff was fortunate to cross paths with Jim Morris, who had recently become the president of the Pacers. Morris went with him on a few sales calls and a relationship was born that still continues. Now vice chairman of the Pacers and almost 80, Morris continues to set the standard for Neff by bringing people together from all walks of life to achieve things that advance Indy. “He’s a doer,” says Neff, “and I want that too. I want to be working with people who make a difference and don’t care who gets the credit.”
INTENTIONALLY STEWARD RELATIONSHIPS. Neff has intentionally switched lanes and met a wide variety of people. He listens to their stories and learns about their journeys. Although he acknowledges the importance of having a few really close friends, he is constantly building new relationships and creating space for people who don’t look like him and don’t come from the same zip code. “I’m not the most charismatic or interesting person at a cocktail hour,” he says, “but I try to build quality and depth and authenticity with interactions.”
GET IN PROXIMITY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOU. Finding common ground with people from wildly different walks of life requires curiosity, time, effort, self-restraint (to stop talking about self), and focus, says Neff. “I don’t want to build relationships with people who just help my agenda, and isn’t that part of our ministry as Christians?”
FIND SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO WORK ON WITH YOUR FRIEND NETWORK. Neff has been working closely for three years with a guy he met because of his intentional friendship building. His name is Fred Yeakey, and he’s the vice president at Providence Cristo Rey High School. There, 210 students go to school four days a week, and on the fifth immerse themselves in a corporate internship. “It’s a game-changer ” Neff says. “They don’t even know these jobs exist, and we’re creating pathways for them.” Neff and his network develop life-giving relationships with each other, parents, and students along the way.
BE CHALLENGED. “If we’re going to build a world class city, then we have to find something we’re willing to sacrifice for and invest our talents into – likely something that doesn’t benefit us personally. I want to make sure I’m not just consuming what the city has to offer, but giving back in an impactful way.”
You can connect with Dave at dneff@prolifichq.com
NEFF’S IDEAS FOR A BETTER INDY
BE A DOER. At the beginning of his career, Neff was fortunate to cross paths with Jim Morris, who had recently become the president of the Pacers. Morris went with him on a few sales calls and a relationship was born that still continues. Now vice chairman of the Pacers and almost 80, Morris continues to set the standard for Neff by bringing people together from all walks of life to achieve things that advance Indy. “He’s a doer,” says Neff, “and I want that too. I want to be working with people who make a difference and don’t care who gets the credit.”
INTENTIONALLY STEWARD RELATIONSHIPS. Neff has intentionally switched lanes and met a wide variety of people. He listens to their stories and learns about their journeys. Although he acknowledges the importance of having a few really close friends, he is constantly building new relationships and creating space for people who don’t look like him and don’t come from the same zip code. “I’m not the most charismatic or interesting person at a cocktail hour,” he says, “but I try to build quality and depth and authenticity with interactions.”
GET IN PROXIMITY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOU. Finding common ground with people from wildly different walks of life requires curiosity, time, effort, self-restraint (to stop talking about self), and focus, says Neff. “I don’t want to build relationships with people who just help my agenda, and isn’t that part of our ministry as Christians?”
FIND SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO WORK ON WITH YOUR FRIEND NETWORK. Neff has been working closely for three years with a guy he met because of his intentional friendship building. His name is Fred Yeakey, and he’s the vice president at Providence Cristo Rey High School. There, 210 students go to school four days a week, and on the fifth immerse themselves in a corporate internship. “It’s a game-changer ” Neff says. “They don’t even know these jobs exist, and we’re creating pathways for them.” Neff and his network develop life-giving relationships with each other, parents, and students along the way.
BE CHALLENGED. “If we’re going to build a world class city, then we have to find something we’re willing to sacrifice for and invest our talents into – likely something that doesn’t benefit us personally. I want to make sure I’m not just consuming what the city has to offer, but giving back in an impactful way.”
You can connect with Dave at dneff@prolifichq.com
