Kea joins Harold J. Monroe, an experienced banking executive and corporate financial advisor, who has served the foundation as vice president of investments since 2011.
The foundation is an independent financial services group that provides a wide range of Southern Baptist investment and estate planning opportunities.
Kea served as a partner in the law firm Scott & Kea from 1995 to 2003 and later was a vice president at Pinnacle Financial Partners/Cavalry Banking, managing a book of assets in excess of $160 million. Active in Southern Baptist life for more than 30 years, Kea was appointed in 2008 as an International Mission Board missionary to Belgium and has now returned to the United States.
In his new position, Kea will guide the foundation in branding, marketing and relationship management.
Monroe, before joining the foundation, had served 10 years at Caterpillar Investment Management Limited in Peoria, Ill., as senior financial advisor and consultant. He earlier served two years as senior vice president and trust officer at First Security Bank and seven years as a vice president with the Old National Trust Company.
Monroe is coordinating and monitoring investments for the foundation's $184 million portfolio.
Foundation President Warren Peek described the two professionals as devout Christians "who love Christ and His church."
"It has been a privilege to witness John's dedication to God, his family and his church. I am honored that John has brought his professional qualifications and Christian character to serve at the foundation," Peek said of Kea. "He is a man of great integrity with a love of reaching the lost for Christ. His qualifications and experience make him a perfect choice to serve as a vice president and general counsel at the foundation."
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Peek said Monroe "has a committed heart for the Lord, his church and his family."
"I am very excited that the foundation has hired such a man of God willing to move from success in the business world to an opportunity to serve the Lord at the foundation," Peek said of Monroe. "He has tremendous investment knowledge, and as the vice president of investments, he brings a wealth of experience to the foundation which has been very beneficial."
The foundation provides prudent, socially-screened investment services to individuals and Southern Baptist Convention entities, offering full-service financial management and complete tax accounting services. Through the foundation, individuals have access to a full range of estate planning tools including out-right gifts, trusts, wills, gift annuities and donor advised funds.
"We provide maximum returns in ways consistent with our spiritual mandate," Peek said. "Ours is a sacred trust. We endeavor to support you in discerning God's leading in the use of the resources He has entrusted to you, and skillfully offer relevant counsel to achieve the most significant Kingdom impact. We attempt to accomplish all this for the lowest level of fees."
Kea holds a law degree with honors from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from Union University in Jackson, Tenn. He has earned 30 hours toward a master of theology in intercultural leadership from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he is enrolled part-time. He and his wife Elizabeth have a 9-year-old son Noah and three daughters, Eliana, 7, Meira, 4, and newborn Hannah.
Monroe holds a master's degree in organizational communication from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green and a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Murray State University in Murray, Ky. He and his wife Ruth have two children, 22-year-old Elizabeth and 20-year-old Sara.
Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' staff writer. To learn more about the Southern Baptist Foundation, visit www.sbfdn.org. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).
Copyright (c) 2012 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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