Background

Home / Background

“It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular; it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act.”  A. W. Tozer

Sections

Overview |   Education |   Work History  |  Life Lessons |   Affiliations  |   Accreditations

    Overview

My entrepreneurial spirit, heart for God and genuine love for people have propelled me into a diverse executive and management career spanning the non-profit and for-profit sectors.

I have devoted much of my life to the non-profit and humanitarian arena. I have managed business and ministry projects in over 35 countries and my passion for local and international missions is still a core value.

My executive management background has been focused on smaller businesses and non-profit organizations. My skill set and management style centers on the development of people, utilization of technology, business process optimization and efficient project management.

My career pathway has involved marketplace and business as well as serving in the non-profit and humanitarian sectors with secular and non-profit areas often happening simultaneously.

I am available for philanthropic and charitable consulting, as well as executive process management projects.   (LinkedIn content)

    Education

REED – WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO HERE ?

Quick Quiz #1:

What do the following people have in common?

  • Richard Branson (Virgin Group)
  • David Karp (Tumblr)
  • Aretha Franklin (child prodigy and musician; honorary degrees from places like Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Berklee – partial list)
  • Joe Lewis (Tavistock)
  • David H. Murdock (Dole Foods)
  • George Foreman (Boxing great and great grilling machines)
  • James Clark (Netscape)

Got your answer in mind to Quiz #1? Great – go to Quick Quiz #2!

Quick Quiz #2:

What do the following people have in common?

  • Michael Dell (Dell Computers)
  • Steve Jobs (Apple)
  • Bill Gates (Microsoft)
  • Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)
  • Larry Ellison (Oracle)

Got your answer in mind to Quiz #2? Great – go to Quick Quiz #3!

Quick Quiz #3:

What do the following people have in common?

  • Abraham (book of Genesis)
  • David
  • Jesus

Got your answer in mind to Quiz #3? Great – check your answers!

Answers:

  • Quick Quiz #1: Dropped out of High School
  • Quick Quiz #2: Dropped out of College
  • Quick Quiz #3: Decided that following God was the way to go in life (they followed the Nike motto – Just Do it)

So – how did you do with the quiz?

I am part of the first group (dropped out of High School).

My strengths are in Sales, Project Management and building business and ministry.

Did I mention that I got my PhD in people skills and learned that from a huge array of experiences in life? Life is a good teacher!  My adventurous spirit took me into business at an early age.  No regrets – I would do it again!

I am a constant and eager learner and student; I have pursued education as needed to fulfill what God has had me to do in life.

    Work History

Business and Commerce
  • 1975 – 1980.  Automated woodworking machinery.  Various levels of innovative technical engagement (Precision Machinist, Machine Assembly Engineer, R&D, Prototype Development, Manufacturing Standards and Compliance).  Sales and business development (European Trade shows) and associated support functions.  Arizona, England.
  • 1980 – 2000.  See entry under Charitable and Ministry. Ministry focus during this time period
  • 2000.  Program Manager and Consultant (Sephora – Paris based multinational).  Website and communication infrastructure – North America.
  • 2000 – 2010. Onestep (Founder and President).  Development of management, sales and compliance strategies.  Software, Real Estate and Financial Services.
  • 2007 – 2008. Church Media Group
  • 2008 – 2012.  Assist startups with sales and marketing.  Predominantly Texas.
  • 2012 – present.  During this period I was a managing partner in construction initiatives. I focused my own new business development within construction management, development and project management.  See notation under Charitable and Ministry for family health matter, 2015 onwards.
Charitable and Ministry
  • 1980 – 2000. Paul Cain ministries.  Administration and Event Coordination.  Speaking (mainly in North America and Europe)
  • 2001 – 2005. Children at Risk (Hope for the Nations) – VP.  Ministry facilitation and revenue generation.  UN-NGO-IRENE. Special Consultative Status (ECOSOC). 21 countries (medical clinics, schools, water wells, sustainable community development)
  • 2005 – 2007. Gateway Church, TX.  Executive Pastor – Stewardship, Global Ministries.  Management of staff, team development.  Staff of 10, budget line item responsibility ($5m).
  • 2007 – 2014. Predominantly marketplace related.  See previous section.
  • 2014 – 2015. Eternal Ventures, Every Home for Christ.  Colorado Springs.  Pastoral, Sales and Marketing, Donor Development
  • 2015 – present.  Significant time commitment with cancer-stricken wife (d. Feb 2018)

Family Health Commitments.  From 2015 – 2018, significant time and energy was committed to assist my wife (Monette) who died of an invasive cancer in February of 2018. It was a joy and honor to care for Monette in our home for the past several years.  At the same time, it took all of me – physically, emotionally and spiritually.  God has given me the year of 2018 for some needed R&R. I had the privilege of being married to the most passionate, adventurous and fun loving person I can imagine. My tribute to Monette – https://reedgrafke.com/dir/a-tribute-to-monette/

    Affiliations

Board Affiliations – Reed has served on numerous boards working with children at risk and general Christian ministry, as well as the oil and gas and construction industries. He has recently resigned all board affiliations to focus on his personal walk with God and his family and to prepare for what the future holds.

    Accreditations

  • International Code Council – Class A accreditation for residential and commercial construction
  • Licensed general contractor with commercial or residential experience in 11 states
  • Christian Financial Professionals Network – Founded by Ron Blue, CFPN recently changed their name to Kingdom Advisors. While serving as a Stewardship Pastor for Gateway Church, Reed became accredited with CFPN in order to better equip the congregation in financial stewardship. His membership is dormant, but can be reactivated if beneficial to current responsibilities.
  • LaRed Business Network – LaRed is a network of business and church leaders who are trained and equipped to facilitate weekly courses in the marketplace on Biblical values and principals. Their curriculum has been successfully implemented in over 60 nations and is widely used in the USA amongst business groups, financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, churches and school systems, both amongst teachers and students.
  • Prepare and Enrich – Reed is a certified Pre-marriage counselor with Prepare and Enrich, an international organization that utilizes decades of research and Internet technology to assess compatibility and aid it’s certified trainers in preparing couples for vitalized marriage.
  • Served as an ordained pastor with the American Baptist Association
  • Served as an ordained pastor with Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas