Kurt Senske named vice chair of
Thrivent Financial board of directors
CEO of Lutheran Social Services expands role
January 9, 2007

Austin - Dr. Kurt M. Senske, chief executive officer of Lutheran Social Services of the South, recently was named vice chair of the board of directors of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Fortune 500 financial services membership organization.

Senske's appointment is effective Feb. 1. He replaces Richard Beumer, who is retiring from the board.

Senske has been a member of the Thrivent Financial board and its predecessors since 1999. As vice chair, Senske will serve as lead external director for the board and chairman of the governance committee.

Senske, who lives in Austin, Texas, has been with Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS) since 1994. Under his guidance, LSS has grown dramatically and now has an annual operating budget of more than $85 million with a wide range of social service programs in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Before joining LSS, he was the assistant to the president at Concordia University at Austin. He also has worked as a corporate attorney, political consultant and senior staff member for candidates and government leaders at the local, state and national levels.

Senske currently serves as chair of the board for the World Relief and Human Care Ministries of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and on the board of directors of Lutheran Services in America.

He is the author of two books, Executive Values: A Christian Approach to Organizational Leadership and Personal Values: God's Game Plan For Life. He has also been a guest columnist on a variety of issues for newspapers, magazines, and television and radio programs.

Senske has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., and a law degree from the University of Illinois. He holds a master's degree in international relations from Shiller International University in Paris, France, and a doctorate degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit Fortune 500 financial services membership organization nearly 3 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, disability income insurance, bank products and more. As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.

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