Butler Joins Catholic Charities in Finance Role

Patrick Butler brings more than 10 years of senior financial leadership at area non-profit organizations to his new role as senior director of finance at Catholic Charities.

Patrick joined Catholic Charities June 14, replacing Bill Wallisch, who completed two years in the role in early May. Wallisch and his wife, Martha, relocated to northeast Kansas to be closer to their Kansas City-area children and grandchildren.

Traci Kennedy, executive director, says that Butler’s leadership, financial knowledge and commitment to non-profit organizations will allow for a smooth transition.

Collaborating with like-minded passionate leaders

“The financial acumen and leadership skills that Patrick has honed during the past 13 years will serve him well in his new role with Catholic Charities,” Traci says. “The fact that his experience has been with organizations doing similar work as Adult Day Services is an added bonus to our operations. His practical knowledge of how non-profits must blend charitable contributions, grant funding and fee-based revenue streams together to support the overall operating budget and long-term financial stability will serve Catholic Charities well.”

In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the accounting, information technology and facilities departments, Patrick serves on the agency’s executive committee and is the staff liaison to the board of directors’ finance committee.

“I am excited to embark on the next chapter of my career with Catholic Charities, and to collaborate with like-minded leaders passionate about serving the most vulnerable individuals in the community,” he says.

Bringing 13+ years of experience to the table

Patrck most recently served nearly five years as vice president of finance and chief financial officer for KETCH, a Wichita-based intellectual and developmental disability service provider with a combined operating budget of $14 million. Prior to KETCH, Butler spent eight years at Flinthills Services/CDDO of Butler County, beginning as a staff accountant before earning promotions to accounting manager and chief financial officer.

The Wichita native earned both a bachelor’s in accounting (2010) and a master’s of business administration (2014) from Wichita State University. He and his wife, Jessica, live in Derby with their five children and are active members of St. Mary Catholic Church.

Long lasting impact

Traci says that while Bills’s time at Catholic Charities was limited to two years, his impact will be long lasting.

“We appreciate all that Bill did for Catholic Charities during his time with the organization,” Traci says. “Bill was about so much more than spreadsheets and the bottom line. He fully embraced the mission of Catholic Charities and enthusiastically supported the daily work of our frontline staff to fulfill that mission. Catholic Charities is stronger because of Bill’s contributions, and we appreciate that he will be available to support Patrick as he moves in to the role.”