Alumni Spotlight October 2026

Kim Nechay M 2004

DEGREES:
B.S. in Marketing and MBA

CURRENT EMPLOYER
Perdue

CURRENT OCCUPATION
Executive Director of the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation

DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER PATH
I was an employee of Salisbury University (then Salisbury State) who took advantage of the tuition remission program and earned my MBA while working full time and starting a family. I worked at Salisbury University in a variety of escalating roles for 12 years completing my career there as the Executive Director of the Salisbury University Foundation and the Director of Development. I then started my own non-profit consulting firm so I could work from home with my growing family. After about 5 years of working to improve a number of Eastern Shore charities, I accepted the position of Executive Director of the Perdue Foundation where I have served for more than 13 years. It is a true honor to continue the generous philanthropic legacy of Frank Perdue and the entire Perdue Family and organization.

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU LEARNED WHILE ATTENDING SALISBURY UNIVERSITY
While attending Salisbury University, I learned that I am capable of handling the hard things in life - and nothing was harder than balancing Dr. Kashi Khazeh's finance classes with managing a family and career. The knowledge and skills I acquired during the classes were invaluable - but the tenacity and work ethic I built during that time is even more so.

WHAT CAMPUS ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS WERE YOU INVOLVED WITH?
I was a Master's student and did not have the opportunity to enjoy the many clubs and offerings.

BEST COLLEGE MEMORY
Honestly, my best memory of Salisbury University was graduation. I have never been more proud of myself then the day I walked across the stage to get my diploma and finding my husband and children to hug them and celebrate. It's not just one of my favorite memories of SU - its also on of my fondest memories of my life.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY?
I took advantage of the tuition remission program because I was an SU employee - but when I look back I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from the extraordinary faculty of the Perdue School of Business.

IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?
Beauty, Quality and Legacy

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT AND WHY?
My favorite vacation spot has to be Alaska. We enjoyed the beautiful Inner Passage with our entire family and created such magical memories with our kids, my mom and my mother-in-law there. It is such a family friendly destination - something for everyone.

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT
My greatest accomplishment is being in a career that has really come full circle. During my time at Salisbury University, I helped author the gift agreement that named the home of the school of business for Frank Perdue - my signature is on the official documents as a witness to the University's president's signature. Today, and for the last 13 years, I am on the other side of that situation and help assure the continued legacy of such a generous family and business as the Executive Director of the Perdue Foundation. And, that gift agreement is stored right in my desk drawer as a reminder of how far I have come in my career.

WHAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I think something people do not know about me is that I grew up in West Virginia. My love for the mountains and fresh air continues even though I have lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for more than 32 years.

HOBBIES/OTHER INTERESTS
I am a HUGE Ravens fan; I am a new (and completely infatuated) grandmother; I scrapbook; I play pickleball; and, I am an avid reader and concert-goer.