Key Staff

Our talented team offers decades of experience in non-profit management and operations. Their hard work and expertise has helped NAEIR successfully provide efficient inventory management solutions to businesses and much needed support to schools, churches and non-profits for almost 50 years.

Gary Smith

Gary Smith

President and CEO of NAEIR

Gary Smith, the President and CEO of NAEIR, is the son of the organization’s founder, Norbert Smith. Before officially joining NAEIR, he spent seven years in various management roles at the Austin Company. In 1980, he became NAEIR’s Warehouse Manager. He was appointed Vice President of Membership and Corporate Relations in 1983 and became President and CEO in 1999. Gary has also contributed to several non-profit boards, including the YMCA, the Galesburg Chamber of Commerce, and Galesburg Cottage Hospital. He served as the Chairman of the Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association from 2010 to 2012 and was the Mayor of Galesburg from 2005 to 2009. Gary resides in Galesburg with his wife, Stephanie, and he is an elder at the First Presbyterian Church. They have three children: Autumn, David, and Bennett.
Paula R. DeJaynes

Paula R. DeJaynes

Vice President/COO of NAEIR

Paula R. DeJaynes, the Vice President/COO of NAEIR, was born and raised in the Galesburg, IL, area. She joined the NAEIR family in 1990 as the Corporate Relations Secretary. Over the years, she has held various roles, including Executive Secretary, Supervisor, Director, and Vice President of Corporate Relations. Throughout most of her career at NAEIR, Paula has been directly involved in assisting donors with their excess inventory. After being promoted to Vice President in 2012, she gained extensive knowledge in all aspects of the business. She is now the Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of NAEIR. Paula still resides in her hometown of Oneida, IL, with her husband, Rob. She has two sons, Brett and Drake, and is also a proud grandmother of two.
Marvin H. Dahlberg

Marvin H. Dahlberg

Chairman of the Board

Marvin H. Dahlberg, Chairman of the Board, is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, where he also earned his MBA. He received his CPA from the University of Illinois. After a career in college teaching, he transitioned into banking, ultimately becoming Regional President of First Bank, where he managed the operations of twenty-seven banks. Following his retirement from banking, Mr. Dahlberg was elected Treasurer for the City of Galesburg. He currently serves on the boards of directors for the Midwest Bank of Western Illinois and the Rotary Foundation. He is also the President of the Credit Bureau of Galesburg. In addition, Mr. Dahlberg has been involved with numerous local nonprofit boards, having served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Galesburg Rotary Club, and Chairman of the United Way of Knox County campaign three times.
Mary Sue

Mary Sue Austin

Treasurer/Board Member

Mary Sue Austin, Treasurer/Board Member, is a lifelong resident of Knox County and currently lives in Abingdon, IL. She graduated from Abingdon High School and attended Browns Business College. From 1988 to 2012, she worked at NAEIR, primarily as a supervisor in the Membership Department, where she trained new employees, attended conferences, and worked in telesales. Mary has three children: Christine, Michael, and Karen. She is also proud of her six grandchildren and one great-grandson. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and keeping busy with her many interests.
Will Taylor

Will Taylor

Board Member

Will Taylor, Board Member, was raised on a farm in Cass County, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois in Urbana IL and an MBA from the University of Illinois in Springfield IL. He obtained the Certified Financial Planner™ certification in 2003. Will had a career in banking for 35 years. Will worked at The Farmers & Mechanics Bank in Galesburg IL with the title of Senior Vice President & Senior Trust Officer from 2005 to 2012 and retired from the Soy Capital Bank & Trust in Decatur IL in 2017. Since retiring Will helps his wife Teri with her business, Creative Imprints, as needed. They live in Bettendorf, IA. Will enjoys beekeeping and writing. He has published two books, one on investing and the other a novel about a small-town banker and is planning others. Will and Teri volunteer at their church, Coram Deo Bible Church, as part of the Biblical Soul Care ministry. They enjoy traveling throughout the USA and Europe. They have also been to China, Thailand and Israel.

Robert B. Clark

Robert B. Clark

Board Member

Robert B. Clark, Board Member, joined the NAEIR organization in 1997 as its Director of Human Resources. He retired from that position exactly fifteen years later, in 2012, and became a member of NAEIR’s Board of Directors in July 2015. Bob and his wife, Amber, are both active musicians and music educators, sharing their musical talents with the Galesburg community since they moved there in 1990. Additionally, Bob is a retired Congregational minister. Their son, Rob, lives in Bay City, MI, where he serves as the Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Michigan Sugar Company. He is married to Claire Rigsby Clark and is the father of their four sons: Owen, August, Asher, and Ellis. Bob and Amber celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June 2024. Bob has always been an enthusiastic champion of the incredible work that NAEIR does to support nonprofits across the nation.

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