Austin Stone Joins CURE as Interim Chief Operating Officer

Washington, D.C. – The Board of Directors of the Center for Urban Renewal & Education has appointed Austin Stone, Partner of Beck & Stone, as interim Chief Operating Officer for the organization and a successor to Dr. William B. Allen, who announced his retirement in April.

As interim COO, Stone will run the day-to-day operations and lead the staff as well as administration tasks that aligns with the board’s vision while accomplishing short-term milestones.  Originally founded by Star Parker in 1995, CURE’s mission is to fight poverty and restore dignity through messages of faith, freedom, and personal responsibility.

“We are delighted to have such a talented, innovative young leader join our team,” said Parker. “And, we are very grateful to Dr. Allen for his tremendous efforts in helping CURE achieve great things over the last year and now look forward to Austin’s leadership as we look for a permanent COO.”

Beck & Stone, the company founded by Stone, is a consulting firm at the intersection of media and technology.  The company has been working with CURE for close to a year, working to redesign of its brand and a redefinition of its identity as a scholar-led think tank that works for policies that impact the country’s most distressed communities. 

Stone was born and raised in East Tennessee and attended Middle Tennessee State University, where he received his Bachelor’s in Political Science.  In 2016, after years of independently consulting for nonprofits and tech startups, Stone co-founded Beck & Stone.  Beck & Stone connects thinkers, dreamers, and institutions to American culture through the design of useful software and compelling brands.  He has consulted on growth and operations for some of the most respected brands in the Western intellectual world, including First Things, The New Criterion, National Affairs, the Claremont Institute, and the Ashbrook Center. At the helm of Beck & Stone, he has raised more than $15 million for client organizations through direct response, digital marketing, and brand awareness efforts.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve an organization that I know has the potential to break through and make a lasting impact,” Stone said. “It is my goal to leverage the momentum CURE has experienced over the last year under Dr. Allen’s direction to continue our work of healing urban communities through new thinking.”

For more information about the Center for Urban Renewal & Education or Star Parker, please go to CUREpolicy.org or contact [email protected].

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