Doyon Foundation Welcomes New CEO Mark Holmgren


Doyon Foundation is pleased to welcome Mark Holmgren as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Holmgren, who assumed the role on May 11, fills the position vacated by Sharon McConnell, the Foundation’s previous executive director, who left in October 2008 to accept a position with Doyon, Limited.

“Mr. Holmgren has more than 20 years in executive-level leadership positions in the nonprofit sector,” said Dawn Dinwoodie, president of the Doyon Foundation board of directors. “His accomplishments in building collaborative relationships and fundraising have produced remarkable results. His experience in social services and working with many Native cultures has resulted in tremendous accomplishments for the communities he has served. His ability to mentor and grow staff members and his communication style will be a real asset to Doyon Foundation and our staff.”

Holmgren, who was born in New York, recently moved from Tampa, Fl. to accept the position at Doyon Foundation. Holmgren’s wife Ruth and son Bryn plan to remain in Florida until they sell their home and two businesses. Holmgren also has four adult children, Alana, Nils, Noelle and Sarah.

Holmgren’s professional background in the nonprofit arena includes positions such as executive director of Operation Friendship, an inner city social service and housing organization; inner city outreach worker for the Boyle Street Services Cooperative; vice president of business services for the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region; and executive vice president for the United Way of Tampa Bay. For 10 years, Holmgren also operated his own consulting firm, which primarily served nonprofit organizations. He has also spent numerous years working in the for-profit sector, as both an employee and business owner. He holds a degree in communications.

Holmgren’s selection came after an intensive, months-long process, led by the Foundation’s board. Following the previous executive director’s departure, the board reached out to stakeholders to ask how they saw the vision of the Foundation and what direction the Foundation should take.

Without exception, the responses called for increases in funding, programs, staff and collaborative relationships. With those responses in mind, the board drew up a list of qualifications and skills required, and began a nationwide search for a new executive director who could take the Foundation to new heights in order to better serve Doyon shareholders.

As this hiring decision was literally worth millions of dollars to the organization, and knowing that this would be probably one of the most important decisions they would make in many years, the Doyon Foundation board implemented a rigorous process called Targeted Selection® to help them make the best possible choice.

“This process resulted in our selection of the most highly qualified candidate who can take our Foundation to new levels of accomplishment,” Dinwoodie said.

Click here for more information on the selection process. For additional information, please contact Mark Holmgren at 907.459.2124 or holmgrenm@doyon.com.