Carol McDonald hired as District 5950 Executive Director

 
Carol McDonaldRotary District 5950 leaders are pleased to announce that Carol MacDonald will be the District's new Executive Director effective January 1, 2016. MacDonald succeeds Diane Confer who has served as the District Executive Secretary and North Star Rotary Youth Exchange Administrator for 38 years. Duties will transition until Diane's full retirement on June 30, 2016.
 
A District Administration Task Force of eight past, current and upcoming District Governors spent two years planning for this staff transition and hiring MacDonald.
 
District Governor Tim Murphy noted, “We have been truly blessed for 37+ years by our Diane’s commitment and dedication. Carol comes at a pivotal time for District 5950. She possesses the perfect skillset for the position. She has worked with Diane in a volunteer capacity since July 1. The two will work side-by-side for another six months to ensure a seamless transition.”
 
This executive administrative and management position is the District’s only paid position. MacDonald will be responsible for managing the District 5950 office, with administrative responsibilities for district meetings and event planning, marketing, public relations outreach support to the District, club and inter-district communications and relations, liaison functions with Rotary International, and other duties.
 
Diane Confer and PDG Jim NelsonLike Diane, Carol will be the unofficial Ambassador of the District, becoming an integral catalyst of this dynamic organization of approximately 2,900 Rotarians and more than 70 Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs. A key value of this position is the administrative support and continuity it brings as a partner with each District Governor, the Corporate Board of Directors, other District leaders, and all District 5950 clubs.  
 
The Executive Director is an integral catalyst of this dynamic organization of approximately 2,900 Rotarians and more than 70 Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs. This position provides administrative support and continuity, partnering with the District Governor, the Corporate Board of Directors, and other District leaders to maintain a positive community image and provide quality service to District 5950 clubs. 
                                     
MacDonald joined the Burnsville Breakfast Club in 2007, holding numerous board positions and serving as club president in 2010-11. She served as District Alumni Association Committee Chair, District Grant Review Committee member and is a member of the Paul Harris Society. Professionally, MacDonald held strategic sourcing and procurement roles in defense contracting and the financial services industries, including Unisys, American Express, First Union/Wachovia Banks  and Allianz Life Insurance Co. She retired from Wachovia (now Wells Fargo). Carol earned a BA in communications from St Catherine's University, an MA in management from Cardinal Stritch University, and an MBA from Wake Forest University in North Carolina.
 
Carol loves to travel and has visited most of the United States and 30 countries, including participating in Rotary Friendship Exchange trips to India, Nepal and Bhutan.