The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation opened its doors for the community to welcome new Foundation employees at an event on September 4. The Foundation recently added two key staff: a new President and CEO, Kristin Carlson Vogen, and a new Director for the Success of All Youth (SAY), Linda Francis. Sixty five guests from local nonprofit organizations and businesses as well as donors came to greet Kristin and Linda.
Kristin previously worked at Bank of America/U.S. Trust in the Philanthropic Solutions Group where she served as Senior Philanthropic Specialist spear-heading acquisition of new philanthropic assets in an 11 state upper mid-west region, working with Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors and U.S. Trust Wealth Advisors. She provided subject matter expertise on private foundations, donor advised funds, and endowment management for public charities. She has also served as Senior Philanthropic Relationship Manager, managing both private foundations and public charity endowment funds.
Success of All Youth Director Linda Francis is an accomplished industrial engineer and a program leader with extensive experience developing and implementing solutions. She has substantial analytical, technical and communication skills with a background in continuous improvement. Locally, she has worked with diverse individual and organizational cultures toward common goals. She currently serves on the Board of the Oak Park Education Foundation.