Nancy Vyskocil Named President of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation

Vyskocil was selected from a national pool of candidates through a five-month review process, led by a search committee that included current and former board members. She will begin serving as president in January 2008.

"On behalf of the board, we are very pleased that Nancy will become our next president," said Board Chair Eric Bergeson. "Nancy is committed to the region, has strong roots in the northern Clearwater County area and has a passion for her work."

Vyskocil has served since 2001 as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of the Lake Region Electric Cooperative, Pelican Rapids, MN, with over 25,000 members and $67 million in assets. Previously, she worked as the assistant controller and director of administration for Arvig Enterprises, Inc., a family of communication companies, and as the general manager of Royale Leasing, Inc., a human resource consulting and employee leasing firm, both located in Perham, MN. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University.

According to Vyskocil, her new position with NMF is the culmination of the natural path her career has taken. First, with finance and human resources in private business, then on to her work as CFO in a cooperative business model. Her work in those positions involved leadership, relationship-building, financial acumen and piloting organizations through phenomenal growth. Now, she brings her skills to the world of nonprofits and philanthropy, allowing her to give back to her home region through the skills she has acquired in the business world.

She knows the challenges of life in the Northwest, along with the richness and strength our area offers. "I am excited about the opportunities that lay ahead with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation," Vyskocil said. "Having grown up north of Clearbrook, with relatives still there and in the Bagley and Bemidji areas, I have seen many challenges first-hand that come along with living in rural northwest Minnesota.

"Many opportunities are also present, one of which is the availability of post-secondary education institutions. I benefited greatly from the programs at Bemidji State University, which formed the springboard for my career," Vyskocil said. "On a personal level this is a wonderful opportunity for me to return to the area."

Bergeson says, "Nancy's commitment to success and her management skill--clearly demonstrated by her leadership at Lake Region Electric—will be tremendous assets for the foundation and our region."

Her professional designations and board service includes work with the West Central Initiative Workforce Development Council and the High Potential Project Group. She serves on the general advisory board for the Minnesota Community and Technical College, Wadena, MN. She has also volunteered with the Ottertail County United Way and served with Northwest Technical College in various capacities.

Vyskocil will take over for John Ostrem, who announced his retirement earlier this year. He said, "It has been my privilege to have been part of the foundation's growth and service to the region for the past seven years. I am confident that Nancy will provide strong leadership in carrying out the foundation's mission of ‘making the region a better place to live and work'."

Vyskocil added, "Thanks to the effective and thoughtful leadership of John and former president Ruth Edevold, the organization has a clear vision for what it wants to accomplish," she said. "I look forward to being part of the team finding positive solutions for the region." The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public charitable community foundation that invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.