Marquez-Hudson brings inspiring vision and entrepreneurial acumen to the role of President and CEO of The Denver Foundation.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) October 05, 2015
The Denver Foundation, Colorado's oldest and largest community foundation, today named Christine Marquez-Hudson, CEO/Executive Director of Mi Casa Resource Center, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. She is the fifth chief executive in the 90-year-old foundation’s history.
Marquez-Hudson will step down from Mi Casa at the end of the year and assume her new role in January 2016. She will succeed David Miller, who will be leaving the Foundation at the end of this year to create an institute on philanthropy and social enterprise at the University of Denver, after 20 years at the helm of the Foundation.
Virginia Bayless, Chair of the Foundation's Board of Trustees and head of the search committee, expresses excitement about the prospect of Marquez-Hudson's leadership. "We are thrilled to welcome Christine Marquez-Hudson to The Denver Foundation. She brings inspiring vision and entrepreneurial acumen to the role of President and CEO of The Denver Foundation."
Marquez-Hudson was selected through a months-long national search from among an impressive pool of potential candidates. Bayless sees Marquez-Hudson as a perfect match for The Denver Foundation's needs as the organization celebrates its first 90 years of service to Metro Denver. "We are blessed to work with hundreds of generous people and businesses to steward their gifts of time, talent, and treasure, and to help them make a difference for those in need. Christine has deep knowledge and empathy for underserved communities, and profound expertise in bringing resources and people together to create opportunity. She provides proven leadership that will help us ensure that Metro Denver is a place where everyone can build a high quality of life," says Bayless.
A ninth generation Coloradan, Marquez-Hudson has led Mi Casa to become a nationally-recognized leader in job training and business development. Before joining Mi Casa, Christine served as Director of Consulting and Capacity Building at JVA Consulting where she worked with hundreds of organizations across Colorado, specializing in organizational development, strategic planning, governance issues, and resource development. Christine’s career includes teaching in Central America and working for three foundations as a program officer, project manager, and capacity builder.
"I am excited beyond words to have the opportunity to lead The Denver Foundation into this next phase of service to the Metro Denver community," says Marquez-Hudson. "I’ve dedicated my life to addressing the issues The Denver Foundation is working on: basic human needs, education, economic opportunity, community leadership, as well as growing philanthropy, racial equity, and resident engagement. This is a privilege and an opportunity that I take very seriously. I plan to use my understanding of these issues and my appreciation for the generosity and dedication of The Denver Foundation's donors to help make Metro Denver a great place for everyone.”
David Miller shares Bayless' enthusiasm about his successor. "I am delighted with the selection of Christine as my successor at The Denver Foundation. She is a great choice, and I'm so appreciative to Ginny Bayless and the rest of the search committee for their excellent work. I've had the privilege and honor of serving in this job for the last 20 years. I hope that Christine will serve for at least the next 20!"
Marquez-Hudson has been widely recognized for her leadership. She was named the 2013 9News Leader of the Year and recently recognized as one of the 2015 Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Colorado by the Colorado Women’s Chamber. She is a 2009 Bonfils-Stanton Livingston Fellow, a Colorado Trust Fellow, and an alumna of the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership Program. She serves as a trustee with the Boettcher Foundation, a member of the Colorado Women’s Forum, former co-chair of the Denver Latino Commission, a member of the Colorado Nonprofit Association’s Board of Directors, and a member of the Mayor’s Education Compact Committee.
She received her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Regis University, where she was a Colorado Trust Fellow, and her Bachelors in Political Science, International Relations, from UCLA.
About The Denver Foundation
The Denver Foundation is a community foundation that has been taking care of the future since 1925, inspiring people and mobilizing resources to improve life in Metro Denver. In 2014, the Foundation and its donors awarded more than $67 million in grants from nearly 1,000 different funds created by individuals, families, and businesses since the organization's founding in 1925. Visit denverfoundation.org for more.