John A. Mancasola, a Redding native and executive vice president/in-house counsel of The McConnell Foundation, has been selected by the Foundation board of directors to succeed Lee Salter, McConnell President & CEO, beginning January 1, 2017.
Salter, who turns 75 in January, has been President & CEO since 1990. He is semi-retiring and ready to hand over Foundation CEO duties to Mancasola. “John possesses the skills, knowledge, and passion necessary to carry The McConnell Foundation forward into the future. I have the highest regard for John’s expertise and judgment, and can think of no one better to serve as CEO,” said Lee Salter.
Mancasola received the full recommendation of the Foundation’s board of directors, following Salter’s plans to semi-retire. “Salter’s and Mancasola’s strengths have complemented each other for more than 25 years while they have held the top two positions at the Foundation,” said Bob Blankenship, chairman of the board. “The Foundation board of directors has the utmost confidence in Mancasola. John has diligently focused on growing Foundation assets, and maximizing the Foundation’s ability to serve its communities through grant making. John always has his eye on the big picture, with high operating standards, financial best practices, and vision at his core.”
Mancasola is the Foundation leader known for picking up the telephone and calling architect and designer, Santiago Calatrava in Zurich, Switzerland, to ask him if he had interest in the Sundial Bridge project. Mancasola has played a key role in all other Foundation operations. For the past five years, John has helped shepherd the complexities of the Sheraton Sundial Hotel project at Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
Mancasola was born and raised in Redding. He attended Shasta College, Stanford University, and USC Law School. He worked for Lee Lopez of Redding, as a young lawyer, before becoming a partner at Carr, Kennedy, Peterson & Frost. While at CKP&F, Mancasola became associated with Leah McConnell, working on real estate and transactional matters. Mancasola joined the McConnell board in 1993 and the staff of The McConnell Foundation in 1994. He and his wife, Molly, have five children and live in Redding.
Salter will work part-time for the next two years on Foundation special projects, and he will continue to serve on The McConnell Foundation board of directors, a post he has held since 1985. Mancasola will remain on the board in his new role as President & CEO, along with Robert P. Blankenship, William W. Cox, Doreeta J. Domke, Lee W. Salter and Richard J. Stimpel, Director Emeritus.
