The McConnell Foundation’s first full-time employee, Diana Stewart, its Director of Administration, is retiring after 30 years. Rebecca Andrews will succeed Stewart as Controller and begin work in late September.
Andrews grew up in Humboldt County and attended Bowdoin College in Maine. She began her career by blending her love of art and numbers as a Controller for Holly Yashi, Inc. in Arcata. Her financial experience in Redding includes working for D.H. Scott & Co, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and nearly a decade at Vibra Hospital of Northern California as Chief Financial Officer.
Most recently, Andrews has worked at John C. Fremont Healthcare District in Mariposa as its Chief Financial Officer, during which time she maintained her home in Palo Cedro and visited on weekends to spend time with her horses. “Redding is home. I feel like a dream has just come true to work for the Foundation,” said Andrews. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to learn about philanthropy, support the organization’s mission, and put my passion for numbers and people to work.”
The Foundation, with assets of nearly $500 million, funds programs in five Northern California counties and the countries of Nepal and Laos. Each year the Foundation awards 5 percent in charitable giving. The Foundation manages an investment portfolio to fund its charitable activity, which includes real estate. This year McConnell collaborated with K2 Land Investments to receive a $20 million AHSC grant from the state to build a mixed-use affordable housing project in downtown Redding. “Our work is becoming increasingly more complex as we grow in our assets, integrate program and mission-related investments into our giving, receive grants in addition to giving grants, and as we diversify our investments to maximize our returns,” said John Mancasola, McConnell’s President and CEO. “A strong financial person is essential to our work. We are eager to add Rebecca to our team.”
