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Northwest Area Foundation Announces New Staff Members

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Northwest Area Foundation Announces New Staff Members
ST. PAUL, Minn.  (October 2010) - The Northwest Area Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of new staff members in the Programs and Finance and Administration departments. Deborah Peterson joined as managers of grants and contracts. Ontay Johnson will be a special assistant in Programs through a mentorship with the National Urban Fellows (NUF). NUF is an organization aimed at increasing the number of women and minorities in leadership positions.

Deborah Peterson will have oversight and accountability for the grants and contracts process, ensuring that all grants and payments meet internal standards and legal compliance requirements. Ms. Peterson brings many years of experience in negotiating and overseeing contracts with vendors at 3M. She holds bachelor’s degrees in English and German from the University of Minnesota, a master’s in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University and a mini MBA in Nonprofit Organizations from the University of St. Thomas.

Ontay Johnson will assist with planning for the African American Leadership Forum, writing and reviewing grants, creating databases, and forming evaluation models. Prior to being named a National Urban Fellow, Johnson was chief of staff for Michigan State Representative Carl Williams (D) Saginaw. He was also appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to serve as community resource manager for the Michigan Department of Corrections. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Northwood University.

“We are very excited to welcome Deborah and Ontay to the Northwest Area Foundation. They are both very accomplished professionals whose skills will complement those we already have on staff.  We look forward to their contributions,” said Kevin Walker, president and CEO.

The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. These states were served by the Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill. In 1934, Hill’s son Louis W. Hill established the Foundation.

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