Macknick Promoted to President & CEO of Don Wood Foundation

Don Wood Foundation, a private foundation in Fort Wayne dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and related education in the region, recently promoted Laura Macknick to president and CEO from her previous role as executive director.

Macknick earned a masters degree in Nonprofit Administration and Philanthropy from the IU Lilly School of Philanthropy and taught as adjunct faculty for North Central College in their Masters for Nonprofit Leadership curriculum. She has more than 20 years of nonprofit management, grant writing, fundraising, marketing, and communications experience.

Macknick has served as the executive director of the Foundation since its founding in 2018. Since then, she has helped lead the Foundation to investing over $17.7 million to 89 area partners that help advance manufacturing in the region.

"Laura has shown extraordinary leadership during her time as executive director," Board Chair Whitney Bandemer said. "She has demonstrated that she can effectively execute Don Wood's mission to empower traditional and nontraditional students by providing the tools they need to be successful in manufacturing, entrepreneurship, leadership, and sales."

Don Wood Foundation serves to align opportunities between students, community, and industry by growing and strengthening the manufacturing sector in the region. To learn more about Don Wood Foundation, visit their website at www.DonWoodFoundation.org.