Gayle Ober Named Executive Director of the George Family Foundation

(Minneapolis, Minn.) December 10, 2009 — Gayle Ober has been named executive director of the George Family Foundation effective February 1, 2010.

In this role, Ober will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Foundation including grants intake, site visits, management and review, special project development and implementation, representing the Foundation to the public and serving as the primary interface with the Foundation’s board of directors.

"Gayle brings the ability to create strategic alliances and capitalize on programmatic opportunities necessary to help us guide the mission of the Foundation: to foster wholeness in mind, body, spirit and community to further the work of authentic leaders and exemplary programs serving the common good."

Previously, Ober served as Managing Director of Classical Music Programming for Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media (MPR/APM). In this role she was responsible for directing and managing Minnesota Public Radio’s 18-station regional classical music network, American Public Media’s portfolio of national classical programs and Classical 24, the award-winning, nationally syndicated classical music service dedicated to live classical music programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Prior to joining MPR/APM, Ober served as director of arts, culture and entertainment for the City of St. Paul under former Mayor Randy Kelly, advising the Mayor on general arts and cultural policy, as well as beginning the implementation of the City’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Plan. From 2000-2005 Ober was the executive director of The Dale Warland Singers, a 40-voice professional chorus directed by founder and music director Dale Warland.

Ober is the former president and current board member of the Mardag Foundation, a private charitable foundation located in St. Paul, a board member of Chorus America, the national association of choral ensembles and has served on the boards of other nonprofit and music organizations. She has a degree in music from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Hamline University.

"I am very excited to be given the opportunity to work with Penny and Bill and the George Family Foundation. Their commitment to serving the community and creating opportunities for creative and positive changes in our world is so admirable and much needed. I look forward to working with them to further the mission of the Foundation."

For more information please contact Robin Baker at robin@georgefamilyfoundation.org or 612-377-3356.

*Photo by Ann Marsden 2008