I sit on the board of trustees of the Minneapolis Foundation, a community philanthropy organization. Emmett Carson, the [foundation’s former] CEO and president, has become an informal mentor and a great friend. Emmett possesses very strong leadership qualities that I would truly love to emulate to lead Franklin Bank. His strategic vision and his guidance of the staff and board over the last 12 years are unparalleled. Emmett spends a good deal of time methodically thinking through the hard issues and challenges of our community. Where others may shy away from an issue for fear of alienating key constituents, Emmett is not afraid to hit it head on and do the right thing. One recent example is the strategic focus of the Minneapolis Foundation to promote racial equity and social justice by reducing racial disparities. That’s a huge part of the foundation’s work over the next three years, and can be attributed directly to Emmett’s leadership.
Note: Emmett Carson was named president and CEO of California’s new Silicon Valley Community Foundation on November 1.
