CFMV President Shari Harrell to Retire After 10 Years of Service
Casey Krell, Long-time Director at CFMV, Appointed as Next President
YOUNGSTOWN/WARREN, Ohio – The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley publicly announced today the upcoming retirement of Shari Harrell, the organization’s president for the past ten years.
Casey Krell, a long-time director with the organization, will succeed Harrell as president after a period of transition.
“Shari Harrell has been an exceptional leader for the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and the communities we serve,” says Timothy Francisco, professor of English at Youngstown State University and chair of CFMV’s Board of Directors. “During her tenure, the foundation has grown mightily in assets, outreach and impact. As importantly, Shari has empowered staff, board and stakeholders to boldly reimagine philanthropy from equity centered systems approaches. This work has been expansive, invigorating and sometimes difficult—and we are all better for it. Shari’s leadership and care extends into the leadership transition process as Shari and incoming president Casey Krell work together to ensure the important work we do in the community continues to imagine, support and enable better futures for all residents of the Mahoning Valley.”
Since joining the Community Foundation in 2013, Harrell has grown the staff to eight full-time employees, prioritized diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the Foundation and its operations, overseen the creation of the Healthy Community Partnership, a cross-sector collaborative that aims to improve health outcomes in the Mahoning Valley through long-term partnerships with leaders, residents, and stakeholders throughout the community, and much more.
“Serving as the president of the Community Foundation for the past decade has truly been an honor and a privilege,” says Shari Harrell. “I have enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside so many dedicated people, from the staff team to all of the individuals and organizations out in the community. This position has allowed me to expand my knowledge and understanding of the good work happening across the Valley and region. All of the experiences, successes and challenges at CFMV have contributed to tremendous personal growth throughout my tenure.”
Harrell led the organization through the most tumultuous parts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and implemented significant changes, including a joint grant application and review process with The Raymond John Wean Foundation and The Youngstown Foundation to expedite giving to those organizations most in need. She is also working to wrap up the organization’s current strategic planning process, which incorporated input from community stakeholders, to clarify priorities and focus areas and set the stage for the Foundation’s work over the next few years.
Additionally under Harrell’s leadership, the Foundation received both the largest gift in its history, $10.5 million to establish the Arnett Family Fund, and the first completely unrestricted fund in its history, the Willanna and William DiCiero Memorial Fund, which the Foundation can use to address the community’s most pressing needs.
“This has been a time of incredible growth and progress at the Foundation,” says Harrell. “And Casey has been a key team member since the day she joined the Community Foundation. Throughout her tenure here, she has demonstrated her ability to problem solve, carry out complex projects and initiatives and lead those around her. I am proud of all we have accomplished together and am truly excited for CFMV’s next chapter with Casey at the helm.”
Krell joined the organization in 2014 and is currently the director of supporting organizations and donor services, where she partners with CFMV’s three affiliated foundations – the Western Reserve Health Foundation, the Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation and the William Swanston Charitable Fund – and more than 160 component funds to make strategic investments to address community needs. Previously, Krell spearheaded the launch of the Healthy Community Partnership, implemented numerous accounting/finance processes and procedures, revised CFMV’s grantmaking structure to improve the process for grantees and fund holders and helped the organization during its major software transition in 2021. Currently, she is leading the staff team through work with a data consultant to flesh out the data and success metrics for the Foundation’s strategic plan.
“I am beyond humbled that the board of directors has chosen me to be the Foundation’s next leader to continue moving the work forward that Shari and our team started,” says Casey Krell, director of supporting organizations and donors services and incoming president at the Community Foundation. “Shari and the board have laid down strong groundwork, particularly through the most recent strategic planning process, and that will help guide us through this transition and into the Foundation’s next chapter.”
Krell recently completed her Masters of Business Administration from Youngstown State University and previously received her bachelor’s degree in public relations and journalism from Mercyhurst University. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as the development director for Beatitude House, a housing and support service organization for homeless women and children in Northeast Ohio.
“The CFMV Board is excited to work with Casey and the talented staff of CFMV to continue CFMV’s mission of bringing equity and success to the people of the Mahoning Valley,” says Francisco.
Harrell and Krell will put a transition plan together over the coming months in which they will work together to document organizational knowledge and history, finalize the strategic plan and ensure the organization has the necessary tools and support to continue its journey forward.
Harrell’s retirement date is currently set for March 1, 2024. The Foundation will also commemorate its 25th anniversary next year and hopes to incorporate celebrations for both Harrell and Krell into the festivities.
The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley strives to be a leader and advocate for strategic philanthropy, partnering with donors to anchor a permanent and growing endowment and making investments in the Mahoning Valley that improve the quality of life for all residents. The Community Foundation is the only local foundation with certification from the Community Foundation National Standards Board.
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