Mary Harp-Jirschele has been named the first full-time executive director of the J. J. Keller Foundation.

The Appleton woman will lead all aspects of the foundation as it manges an influx of nearly $80 million into the organization from the John "Jack" and Ethel Keller estate.

Her responsibilities will include grant making, board relations, communications, publicity and community engagement, operations, governance and planning. Harp-Jirschele, who takes the positon in January, will be based at the corporate office in Neenah.

"Culturally, this is who I am," Harp-Jirschele said. "This is a great job, combining your head and your heart. So it feels right. To be part of an organization that simply wants to better the community and help people who need it, what a great opportunity."

"Mary has an ideal background for this position, a blend of skills and experiences that will serve us well," said Bob Keller, foundation director and president. "We are thrilled to have her at the helm, partnering with our family on this exciting journey to make a meaningful journey and lasting difference in our community."

"It was the perfect combination of personality, fit, corporate background, grant writing and knowing the community," said the Kellers' granddaughter Marne Keller-Krikava, who has been managing the search for an executive director. "It just all came together."

Keller-Krikava said the approach of the foundation so far has been reactive in nature, with many of the grants being made through the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. That fund will remain and another fund recently has been opened at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.

The addition of Harp-Jirschele allows the foundation to take a more proactive approach in how grants are sought and issues addressed.

"We are not about stockpiling money, we're about making a difference," Keller-Krikava said. "So we really want to set up processes and systems that allow us to make a difference."

Harp-Jirschele said the Keller family has done a wonderful job managing the money so far, but it has a business to run - "and it's a huge and well-respected business. They need to focus on that and let someone get all that administrative stuff ouf of their hair."

Said Keller-Krikava, "Ideally we will have a foundation board in the family who with Mary will be maximized because we will be able to contribute in the ways that are most meaningful for us and most meaningful to the community. I think it's just a win-win all the way around.

About Mary Harp-Jirschele
A native of Little Chute, Mary Harp-Jirschele spent the early part of her career as a newspaper reporter before moving on to AAL/Thrivent, where she spent 20 years, ultimately serving as vice president of communications and facilities, which included overseeing grant writing. Most recently, Harp-Jirschele served as chief operating officer of the Employment Resource Group, Appleton. She left the position in mid-September.

J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc.
Since 1994, the John J. and Ethel D. Keller Fund estlished through the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region has awarded more than $15 million in grants. The J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc., a separate, private family fund, is stocked with $5.5 million. Of that, about $2.5 million has been disbursed to various causes, according to the company. John J. "Jack" Keller, who with his wife Ethel founded the technical publishing company in 1953, died in June. Ethel died in December 2004. J. J. Keller & Associates, based at headquarters in the Winnebago County Town of Vinland, employs about 1,200.