His ion was made official during final interviews with top executives at Red Cross national headquarters in Washington D.C.
Bruner brings over twenty years experience in health and human services and successful non-profit management and development to the Red Cross. His accomplishments include the leadership of the high profile and highly successful turnaround of Cascade AIDS Project (CAP), Oregon's largest and oldest HIV organization. His aggressive goals resulted in record levels of health, effectiveness and diversity for CAP. During his tenure, CAP's annual budget more than doubled, fund raising and in-kind revenue more than tripled, and innovative programs and services were added.
“Thomas brings high credibility and an excellent reputation in the Portland community, both in the public and private sector” said Patricia J. Brown, Board Chair for the Oregon Trail Chapter. “His accomplishments are well known. We are delighted he has joined the Red Cross.”
Most recently, Bruner was Senior Policy Director for the Multnomah County Chair’s Office. The Portland Business Journal named Bruner one of only five "Winners in 1999" and has dubbed him "Turnaround Thomas”. Bruner is the recipient of many honors and awards, including the Equality Award by the Oregon chapter of the Human Rights Campaign in 2002. He currently serves on the Government Standards and Practices Commission, the Portland Parks Board, was a member of Governor Kulongoski’s Transition Team, and is a graduate of Leadership Portland.
Bruner was chosen by a search committee comprised of Oregon Trail Chapter Board members, and has met with American Red Cross executives in Washington D.C. “We conducted a thorough national search and considered local professionals as well as executives from other Red Cross chapters” said Brown. “Thomas had the proven skills in relationship building, financial development and managing a complex organization that we were looking for.”
Bruner holds an M.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and a B.A. from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He will assume leadership of the Oregon Trail Chapter on February 5, 2007.
The Oregon Trail Chapter is one of the largest Red Cross chapters in the nation, serving a seven-county territory with a population of more than 1.7 million individuals. Last fiscal year, the Chapter helped more than 2,000 people recover from residential fires, trained over 9,000 youth in lifesaving skills, and provided almost 39,000 rides to seniors and people living with disabilities. A total of 112,299 Oregonians were served by the Oregon Trail Chapter in fiscal year 2006.
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Local Red Cross volunteers respond to residential fires and other disasters every 40 hours on average. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from Oregonians. Financial gifts help provide shelter, food, clothing, counseling and other immediate assistance to those in need. Call (503) 284-1234 or visit www.redcross-pdx.org
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