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Head of Oregon Red Cross Tapped for National Leadership Position
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Lise Harwin
 
May 1, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. – Thomas Bruner, Regional Executive for the American Red Cross in Oregon and a respected non-profit leader, has been appointed to a newly created position as Division Vice President, Chapter Operations, for the American National Red Cross.

In his new position, Bruner will be responsible for management of operations for some 70 Red Cross chapters with annual expenses of approximately $125 million located throughout New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island. As a member of the American National Red Cross senior management team, he will provide strategic vision, planning and direction in leading an integrated service delivery system in his division, and helping Red Cross transition into a new service delivery model nationwide.

"Oregon's chapters have raised the bar for the American Red Cross, demonstrating outstanding creativity and innovation; forging strong partnerships with Blood Services; and working together seamlessly as a region," said Gail McGovern, President & CEO for the American National Red Cross. "Given the achievements that have been accomplished in Oregon, we're thrilled to have Thomas now joining our national team."

While Bruner's start date is May 2, he will continue to reside in Portland temporarily, helping Oregon's Red Cross chapters complete the budgeting and strategic planning process for FY 2010 over the coming weeks. He and his partner, Kevin Hendrick, will move to Burlington, Vermont by the end of June.

Bruner brings to his new role more than 20 years of successful experience in health and human services, non-profit leadership and government relations. His accomplishments include the successful turnaround of Cascade AIDS Project (CAP), Oregon's leading HIV/AIDS organization, as its Executive Director from 1998-2006. Bruner also served as Senior Policy Director for the Multnomah County Chair's Office and as Founding Executive Director of AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Bruner currently serves on the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, Portland Parks and Recreation Board, Oregon Chalkboard Project Citizens' Corps and is an active member of Dharma Rain Zen Center. He served on Governor Ted Kulongoski's Transition Steering Team, Junior League of Portland's Community Advisory Board and Nonprofit Association of Oregon's Steering Committee, and is a graduate of Leadership Portland and Leadership Fort Worth. Bruner is the recipient of many honors, including the Equality Award from the Oregon chapter of the Human Rights Campaign, the Hercules Award from the United Way of Tarrant County, Texas and an Administrators Achievement Award from the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration.

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In Oregon, the American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disaster every eight hours; provides more than 90 percent of the blood used by Oregon patients; teaches thousands of Oregonians lifesaving skills; provides transportation to seniors and the disabled; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.oregonredcross.org or join the conversation on our award-winning blog at www.oregonredcross.org/blog.