Get to know Stewart Magnuson, board member

Stewart Magnuson is Board President at the Center of Hope. We asked Stewart to share some of his thoughts about the Center and his time on the Board.

How long have you been a Board member? I have been a board member for 9 years – since 2015.

Please describe your role as President.  In my role as President I preside over meetings and act on behalf of the board of directors and represent the board and the COH to stakeholders. I also work with the Executive Director and help supervise business affairs of the board.  Also help set agendas and help develop strategies to move the COH forward.

Why did you choose to join the Board? I chose to join the board because I was familiar with the Center of Hope and was very supportive of their mission. I do have a nephew who is a participant at the Center and he and his family love the COH! It has been very beneficial to him and to all participants.

What would you say to a prospective Board member? I would tell any prospective board member to visit the center and see what happens there on a daily basis. They will come away awed by the interactions between the staff and the participants and they will see just how needed the center is in caring for our communities’ most vulnerable members.

What is the biggest change you’ve seen over the years? The biggest change I have seen over the years was all the adaptations that had to be made in the wake of the COVID crisis. Our staff had to adapt and improvise on an almost daily basis to changing – and often confusing – policies.  Our staff did a masterful job under very challenging conditions.

What keeps you on the Board?  What keeps me on the board is my appreciation for the centers’ mission and for just how well our staff performs. For many of our staff working at the center is not just a job but is a real calling.

Anything else you’d like us to know? Finally, we are very excited to have now started up on the biggest remodeling and upgrading project in the Center’s history. You are going to see major improvements made to both the inside and outside of our building to allow us to better serve our participants, our staff, and our visitors well into the future.