Mary Olson Baich, President and CEO (June 2002—present),

Mary is an accomplished healthcare foundation executive with a passion for the intersection of health and social justice. She provides overall management for Vesper Society as well as gifted hands-on expertise in project startup, development, and research. Prior to her work with Vesper Society, she was executive director of Fairview Foundation and vice president of community and church relations for Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis, Minn. Mary received her master’s degree in hospital and healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor of science in nursing from Pacific Lutheran University.

Carol McKevitt, Project Associate,

Carol combines skills in project management, research and communications with a deep commitment to healthy communities. She has coordinated domestic and international conferences and worked on a variety of Vesper Society projects, including the Community Healing Network, Ecumenical Leadership Institute, Lutheran Volunteer Corp, Network 21, and Venture 21: Assessing Venture Philanthropy. Carol received her bachelor’s in sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. As a student she conducted research on a study of Americans’ attitudes toward civil liberties at the University-affiliated Survey Research Center.

Richard W. Watson, Director of Finance,

Rich brings to Vesper
Society extensive experience in the financial management of nonprofit organizations along with astute project management skills. In addition to serving as director of finance, Rich is a senior project manager, providing guidance to Dialogue for Peaceful Change and the Sutter Delta Urgent Care Clinic as well as other Vesper Society initiatives. He served as an international observer during Nicaragua’s national election in 1989 and assisted in the construction of a primary school there. Rich attended the University of California, Berkeley, for undergraduate studies and received his M.A. in international relations with an emphasis in finance from Golden Gate University.