InTouch Magazine - Fall/Winter 2000

Profiles

Dr. Carol Heen MHIF Board of Directors

The outstanding quality of the Foundation's work and reputation attracted Dr. Carol L. Heen to join its board of directors this past February.

Carol, a musicologist, earned her Ph.D. in music from the University of Minnesota, with special interests in chamber music, American music and jazz. From 1983 to 1988 she was program annotator for the renowned St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, supplying original program notes for all concert series.

Carol, who is currently a consultant for the American Composers' Forum, is a frequent public speaker for pre-concert commentaries and other public and club settings. She is widely published, including articles for "Prelude" and "Showcase," and authored the music chapter for "Here and Now," a report on the arts, published by the McKnight Foundation. She has also prepared dramatized intermission scripts for Minnesota Public Radio's national broadcasts of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts and has been a substitute host for Leigh Kamman's "Jazz Image."

A former college faculty member with extensive experience in adult and non-traditional higher education, Carol has been executive director of the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation. She serves on numerous nonprofit boards and has been president of the Woman's Club of Minneapolis.

"Carol's extensive experience with nonprofit organizations makes her a superb addition to the MHIF board," says Elizabeth Howell, chairwoman of the Foundation's board. "Her work on the board development committee is a critical component in building the strength and effectiveness of our board and the Foundation. We're extremely fortunate to have her involved."

With her sister and brother, Carol owns the family's 1879 farm and its 1876 country school museum. She lives in South Minneapolis with her husband Charlie Boone, the WCCO Radio personality. They share interests in music, art, travel, wine, reading and collecting books, among many other activities.

Ben Jaffray MHIF Board of Directors

Ben Jaffray's involvement with MHIF is a family affair. It began almost 20 years ago through his father-in-law, Ernie Dorn, one of the Foundation's most generous and energetic supporters. Ben was impressed by the expertise and commitment of the cardiac physicians who cared for Ernie when he was a patient. Over the years, he got to know MHIF even better, as his wife, Patricia Dorn Jaffray, served on the Foundation's board. A board member himself now since 1996, Ben is energetically committed to playing a vital role in helping the Foundation's mission of research and educational outreach.

"Ben brings many years of valuable business and nonprofit experience to his work on the MHIF board," says Dr. Ford Bell, president. "His commitment and enthusiasm are admirable. He has made a significant contribution to the work of our investment committee and his advice and counsel have been extremely helpful to us in the management of our growing endowments. Ben is a great advocate for the Foundation in the community and I'm very grateful for all he has done to help us grow this organization."

Ben has had a long and illustrious career as a senior executive with Cargill, Incorporated in Minnesota, New York, Chicago and Switzerland, responsible for all of Cargill's credit facilities and external financial relationships on a worldwide basis. In addition, he served on and became chairman of Cargill's Pension Trust Committee. Ben also served as chairman of Resource Bank and Trust Company, and in 1988 established the Sheffield Group, Ltd., an investment advisory firm. He has just retired as a director of the Fortis family of mutual funds, and is a director of Weeden Securities Corp., Greenwich, Connecticut.

In addition to the MHIF board, Ben serves on the board of Children's Hospitals and Clinics Foundation. His past nonprofit board involvement includes the Guthrie Theatre, Shattuck-St. Mary's School and Minnesota Outward Bound. He received a B.S. from Williams College and served in the U.S. Air Force. An avid horse rider, he is an active fox hunter here and in England.