JoAnne Bass
The Bob Woodruff Foundation
The Bob Woodruff Foundation announced that former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) #19 JoAnne “Jo” Bass has been elected to serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Chief Master Sergeant Bass served 31 years in the Air Force, before retiring in 2024 as the branch’s 19th Chief Master Sergeant. She was the first woman to hold the post and the first to serve as the highest enlisted leader in any branch of the Armed Forces.
A transformational leader, Chief Master Sergeant Bass helped shape the future force through a strategic focus on people, readiness, and culture. She has written and spoken extensively on leadership, national security, innovation, risk management, and international affairs. Chief Master Sergeant Bass is the founder and president of the Bass Group LLC, advising executives and organizations on leadership, innovation, and workforce strategy. She continues to champion those who serve through her work on multiple boards of directors, including the Robert Irvine Foundation, Military Women’s Memorial, Mighty Hero Homes, and the Air & Space Forces Association.
Contact: Eric Phillips at 917.291.0166 or 395781@email4pr.com..
Colleen Briggs
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Colleen Briggs has been named President of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (Blue Cross NC Foundation), taking over for Dr. John Lumpkin, who is retiring in July after six years leading the organization and more than five decades working on behalf of the health and well-being of others.
Ms. Briggs’ appointment builds on her current role as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s (Blue Cross NC) Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility where she directs the company’s holistic integration of purpose-driven and business initiatives.
Before joining Blue Cross NC in 2023, Ms. Briggs spent a decade with JPMorgan Chase, leading their Corporate Responsibility and Foundation’s Inclusive Banking and Community Development. Prior to that, she worked as a policy advisor on Capitol Hill helping shape national economic and health care legislation as part of two congressional offices. A sixth generation North Carolinian, Ms. Briggs is currently also an adjunct professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she teaches on philanthropy and corporate social responsibility.
The shift in leadership complements a strategic shift for the organization which comes after more than a year-long strategic planning process and a multi-year tour of the state, aimed at setting a roadmap for the organization to improve health for all. This process has resulted in a refined direction that centers the foundation’s resources in three primary areas:
- Establishing a new concentration on Youth Mental Health, Connectedness, and Resilience—including integrating an existing emphasis on early childhood—so that children and youth grow up in strong, supportive environments and have the best opportunity to be mentally healthy and thrive. North Carolina, like many states, is facing a youth mental health crisis marked by a high prevalence of mental health conditions among youth, coupled with significant barriers in access to care.
- Building upon current approaches to supporting Health through Food, aimed at opening more avenues to healthy food, improving health outcomes, and lowering costs of care. Heart disease and diabetes, for example, are two of the leading causes of death in the state and these diet-related chronic conditions are among the highest cost drivers for the health care system.
- Growing existing efforts to expand Access to Care, working to ensure everyone in North Carolina is connected to, and receives, quality care that allows them to live healthy lives. Of the state’s 100 counties, 92 are currently designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas for primary care and 93 for oral health care.
Grantmaking and other programmatic efforts are underway in each of the three areas. The organization also will maintain a commitment and level of flexibility to respond to emerging needs of the state and its communities, as well as the organizations that serve them.
Contact: info@bcbsncfoundation.org.
Mark Evans and Ed Scholz
The Colorado Health Foundation
The Colorado Health Foundation announced that Ed Scholz will join the foundation as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Mr. Scholz will assume the role this summer following the retirement of Mark Evans.
Mr. Scholz most recently served as Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where he focused on developing sustainable strategies to advance the museum’s goals. Before joining the museum, he worked for the City and County of Denver for over a decade, including as Budget Director, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer. He currently serves on the City and County of Denver’s Audit Committee and sits on the board of the Public Education and Business Coalition.
Mark Evans, who has served as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer since 2019, retires this summer. Mr. Evans has been pivotal in advancing the organization’s mission and strengthening its financial resilience, ensuring long-term sustainability and impact.
Mr. Evans joined The Colorado Health Foundation following nearly a decade as CFO at the University of Colorado (CU) Medicine, where he deepened his passion for mission-driven work. With nearly three decades of experience across multiple sectors, Evans brought financial and operational expertise to the Foundation. He was drawn by the alignment of its mission and the critical nature of its work and was inspired by the dedication and passion of the staff and board, as well as the diversity of experiences and perspectives that shape the foundation’s approach to addressing systemic inequities. Reflecting on his time at CHF, he describes it as amazing, fulfilling, challenging, and fun.
Over the years, Mr. Evans built enduring relationships with colleagues and led a finance and operations team focused on achieving results and supporting the mission.
Among his contributions, Mr. Evans played a key role in the ongoing redevelopment of 1799 Pennsylvania Street in Denver, built the infrastructure necessary to support the Governor’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, secured $85 million in low-cost debt to fund critical strategic initiatives, streamlined financial processes, enhanced reporting and analytics, and recruited, retained and developed top-tier talent. His leadership and strategic vision have strengthened the foundation’s financial position and operational capacity, enabling continued impact across the state.
Contact: David Proper at 303.953.3681.