John Beckvold

Interim CFO and VP,
Finance and Operations

Eastern Mennonite University

West Virginia
 

My friend John Beckvold is the first "People in Fundraising" guest to represent the beautiful state of West Virginia. In our wide-ranging conversation, John catalogues his nonprofit and for-profit experience in various states. Doing so, John discusses how he creates the narrative about his career journey in interviews, focusing on the opportunity and his enthusiasm for new challenges.

John mentions several people who have been instrumental in his nonprofit career: Donella Rapier and the recently retired Val Roberts, who was my first manager at Harvard Business School. I remind John of a critical piece of interviewing advice that John shared with me two decades ago!

John shares how The Registry, an association of seasoned higher education leaders, has connected him and others to interim senior leadership positions. These opportunities have been terrific for John at this stage of his career and life, bringing a diverse slate of positions in numerous locations.

Our very enjoyable chat obviously finds a way to work in the stunning John Denver song "Take Me Home, Country Roads," released in 1971 about West Virginia, a state my guest John has loved living in. Thank you, John, for a wonderful reconnecting conversation!