Tell Your Friends

National Park Foundation Names Neil J. Mulholland As President And CEO

Distinguished Business Leader and Entrepreneur Tapped to Lead the Foundation and Strengthen the Network of Private Support for America’s National Parks

WASHINGTON, DC—The National Park Foundation, the national charitable partner of America’s 391 national parks, announced today that Neil J. Mulholland has been selected by the Foundation’s Board of Directors to serve as President and CEO. Mulholland, a Denver-area business executive, entrepreneur, and community advocate, will provide the vision, leadership and overall direction of the Foundation and advance its strategic mission – to strengthen the connection between the American people and their national parks. Mulholland will be based out of the Foundation’s Washington, D.C. offices and will officially assume the top leadership position on August 10, 2009.

“Neil Mulholland brings vast experience and expertise to the Foundation that will allow it to continue to be a strong partner with the National Park Service as we near the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who serves as chairman of the Foundation’s board. “Together, we will ensure our National Park System continues to be the finest system of parks in the world.”

Mulholland is the fifth person to hold the title of President of the National Park Foundation since the organization received its Congressional charter in 1967 at the urging of then First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, and celebrated philanthropist, Laurance Rockefeller.

"I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the National Park Foundation and work in such a meaningful way to unite the American public in appreciation, service and support of their national parks," said Mulholland. “ With the September 27th debut of the Ken Burns series The National Parks, America’s Best Idea on PBS, and as we approach the national parks centennial, I look forward to working in partnership with the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, park friends groups and millions of Americans as we prepare for these historic milestones.”

Mulholland brings 28 years of professional experience from the private sector that includes working with Fortune 500 Companies, forging dynamic partnerships, raising private investment capital and actively engaging local communities to create sustainable development. He has been recognized as an advocate for new impactful technologies and for creating pioneering organizations from the ground up that achieve unprecedented results and success.

"This is a transformative time for the work of the National Park Foundation and the perfect moment to welcome Neil as our President and CEO," said Vin Cipolla, Vice Chair of the National Park Foundation Board of Directors. “His extensive technology background, business expertise and passion for community building will bring forth bold new ideas and shape the Foundation as we continue to grow and strengthen the network of charitable support for our national parks."

Mulholland is a highly regarded investment broker as demonstrated throughout his career as Senior Vice President with Los Angeles, California-based Cushman Realty Corporation, and more recently as the co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Des Moines, Iowa-based Prairie iNet, one of the first commercially successful regional wireless broadband companies in the United States.

He is currently the managing partner of Denver, Colorado-based Phoenix Ventures where he has advised niche content companies such as MapMyFitness, and FidoTV, as well as, several of the largest wireless broadband companies including U.S.-based WildBlue Communications and Toronto, Canada-based Barrett XplorNET.

Mulholland is a graduate of Iowa State University.

About the National Park Foundation The National Park Foundation is an independent charitable organization chartered by Congress in 1967 to strengthen the connection between the American people and their national parks. As the official national non-profit partner of America’s National Parks, the Foundation raises private funds, makes strategic grants, creates innovative partnerships and increases public awareness about the need and opportunity for park philanthropy. In its 2008 fiscal year, the National Park Foundation distributed grants and program support of $27.3M. To learn more about the National Park Foundation visit www.nationalparks.org.