Page 3 - 2022 November Report

Resilience
A Rock Star Retires
Yes, it’s true. Dick Krause is retiring from the Foundation as the CFO. You can find his resignation notice posted in this monthly report. In the words of Hugh Brown, “This is a big deal.” And he’s right. Dick has stewarded the financials
of JSF since its inception. He first served at the invitation of our Founder and has played a material role in the cultivation of our organizational culture. Ted Johnson recognized Dick as a humble man with impeccable integrity and financial aptitude. This early draft pick would become a franchise player.
Dick’s impending retirement as CFO comes in the same spirit as his
service for over 30 years. Putting the Foundation first, he’s agreed
to stay on until his successor is trained. We’ve begun the process.
He has also agreed to be available to JSF in his retirement. I’ll resist
the temptation to brag on our CFO. There will soon be a more
appropriate time for that. Today, we still need to work with him, so I don’t want to give him a big head.
We are in the people business. That statement serves as a reminder to us that even though a great deal of our time is appropriately spent on reading reports, applications, and financial information, what makes our work meaningful are the people we aim to serve. But being in the people business has a much broader application than the beneficiaries of our partnerships. It includes the people who lead and staff our grantee partners, and yes, the people who lead and staff the Johnson Scholarship Foundation.
Dick’s career offers a glimpse into what makes JSF service so very special. It’s the people. Since inception, Foundation leadership has demonstrated a tremendous ability to identify, recruit and retain remarkable people. They are talented, but humble...hard working, but lead balanced lives...independent, but team players. These qualities are not scarce, but they’re certainly uncommon. Dick will be the first to tell you, “We are all replaceable.” That understanding does not diminish us, but it does contribute to our appreciation of the opportunity to be a part of JSF. Appreciation of our opportunity inspires all of us to do better work and to diligently steward this foundation.
Dick’s JSF career serves as a model for all of us...which is one of many reasons that Hugh is right: this is a big deal.
Robert A. Krause
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