Minneapolis, Minnesota - The Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON)’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Warren McLean as President effective August 20, 2018. McLean comes to NEON with over 30 years experience and an extensive background in fundraising, finance, strategic planning and innovative program development. Prior to joining #TeamNEON, Warren led the Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) as the Vice President of Development, where he led CRF’s efforts to enlist support from philanthropic institutions, corporations, and others seeking to promote community development after serving on CRF’s Board of Trustees for ten years.
McLean also led the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) as President and Chief Executive Officer for 10 years while tripling the organization’s budget and leading the charge to provide strategic direction and execution of programs; resulting in ground-breaking growth. While at MEDA, McLean also established the systematic infrastructure to create and build a $5.3 million dollar loan program to assist minority-owned businesses and support job creation within the community leading the organization to unprecedented sustainability.
McLean was named Ernst & Young’s National Entrepreneur of the Year in the Supporter of Entrepreneurship category; Minnesota Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration and has held a conglomerate of honors, awards and membership roles such as the Member of the Family Housing Fund Board; Minnesota Grocery Food Access Working Group Board Chair (Finance Committee) and board member of the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce; St. Paul Chamber of Commerce; Map for Nonprofits; Minnesota Zoo; Children’s Theatre Company; Channel 23 and Small Business Administration Advisory Committee.
Academically, McLean has a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Wisconsin and Bachelors of Science Degree in Economics from the University at Albany, SUNY.
We are thrilled to have Warren join #TeamNEON. We look forward to how he will use his previous knowledge, experience and expertise in order to help us continue to improve and expand our programs for the benefit of the north Minneapolis community where entrepreneurs can start, grow and thrive.
(Note to media: To arrange an interview about NEON’s new President contact MayPa Yang at 612-302-1505 or email MayPa@neon-mn.org. To learn more about the organization’s mission, contact Erin Jordan at Erin@neon-mn.org or 612-302-1505)