MADISON — In September 2020, Jackson Fonder, CEO of Catholic Charities, left for an opportunity in Arizona. At that time, Tom Merfeld, a past Catholic Charities board chair, began serving as interim CEO, and a leadership transition committee was formed to conduct a national search for his replacement. Jim Hartlieb, current board chair states, “On behalf of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors, I’d like to thank Tom Merfeld for his leadership as interim CEO over the last several months. His commitment to our clients, the staff and the mission has been impressive.”
The leadership transition committee consisted of Bishop Donald J. Hying, fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin; Jim Hartlieb, Catholic Charities Board Chair and President of First Business Bank; Patrick Flesch, Catholic Charities Board Vice Chair and President of Gordon Flesch Co; Christie Seibert, immediate past chair of Catholic Charities Board and Professor of Medicine at UW School of Medicine; and Damond Boatwright, community leader and Regional President of SSM Health-Wisconsin. The search process was facilitated by Tower Hunter, a national executive search firm which specializes in placing executives at nonprofit organizations. Through their proactive efforts, Tower Hunter sourced over 400 candidates from across the country, resulting in an impressive list of six finalists with a variety of professional, geographic, and ethnic backgrounds. After several rounds of interviews and background checks, the search committee and the board’s executive committee is happy to announce their unanimous approval of Shawn Carney as Catholic Charities of Madison’s next CEO.
Damond Boatwright stated, “I truly feel blessed to have had the opportunity to participate on the CEO search committee. With the announcement of its new CEO, I believe Catholic Charities will be in good hands for the foreseeable future.”
Bishop Hying shared, “I welcome Shawn Carney as our new CEO of Catholic Charities of Madison. A native son of our diocese, Shawn brings a deep commitment to the Catholic faith, a knowledge of our local Church, administrative and financial expertise, and a heart for the suffering and marginalized. I look forward to working with Shawn and the excellent staff at Catholic Charities to live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, as Christ Himself has commanded us, to put the Gospel into loving action. I offer my blessing and prayers to Shawn and the good work he will accomplish in this important role.”
For the last decade, Shawn has led the RSM Wisconsin practice of four offices and 160 employees through tremendous growth and looks forward to his role with Catholic Charities. Shawn has also served on the Catholic Charities board and as an advisor to several non-profit boards in the Madison and Rockford communities during his career. When asked about being selected as the next CEO, Shawn remarked, “I am humbled and excited to be chosen as the leader of Catholic Charities of Madison. Through our many dedicated staff and volunteers as well as the support from the Diocese of Madison, we look forward to building upon the important ministry of Jesus by providing compassionate, caring services to help the poor and vulnerable in our communities.”
Shawn earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from Upper Iowa University, Certified Public Accountant licensing in Illinois and Wisconsin, and completed a business advisory program from University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is actively involved in volunteering on numerous community boards and at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison.