FM Foundation Names Gene E. Keene New President
by Helen Kaufmann

Gene E. Keene was recently elected President and CEO of the Free Methodist Foundation, succeeding Dr. Stanley B. Thompson, who is retiring after leading the organization since its founding in 1987. The announcement was made by Norman P. Leenhouts, chairman of the board of directors.

Keene assumed the new role on January 1, 2004. He says, "I am excited to have been elected to this position. I look forward to building on the historical framework that has been laid at FMF and to working with the fine team that has been assembled under the current leadership."

Keene comes to the Foundation with a strong background in planned giving, fundraising, leadership, management and marketing, according to Foundation sources. During his tenure as director of major gifts and planned giving for Seattle Pacific University, the institution achieved the highest giving results in its history. Keene has also held senior management roles in the travel and hotel industries and is a certified public accountant with a master's degree in business administration.

In addition, Keene has been active in various capacities for the church, serving on the denomination's board of administration and on the Pacific Northwest Conference board of administration and loan fund and the board of directors for Warm Beach Senior Community. He was a founding member of Timberlake Christian Fellowship (FM) in Redmond, Washington.

Another recent change in the Foundation's leadership is the naming of Mark S. Olson as executive vice president. Olson will continue in his roles of vice president for the Free Methodist Loan Fund and president of the Foundation's King Trust Company.

Other changes include the November election of Leenhouts as chairman of the board and David R. Goodnight as vice chairman. Leenhouts serves as chairman and co-chief executive officer of Home Properties, Inc., a real estate investment trust. Goodnight is a principal in the litigation practice group of Stoel Rives LLP, a multi-practice business law firm.

The Free Methodist Foundation supports the mission of the Free Methodist Church by providing estate and gift planning assistance, investment services, trust services and loan assistance to Free Methodist churches and ministries.