The Flinn Foundation, a private grantmaking philanthropy, has elected two new directors to its governing board: Linda J. Blessing, retired executive director of the Arizona Board of Regents, and Drew M. Brown, managing director and partner of DMB Associates. The additions broaden the board to 11 members.
“We’re honored and privileged to have the services of these two outstanding community leaders,” said David J. Gullen, M.D., chair of the Flinn Foundation board of directors. “Linda Blessing and Drew Brown bring to the board exceptional knowledge and experience within the health care, education, and arts fields—the Foundation’s areas of activity.”
Prior to her leadership position with the Regents from 1999-2004, Blessing directed the Arizona Department of Economic Security (1992-1999) and served as deputy auditor general for the State of Arizona (1981-1991). She received her Ph.D. in Public Administration from Arizona State University in 1991, and taught at ASU and ASU West.
Blessing also has been a long-time active member of the Valley of the Sun United Way board of directors and served on the board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is a certified public accountant and fraud examiner, and sat on the governing boards of the American Institute of CPAs and the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board.
Brown co-founded DMB Associates, Inc., a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based real-estate investment and development firm, in 1984. He is involved in all aspects of DMB’s operations, including major acquisition, disposition, financing and development activities for the firm’s real-estate portfolio. Earlier he specialized in real estate and commercial lending as a partner and director of Fennemore Craig, a Phoenix law firm.
Brown, who received his juris doctorate from the University of Notre Dame Law School, serves on the boards of the Phoenix Art Museum, Scottsdale Healthcare and Greater Phoenix Leadership. He has also been involved with the Arizona Science Center, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership.
In 2003-2004, Brown chaired the Maricopa Regional Arts and Culture Task Force, a 30-member panel of Valley leaders from multiple sectors assembled to study ways to boost the artistic vibrancy and economic impact of local arts and culture. The Task Force’s recommendations led to the formation of the nonprofit Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture in September 2004.
The Flinn Foundation was established by Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Flinn in 1965 with the mission of improving the quality of life in Arizona. The nonprofit philanthropy supports the advancement of Arizona’s bioscience sector, the Flinn Scholars Program for undergraduate studies at an Arizona public university, and arts and culture via the Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture.