CENTRAL POINT, OR – While still Dogs for the Deaf, new board member Ron Holzkamp (CPA with Moss Adams) joined the Board of Directors in 2013 and Brian McQuade followed in 2014. Both will complete their board service at the end of June 2020.
During their tenure on the Board of Directors each has served in several capacities, including more recently when DBL’s previous CEO departed, Holzkamp stepped in as the interim CEO. During the same period, McQuade stepped in to manage the day-to-day operations towards the completion of DBL’s new 18,000 sq. ft. Second Training Building on its southern Oregon campus.
Ron Holzkamp with former demonstration dog Buzz.
“My time on the board has been very satisfying and exciting,” stated Board Vice Chairman, Ron Holzkamp. “We now provide dogs for the hearing impaired, children on the autism spectrum, and facility dogs to different entities. We built a state-of-the-art 40-kennel building, changed our name from Dogs for The Deaf to Dogs for Better Lives, and built a board of people with special talents from all over the country. And most importantly, we have outstanding staff that will continue our mission!”
“Some of my fondest memories as a DBL board member were meeting and watching the DBL staff do such remarkable work with the pups and collaborating with such a talented and diverse group of people who filled other Board positions,” stated Brian McQuade. “As well, I enjoyed a number of opportunities to connect with donors in person and on the phone, thanking them for their continued loyalty to DBL and hearing their stories of why they donated to this award-winning nonprofit.”
Ron Holzkamp
Ron Holzkamp was born in South Dakota and raised in Salem Oregon. Upon graduation from Oregon State University in 1964 with a degree in Finance and Accounting, Holzkamp served a 3 ½ year term in the Finance Corp in 6th Army in Europe, from April 1965 to August 1968 as a Captain.
Once Holzkamp returned to civilian life in Oregon he worked for Yergen and Meyer a CPA firm in Portland for 4 years before moving to Medford Oregon as a partner in 1973. In 1999 the firm merged with Moss Adams, a large regional CPA firm. Holzkamp retired from the same firm in June 2006.
Brian McQuade with Buzz, who originally came to us from Oregon Humane Society in Portland.
Holzkamp and his wife Carole have three daughters and sons-in-law, and nine grandchildren in the Portland area. He has served on numerous boards over the years in Medford, including Asante Hospital Foundation Board, Ascension Lutheran Church Council (twice), Southern Oregon CPAs, Rogue Valley Country Club Board, The Peter Britt Board, Medford Jazz Festival Board and the Medford Rotary Board, to name a few.
Brian McQuade
Brian McQuade worked as a Design Engineer for five years after college, followed by operating his own business for a period, and more recently working 33 years as the Corporate Sales Manager for Umpqua Dairy in Oregon. McQuade retired in 2012 after 50 years in private industry.
McQuade’s education and professional experiences are helping him in contributing to Dogs for Better Lives as the nonprofit grows and adds a new training facility. Currently McQuade serves on three nonprofit boards, including Dogs for Better Lives. Being a Board Member with DFD is tremendously rewarding for him as he enjoys helping and being a part of such a well-run organization.
Brian McQuade lives in Ashland, Oregon. Married, with 3 children and 5 grandchildren, he has owned many dogs over his lifetime and in recent years has enjoyed two Labs, Royceman and Siskiyou (over 20 years combined) as his running partners each morning. McQuade’s wife was a Speech Pathologist and continues to help him better understand the needs of Dogs for Better Lives’ clients.
During both of their tenures on the board they have had the opportunity to mentor several newer board members, engage the regional community in DBL’s valuable work, and participate in numerous donor, corporate, and community events. For that, all of us here at DBL are and will be forever thankful.
“Ron Holzkamp and Brian McQuade have provided invaluable service for Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) over the past 6+ years,” stated Board Chairman, Al Lane. Their leadership and guidance throughout the years have positively impacted virtually every area of DBL. As previous Board Chair, Ron’s fingerprints are all over the growth and success DBL has enjoyed in recent years. He masterfully led the board for years, in addition to stepping in to lead the organization during a brief stint as interim CEO.”
Lane further noted, “Brian’s past experience in commercial construction was vital to reigning in costs and finishing the beautiful new 40-kennel, 18,000 sq. ft. building. His passion and willingness to tell the DBL story to anyone who will listen makes Brian an amazing ambassador for the organization. We, as board members, will miss their thoughtful and intelligent contributions during board meetings going forward, though are thankful for the major role they played in laying the groundwork for our staff and current board members to follow.”
In more recent years, the Board of Directors has expanded in size as well as national in scope. Currently DBL’s board consists of 15 board members with four residing outside of Oregon, in the states of Minnesota, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. If you have interest in learning more about DBL’s National Board and opportunities to join, please visit… https://dogsforbetterlives.org/about-us/
