Johnston to succeed Henke

For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Cynthia Henke has announced her retirement as president of the Mead Witter Foundation, after 15 years with the organization.

Henke has served as president and treasurer of the Foundation since 2006. She will continue in the part-time position of treasurer.

Shawn Johnston will succeed Henke as president. Johnston joined the foundation in 2016 as assistant vice president and was elected vice president in 2018.

“Cynthia and Shawn’s contributions to the Foundation have been significant,” George Mead, chairman, said. “We were able to successfully procure and repurpose paper company property in downtown Wisconsin Rapids, as well as provide funding for a major music school project at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with their help.

“Both Cynthia and Shawn are lifetime residents of the community and have brought valuable insight and expertise to these projects. In their new roles, the management of the Mead Witter Foundation remains in very competent hands.”

Henke and Johnston are graduates of the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

Henke transitions into retirement after a career spanning 45 years – 30 of which were in accounting positions in private industry.

Besides agreeing to stay on as foundation treasurer, Henke will also continue in community service as a director of the United Way of South Wood and Adams Counties.

Prior to joining the foundation, Johnston served as executive director of the Arts Council of South Wood County.

“Shawn is a pleasure to work with. He has outstanding leadership skills and a strong commitment to our community and the philanthropic work of the Mead Witter Foundation,” Henke said.

Organized in 1951, the Mead Witter Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation headquartered in Wisconsin Rapids. It has provided more than $95 million in support to colleges, universities, environmental causes, civic organizations, and in scholarship support to area students.