Meet our new CEO
April 20, 2021, Lori Dossett
PRESS RELEASE (En Español)
Contact: Lori Dossett, Director of Marketing & Communications
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (April 20, 2021) — Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities (BBBS), a nationally recognized leader in youth mentoring, has selected Patrick Sukhum as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. He was selected following a comprehensive search to replace former CEO, Michael Goar, who was recently named CEO of Catholic Charities. The search was conducted by Ballinger Leafblad, a local expert in nonprofit executive recruitment, and supported by the following committee of corporate and nonprofit professionals:
- Gina Blayney (retired CEO, Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest)
- Pat Cooper (BBBS interim CEO and retired EVP, Federated Insurance)
- Jamie Hofberger (BBBS Board of Directors Vice Chair and Principal, EY)
- Nancy Lindahl (co-founder of Creative Strategies Plus)
- Rick Penn (BBBS board chair and retired CEO, Hutchinson Technology)
- Julie Rethemeier (Vice President, Federated Insurance Company)
- Sondra Samuels (CEO, Northside Achievement Zone)
- Darrell Thompson (CEO, Bolder Options)
- Houston White (owner, Houston White Men’s Room)
Sukhum was one of the first employees and is currently a member of the revenue team at Bind Benefits, an innovator in the health insurance space. Previously, he was a co-founder at RedBrick Health, a wellness organization aimed at improving population health and well-being, and a co-founder at Deinity Health, the pioneering health insurance company that brought Health Savings Accounts to the market.
Sukhum started his passion for BBBS when he became a Big in 1998. Since then, he has served in numerous volunteer roles within the organization including as a board member for the past 10 years. In his two decades of service with BBBS, Sukhum has seen the incredible impact of mentoring through the creation of truly life-changing relationships.
In addition to being a tremendous spokesperson and advocate for BBBS, Sukhum also serves on the board of directors of Upturnships, a nonprofit that prepares and serves underrepresented college students as they start their professional careers, and the advisory board of the Compassion Museum, whose mission is to ignite compassion across generations. He also organizes an annual coat drive that has collected more than 1,000 coats for Twin Cities youth in need. Sukhum holds a degree in Economics from Carleton College.
Sukhum is the son of immigrant parents from Thailand and grew up in Northern Minnesota. He has witnessed first-hand the impact that another caring adult can have on the life of a child through his relationship as a Big Brother. “It’s hard to imagine a better role than one focused on guiding the mission of helping all children achieve their full potential,” says Sukhum. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to amplify and elevate the work of this team and eager and excited to see the continued impact we will have on our Littles, Bigs, their families, and our communities. Big Brothers Big Sisters brings worlds together, helping all of us find the commonality in our diversity and widening the scope of our humanity and compassion.”
“Pat brings a unique background combining proven executive leadership and a rich 22-year history with Big Brothers Big Sisters as a highly engaged mentor, board member and committee leader,” shared Rick Penn, Chair of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities Board of Directors. “Pat’s experience, vision, energy, and core values make him extremely well-suited to advance the organization’s mission to the next level. The true benefactors of this selection will be the almost 4,000 children we seek to inspire at Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities this year.”
Sukhum will begin his leadership role at Big Brothers Big Sisters in June.
