The Pella Area Community and Economic Alliance Board of Directors honored Mark Putnam, Central College president, on his retirement as the PACE executive board president. Putnam served in the role since 2017.
“I’ve had the privilege of serving on the executive board with Mark and what you learn quickly about him is he’s a terrific leader,” says Karen Eischen, PACE executive director. “Mark has left his legacy on the PACE Alliance. He’s very passionate about the community. When you look at the success that PACE has had under his leadership, and all the accomplishments we achieved, a lot of those wouldn’t be possible without Mark’s leadership and guidance.”
Service to the community is a core value at Central and that starts at the top of the organization. Putnam is in his 13th year as Central’s president. Under his leadership, Central has raised more than $74 million in donations and completed major expansions and renovations of the college’s arts, athletics and student center facilities and Peace Mall in the heart of campus. In addition, he has helped the college expand offerings to include an engineering major, leadership and career-readiness programming and student-faculty research while also deepening the college’s collaboration with Pella and Central Iowa.
Putnam also chairs the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities board and was appointed by the Governor of Iowa to the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. He supports Division III athletics, serves as the chair of the Conference Presidents Council of the American Rivers Conference and represents the ARC as a member of the NCAA Division III Presidents/Chancellors Advisory Group.
Pictured: PACE Executive Director Karen Eischen, Past PACE Alliance Executive Board President Mark Putnam, PACE Alliance Executive Board President Charlie Daugherty.
