Watertown Area Community Foundation Announces New Board Leadership

The Watertown Area Community Foundation Board of Directors has elected Tom Beadnell as Chair and Julie Ranum as Vice Chair.

Beadnell, a local businessman, has served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2019. He previously served as Chair of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce and spent 19 years coaching youth hockey. He was also instrumental in launching the Watertown Area PACH (People Against Child Hunger) program. Beadnell remains actively involved in the community through the Lions Club and as a board member of the Friends of the Goss Opera House. Well known for his love of live music, he plays in several local bands and is affectionately known as the “Master of Merriment” during Watertown’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. He and his wife, Cheri, have three grown children and two grandchildren.

“It’s an honor to serve as Chair of the Watertown Area Community Foundation,” said Beadnell. “The Foundation plays a critical role in helping our community think long-term, invest wisely, and support the people and organizations doing important work across the Watertown area. I’m proud to be part of that effort.”

Ranum has served on the Foundation’s board since 2020 and is the Executive Director of the Redlin Art Center. She brings valuable insight into arts, tourism, and nonprofit leadership, along with a strong understanding of how cultural and community investments contribute to a vibrant and thriving region.

Other members of the Watertown Area Community Foundation Board of Directors include Alex Ammann, Dr. Jeff Danielsen, Charlie Ewalt, Joel Vockrodt, and immediate past chair Liam Culhane.

Founded in 1979, the Watertown Area Community Foundation serves as the community’s endowment, advancing strategic philanthropy to strengthen the vitality of the Watertown area now and for generations to come. The Foundation currently stewards more than $50 million in charitable assets.