Ward Brehm

Ward Brehm is a Minnesota entrepreneur, leader in African humanitarian efforts and nationally-known public speaker and commentator on relief and development in Africa.^[1]

Career

In 2010, Brehm was appointed by President Obama to serve as a member of the United States African Development Foundation (USADF).^[2] He had previously been appointed chairman of USADF in 2004 by President Bush, and he served in that role until the expiration of his term in 2008.^[3]

In 2008, Brehm was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal – the country's second-highest civilian honor – for his work in Africa at an Oval Office ceremony.^[4]

Brehm brought his message as an advocate for the poor in Africa to the 2008 National Prayer Breakfast, where he gave the keynote address before an audience including the U.S. President, First Lady, foreign heads of state, most members of Congress and the Washington diplomatic community. Brehm was the first person from the business community to ever be asked by Congress to address this annual gathering in Washington DC.^[5]

Brehm also continues to serve as an unofficial diplomat, quietly behind the scenes connecting African and American leaders. He has also brought policymakers together from both sides of the aisle in Washington to unite and support African development initiatives. He has befriended numerous leaders in Africa and has helped facilitate small groups of praying leaders in many African nations.

He is the author of two books on his experiences in Africa, Life Through A Different Lens and White Man Walking.^[6]

Brehm also serves on the board of directors for the American Refugee Committee, which works with refugee communities in 7 countries around the world, helping people regain control of their lives. . He is also Vice Chairman of Partners in Food Solutions, which is a non-profit organization that links the technical and business expertise of volunteer employees at General Mills, Cargill and DSM to small and medium-sized mills and food processors in the developing world.

In his professional life, Ward Brehm is the founder and chairman of The Brehm Group, Inc., a Twin Cities insurance consulting firm.^[7] He and his wife, Kris, live in Wayzata, Minnesota and have three adult children: Andy, Michael and Sarah.

References