NDAD’s governing Board of Directors elected new officers this week, including the person to fill the board president vacancy created by the May death of NDAD co-founder and retired CEO Ron Gibbens.

Craig Hashbarger of Fargo was voted board president, while Grand Forks’ Anne Putbrese and Betty Wilkening were elected board vice president and board secretary/treasurer, respectively.
 

Gibbens, who retired from active duty several years ago, was first elected board president when the charitable nonprofit was organized in 1975 and remained in the role until his death at age 80

“Ron left such a tremendous legacy, and there’s no way I’ll ever be able to live up to the legacy that he set forth,” said Hashbarger, who has served on NDAD’s board since 2014. "I hope l can do an acceptable job helping to lead NDAD in its next chapter. I really look forward to continuing to serve our constituents with disabilities and health challenges in North Dakota and surrounding border communities, and help make their lives better.”

Hashbarger, a senior audit manager at a Fargo-based public accounting firm, is a UND graduate and former NDAD employee who worked in accounting for the organization from 2001 to 2004.

NDAD’s other returning directors are Mike Berg, Fargo; Josette Severson, Mandan; Mike Iken, Bismarck; Tom Alexander, Minot; and Wendell Grondahl, Maddock, former vice president and NDAD’s surviving charter board member.

Don Santer succeeded Gibbens as NDAD's chief executive officer several years before Gibbens retired. Longtime NDAD supervisors Traci LaDouceur and Leslie Stastny are chief financial officer and chief program officer, respectively.