Unique Perspective / Extraordinary Commitment
Our prior experience in government, business and nonprofit sectors helps us bring valuable insight to our clients’ projects. We also limit the number of engagements that we take on at any point in time, so that we can provide the level of support and guidance that each client needs to be successful.Eric Snyder – MBA, CAP®
Principal
Over the course of his career, Eric Snyder has had an opportunity to hold management and leadership positions in public, non-profit and for-profit organizations. This breadth of experience has provided Eric with a unique perspective and skillset that allows him to bring insights and value to any client engagement.
Mr. Snyder leads the Excelsior Bay Group’s nonprofit strategy and philanthropic advisory practices. Prior to joining the firm, he spent almost 10 years at Optum (a UnitedHealth business) where he led teams focused on innovation, product development and product management/evaluation.
He acquired his non-profit management experience while serving as the executive director of the Medical Technology Leadership Forum, an organization that facilitates policy discussions between the medical industry, government regulators and academia.
Eric also had the opportunity to launch and lead PrimeWest Health System, a public-sector health system owned and managed by a consortium of counties in central and western Minnesota. At the time of its inception, PrimeWest was responsible for the health care of 10,000 Medicaid recipients in its participating counties.
Eric is a charter board member of Community for the Commons – a conservancy established for the benefit of Excelsior’s historic Commons park. In addition, he has served in governance roles for a number of organizations including the Excelsior Parks Commission, FairVote Minnesota and ResourceWest. He holds an MBA and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska.
Eric also holds a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) certification from the American College of Financial Services.
Kim Snyder
Founder
Kim founded the Excelsior Bay Group in 2007 to help nonprofits across the state build their capacity to fully deliver on their missions.
Kim began her career in higher education and healthcare philanthropy. Prior to founding the Excelsior Bay Group, she served as the Vice President of Children’s Hospitals Foundation and in leadership roles at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Ridgewater College, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and the Minnesota Community College System.
Today, she leads the firm’s work in the areas of philanthropy, strategy, and governance and has provided counsel to scores of clients across the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. She has consulted with nonprofits of all sizes and stages of maturity, always working in partnership with staff and board members to develop their skills and confidence to lead, govern and take effective action.
Additionally, Kim provides coaching to dozens of nonprofit staff and board members across the State every year on topics ranging from major gift solicitation to good governance. She is also the Mankato Area Foundation’s Consultant in Residence—a role that allows her to provide free, targeted consultation to qualifying nonprofits in Blue Earth and Nicollet counties in order to build their internal capacity to advance the pace of change.
Kim was educated at the University of Minnesota, earning a BA in history and an MA in Public Policy from the Humphrey Institute with emphases in non-profit management and education policy.
Presently, Kim serves as a volunteer for her local food shelf and a mentor at the Carlson School of Management. Throughout her career she has served on the boards, development, or advisory committees for: Charities Review Council, Dress for Success Twin Cities, MN Adoption Resource Network, MinnPost, MN Indian Women’s Resource Center, Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation, Southwest Minnesota Initiative Fund, and Willmar Area Community Foundation.
Eric Snyder – MBA, CAP®
Principal
Over the course of his career, Eric Snyder has had an opportunity to hold management and leadership positions in public, non-profit and for-profit organizations. This breadth of experience has provided Eric with a unique perspective and skillset that allows him to bring insights and value to any client engagement.
Mr. Snyder leads the Excelsior Bay Group’s nonprofit strategy and philanthropic advisory practices. Prior to joining the firm, he spent almost 10 years at Optum (a UnitedHealth business) where he led teams focused on innovation, product development and product management/evaluation.
He acquired his non-profit management experience while serving as the executive director of the Medical Technology Leadership Forum, an organization that facilitates policy discussions between the medical industry, government regulators and academia.
Eric also had the opportunity to launch and lead PrimeWest Health System, a public-sector health system owned and managed by a consortium of counties in central and western Minnesota. At the time of its inception, PrimeWest was responsible for the health care of 10,000 Medicaid recipients in its participating counties.
Eric is a charter board member of Community for the Commons – a conservancy established for the benefit of Excelsior’s historic Commons park. In addition, he has served in governance roles for a number of organizations including the Excelsior Parks Commission, FairVote Minnesota and ResourceWest. He holds an MBA and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska.
Eric also holds a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) certification from the American College of Financial Services.
