Bill MacDonald is a graduate of Marquette University and Harvard Business School. His career in the direct marketing industry included catalog operations at Montgomery Ward, marketing and finance in General Mills’ LeeWards division, general management with Jewelart, and as CEO of the Ambassador Mail Order Co. in Phoenix. He purchased the latter and became principal of The MacDonald Companies, a $100 million direct marketing company operating in the USA, Canada, Germany and Hong Kong. After selling the company in 1984, he went on to found MacDonald Direct Marketing, which he operated until 1999.
Bill began his involvement in the Phoenix Gay and Lesbian community in 1986 as the founding chair of the Arizona AIDS Project. He also served as vice-chair of the Grand Canyon Men’s Chorale in 1992 before becoming the founding chair of the Arizona Human Rights Fund (now Equality Arizona). As chair of that organization, he was responsible for moving its political agenda through the Arizona State legislature and the Phoenix City Council. He was recognized as Echo magazine’s first Man of the Year in 1994 and was awarded the city of Phoenix’s Martin Luther King “Living the Dream” award in 2000.
Bill has served as the Phoenix Pride Foundation Task Force Chair 2008-2009, and currently serves as chair of the Finance/Budget Committee Chair 2009-2010. |
