 | Doug Morrison, Director
2/16/2010 11:40 AM | | Doug Morrison |
Doug Morrison was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of South Dakota, receiving a bachelor of science degree in business with an accounting major in 1981. After six years working as a CPA in Gillette, Wyoming, he accepted a position as a financial analyst at Citibank (South Dakota) N.A. in Sioux Falls. Doug worked in a variety of financial positions for Citibank and was appointed Citibank’s chief financial officer in April of 2000. Doug is on the board of directors of Citibank (South Dakota), N.A., Citicorp Trust South Dakota, and Citihousing. He has served on the Sioux Falls Child Care and Early Education Business Group, the Sioux Falls School District Finance Action Network and the Blue Ribbon Education Task Force. In December of 2006 he completed a three-year term as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. He is also a member of the Sioux Falls School Board. He has been married to Debra, an accountant, for 25 years. They have two children, Matthew, 23, who attends the University of Minnesota, and Christina, 20, who attends Creighton University.
How did you get involved with First Children’s Finance?
I was on the Federal Reserve Board when I met Jerry. He caught me in the hall and talked to me about the organization. There was a lot of discussion at the Federal Reserve about the importance of quality child care. Art Rolnick from the Reserve really understands and promotes the economics of childhood development.
Why is First Children’s important? Why do you spend precious time working with First Children’s?
I believe in the economics of early childhood development. We have to get at at-risk kids early, and even then it’s hard to catch up. Some don’t get the nurturing and attention at home, so the sooner we can get them into a structured learning environment, the better. I sit on the Sioux Falls School Board, so I know all too well when we look at graduation rates how much more it costs society if we don’t get to kids early.
What difference does the program make for providers? Why does First Children’s have a Growth Fund?
It gets businesses leaders and nonprofits interacting – a dialogue that wouldn’t happen ordinarily. The Growth Fund gives them the opportunity to interact and learn from each other. It also helps them develop their plans and business. It is working well. Five thousand dollars to a nonprofit is a lot of money. The money and expertise allow them to think outside the box and do things they might not be able to do otherwise.
What’s your vision for First Children’s?
We can get more at risk kids into good quality child care seats. We need to keep preaching the message about what it means to kids, about what it means to get that early start in a quality child care. So much of their life will be decided in those years, if we don’t get to them it’s an uphill battle.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working on behalf of First Children’s?
I’m an avid runner -- marathons and half marathons. I mentor kids and adults: I have Michael a fifth grader and a Native American family I’m mentoring. I’m a big believer in mentoring. I also spend a lot of time on my school board position.
What else would you like our readers to know about you and First Children’s?
It brings child care together with business. It’s a different way of looking at child care. It emphasizes the urgent need for quality child care.
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