MDS Executive Director Kevin King announces retirement

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Executive Director for MDS U.S. Kevin King has announced his intent to retire by the end of 2026.

During more than two decades of leading MDS U.S., King ushered the organization through Hurricane Katrina in 2005, after which MDS U.S. nearly doubled in size; through Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which drew the response of more than 5,000 MDS volunteers; through wildfires in Paradise, Calif., Maui, Hawaii, and many other communities; and through responses ranging from Saipan to Puerto Rico.

Over those years, MDS has grown in its service: 6,848 volunteers from across Canada and the U.S. shared their time, skills, and compassion during 2024-25. They built 79 new homes and repaired 460 more; built nine private access bridges; and cleaned up 378 properties. Abiding by MDS U.S. bylaws, the MDS U.S. Board of Directors has appointed a search committee, which is working with the talent search division of North Group Consultants, based in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

North Group Consultants will advertise and interview candidates who meet the requirements, bringing those who best qualify to the search committee for further consideration. The search committee will then present candidates to the Board of Directors for final consideration.

The search timeline:

· February/March. North Group Consultants builds a candidate profile by interviewing a

cross-section of MDS volunteers, board members and staff.

· Mid-April. The position will be posted and initial interviews will begin.

· End of May. A short list of candidates will be identified.

· June: Finalist interviews conducted.

“We are profoundly grateful to Kevin King for his 20-plus years of service to MDS,” said

Wayne Yoder, MDS U.S. Board Chair. “Kevin and his family will be invited to the 2027

MDS Annual Celebration to receive formal recognition, and to accept the thanks and

prayers from the wider MDS family.”

xxxxx

About MDS

Mennonite Disaster Service recruits, organizes and empowers volunteers to repair and rebuild the homes of those impacted by disasters in the United States and Canada. As we respond with Christian love to serve people who would not otherwise have the means to recover, our goal is to restore hope and bring people home. In the fiscal year 2024-2025, more than 6,800 volunteers gave their time, skills, and compassion to help 926 households recover from disaster. Learn more about MDS online at MDS.org.