Blugold alumnus named new Foundation president

Curt Krizan, who graduated magna cum laude in accounting from UW-Eau Claire in 1993, has been appointed to the position as Foundation president, executive director of the Blugold Real Estate Foundation and executive director of the Blugold Innovation Foundation. Krizan also will be an assistant chancellor at UW-Eau Claire. He will step into his new role on Aug. 26.

Krizan succeeds Kimera Way, who is retiring.

“UW-Eau Claire and the UW-Eau Claire Foundation are fortunate to add Curt to our leadership team,” Chancellor James Schmidt says. “Curt has the experience, expertise and excitement to achieve great things in his new role, and he will help continue the remarkable tradition of excellence that has become a trademark of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation.”

In his new role, Krizan will focus on strategic partnerships and the overall financial and administrative responsibility for Foundation and subsidiary corporations.

“I am passionate about UW-Eau Claire and excited to be back on campus working with stakeholders in support of the university and all Blugolds,” Krizan says. “Strong relationships with partners and stakeholders are crucial to the success of any organization. I want to empower and challenge our dedicated Foundation team to continue to develop and build on these relationships to the betterment of the university and our community.

“And I want to thank Foundation Vice President Julia Diggins for setting the table for success during her time as interim president. She has been a guiding force for the team during this time of transition.”

Krizan was chief financial officer for the Fiesta Bowl for 12 years and was ticket revenue officer for five of those years, responsible for generating the organization’s largest revenue stream through ticket membership, sales and service. Krizan also was CFO for Arizona 2016, the local organizing committee of the 2016 College Football Playoff national championship game at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Prior to his work at the Fiesta Bowl, Krizan was a senior auditor and certified public accountant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he also held controller and CFO positions.

Krizan is a member of the UW-Eau Claire College of Business advisory committee and has taken part in UWEC’s Business of Sports Symposium. He was a board member in multiple organizations while in Phoenix, including the East Valley Institute of Technology Education Foundation, the Arizona State Treasurer Taskforce on Financial Literacy and the Visit Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. He was recognized as the Phoenix Business Journal’s Outstanding CFO in 2016.