Paul A. Netzel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus

Paul is founder and Chairman Emeritus of Netzel Grigsby Associates, a leading management-consulting firm specializing in work with nonprofit organizations and institutions. Founded in Los Angeles in 1985, the firm has grown to include offices throughout the Western United States. The firm has helped guide nearly 400 major projects with combined fundraising goals exceeding $3.4 billion with an overall goal achievement of 98 percent. Netzel Grigsby Associates has been honored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce as being “an outstanding example of the entrepreneurial spirit of our region.”

Prior to his founding the firm, Paul had a successful 22-year career with the YMCA culminating as an executive vice president with the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. He served his profession in numerous roles including as vice chair of the national board of directors of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and president of AFP’s Greater Los Angeles Chapter, where he was honored as its Professional-of-the-Year. He is co-founder of the UCLA Extension’s “Certificate of Fund Raising” Program.

Paul has a distinguished record of community service and leadership. He served as mayor of Culver City, CA, for two terms while a city council member (1980-88). Previously, he served as a member and president of the Culver City board of education. He has held leadership positions on the boards of Boy Scouts, Goodwill Industries of Southern California, United Way, YMCA, and the California Youth and Government program. He has served on the advisory boards of the Auto Club of Southern California, APEX (Asian Professional Exchange) and Habitat for Humanity.

During 2017-2018 Paul served as Chair of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Trustees – the first year of TRF’s second century of service. With assets exceeding $1.25 billion, TRF enables Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. TRF helps fund humanitarian activities, from local service projects to global initiatives including Rotary's 30+ year initiative to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.

Netzel was one of 17 members of the board of directors of Rotary International (R.I.) in 2007-09, also serving as chair of the R.I. Board's Executive Committee. Rotary is an international service organization with over 1.2 million members in 200 countries and territories. In 2012 he served as moderator of Rotary’s International Assembly, responsible for the training of 535 incoming district governors worldwide.

Previously he served as governor of R.I. District 5280 (1997-98), and as president of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. Paul chaired the Bid Committee to secure the 2008 R.I. Convention for Los Angeles, subsequently becoming chair of the LA2008 Host Organization Committee and, following his election to the R.I. Board of Directors, he served as special advisor to the committee.

His awards and honors include The Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award, TRF's Citation for Meritorious Service, Rotary District 5280 Hall of Fame, Rotary Club of Los Angeles Rotarian of the Year, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Golden Book of Distinguished Service, Co-Grand Marshal Los Angeles Korean Festival Parade, Culver City Citizen of the Year, Jaycees Distinguished Service Award and PTA Council Honorary Life Service Award.

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