Our Professional Staff.
To minimize costs and maximize the amount available to be granted to the community, the Community Foundation contracts for its investment, accounting and bookkeeping services. We do have a small professional staff in Door County that interacts with our donor clients, local non-profits, and the community at large.
Bret Bicoy, President & CEO
Bret Bicoy joined the Community Foundation in 2008. During his tenure, the Community Foundation has become the premiere vehicle for bringing people together to address issues facing Door County. In recent years, numerous projects have been launched under the Community Foundation including the Door County Scholarship Network, the Door County COIN Business Mentoring and Micro-Loan programs, the Women’s Fund, Healthy Water Door County, Discuss Door County, the Door County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Foundation, the Non-Profit Peer Advisors program, the Sturgeon Bay Skatepark, the Little Lake Restoration project, Write On Door County, the GO BO Foundation, and the Door County Civility Project. He was also writes a regular column in the Peninsula Pulse.
Prior to returning to Wisconsin, the Bicoy family lived for 4 years in Las Vegas, Nevada where Bret served as President of the Nevada Community Foundation. During his tenure in Las Vegas, the Nevada Community Foundation received $49 million in contributions and secured $71 million in known estate commitments. In 2007, Bret was named a Person of Influence in the annual “Influence” issue of In Business Las Vegas. The magazine called Bret one of the “men and women who make things happen” in Nevada.
With his lovely and charming wife Cari, Bret returned to Wisconsin in 2008. After considerable soul searching they realized that there was more to life than always reaching for next rung on the career ladder. They had enough of big city living and wanted to raise their six children surrounded by family and friends in this wonderful place called Door County.
A 1992 graduate of Tufts University, Bret was honored with the 2006 Young Alumni Achievement Award as one “whose distinguished accomplishments bring credit to his community, his profession, and Tufts University.”
Bret also served as President & CEO of the Marietta Community Foundation when in 2002 he was named a Fellow of the Council on Foundations in Washington, D.C. for his work promoting philanthropy in diverse communities. While in Ohio, the Marietta Chamber of Commerce named him the Telesis Community Leader of the Year as “a believer in impossible things, whose vision, enthusiasm and dedication have unquestionably made their mark on our community.”
In the 1990s, Bret was the Senior Foundation Officer of the Green Bay Community Foundation during which time he helped launch the Door County Community Foundation. When living in Green Bay, Bret also served one term on the Brown County Board of Supervisors and was twice elected to the Green Bay City Council.
As a volunteer, Bret is an active Rotarian, previously as a member of the Marietta Noon Rotary Club and now with the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay, Door County’s oldest and largest service club. As his current Club’s Sergeant-at-Arms, it’s his responsibility to “humble” the member of the Club – which is basically gives him permission to make fun of other members and levy fines accordingly – moneys which are used to support the Club’s scholarship program. He previously served as President of the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay. Bret is also on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Bret was born and raised in Aiea, Hawaii, the only city in America spelled with all vowels. While he loves this beautiful peninsula, Bret will never quite get over the fact that there really isn’t any good surf in Door County. Then again, perhaps that’s for the best, because nobody wants to see Bret in his bathing suit. Contact Bret.
John Sabo, Vice President of Philanthropic Services
John Sabo joined the Door County Community Foundation in 2021 after having served for more than a decade in multiple professional roles at his alma mater, St. Norbert College. He was a Development Officer responsible for fostering relationships with alumni, parents, and donors over a 9 state region. He served as Assistant Director of Advancement Services and Stewardship where we developed and implemented a new individualized stewardship program. John also previously was Assistant Director of Alumni Communities when the college developed a two-week road trip across the Midwest to engage folks across the region through social media.
John’s degree is in chemistry and immediately after college he worked as a process chemist in the pulp and paper industry, representing his company all over the United States as well as El Salvador, Chile, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Austria, and Canada. In his free time, you can find John coaching the St. Norbert College women’s golf team. He also enjoys a good fish fry and old fashioned on Friday nights. John’s volunteer work includes serving on the board of directors for the First Tee of Northeast Wisconsin. Contact John.
Kacie Mueller, Philanthropic Service Officer
Born and raised in Sturgeon Bay, Door County has always had a special place in Kacie Mueller’s heart. While the rural area was an enjoyable place to grow up, she was compelled by all that the big city has to offer. Kacie made the move to Milwaukee shortly after graduating Cosmetology School. Upon arriving in Milwaukee she began work as hair stylist at a high-end salon located in the heart of downtown. After a year behind the chair Kacie was offered a position as the Operation Manager of the salon, which she happily accepted. She managed the boutique-style salon for 6 years and oversaw the complete rebranding of the company.
After having their son, Kacie and her husband Andrew decided that there was no better place to raise him than in Door County. She made the move back to Sturgeon Bay in 2014 to be surrounded by their extended family as well as the cultural treasures and abundance of natural resources which make the Door Peninsula a remarkable place to live.
Kacie now lives in Sturgeon Bay with her Andrew and their children William and Hazel. Kacie is excited to be part of the Community Foundation which helps to make Door County the amazing community that it is.
In 2021, Kacie was elevated to the newly created position of Philanthropic Services Officer after having worked with the Community Foundation for more than 7 years, serving most recently as Community Relations Officer. Kacie offers counsel to donors and works closely with the Vice President of Philanthropic Services to develop new and more effective strategies to help Door County’s generous families increase the impact of their charitable giving. Kacie is also responsible for marketing and communications activities and coordinating special events. Contact Kacie.
Julie Haen, Business Officer
As a fourth-generation Door County resident, Julie Haen is a passionate supporter of Door County.
Julie lives in Sturgeon Bay with her children Ashley, Anna, and Logan.
Supporting Door County’s nonprofit community through volunteerism is at the core of Julie’s family values and one she hopes to pass on to her children. As a member of the Sevastopol Education Foundation, Julie volunteers by fundraising and organizing events to benefit Sevastopol students.
Door County’s State and County parks are a favorite weekend destination for Julie and her family. Camping, kayaking, and fishing are just a few of their favorite Summer activities. She and her family can also be found hiking on one of the many Door County Land Trust trails or exploring at Crossroads at Big Creek.
Julie is responsible for processing contributions and disbursements from the many Funds of the Community Foundation. Contact Julie.
Katie DeKeyser, Administrative Assistant
Having grown up in southern Door County, Katie has an appreciation for the rural small-town feel of Door County. She did not always have this appreciation though; it took moving to Madison and Oshkosh for college to realize what a wonderful place she came from.
Katie completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Oshkosh where she majored in International Studies. She has a passion for learning about other cultures. After college, she worked as an English Language Learner’s Aide at Sevastopol Schools before deciding to go back to school. She is currently enrolled in the Office Professionals program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical School.
Besides learning about other cultures, Katie enjoys the outdoors and going for hikes at the beautiful state and county parks and land trusts. Her favorite hiking trail at Peninsula State Park is the Eagle Trail because of the
limestone escarpment along the trail.
Katie calls Brussels home and lives with her sister, her sister’s dogs and cat, and her special needs cat who was born with disfigured back hip joints.
Katie’s is the friendly voice on the other end of the phone when you call the Foundation and her smiling face greets you when you arrive at our offices. She is also responsible for administering the Scholarship Network database. Contact Katie.
