Founder of Eagan-Based CaringBridge to Retire in 2017

Eagan-based CaringBridge announced Wednesday that Founder, Chief Ambassador Sona Mehring has decided to retire effective June 30, 2017. The global nonprofit social network that offers free personal, private websites to connect family and friends during a health crisis will mark 20 years since its founding in June 1997.

After two decades, Mehring will officially retire and plans to follow her passion for connecting people in a positive and supportive way, especially online. She will remain a voice for women in leadership and technology, and plans to continue supporting entrepreneurial initiatives, according to a news release.

“These past 20 years have been a miraculous journey,” said Mehring in a statement. “It’s been an incredible honor to have brought CaringBridge into this world at a time when the household use of the internet was in its infancy and to help CaringBridge flourish and grow. I look forward to watching the next 20 years of CaringBridge unfold.”

The CaringBridge staff said that Mehring has been the heart and soul of the organization, and she will now embark on her next chapter and is confident she is leaving CaringBridge at a time when the organization is strong and the prospects for the future are bright.

“I’ve worked with Sona side-by-side these last two years and our partnership has been wonderful,” said Liwanag Ojala, CEO of CaringBridge. “I am grateful for her continued support and humbled by the mission of CaringBridge she created 20 years ago, which has enabled comfort and hope to patients, caregivers and their loved ones all over the world. I will surely miss her day-to-day presence but her mark on CaringBridge, as its founder, is indelible.”

“Sona started the first CaringBridge site for one family 20 years ago, and to watch her and the team grow that one site into a global nonprofit that impacts the lives of millions of families every year has been amazing,” said Bill McKinney, Board of Directors chair.

“Sona has worked closely with the Board to ensure that this transition would leave CaringBridge in the best possible position to not only move forward, but to thrive. This has been a thoughtful and deliberate process and the Board is grateful for Sona’s dedication and commitment to CaringBridge.”

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