Tia Newcomer named CEO of Eagan-based CaringBridge

Tia Newcomer has been named CEO of CaringBridge, taking the reins as the third leader in the Eagan-based nonprofit's 24-year history.

The organization announced Thursday that Newcomer, who has worked in executive roles for several medical and technology companies, joined CaringBridge last week. She succeeds Liwanag Ojala, who is stepping down after nearly seven years in the top job.

"I believe passionately in the vision of CaringBridge — that no one should go through a health journey alone," Newcomer said in a statement.

She most recently worked as chief commercial officer for Generate Life Sciences, a California-based health care organization.

In 1997, long before Facebook or other social media sites, software developer Sona Mehring started CaringBridge to help friends share information about a premature baby.

The website, which connects family and friends with people struggling with illness or an injury, now has nearly 300,000 active daily users from all over the world, 47 employees and an $11.6 million annual budget.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the site has hosted COVID patients' stories. CaringBridge reported that donations rose by 26% in 2020, a record increase, as more people used the site and donated to it — mirroring a broader trend across Minnesota nonprofits that saw a surge in giving during the pandemic.

KELLY SMITH