Community Corner

Mary Ajax Ousted as CEO of 360 Communities

After nearly 20 years running 360 Communities, a board review of the social service nonprofit and its mission led to Mary Ajax being removed as president and CEO of the non-profit.

Mary Ajax, the longtime president and chief executive of 360 Communities, one of Dakota County's largest non-profits, is no longer with the organization.

The move comes as something of a surprise, and the agency wouldn't say whether Ajax was fired, or if she stepped down. In a news release issued by the agency, they said Ajax's departure came after "a strategic review of the organization and its mission."

Once based in , 360 Communities, formerly called the Community Action Council, or CAC, has been struggling financially in recent years. According to a story in the Star Tribune, the agency lost $363,000 in 2009, the last full year financial numbers were available. That year, Ajax's salary was $172,053 plus another $63,306 in other compensation such as retirement.

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In 2012, according to the Star Tribune, 360 Communities' net assets were about $2 million, down from $3.3 million in 2007. This year, 360 Communities has a roughly $4.1 million budget.

In the agency's statement, board Chairman Pete Diessner said Ajax "made significant positive contributions to our communities."

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But added: "Volunteers created 360 Communities 40 years ago to serve the needs of south suburban communities. The board took action to change the organization's leadership in part to ensure that 360 Communities will be able to continue to fulfill this role in the future."

A call to Ajax was not returned.

360 Communities was founded in 1970 and Ajax joined in 1975 and later promoted to president and CEO in 1992. When Ajax spearheaded the founding of the first Lewis House in 1979, it was one of the first free-standing domestic violence shelters in the nation.


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