John was born and raised in Redding, where his family owned a chain of grocery stores. John graduated from Stanford University and earned a law degree from USC. While working for the law firm Carr, Kennedy, Peterson and Frost in Redding, John represented Mrs. McConnell and the Foundation. In 1992 John joined the Foundation Board. In 1993 he became an employee of Mrs. McConnell and of the Foundation. John became a full-time employee of the Foundation upon Mrs. McConnell’s death in 1995. In 2017, upon the semi-retirement of Lee Salter, John became the Foundation’s President & CEO. John and his wife Molly enjoy family activities with their five grown children, and a grandson.