- Mark Bonner will become the permanent CEO of GRACE Marketplace effective Oct. 1, after serving as interim CEO since June 2026.
- Bonner started at GRACE Marketplace in 2022 as an operations advocate and later became director of facilities and purchasing.
- Before Bonner, Darius Williams served as CEO for nine months after a 2025 leadership search following the resignation of longtime CEO John DeCarmine.
The Board of Directors of GRACE Marketplace has appointed Mark Bonner as the organization’s chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1.
Bonner previously served as interim CEO, a role he assumed in June. His career with GRACE Marketplace began more than four years ago as an operations advocate before he became director of facilities.
According to a GRACE Marketplace press release sent Thursday, through his roles with GRACE Marketplace, Bonner has gained direct experience with the organization’s daily operations, the needs of its guests and the support staff to successfully carry out its mission of ending homelessness.
“I started at GRACE as an Operations Advocate, so I’ve seen firsthand the difference our staff makes in people’s lives every day,” Bonner said in the release. “It’s an honor to now lead this organization and support the people doing that work. Our mission is to end homelessness, and I’m committed to making sure that mission drives every decision we make.”
Bonner joined GRACE in 2022 and worked as an operations advocate before becoming the director of facilities and purchasing.
Julianne Raymond Flinchum, chair of the GRACE Marketplace Board of Directors, welcomed Bonner to the position.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’m thrilled to name Mark Bonner as GRACE Marketplace’s CEO,” Flinchum said in the release. “Over more than four years with GRACE, Mark has shown a deep commitment to our mission of ending homelessness in our community, and during his time as Interim CEO, he has led with steadiness, integrity, and heart. The support Mark has from his team says everything about the kind of leader he is. This was a clear decision for the board and I couldn’t be more excited to have Mark carrying GRACE forward.”
In June, the GRACE Marketplace Board of Directors announced the immediate appointment of Mark Bonner as its interim chief executive officer, replacing Darius Williams. Williams, who was hired in September 2025, served as CEO for nine months and spoke with Mainstreet in December about the role.
Before Williams was named CEO, Vice President of Advancement John Thomas served as interim CEO beginning in October 2024, after longtime CEO Jon DeCarmine resigned. DeCarmine had led the organization since 2017. The nonprofit launched a search for a new leader in July 2025, which resulted in Williams’ appointment.