Mick Lovell didn’t join the Ellipsis board because nonprofit service had always been part of his career path. When he first became involved, he was still working full time as executive vice president and chief operating officer of EMC Insurance, deeply embedded in executive leadership and not actively seeking another board of directors seat. He was, however, thinking about how to be more involved in his community.
“I would love to say that I got involved for all the ‘right’ reasons and I had some deep commitment to service,” Mick said. “I really just knew I needed to be more involved in my community than I was. I didn’t know where that time was going to come from, but I was looking for that.”
About three years before his retirement, Mick received a call inviting him to join the board of Youth Homes of Mid-America, which later merged with Youth Emergency Services & Shelter into what is now Ellipsis. “At that time, to be honest, I didn’t really know a lot about the organization,” he said. “But I had someone asking me to join the board and another person connect with me about the work Youth Homes was doing in our community. Those two conversations happening so closely together made the opportunity just feel right.”
From Backseat to Box Seat
Mick joined the board about eight years ago, initially without a long-term plan or expectation of climbing the ranks through leadership. “I started more at the observer level,” he said. “There wasn’t anything that made me think I would go through officership or ultimately be president of the board.”
What stood out early was how well run the organization was and how it was supported by people who cared deeply about the work. As Mick spent more time with Ellipsis, his understanding of the scope and complexity of its services grew, along with his appreciation for the people behind them.
Now serving as board president, Mick describes his role as having a much closer view of the inner workings of the organization. “Now, I’ve got a box seat right in the middle of all of the good work Ellipsis is doing,” he said.
That vantage point has given him insight into the constant motion behind the scenes. From regulatory requirements and operational decisions to the evolving needs of kids and families in our state, Ellipsis is always adapting to meet the moment. “My granddad used to talk about it like a duck,” Mick said. “It looks calm above water, but it’s pedaling like crazy underneath.” Seeing that behind-the-scenes effort has deepened his respect for the staff and leadership team who carry the work forward every day.
It’s All About the People
Although Mick’s professional background in insurance differs from nonprofit governance, he sees strong connections between the two. In both settings, progress depends on people working together toward common goals. “With both organizations, you have to identify the needs that have to be fulfilled and be fiscally responsible in meeting those needs,” he said. “And at the core of it all is people. You have to get things done through others.”
In nonprofit work, that challenge can be amplified by limited resources and broader responsibilities. “People are what make things happen, and people are what keep things from happening,” Mick said.
Another key difference is the people-level impact you see through nonprofit work. “When you know the level of trauma many of these kids come into the organization with, to hear one of them talk about an achievement or success really pulls you in,” he said. This understanding of personal growth is what continues to resonate most with Mick in his work with Ellipsis. Those are the stories that ground all of the board-level conversations about fundraising, strategy and long-term planning. “It makes you feel very good about what you can accomplish on their behalf.”
Reflecting on the Organization’s Growth
Throughout Mick’s experience on the board, the organization has experienced some milestone changes: the merging of two essential organizations in the community to create Ellipsis, renovating the South Campus into a Supervised Apartment Living (SAL) complex and the Barbara Lee Noble Campus into a girls-only shelter and SAL space, and so much more. When asked what he feels most proud of accomplishing during his tenure on the board, Mick was quick to share that he feels more of a sense of awe than pride.
That feeling comes from watching the organization’s leadership, staff and community come together through good times and challenges to do whatever is right to support the kids and families Ellipsis serves. “These folks are drivers; they get things done,” he said. “One thing that consistently shows up in action is that there really is no wrong door here. People at Ellipsis always find a way to help.”
Looking Ahead
As Ellipsis continues to evolve, Mick shared that the board of directors remains focused on supporting the organization’s ability to serve kids and families. “It's amazing to me how many times I hear, ‘What's good for the kids?’ whenever we’re making decisions or moving something forward,” he said. “So I'm looking forward to more of that throughout 2026. We've got things we want to do and things we need to do, and being a part of all that is going to be amazing.”
This year, outside of work, Mick and his wife will be celebrating their 40th anniversary. As he continues to shape his retirement, he will likely have woodworking, cribbage and time with people on his agenda. After 30 years of high-pressure and hectic work, he’s doing all he can to release himself from the hustle.
For Mick, that’s how he wants to approach this year as board president: steady, calm and focused on the things that really matter.
Mick’s path to board service with Ellipsis reflects a simple truth: Meaningful community leadership does not require a lifetime of service. It can simply begin when the right moment arrives.
Read more of our Staff Spotlights on the Ellipisis Blog.
