Meet Donovan O’Connelly

Donovan O’Connelly, Champion of the Month for March 2025, joined Rise nine years ago – and he’s been helping the organization run smoothly ever since. With experience with the Minnesota Army National Guard as a Signal Support Systems Specialist and a background in carpentry, Donovan brought technical skills, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to service to the IT team at Rise.
His introduction to Rise came through a family connection – an aunt who worked at our Crystal location. “At the time, it was meant to be a foot in the door with a company I believed had an admirable mission,” Donovan said. “Nine years later, it turned out to be a lot more than that.”

Donovan’s Impact

Donovan has steadily grown into his current role as Systems Administrator, leading the full IT support cycle – from providing staff equipment to troubleshooting questions and updates.

Donovan is known as the go-to person for IT help – not just because of his expertise, but because of how he treats people. “He doesn’t judge anyone’s tech skills,” one team member shared. “He walks people through every step, always patient, always kind.”

Whether it’s fixing a stubborn computer, supporting new staff with setup, or helping digitize thousands of documents, Donovan is always willing to step in. “Even when a challenge is difficult, he keeps searching for a solution,” said one colleague. “He never gives up.”

Donovan takes pride in what his small but mighty team of three accomplishes. “Some days can be challenging, but I think we do a solid job providing prompt and effective support.”

He also deeply values Rise’s culture of care. “Rise truly cares about their employees’ health and wellbeing,” he said.

Donovan Outside of Rise

Outside of work, Donovan enjoys life in rural Minnesota with his wife and their lively group of three dogs and a cat. “We live in the middle of nowhere, so I spend most of my free time outdoors,” he said.

A natural problem solver, Donovan loves learning how things work and putting himself up to a challenge. He’s a huge fan of games – board games, video games, and tabletop games alike.

As one nominator put it: “He’s not just good at his job—he makes everyone feel supported.” We’re proud to celebrate Donovan for all the ways he supports Rise – one thoughtful, savvy solution at a time.