Dean Eller, the president and CEO of the Central California Blood Center, recently announced to the board of directors his intent to retire from the regional blood center in July 2017.

---

Eller has been an advocate for blood donation for more than 20 years. His passion for the cause began in the early ’90s when his daughter, Jennifer, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia. After four hard years, Jennifer’s battle came to an end Oct. 28, 1995.

Following her death, Eller lived up to his promise to keep blood donation and the need for donors in front of people throughout the Central Valley and across the nation. In 1999, he left his long and successful career in real estate and mortgage banking to become the president and CEO at the Central California Blood Center.

Under his leadership, the local blood center has thrived and grown. The cornerstone of Eller’s work, in addition to motivating people to give and to be involved through his frequent presentations and writings, is the Central California Blood Center’s headquarters, laboratories and Jenny Eller Donor Center, named in tribute to his daughter. It is located in Northwest Fresno.