Erik von Fuchs

Erik von Fuchs brings nearly three decades of engineering leadership and innovation experience to the Seven Acres Foundation board. He retired from Microsoft in 2024 after a distinguished 28-year career, during which he joined the company as one of its first mechanical engineers in 1996 and helped develop groundbreaking hardware products, including serving as lead mechanical engineer on the world’s first optical mouse.

Erik’s leadership expanded significantly over his career, culminating in his role as General Manager of Engineering for the Devices Engineering Tools & Services team. Among his notable achievements, he formalized Microsoft’s hardware development process, established a 100,000-square-foot Advanced Prototyping Center, and was instrumental in forming Microsoft’s hardware “Culture of Learning” community.

Erik’s commitment to community runs deep, shaped by his belief that interdependence creates more meaningful outcomes than independence alone. When he and his family purchased a second home on Lake Chelan in 2018, the Community Center project perfectly aligned with his values of intentional community building.

Throughout his life, Erik has demonstrated a passion for coaching and mentoring others, from early roles as a ski instructor and soccer coach to over 25 years of managing teams at Microsoft. He currently mentors students at the UW Foster School of Business. He is excited about the Community Center’s potential to create mentoring opportunities for all ages through programs like the Boys and Girls Club.

Erik resides part-time in the Lake Chelan area with his wife and three children.

‍