COVID-19 and the all the stress that surrounds it has made for a very uncertain time for many social service organizations. Lockdowns kept us from connecting with the people who count on our services. Many offices had to move to remote work plans. Fundraisers had to be reinvented as “virtual” or cancelled all together. We all know these and many more unsettling realities about our world since March of 2020.
 
In the beginning of all this, we prided ourselves on “pivoting” to be able to bridge and adapt to changing realities. Now we are sick and tired of pivoting. In reality, many of us are just…sick and tired.
 
Like our mothers always told us though (or at least mine did), there can be a silver lining if you are open to finding it. 

Tom Bull has joined the Edmonds College Foundation as their new Executive Director and will be representing them at their upcoming INSPIRE benefit coming up in April 2022.
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With more than 20 years of higher education administration and non-profit institutional advancement, Tom brings a wealth of experience into the role.

The Foundation said of his hire, ​ 

Peter Bloch Garcia got his start in education, working to increase access to quality education for low-income, working families. His aim was to not only increase access to educational opportunities but also empower individuals to advocate for systemic change.  

He then founded and later served as the Executive Director of the Latino Community Fund for the Greater Seattle Area. 

As we approach the national holiday that celebrates the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it seems appropriate to revisit the reason we NEED a National Holiday to reflect on his legacy, and what we, as nonprofit leaders can and should DO with such a holiday. 

Valtas Group Washington has named Dave Lenox its new Managing Partner for this market-leading nonprofit consulting firm specializing in executive leadership transitions and sector capacity building. Mr. Lenox takes over for retiring Founder Tom Varga, who previously founded professional services firms CFO Selections and Accounting Solutions Partners and the CFOS Foundation.

The former Executive Director of the Seattle Institute for Early Childhood Development, Liddy Wendell, joined our consulting team after a seven year stint with the umbrella organization for Hilltop Children’s Center and Hilltop Educator Institute. A collaborative, mission-focused leader, Liddy brings an extensive track record of implementing social justice and community empowerment initiatives to the team. 

Editor’s note: Our community includes many exceptional leaders. From time to time, Valtas gives voice to them by including their commentary on our blog. The following article is borrowed from LeadingWell with the author's permission. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!​

I received feedback from quite a few readers after posting my last story about selecting a new CEO or ED. One reader said that before selecting a new CEO, it is important to have some foundational aspects in order, specifically:

• The board is clear about its role and about the difference between governance and service.
• Board and staff are aligned around a strategic plan.
• The board has an emergency plan if the ED is not able to continue to serve.
• The board focuses on professional development and meets frequently with the ED to discuss progress toward the strategic plan as well as strengths and weaknesses of the ED, the organization, and the team.

A different reader made this same point and shared the following story which illustrates what happens when the Board fails to onboard the new ED, set objectives for them, and monitor performance.