Blogs

TO: YWCA Local Association Leaders

FROM: Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., CEO

DATE: September 3, 2015

SUBJECT: Important YWCA USA Updates and Announcements

More than 2 years have passed since we embarked upon our journey together in January 2013 to revitalize our iconic organization! Additionally, on August 12, 2015, I celebrated my 3rd Anniversary as CEO of YWCA USA! What an exciting and rewarding three years!

As we begin our new fiscal year at the National Office, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken the time to share wonderful written and/or verbal accolades to acknowledge the tremendous work of the YWCA USA Team over the past few years. Thanks also for your feedback as part of the Annual Local Association Customer Satisfaction survey which provided objective evidence that the YWCA USA Team is moving in the right direction! Certainly everyone on the YWCA USA Team and each of you have played a pivotal role in our success to date and I again extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the entire YWCA network for your passion, commitment and personal dedication to our mission.

While we are delighted to celebrate our accomplishments, we also recognize that there is much more work to be done. As I shared at our Annual Conference in June 2015, our organizational priorities for FY’16 are as follows:

• Mission Impact, Metrics and Measurement
• Brand Awareness and Marketing
• Fundraising and Development

Our budget planning in preparation for the new fiscal year as well as transitions of staff members provided us with a terrific opportunity to reevaluate our operational plan and structure and begin thinking about how best to continue our efforts to achieve maximal impact.

To that end, I am excited to announce a few organizational changes and YWCA USA staffing additions that will optimally position our Team to continue our track record of success during the next phase of our important work together.

Organizational Restructuring, Transitions and Promotions

New Strategic Initiatives/Membership Services Division

As part of our new YWCA USA structure, the former Mission Impact and Member Services Divisions will be combined. This change will help us achieve maximal efficiency and enable us to better leverage the talents and resources of both divisions. The new division will be led by Casey Harden who I am pleased to announce was promoted to Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Membership effective September 1, 2015.

Casey’s track record of excellence is exemplary. She has been working to realize the mission of the YWCA for 18 years at the local, regional and national levels, in both operational and governance leadership positions. Among other key roles, Casey previously served as CEO, YWCA Greater Baltimore and as the Executive Director of the YWCA Mid-Atlantic Region. She also played a pivotal role in the Strong Foundation. Fearless Future. Initiative. Casey joined the national YWCA Team in 2013 and we have benefited greatly from her strong leadership, creative ideas and accomplishments that have served to propel our organization forward.

Under Casey’s outstanding leadership, this new division will focus on our Mission Impact Strategy, Compliance and Metrics, Membership Services Assessment and Compliance, Public Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations, Program Development and Evaluation, Research and Data Collection and YWCA Global Relations.

Vice President, Member Services

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce Becky Hines, as the new Vice President, Member Services, effective August 31, 2015.

Becky began her YWCA tenure at the YWCA McLean County (IL) as a childcare teacher and after filling various roles for the local association, served as the President and CEO for 14 years. Becky was hired by the YWCA Great Lakes Region as Executive Director in 2009 and served in that capacity until she joined YWCA USA as a Director of Member Services in January, 2013. Becky played an instrumental role in the Strong Foundation. Fearless Future. Initiative, and she has continued to make significant contributions to the newly centralized YWCA in her capacity as a member of the national YWCA Team and Director of Member Services for the Great Lakes geographic network.

Many of you may already know that Clare Gravon, former Vice President, Member Services, tendered her resignation several months ago. Clare has had an extremely impactful tenure with YWCA, serving on the national staff at two critical junctures, first as Association Services Representative from 1998-2000 just prior to the YWCA Change Initiative and then as a Regional Director in the YWCA Heartland Region from 2010-2013. She joined the YWCA USA Team in January 2013 and during her tenure, Clare has demonstrated phenomenal leadership as we worked collaboratively to develop the operational plan designed to “give legs” to the 2012 Strong Foundation. Fearless Future. Initiative.

Most importantly, however, Clare provided the leadership that made it possible for a group of former colleagues to come together to successfully build a productive Member Services Team and for that, we will be eternally grateful. We are so very fortunate that Clare will continue transitioning with us until September 11, 2015 and it is my personal hope that we will find a way to keep Clare connected to our organization after a well-deserved hiatus.

Given the new structure as mentioned above, which combines the former Mission Impact and Member Services Divisions, the Member Services Team will now be part of the Strategic Initiatives/Membership Services Division.

With Becky’s promotion to Vice President, Member Services, YWCA USA will be hiring a new Director of Member Services for the Great Lakes geographic network. Please consider distributing this link to qualified professionals in your personal and/or YWCA network. Note that Becky will continue providing exceptional customer service and support to the Great Lakes geographic network until her replacement is found.

Information Technology

I am delighted to inform you that Matt Preiss, our current Web and Technology Coordinator, has been promoted to IT Manager. Since Matt joined the YWCA USA Team in May 2013, he has worked diligently to strengthen our technology function. He began his work with us by assisting with the introduction and support of the new intranet site and has since been responsible for conducting a needs analysis for a new Customer Relationship Management System (CRM), managing an RFP process to select a new IT help desk vendor, developing IT processes and managing the organization’s IT budget. In his new role, Matt will continue to work with our Virtual Chief Information Officer and together they will help us advance our organization’s technology efforts.

Operations

We are pleased to welcome our new Chief Operations Officer, Jacqueline Sam, who will officially join the YWCA USA Team on October 5, 2015.

We are extremely fortunate to have Jackie on the YWCA USA Team. I had the distinct pleasure of working with Jackie for 4 years during my tenure as CEO at Komen Greater NYC and I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with her again at YWCA USA. Jackie has served as Director of Finance & Operations for Komen Greater NYC for the past 8 years and she brings with her more than 15 years of budgeting, planning and operations experience. Jackie previously worked as Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at Scholastic supporting the Entertainment division. Prior to Scholastic, she worked as Business Manager for MTV.

Jackie has already attended her first YWCA USA board meeting and she has been transitioning with our Team over the past month. Jackie will no doubt be ready to hit the ground running when she officially joins our Team on October 5, 2015 after completing her current work commitments at Komen Greater NYC.

Elisha Rhodes, former Special Projects Coordinator, has been promoted to Operations Manager effective September 1, 2015. Elisha has been a valuable member of the YWCA USA Team for 9 years. Most recently on the Member Services Team, she provided logistical support for all YWCA conferences, trainings, and projects such as the self-assessment survey and document collection. Prior to that, Elisha provided human resource and operations support for the office of the COO.

In her new role, Elisha will provide administrative and human resources coordination, ensuring efficient operations of all office functions. She will also work closely with the COO and Director of Human Resources and Training on national campaigns, training programs, and activities designed to enhance the performance and organizational development of YWCA local associations nationwide.

Marla Caulk, our former Chief Operations Officer, relocated to her home state of Bozeman, Montana and began a new position as Executive Director at The Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter on August 5, 2015. Marla joined the YWCA USA Team in January 2013 and played a pivotal role in the success of our organizational restructuring efforts. While she will be greatly missed, we are very excited that she was able to find a professional opportunity that allows her to be closer to her family in Montana.

Proposed Staffing Additions for FY’16

It is amazing what we have been able to accomplish at our current staffing level. However, after an incredibly productive 2+ years, now is the time for us to make key staffing additions and enhancements that will allow us to amplify our bandwidth, organizational experience and expertise and accomplish even more!

The following new positions/position enhancements will be added in FY’16:

Chief Development Officer (currently held by part time consultant)

Reporting directly to and working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Development Officer will design and implement a written fundraising strategy designed to support the organization's goals and significantly increase organizational revenue. S/he will also be responsible for instituting a fundraising culture into all aspects of YWCA programs and operations as well as managing the day-to-day operations and implementation of all YWCA fundraising and development activities.

Vice President, Marketing and Communications (formerly Director level)

The Vice President of Marketing and Communications will report to the CEO and be responsible for the development, implementation, strategy and oversight for a comprehensive Marketing, Public Relations, Internal and External Communications Plan. S/he will work collaboratively to build upon the great work already being done by our exceptional Communications Team.

Director of Human Resources and Training (new position)

The Director of Human Resources will report to the Chief Operations Officer and will be responsible for the overall administration, coordination and evaluation of the Human Resources function at the YWCA USA. S/he will develop, recommend and implement personnel policies consistent with YWCA organizational culture and legal requirements, enhance staff recruitment, retention and development, manage employee relations, performance management, talent management, risk mitigation, and change management. S/he will also be responsible for working with the YWCA Leadership Team to develop training services and resources that focus on enhancing the performance and organizational development of the National office and Local Associations.

Web Coordinator (new position)

Under the supervision of Matt Preiss, the Web Coordinator will manage the website and intranet platforms, keeping them up to date and relevant and also coordinate the distribution of internal communications including memos to local associations, e-blasts and other important communications.

Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy (formerly Director level)

Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Membership, the Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy will define the overall advocacy strategy and plans for the YWCA and ensure it’s effective implementation. This Vice President will also lead and define national advocacy priorities and policy positions and facilitate organizational alignment to reinforce and support these priorities and positions.

Government Relations or Field Director (formerly Advocacy Associate position)

Reporting directly to the Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy, the currently vacant Policy Associate position will be replaced by one of two positions, dependent on the qualifications of the new Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy. Either a Director of Government Relations, focused on government relations for YWCA USA, or a Director of Field Advocacy, focused on the advocacy efforts of local associations, will be filled.

Director of Program Evaluation/Research (new position)

The Director of Program Evaluation/Research will report to the Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Membership and will be responsible for directing the YWCA USA research agenda and mission impact metrics collection efforts. The data collection efforts will be designed to track the mission impact goals of the YWCA network and to provide objective evidence to promote the YWCA reputation as a change agent and thought-leader and demonstrate the extensive power and impact of the YWCA collective. Research will be focused on YWCA signature platforms, outcomes and policy priorities.

Position descriptions for each of the new positions were posted on our website. We have received resumes from many qualified candidates. Also as a reminder, Joy A. Carter, my new Senior Executive Assistant officially joined our Team on Monday, August 17, 2015 and she is already doing a terrific job!
Our goal is to have the positions filled by October 2015 so that we can begin our new year with the full complement of human resources and expertise to help us build additional capacity and significantly enhance our collective impact, both locally and nationally.

Please join me in welcoming Jackie and Joy to the YWCA USA Team, congratulating Casey, Becky, Matt and Elisha on their promotions and thanking Clare for her leadership and service to the YWCA.

Exciting Year Ahead

We have an exciting year planned for FY’16 and beyond and we are definitely ready! Many thanks again to each of you for your continued support. Working together we have definitely moved the needle over the past 2+ years and I am very excited to move forward into another fantastic and productive year with each of you as we continue our collective efforts to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all!

Sincerely,

Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D.
YWCA USA CEO